106 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



The two series average as follows : 



VOL. 64, 



mm. 



Seven males, north Celebes 115 



Six males, north-central Celebes 111.2 



Eight females, north Celebes ^ 107. 2 



Four females, north-central Celebes ; 104. 6 



Culmen. 



A bird of the year that seems to be fully grown, taken at Besoa, 

 November 2, is lighter above and below than the adult and the super- 

 ciliaries are light cadmium instead of orange chrome. 



197. SCISSIROSTRUM DUBIUM (Latham). 



A good series of both sexes of nearly all ages from: Soemalata, 

 September 8-9, 1914; Likoepang, Feliruary 23-March 10, 1916: 

 Ayermadidi, May 6, 1916; Rano Lindoe, March 4r-15, 1917; Gimpoe, 

 August 5-24, 1917 ; Pinedapa, February 7, 1918. 



After comparing a series from the north with another from the 

 north-central mountainous area there appear to be no constant dif- 

 ferences in size or color. 



The majority of the specimens taken at Rano Lindoe in March 

 are molting from a brownish-gray plumage to a slaty one; quite a 

 number are undoubtedly immature as the red tips to the rump 

 feathers are duller, but the brownish plumage must be due to fading, 

 for a-young bird just from the nest does not differ materially from 

 the adult, except the lores are lighter and the red tips to the rump 

 feathers are duller. The adult specimens taken at Gimpoe in August 

 have the dark color of the lores and chin much reduced and are 

 lighter than freshly molted March birds; this is probably due to 

 fading, but some of the Gimpoe specimens are also molting. This 

 would tend to show that they have two molts a year, or that indi- 

 vidual birds may be found molting at any time. 



Young, apparently taken from the nest and others barely able to 

 fly, with short stumpy tails, were collected at Gimpoe August 24. 

 The younger stage, with feathers only just appearing on the feather 

 tracts, shows the red tips to the rump feathers where the tips are 

 breaking through the sheath. A young female, about half grown, 

 was taken at Rano Lindoe March 6; this seems to indicate that the 

 breeding season must be irregular. 



Judging from the series taken, this must be an extremely abundant 

 bird on the island. 



