Birds of Celebes: Timeliidae. 5Q5 



Ver. Bremen 1876, V, 63; (VJ Wald., Ibis 1876, 376, 378, pi. XI, fig. 2; (6) 

 Lenz, J. f. O. 1877, 373; (7) Meyer, Iljis 1879, 126; (8) Buttik., Notes Leyden 

 Mus. 1895, XVn, 88; (9) M. & Wg., Abh. Mus. Dresd. 1896, Nr. 2, p. 18; (10) 

 Hart, Nov. Zool. 1897, 161. 



a. Macronus celebensis (1) Gray, HL. I, 1869, 318, Nr. 4763. 



b. Brachyteryx celebensis (1) W. Bias., J. f. O. 1883, 137. 



c. Turdinus celebensis (1) Sharpe, Cat. B. VII, 1883, 542; (2) Guillem., P. Z. S. 1885, 552; 



(3j M. & Wg., Abb. Mus. Dresd. 1895, Nr. 8, p. 12. 



"Terrek", near Manado, Guillem. c 2. 



"Kios"', near Manado, Nat. Coll. 



"Kore-kore-bia", Mantebage, Lembeb, and Banka, Nat. Coll. 



"Sese", Tonkean, E. Celebes, Nat. Coll. 



Figures and descriptions. Strickland 7; Walden V; Briiggem. 4; Sbarpe c 1. 



Adult. Above raw umber, duller and more olive on the bead and bind neck, brigbter and 

 inclining to russet on tbe upper tail-coverts; quills dusky bro\\m, externally like tbe 

 back; tail-featbers dusky bro^vm, externally brigbter russet than the upper tail- 

 coverts; chin and throat and abdomen wliite, becoming olivaceous smoke-gi'ey on 

 the sides of the neck (where it passes over into the bro-ftTi of the hind neck), 

 breast and sides; the flanks and under wing-coverts strongly tinged with 

 fulvous or wood-brown; thighs and under tail-coverts wood-brown; quills and 

 tail-feathers below dusky brown, where the foimer rest upon the body pale drab 

 (cf, Kema, 14. IX. 93: Sarasin Coll.). 



Ms brown; bill black, under mandible bluish; feet grey-blue (Sarasin Coll.j. 



Sexes. Sexual differences of coloration do not appear to exist. 



Measurements. Wing 70—80 mm ca.; tail 52 — 60 ca.; tarsus 25—26; bill from nostril 

 10—11. 



Immature. Sunilar to the adult, but less tawny and duller on the lower back and tail- 

 coverts and redder on the tail, the wliite of the under sm"face more extended on 

 sides of neck and middle of breast. Wing fmovdting) 64, 70 mm; tail 52; tarsus 25. 

 "Iris brown; bill above black, below yellowish green; feet reddish grey" {(f, Kema, 

 1. Vin. 93: Sarasin Coll.). 



Tbe bird moults (perhaps twice a year?) once about August — September, as 

 shown by two of tbe Drs. Sarasins' specimens. 



Variation. Possibly a racial difference is discernible in the plumage of bu-ds in tbe East 

 Peninsula. Oui* single example from Tonkean has, compared vfith northern sjjecimens, 

 less white on the abdomen and more isabelline-brown on the sides of the head and 

 ilanks, spreading also over the breast, where tbe ty]^)ical form is greyer. 



Distribution. North, West and East Celebes: Minabassa (Meyer 5, 7, Fischer 4, Guillemard 

 c 2, Nat. Coll. in Dr. Mus., Sarasin Coll.); Mantebage, Banka, Lembeb (Nat. Coll. 

 in Dresd. Mus.); Dongala and Tawaya, W. Celebes (Doberty 10); Tonkean, E. Celebes 

 (Nat. Coll. in Dresd. Mus.). 



This Babbler was until quite recently known only from North Celebes and 

 the islands off the coast, but it has now been recorded from the West and 

 East of the island. It seems to be rather rare in collections and was found by 

 Meyer to be a difficult bird to get, as it has the habit of concealing itself in 

 the interior of low bushes. Its nearest relation is perhaps T. jinschi of the 

 Macassar district which seems to be its southern representative. This bird may 



Meyer * Wi<;les wortlu Birds of Celebes (Not. 12tli, 1S97I. 64 



