THREE SPECIES OF LONCHURA — PARKES 281 



considering the size of its range. In detail, then, the features 

 distinguishing the three races under consideration are as follows. 



The anterior underparts of everetti are chocolate brown, becoming 

 deeper and richer on the chin and throat. In manueli this deep, 

 rich color prevails, deepening almost to black on the chin and throat. 

 Finally, in leucogastra the whole anterior underparts are virtually 

 black. Dorsally there is a corresponding but less striking deepening 

 of the general bro%vn color of crown and back. 



In everetti and manueli the border between the dark breast and 

 white abdomen includes many dark-tipped white feathers, giving 

 this border area a distmctly spotted appearance. Such feathers are 

 lacking in leucogastra, in which the border is more clear-cut. 



In everetti the upper tail coverts are plain bro^vn, somewhat darker 

 than the rest of the upperparts. In manueli the upper tail coverts 

 are decidedly blackish, contrasting quite sharply with the rest of 

 the back. Finally, in leucogastra the upper tail coverts are black 

 and this dark area has advanced to include the rump as well. The 

 under tail coverts and thighs show a corresponding progression from 

 brown to blackish brown to black in the three subspecies. The white 

 shaft-streaks of the dorsal surface are best developed in everetti, 

 somewhat reduced in manueli, and decidedly reduced in leucogastra, 

 particularly on the head. 



The tiny feathers along the metacarpal edge of the wing are pre- 

 dominantly white in everetti, predominantly dark brown or black in 

 manueli and leucogastra. This is a matter of shifting proportions of 

 white and pigmented feathers rather than a progressive intensification 

 of pigmentation as in other color characters cited. 



The yellow of the edges of the central rectrices, while variable, is 

 a warmer, more golden color in leucogastra than in either manueli 

 or everetti. 



Range: Southern half of Philippine Archipelago (see list of speci- 

 mens for specific islands) and highlands of northern Borneo. The 

 Tutong River specimen mentioned by Mayr (1938, p. 45) has been 

 examined and belongs with manueli as might be expected. Six other 

 Borneo specimens examined also belong here; one from Laham, 

 eastern Borneo, and five from Sarawak (Poeh Mountain, Kelabit 

 Plateau, headwaters of Baram River). In the diagnosis above, no 

 comparisons have been made with the rather isolated L. I. castano- 

 nota Mayr of southern Borneo; this is a distinctive race with much 

 richer coloring, being deep rufous chestnut above and jet black below. 



Remarks: The only islands of the Philippines from which I have 

 examined specimens which were not immediately referable to either 

 L. I. everetti or L. I. manueli are Sibuyan and Culion ; birds from these 

 islands are almost exactly intermediate. It is possible that such 



