TS. 
CEYX. 317 
independent or sex, age, or locality, some young birds are very light, 
others very dark. In one case where parent and offspring were killed 
at one discharge of the gun they exhibited marked differences in color. 
“The amount of blue or white is, however, dependent on age to some 
extent, the young birds always showing much more black on the upper 
surface than do adults. In the young the bill is at first black tipped with 
pale horn and the legs and feet are pale flesh-color. 
“Ceyx bournsi is a strictly woods form and its shy habits doubtless 
explain its having been so generally missed by collectors.” (Bourns and 
Worcester.) 
“Found in precisely the same locality as C. mindanensis and in com- 
pany with it in the Islands of Mindanao and Basilan. Food the same as 
that of C. mindanensis. 
“When one thas learned its note and habits it may be secured without 
great trouble. It always gives a shrill ‘cheep’ just before taking wing, 
and repeats the same note at frequent intervals during flight. It flies 
with great rapidity, but usually for a short distance, when it alights on 
some branch, stump, or stone, where it sits perfectly still. It is a bird 
of extremely local habits, and displays great reluctance to leave the thicket 
to which it is accustomed. If pursued it usually flies in a circle, soon 
returning to the place from which it started, continuing to follow about 
the same course until the hunter either shoots it or gives up the attempt. 
When its route has been once learned, two men can easily bring it down, 
one driving it while the other waits near one of its favorite resting places. 
In this way we secured a considerable number of our specimens. We 
believe that this species never ‘fishes’ in the streams. 
“Tris dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails scarlet in adults, growing 
paler in immature birds. Very young birds have the bill black, with a 
whitish horn tip. Food, insects, larvee and worms. 
“Six males from Tawi Tawi measure as follows: Length, 140; wing, 
64; tail, 25; culmen, 38; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 16. Four 
females from Tawi Tawi: Length, 141; wing, 64; tail, 24; culmen, 37; 
tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17. 
“Five males from Tablas measure: Length, 146; wing, 65; tail, 25; 
culmen, 36; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 17. Four females from 
Tablas: Length, 145; wing, 66; tail, 25; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 
22; culmen, 36. 
“We have given measurements of birds taken at the extremes of the 
range of the species. It will be seen that the northern birds are slightly 
longer. As stated in our preliminary notes, the color of the dorsal surface 
of this bird varies from deep indigo-blue to pure silvery white, and this 
variation is independent of age, sex, or locality.” (Bourns and Wor- 
cester MS.) 
