Birds of Balnbac and Pakman. 35 



rather heavily, for short distauees, aad then stiffen their wings 

 and float for fifty yards or thereabout, and recommence 

 their flight and again float on extended pinions j but they 

 soon begin to sink earthward, and I doubt whether tliey can 

 continue the hawk-like floating for any considerable distance. 

 They have a shrill whistling cry, and they are not gregarious. 



Hemichelidon ferruginea, Hodgson. 



Three specimens shot in the hill-country. This species is 

 new to Palawan, but H. sibirica has also been obtained by 

 Dr. Platen, both being doubtless winter migrants from 

 Southern China. It is impossible to separate H. cinereiceps 

 of Kina Balu from H. ferruginea. Dr. Sharpe, after an 

 examination of my specimens, agrees with this conclusion. 



CULICICAPA PANAYENSIS, SliarpC. 



Found by my hunters only among the hills up to about 

 3000 feet, where it seemed to be rather abundant, as a small 

 series was obtained within a few days. The Palawan birds 

 do not appear to differ from typical specimens. 



Chalcostetha insignis (Jard.). 



A common species, especially in the mangrove-swamps, a 

 situation which has great attraction for all the species of 

 Sun-birds in Palawan. These birds were pairing early in 

 February, and when walking through such a swamp one 

 morning I was a witness of the whole process of their court- 

 ship. The cock bird would perch on a twig within a foot 

 or two of his mate, draw himself up stiffly erect, slowly 

 tilt his head back until his beak pointed to the sky, and so 

 remain for a space motionless as a statue. He evidently 

 made a point of always fronting the morning sun, and the 

 curious attitude of the head, causing the refulgent gorget to 

 swell outward, is no doubt assumed for the purpose of 

 causing its beams to play upon the metallic plumage of the 

 throat. The hen meanwhile would pretend to be busy hunt- 

 ing for food, but it was clear that she was fully conscious of 

 her maters display, for an incessant rapid quivering agitated 

 her whole body and she kept up a continuous low twittering- 

 sound. Presently the cock would fly close to her and flutter 



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