﻿BIRDS FROM THE ISLAND OF BASILAN. 28*5 



Hypothymis occipitalis (Yig.). 



A male in fine plumage was taken January 16; numerous other individuals 

 were seen. 



Hypothymis superciliaris Sliarpe. 



This species was fairly abundant and several specimens were taken. 



Cyanomyias cosiest is (Tweed. I. 



Fairly abundant and usually found in company with the last two species. In 

 a male taken February 2 the longest crest feathers measure 1.5 inches. The male 

 taken by me near Mariveles. Luzon, differs in no way from Basilan specimens. 



Rhipidura nigritorquis Vig. 

 A common species. 



Zeocephus cinnamomeus Sharpe. 



This race appears to differ very little from Zeocephus rufus, but fully adult 

 individuals are believed to be quite distinguishable. I will here transcribe per- 

 tinent MS. notes by Worcester and Bourns: "We have some suggestions to 

 offer, after looking over our series of thirty-one specimens frorii Luzon. Mindoro, 

 Panay. Xegros. Cebu, Basilan. Sulu. and Tawi Tawi. The immature birds of 

 Z. nifus have the white. belly and general coloring of Z. cinnamomeus. They are 

 not to be distinguished from birds of the latter species. Second, out of fifteen 

 specimens from the south, seven do not show a trace of white on the belly, and 

 are of a uniform deep rufous color. Third, we have a male bird in breeding 

 plumage from Cebu which is indistinguishable, so far as shade of rufous is con- 

 cerned, from Basilan birds. The confusion between the two species is thus readily 

 understood. Are they then distinct? We think they are for the following 

 reasons. The average fully adult bird from the northern islands is very much 

 darker in color than the darkest of the southern birds. The northern birds 

 have the tail much more strongly graduated than that of the birds from the south. 

 Xone of our specimens from the south show any special elongation of the 

 central tail-feathers. The northern birds in good plumage all have the central 

 tail-feathers decidedly elongated. In one specimen from Tablas and another from 

 Sibuyan the central tail-feathers exceed the rest by full three inches. Other 

 birds, collected at the same time and place do not show nearly so strong a 

 development of these feathers, but the fact remains that nothing even approaching 

 it is shown by our specimens from the south. 



"'The dark tips of the tail-feathers described by Dr. Sliarpe as characteristic of 

 Z. cinnamomeus are simply a sign of immaturity, as is the white of the belly. 



"Zeocephus rufus, then, inhabits the northern and central Philippines, and is 

 to be distinguished from Z. cinnamomeus by its darker color when fully adult. 

 and by its more strongly graduated tail, which has the central tail-feathers at 

 least three inches longer than the others when the birds are in perfect plumage. 

 A male from Sibuyan with elongated central tail-feathers measures 11.25 inches 

 in length : tail. 640." 



I may add that a male collected by me in Sibuyan June 28, 1!104. was 12 

 inches in total length and the tail measures 7.45. the central feathers exceeding 

 the others by 3.38. 



Abrornis olivacea Moseley. 



A female taken December 31 does not differ from a female taken in Bohol. 



Rhinomyias ruficauda (Sharpe). 

 Fairlv abundant in forest. 



