THE BIRDS OF THE NATUNA ISLANDS 77 



ulars a little paler; sides of breast slightlj^ rufescent olive-brown; 

 lower parts generally dull light cream-buff, clearer on the throat, 

 but the sides, flanks, and broad basal shaft markings of the longest 

 lower tail coverts, buffy brown, the breast and jugulum heavily 

 washed with buffy brown; lining of wing cream-buff, posteriorly 

 paler, some of the feathers with buffy brown centers; thighs buffy 

 brown, mixed with cream-buff. 



The birds of this species from the southern islands of the Natuna 

 group belong to the subspecies described above, although in coloration 

 of plumage they verge slightly toward the following race from the 

 northern Natuna Islands. The present form of Pycnonotus simplex 

 is the only one, so far as yet known, that has a red iris, as in Pycno- 

 notus brunneus, this part being white or whitish in all the others. 



In the Bomean bird, however, all the other characters are those 

 of Pycnonotus simplex, not of Pycnonotus brunneus; therefore, not- 

 withstanding that the red iris is, except in this particular case, a 

 specific character between these two species, the Bomean bird 

 should apparently stand as a subspecies of Pycnonotus simplex. 



The six birds obtained by Doctor Abbott are from the islands of 

 Sirhassen, Brian, and Subi, and are not essentially different from 

 Borneo specimens. They are as follows: 



Adult male, U.S.N.M. No. 174758, Sirhassen Island; June 1, 

 1900. "Iris red." 



Adult male, U.S.N.M. No. 174759; Sirhassen Island, June 3, 

 1900. "Iris red; feet fleshy brown." 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174756; Brian Island, near Sir- 

 hassen Island, May 31, 1900. "Iris red; feet brownish fleshy; bill 

 brownish black, pale fleshy beneath at base." 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174757; Sirhassen Island, June 1, 

 1900. " Iris red ; feet fleshy brown . ' ' 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174747; Pulo Subi (North Islet), 

 June 12, 1900. "Iris red." 



Adult female, U.S.N.M. No. 174760; Sirhassen Island, June 4, 

 1900. "Iris red." 



Most of these specimens are in considerably worn plumage. All 

 show some evidences of molt; in four slight and confined to the 

 contour feathers; in the two others, No. 174747, taken on June 12, and 

 No. 174758, taken on June 1, much more extensive and, in the latter, 

 involving also the wing quills. 



Measurements are given in Table 26. 



Doctor Abbott reported this bird common on Sirhassen Island 

 and on Pulo Subi. 



