Menage Expedition to the Philippines 147 



the back of its head. This surprised me greatly, as I had killed 

 it with fine shot, and had been particular to fire when its head 

 was concealed by a branch. Closer examination showed that 

 what I had supposed to be a blood spot was a bunch of red 

 feathers, squarely in the center of the blue spot on the head. 

 It is a most singular modification, and it seemed at first as if 

 it must be a freak, but this red blotch is universally present on 

 the heads of ijiale birds, and the new Prioniturus from Tawi 

 Tawi is the most remarkable, as well as the most beautiful, 

 species of this genus yet discovered in the Philippines. We were 

 able to secure a good series of specimens in fine plumage. 



A few days later I went to what is known as "the big river," 

 some six or eight miles inland, to hunt for kingfishers. I ex- 

 pected to find Ceyx argentata, or some closely allied species. I 

 did find a new red Ceyx, and also, to my great surprise, a new 

 Alcedo. Both of these are fine birds. The red Ceyx resembles, 

 in a general way, the red Ceyx from Basilan, though sufficiently 

 different in coloring to leave no doubt whatever of its being 

 a different bird, but the most remarkable thing is the change 

 in habits. The Basilan bird is strictly a woods bird, subsisting 

 entirely on insect food, and never found along streams. The 

 Tawi Tawi bird is invariably found along streams, feeds on 

 crabs and shrimps, and is so reluctant to leave the water that 

 it is comparatively easy to shoot one after once seeing it. The 

 Alcedo was a great surprise. Only one species, Alcedo Ten- 

 galensis, has hitherto been known from the Philippines. This 

 ranges over the entire archipelago, and occurs in Tawi Tawi. 

 I was so much surprised to find this new bird there that I marked 

 the first few specimens *'Ceyx" in spite of appearances ; but 

 I saw enough of the bird and its habits before leaving to satisfy 

 me that it is a true Alcedo. We got good series of both these 

 fine kingfishers. We also obtained a single specimen of a new 

 black and white pitta. This was killed at the very close of our 

 stay by Mateo, and he got so excited when he saw it that he 

 shot it very badly, and I was obliged to make an alcoholic spec- 

 imen of it. These are birds of which we can speak with consid- 

 erable certainty. 



We also have the following: A sunbird most resembling 

 Cinnyris Juliae, of Basilan, but differing from any specimens 

 we ever secured in the greatly increased amount of red on the 



