IRENA. 501 
“Adult male—Crown of head and nape deep cobalt-blue as in J. 
cyanogastra; sides of neck, back, and scapulars velvety black; lower back 
washed with cobalt, this becoming rich cobalt on upper tail-coverts; tail 
black, washed with deep cobalt; wings marked with cobalt much as in 
cyanogastra; under surface deep velvety black, feathers of abdomen 
slightly washed with blue; under tail-coverts deep cobalt. 
“Adult female-—Chin and throat velvety black; breast, abdomen, and 
flanks purplish blue. Size that of cyanogastra. I. elle can be readily 
distinguished from I. cyanogastra, its nearest ally, by its black back.” 
(Steere). 
“This fine Zrena was discovered by Bourns the first time that we 
succeeded in reaching the woods back of the town of Catbalogan in 
Samar, in 1888 ‘Three males average, 252 in length; wing, 125; tail, 
102; culmen, 31; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 23. A female, length, 
257; wing, 123; tail, 103; culmen, 31; tarsus, 16; middle toe with 
claw, 23. Bull, legs, feet, and nails ‘black; iris red.” (Bourns and 
Worcester MS.) 
473. IRENA MELANOCHLAMYS Sharpe. 
BLACK-MANTLED FAIRY BLUEBIRD, 
Irena melanochlamys SHARPE, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1877), 3, 266; Trans. 
Linn. Soc. 2d ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 334, pl. 51, fig. 2; Hand-List (1901), 
3, 309; McGrecor and WorcrestTER, Hand-List (1906), 79. 
Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor) ; Minda- 
nao (Bourns é Worcester). 
Adult.—Very similar to Irena cyanogastra, but the upper back and 
mantle black instead of deep blue. Iris cherry red; bill, legs, and nails 
black. Length, about 230. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 121; 
tail, 102; culmen from base, 27; bill from nostril, 19; tarsus, 18. A 
female measures: Wing, 118; tail, 98; culmen from base, 28; tarsus, 20. 
“This fairy bluebird is a strictly deep woods form and a very fine 
singer ; it is rather shy, but can readily be procured, as it never remains 
silent for any length of time. It is often difficult to distinguish from 
Dicrurus striatus when seen at a little distance, unless its tail is in plain 
view. All of the Philippine Jrenide are difficult to collect in good con- 
dition. They have very thin skins and loose feathers, and frequently 
ruin themselves in falling. They all feed on fruit. Ten males from 
Basilan average: Length, 236; wing, 120; tail, 98; culmen, 30; tarsus, 
18; middle toe with claw, 22. Eleven females, length, 229; wing, 116; 
tail, 96; culmen, 30; tarsus, 17; middle toe with claw, 22.” (Bourns 
and Worcester MS.) 
