IRENA. 501 



"Adult male. Crown of head and nape deep cobalt-blue as in /. 

 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. ellce can be readily 

 distinguished from I. cyanogastra, its nearest ally, by its black back." 

 (Steere). 



"This fine Irena 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. Bill, 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, pi. 51, fig. 2; Hand-List (1901), 

 3, 309; MCGREGOR and WORCESTER, Hand-List (1906), 79. 



Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor] ; Minda- 

 nao (Bourns & 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 Irenidce 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.) 





