PTILOCICHLA. 523 



500. PTILOCICHLA BASILANICA Steere. 

 BASILAN GROUND BABBLEE. 



Ptiocichla {?) hasilanica Steeee, List Birds and Mams. Steere Exped. 



(1890), 18 (error). 

 Ptilocichla hasilanica Steere, Ibis, (1891), 312, pi. 7; Sharpe, Hand-List 



(1903), 4, 40; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 81. 



Basilan {Steere Exp., Bounis t(- Worcester, Celcstiuo). 



Adult. — Above dark or reddish brown, most of the feathers with 

 lighter shafts, feathers of head darker and with blackish brown margins; 

 lores white, some of the feathers tipped with Ijlack ; line under eye white ; 

 line over eye extending to nape white; ear-coverts l)rown with light 

 shafts, bordered below by a narrow white line which is sepaiated from 

 the wiiite chin and throat by a black line: feathers of breast, abdomen, 

 and tail-coverts -with wide median white stripes and l)lack edges; sides 

 and flanks reddish lirown with lighter shafts; tliigbs brown; primaries, 

 secondaries, and rectrices blackish brown, their shafts ])lack, and outer 

 edges reddish brown; wing-coverts reddish brown with light shafts. A 

 male measures: Wing. 70; tail, -i7 : culmen from base, 19; bill from 

 nostril, 11: tarsus. 27. A female, wing, 70; tail, 46; culmen from base, 

 20; bill from nostril. 11; tarsus, 27. 



"Common in Basilan. Lives on the ground, or near it, and some- 

 times perches on stones, fallen trees, or roots. Note not in the least like 

 that of r. falrnta. Ptilocichla hasilanica always seems loth to take 

 flight, and one can readily secure it by following it carefully as it runs 

 along the ground, uttering its complaining note at frequent intervals. 

 Sooner or later one is sure to catch sight of it in some little open place, 

 though the protective coloring makes it hard to see. 



"Twenty-two males average: Length, 155; wing, 73; tail, 48; culmen. 

 20; tarsus, 27: middle toe with claw, 26. Fifteen females, length, 150: 

 wing, 71 ; tail, 45 ; culmen, 20 ; tarsus, 26 ; middle toe with claw, 25. 

 Iris chocolate-brown ; legs, feet, and nails light brown ; upper mandible 

 black, lower ashy gray." (Bourns and Worcester MS.) 



501. PTILOCICHLA MINDANENSIS Steere. 

 MINDANAO GROUND BABBLER. 



Ptilocichla (f) uvindanoisis Steere. List Birds and Mams. Steere Exped. 



(1890), 18. 

 Ptilocichla miiuhtnensis Sharpe. Hand-List (1903). 4, 40; McGrecou and 



Worcester. Hand-List (1906), 81. 

 Ptilopfjfia ))iin(la)ic)tsis Blasiis, -Jour, fiir Orn. (1890), ]4(i. 



Mindanao {ftteerr E.rp.. Platen. Bourn.s A- Worcciier, Celcstino) . 



"Above fulvous-brown ; feathers of head narrowly edged with black ; 

 feathers of liack showing indistinct shaft-stripes ; below mucli as in P. 

 hasilanica wbich it equals in size also. It is readily separated by the 



