McGregor: Philippine Birds, I 



271 



The species is named for Elmer Drew Merrill, botanist, Bureau 

 of Science, in recognition of his work on the phytogeography 

 of the Philippine Islands. 



Platalea minor Temminck and Schlegel. Fig. 2. 



Platalea minor Temminck and Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, Aves 

 (1850), 120, PI. 76; Stejneger, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. (1887), 10, 

 4 and 281; 0. Grant, Ibis (1889), 54, PI. 1, figs. 3, 3a, and 6; 

 Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. (1898), 26, 50 and note on p. 49; 

 Hand-list Bds. (1899), 1, 188; McGregor, Phil. Journ. Sci. (1906), 

 1, 766; Man. Phil. Bds. (1909), 159. 



I have recorded the taking of two specimens of the lesser 



Fig. 2. PlataUa minor Temminck and Schlegel, three views of the bill, from a specimen 

 collected by Charles S. Banks, at Dagnipan, Luzon, P. I. One-half natural size. 



spoonbill in Luzon, and in November, 1910, I had the pleasure 

 of seeing living birds of this species near Obando, Bulacan Prov- 

 ince, Luzon. I now have additional information regarding this 

 species. 



Northwest of Manila the land is low and flat and is traversed 

 by numerous streams that form the delta of the Pampanga and 

 other smaller rivers. A part of this low land has been con- 

 verted into ponds for the culture of baiTgos, Chanos chanos 

 Forskal, while an immense area is devoted to the nipa palm, 

 Nipa fruticans Wurmb, the source of nipa alcohol. Oysters 

 are cultivated in the larger streams. At low tide wide mud 

 flats are exposed along the shore, and during migrations these 



