CEYX. 317 



independent or sex, age, or locality, some 3'oung birds are very light, 

 others very dark. In one case where parent and offspring were killed 

 at one discharge of the gun they exhibited marked differences in color. 



"The amount of blue or white is, however, dependent on age to some 

 extent, the young birds always showing much more black on the upper 

 surface than do adults. In the young the bill is at first black tipped with 

 pale horn and the legs and feet are pale flesh-color. 



"Ceyx bournsi is a strictly woods form and its shy habits doubtless 

 explain its having been so generally missed by collectors." (Bourns and 

 Worcester.) 



"Found in precisely the same locality as C. mindanensis and in com- 

 pany with it in the Islands of Mindanao and Basilan. Food the same as 

 that of C. mindanensis. 



"When one has learned its note and habits it may be secured without 

 great trouble. It always gives a shrill 'cheep' just before taking wing, 

 and repeats the same note at frequent intervals during flight. It flies 

 with great rapidity, but usually for a short distance, when it' alights on 

 some branch, stump, or stone, where it sits perfectly still. It is a bird 

 of extremely local habits, and displays great reluctance to leave the thicket 

 to which it is accustomed. If pursued it usually flies in a circle, soon 

 returning to the place from which it started, continuing to follow about 

 the same course until the hunter either shoots it or gives up the attempt. 

 When its route lias been once learned, two men can easily bring it down, 

 one driving it while the other waits near one of its favorite resting places. 

 In this way we secured a considerable number of oiir specimens. We 

 believe that this species never 'fishes' in the streams. 



"Iris dark brown ; bill, legs, feet, and nails scarlet in adults, growing 

 paler in immature birds. Very young birds have the bill black, with a 

 whitish horn tip. Food, insects, larva? and worms. 



"Six males from Tawi Tawi measure as follows : Length, 140 ; wing, 

 64; tail, 25; culmen, 38; tarsus, 8; middle toe witli claw, 16. Four 

 females from Tawi Tawi: Length, 141; wing, 64; tail, 24; culmen, 37; 

 tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17. 



"Five males from Tablas measure: Length, 146; wing, 65; tail, 25; 

 culmen, 36 ; tarsus, 9 ; middle toe with claw, 17. Four females from 

 Tablas: Length, 145; wing, 66; tail, 25; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 

 22; culmen, 36. 



"We have given measurements of birds taken at the extremes of the 

 range of the species. It will be seen that the northern l)irds are slightly 

 longer. As stated in our ])i-oliniinary notes, the color of the dorsal surface 

 of this bird varies from deep indigo-blue to pure silvery white, and this 

 variation is independent of age, sex, or locality." {Bourns and Wor- 

 cester MS.) 



