Collected la the Philippine Islands. 397 



271. Prioniturus luzonensis Steere, (Grant, Ibis, 189-1, 

 p. 410; 1895, pp. 115, 466.) 



We found tliis beautiful species common about tlie £o;)t of 

 Monte Arayat, in Central Luzon, though we failed to meet 

 with it in Albay or Catanduanes. In North Luzon it was 

 abundant in the maize-fields, feeding on the flower at the 

 top of the plant. Young were obtained in the month of May 

 in Isabella. 



272. Prioniturus montanus Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 466. 

 While resting at the village of St. Jose, during our weary 



tramp through the Province of Al)ra to the highhmds of 

 Lepanto, a native brought me a Parrot in a cage, which I at 

 once saw must be either a new species or a bird imported 

 from Celebes. The Indians told me that the Parrot had 

 been snared in their maize-fields, and that it was common 

 enough when the cereal was ripe. They presented the bird 

 to me, and we carried it with us to the summit of Monte 

 Data, and thence to Manila, where it succumbed, probably to 

 the excessive heat. During my expedition to Benguet, on 

 three occasions I fancied I saw a green Parrot, but the birds 

 were so quick on the wing that in the forests it was im- 

 possible to shoot them. On reaching the summit of Monte 

 Data, however, we found the bird fairly common, and, just 

 after sunrise on those frosty mornings, small flocks would 

 dash round about our camp among the pine-trees with noisy 

 screeches. It seems curious that such a thoroughly tropical- 

 looking bird should prefer the cold of Monte Data, where 

 it freezes nightly, to the warm plains below. On our return 

 journey through Abra, this species and P. luzonensis were 

 found frequenting the same maize- fields. 



Iris dark brown ; bill and feet whitish lead-blue. 



273. Tanygnathus luconensis (Linn.). (Grant, Ibis, 

 1894, p. 410; 1896, pp. 475, 561 ; 1897, p. 248.) 



Common and met with in all the larger Philippine Islands, 

 nesting in numbers in old tree-trunks in the month of June 

 in Samar. 



Iris pale straw-yellow, with an inner ring of brown ; upper 



SKR. VII. VOL. V, 2e 



