CISTICOLA. 579 



it does in 0. nigriceps, but is confined to the central parts of the chest, 

 its posterior outline being rounded. All the specimens known have 

 more or less white on the chin and malar region, but this is variable in 

 extent and is probably a sign of immaturity as it is in 0. nigriceps. A 

 male from Bohol measures : Length, 127; wing, 44; tail, 39; culmen from 

 base, 15; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 21. 



The female is unknown. 



"Iris light bro\vn; bill brownish black, mandible pinkish brown; legs 

 yellowish flesh-color. This bird has a sweet and powerful song and 

 in this respect it differs from the other species. It is very shy and 

 difficult to obtain." (Whitehead.) 



"The yellow-breasted tailorbird is extremely rare. A single specimen 

 was secured by the Steere Expedition, and we were able to secure but 

 one more. Both birds were shot in deep forest close to the bank of a 

 stream. Our specimen, a male, measures: Length, 114; wing, 42.6; 

 tail, 40 ; culmen, 19 ; tarsus, 21 ; middle toe with claw, 18. Iris chocolate- 

 brown ; legs, feet, and nails very light brown ; bill black. Breeding in 

 August." (Bourns and Worcester MS.) 



Genus CISTICOLA Kaup, 1829. 



Bill small, slender, and sharply pointed; culmen gently curved in its 

 terminal half; bill from nostril equal to hind-toe without claw; wing 

 somewhat rounded and flat; difference between the length of primaries 

 and of secondaries less than first primary; first primary slender, much 

 less than one-half the second, the latter nearly as long as third; fourth 

 and fifth equal and longest; rectrices long, much graduated, their tips 

 rounded; the tail is similar to that of Orthotomus, but the feathers are 

 much wider; tarsus and feet well developed, the outstretched toes reach- 

 ing to or beyond tip of tail. Birds of this genus present puzzling 

 seasonal changes of plumage. The tail is longer in the winter than in 

 the breeding season, and the female is somewhat smaller than the male. 

 The seasonal variation in color is great and has led ornithologists to 

 name several species which do not exist. It is not certain that the smaller 

 species found in the Philippines is really C. exilis, and it may be either 

 C. erythrocephala Jerdon or C. semirufa Cabanis.* 



Species. 



o\ Larger, wing and tail longer; breeding male with top of head ocherous-buff, 

 streaked with blackish brown, and with tail about 40 mm., cisticola (p. 580) 



a*. Smaller, wing and tail shorter, breeding male with top of head golden buff 

 or tawny, and tail about 30 mm exilis (p. 581) 



•Cf. Grant, Ibis (1896), 117. 



