574 



Birds of Celebes: Sturnidae, 



+ * 240. BASILEORNIS GALEATUS A.B.M. 



Greater King Starling. 

 Plate XXXVI. 



Basileornis galeatus (I) Meyer, Abli. Mus. Dresd. 1894, Nr. 2, p. 2, fig.; (2) M. & Wg., ib. 



1896, Nr. 2, p. 19. 

 "Handing", Banggai, Nat. Coll. 

 Figure and description. Meyer I. 

 Diagnosis. Differs from B. cekbensis in having the crest about 3 times as high; the tail 



more roiiuded, the outermost feather being about 20 mm shorter than the middle 



ones, as against 10 mm in the mainland species; size larger. 



Bill yellow'sh white; legs and feet yellow, claws browner (in skin). 

 Young. The crest much shorter than in the adult; chin brown, throat less glossy; upper 



mandible clouded with dusky; general plumage less glossy (Banggai — 14719). 



Measurements. 



a. (C 13283) ad., type, locahty unknown 



b. (0 14718) ad., Banggai Id., V.— Vm. 95 (Nat. Coll.) 



c. (0 14716) ad., Banggai Id., V.-Vni. 95 (Nat. Coll.) 



d. (C 14717) ad., Banggai Id., V.— VTH. 95 (Nat. Coll.) 



e. (C 14719) juv., Banggai Id., V.— Vm. 95 (Nat. Coll.) 

 Distribution. Banggai Island (Nat. Coll. in Dresd. & Tring Mus.). 



Bill from 

 nosti-il 



18 

 20 

 17 

 18 

 16 



This fine species is known only from the small island of Banggai between 

 East Celebes and Sula, where six specimens were collected by our hunters in 

 1895. It is not known where the type of the species came from, but it appears 

 to differ in no way from the Banggai birds. 



In respect of its crest this species appears to be a highly developed form 

 of the simpler B. cekbensis of the mainland of Celebes. A further modification 

 of the crest is seen in B. corythaioc of Ceram. 



GENUS STREPTOCITTA Bp. 



A form peculiar to Celebes, easily distinguishable from the other Passeres 

 of the island by its extremely long graduated tail, which is sometimes double 

 the wing in length, with the outermost rectrix only about V3 the length of the 

 middle ones. The feathers of the head are somewhat lengthened and "waxy", 

 those of the lores and nostril directed upwards and forwards, hiding the nostril. 

 Bill about as long as the cranium, decurved, with a slight hook; a space of 

 bare skin around and behind the eye; P* primary longer than in most Starlings, 

 about 35 mm, 3'* and 4"' the longest; tarsus and feet black, the tarsus longer 

 than the culmen and about equal to the middle toe with claw. The black of 

 the plumage glossy. Sexes alike. 



