collected in the Philippine Islands, 219 



and only four specimens of this species were secured, three of 

 which were males. Though we were aware of their presence 

 for weeks, it was only towards the end of our stay that the 

 first bird was shot. 



Iris and bill black ; feet pinkish white. 



110. Megalurus PALusTRis (Horsf.). (Grant, Ibis, 1894, 

 p. 510; 1895, pp. 254,448.) 



This species is common in Luzon in open marshy country : 

 it was also met with up to 4000 feet in Benguet, frequenting 

 the coarse high bamboo-grass, iip the stems of which it works 

 its way with a swinging side-to-side motion. When the top 

 of the stem is reached (often stems of 8 or 9 feet), the bird 

 sings its pleasant song, and shortly drops into the tangled 

 grass-thicket, where its presence is made known by a few 

 sharp notes uttered from time to time. 



Iris light hazel ; the upper mandible brown and the lower 

 dull white ; feet pinkish brown. 



111. Megalurus ruficeps Tweedd. (Grant, Ibis, 1894, 

 p. 510; 1895, p. 448. 



The Red-headed Megalurus — unlike the last species, which 

 lias a wide geographical range — is apparently confined to the 

 Philippines, and is perhaps a more skulking bird in its habits 

 than M. jjalustjis, being often found in the most tangled 

 patches which are met with here and there in high forest. 

 In the Luzon highlands it was not uncommon at 5000 

 feet, frequenting the deep fern-and-grass-choked gullies 

 on the mountain-sides. I also met with it at 5000 feet in 

 Mindoro in thick bamboo-tangles in the oak-forests. 



Iris hazel ; upper mandible black, lower white ; feet dull 

 pinkish brown. 



112. Orthotomus frontalis Sharpe. (Grant, Ibis, 1897, 

 p. 229.) 



The Philippine Tailor-birds, of which no fewer than eight 

 species have been described, are generally of skulking habits, 

 being found in true forest and neglected clearings. In thick 

 forests they frequent the bamboo-tangles and the carpet 

 of big-leaved plants which cover the floor of many forests. 



q2 



