ART. 16. BIRDS FROM NORTH CELEBES RILEY. 57 



Family CUCULIDAE. 



CUCKOOS. 

 118. SURNICULUS MUSSCHENBROEKI Meyer. 



One female, Likoepang, March 10, 1916. 



The above specimen differs from Meyer and Wiglesworth's * de- 

 scription of the type in having the outer tail-feather with five irreg- 

 ular white bars distally and two white spots along the shaft basally ; 

 the second tail-feather with four white spots along the shaft on one 

 side of the tail and three on the other, being unsymmetrical in this 

 respect; and the white concealed nuchal spot apparently larger. It 

 measures: Wing, 124.5; tail, 128; culmen, 21.5. 



Sui'niculus musschenbroeki in plumage comes nearer to S. velutinus 

 of the Philippines than to /S. lugubris, the only other known species 

 of the genus. From S. velutinus, the Celebes bird differs in having 

 the white on the nape more extensive; in the less brilliant color of 

 the wings and tail ; and in the tail being longer, the feathers broader, 

 and of a different shape. The different shape of the tail of S. 

 velutinus is more apparent than real, the two outer tail-feathers have 

 the outer web broadened at the tip, showing a tendency to bend out- 

 wards. In the Celebes species when the tail is spread, it is seen not to 

 be really forked but more or less truncate or slightly emarginate, 

 with the second and third outer feather bent slightly outward. 



Since writing the above Stuart Baker has published ^ a review of 

 the genus. In it he reduces S. velutinus to only a form of S. 

 musschenhroeki. That they are closely related no one will deny, 

 but the differences are such that they had better be recognized as 

 distinct species for the present at least, 



Mr. Kaven in a letter says that the species is more or less noctur- 

 nal ; this may account for its scarcity in collections. 



119. CACOMANTIS MERULINUS MERULINUS (Scopoli). 



One young male not long from the nest, Parigi, September 25, 

 1916. 



120. CACOMANTIS SEPULCRALIS VIRESCENS (Bruggemann). 



One male, Likoepang, March 5, 1916; one male, Rano Rano. De- 

 cember 10, 1917. 



The male from Rano Rano has the breast and belly darker than 

 the Likoepang specimen and the tips to the tail feathers buff, not 

 white as in the latter. Thev measure as follows : 



Wing. 



Tan. 



Culmien. 



No. 251832, Rano Rano. 

 No. 249144, Likoepang . 



mm. 

 116 

 107 



mm. 

 135 

 135 



mm. 

 15 

 16 



* Birds Celebes, vol. 1, 1898, p. 203. ^ nqv. ZooL, vol. 20, 1920, pp. 291-294. 



