PTILOCICHLA. 523 



500. PTILOCICHLA BASILANICA Steere. 

 BASILAN GROUND BABBLER, 



Ptiooichla (f) basilanica STEERE, List Birds and Mams. Steere Exped. 



(1890), 18 (error). 

 Ptilocichla basilanica STEERE, Ibis, (1891), 312, pi. 7; SHABPE, Hand-List 



(1903), 4, 40; MCGREGOR and WORCESTER, Hand-List (1906), 81. 



Basilan (Steere Eocp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino). 



Adult. Above dark or reddish . brown, most of the feathers with 

 lighter shafts, feathers of head darker and with blackish brown margins ; 

 lores white, some of the feathers tipped with black ; line under eye white ; 

 line over eye extending to nape white; ear-coverts brown with light 

 shafts, bordered below by a narrow white line which is separated from 

 the white chin and throat by a black line; feathers of breast, abdomen, 

 and tail-coverts with wide median white stripes and black edges; sides 

 and flanks reddish brown with lighter shafts; thighs brown; primaries, 

 secondaries, and rectrices blackish brown, their shafts black, and outer 

 edges reddish brown; wing-coverts reddish brown with light shafts. A 

 male measures: Wing, 70; tail, 47; culmen from base, 19; bill from 

 nostril, 11: tarsus, 27. A female, wing, 70; tail, 46; culmen from base, 

 20; bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 27. 



"Common in Basilan. Lives on the ground, or near it, and some- 

 times perches on stones, fallen trees, or roots. Note not in the least like 

 that of P. falcata. Plilocichla basilanica always seems loth to take 

 flight, and one can readily secure it by following it carefully as it runs 

 along the ground, uttering its complaining note at frequent intervals. 

 Sooner or later one is sure to catch sight of it in some little open place, 

 though the protective coloring makes it hard to see. 



"Twenty-two males average: Length, 155; wing, 73; tail, 48; culmen, 

 20; tarsus, 27; middle toe with claw, 26. Fifteen females, length, 150; 

 wing, 71; tail, 45; culmen, 20; tarsus, 26; middle toe with claw, 25. 

 Iris chocolate-brown; legs, feet, and nails light brown; upper mandible 

 black, lower ashy gray." (Bourns and Worcester MS.) 



501. PTILOCICHLA M INDANENSIS Steere. 

 MINDANAO GROUND BABBLER. 



Ptilocichla (?) mindancnsis-STEEitE, List Birds and Mams. Steere Exped. 



(1890), 18. 

 Ptilocichla mindancnsis SIIARPE, Hand-List (1903), 4, 40; MCGREGOR and 



WORCESTER, Hand-List (1906), 81. 

 Ptilopyga mindanensis BLASIUS, Jour, fur Orn. (1890), 146. 



Mindanao (Steere Exp., Platen, Bourns d Worcester, Ceiestino) . 



"Above fulvous-brown; feathers of head narrowly edged with black; 

 feathers of back showing indistinct shaft-stripes; below much as in P. 

 basilanica which it equals in size also. It is readily separated by the 



