SPECIES PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. 47 



Ceyx mindanensis Steere 



Ceyx mindanensis, List B. and M. Steere Exped. p. 10 (1890). 

 Ceyx basilanica Steere, List B. and M. Steere Exped. p. 10 (1890). Sharpe 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vol. xvii. p. 181 (1892). 

 Ceyx, platenae Bias., J. f. 10. 1890. p. 141. 



With a very large series of specimens from Mindanao and Basilan 

 at our disposal we are unable to detect the slightest difference 

 between the birds from the two islands and we therefore unite them 

 under the name C. mindanensis, as the Mindanao birds were obtained 

 and described first. Frequents forest or low second growth away 

 from water. 



Ceyx bournsi Steere. 



Ceyx bournsi Steere, List B. & M. Steere Exped, p. 10 (1890); Sharpe, Cat. 



B. Brit. Mus. p. 185, vol. xvii (1892). 

 Ceyx malamaui Steere, List B. & M. Steere Exped. p. 10 (1890); Sharpe, 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus. p. 184, vol. xvii (1892). 

 Ceyx suluensis Bias., J. f. O. p. 141 (1890). 

 Ceyx inargarethae Bias., J. f. O. 1890, p. 141. 



It will be noticed, doubtless with some surprise that we have 

 here united several apparently well marked species. We can only 

 request those who are inclined to doubt the reasonableness of our 

 action to postpone their final decision until they have inspected our 

 series of specimens. Our conclusions are based on a series of 

 sixty-six specimens from Tablas, Romblon, Sibuyan, Negros, Siqui- 

 jor, Cebu, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi. 



We find that we must either multiply the number of small blue 

 woods Ceyces from the Philippines indefinitely or reduce the 

 above mentioned species to one. It would be an almost endless 

 task to describe the different phases of plumage shown and we will 

 only say that we have a practically unbroken series between a bird 

 with a magnificent deep blue upper surface and a bird with a fine 

 silvery white upper surface which has not a blue feather on it. 



In the latter specimens the white occupies exactly the position of 

 the blue in the specimens first mentioned. 



Our series shows that these extraordinary differences of color are 

 independent of 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 dif- 

 ferences 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. Bill, legs, feet and nails 

 are bright scarlet in adults. In the young the bill is at first black 

 tipped with pale horn and the legs and feet are pale flesh color. 



