﻿BIRDS FROM THE ISLAND OF BASILAN. 289 



Locustella ochotensis (Midd.). 



A male taken January 2. The species was abundant on flooded rice land and 

 has not been recorded from Basilan. 



Orthotomus mearnsi sp. nov. 



Orthotonus frontalis Shakpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d ser. Zool. (1877), 6, 336-37 

 (pt.) ; Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1879), 72, McGregor axd Worcester, Hand- 

 List (1906), 88 (pt,). 



Specific characters. — Similar to Orthotomus frontalis Sharpe but chestnut of 

 forehead extending on crown to or nearly to posterior margin of eyes, not ending 

 abruptly; the whole crown and nape slightly suffused with chestnut; behind 

 eye the chestnut extends over side of nape; the crown never clear gray as in 

 0. frontalis. 



Type. — No. 6043, $, Bureau of Science Collection; Isabela, Basilan, P. I.; 

 December 15, 1906; R. C. McGregor and A. Celestino. 



Description of type. — Forehead, lores, and ring around eye chestnut, this color 

 extending on crown to about opposite center of eye and then gradually fading, 

 becoming merely a wash on occiput and neck; from behind eye the chestnut extends 

 backward a little stronger than on back of head; rest of upper parts, including 

 wings light olive-green; rectrices with light edges and wide, dusky tips; under 

 parts white with more or less of the gray bases of feathers showing on throat and 

 breast; flanks, pale greenish-yellow; thighs, chestnut. Total length in flesh, 4.5 

 inches; wing, 1.84; tail, 1.74; tarsus, 0.84. 



Female. — Tire female does not differ from the male. 



This species which is quite distinct, has been confused with O. frontalis, the 

 error having originated with Sharpe who apparently had one male from Zamboan- 

 ga, Mindanao, and two males from Basilan ; the latter were supposed to be young 

 birds. In the paper cited, Sharpe says : "The two young specimens seen to me 

 to belong to the same species as the adult male : but this is by no means certain ; 

 for in one specimen I can detect a slight rufous shade on the sides of the crown, 

 the adult 0. frontalis of course not having this colouring." 



Tweeddale also remarked the same difference and ascribed it to individual 

 variation. He says : "The amount of rufous on the head of this species varies 

 considerably in different individuals. In some it occupies the whole forehead 

 and extends back to the vertex, and also colours the ear-coverts and a broad 

 space below the eyes." 



For comparison with Basilan birds I have had two examples collected by 

 Meams near Zamboanga and three collected by Clemens near Camp Keithley, 

 Lake Lanao, Mindanao. The large series collected by us in Bohol are identical 

 with specimens from Mindanao. 



Orthotomus cinereiceps Sharpe. 



Fairly abundant. Specimens occur with different amounts of white on chin 

 and throat and I believe this is a sign of immaturity, the old birds having chin 

 ■uid throat pure black. 



Acanthopneuste borealis (Bias.). 



A male was taken December 24 and a female January 2. The occurrence of 

 this species in Basilan appears to have been overlooked. 



Artamus leucorhynchus (Linn.). 

 Fairly abundant. 



Otomela lucionensis (Linn.). 

 A few examples seen. 



60053 3 



