16 The Philippine Journal of Science ms 



given to me by Mr. Ickis and the tail of the mounted specimen 

 in the Bureau of Science collection is very imperfect. This 

 species has a very full crest, which the bird often expands, as 

 is well shown in the front view of the head published by Seth- 

 Smith (his fig. 4). 



Chastura dubia McGregor. Fig. 9. 



Chmtura dubia McGregor, Bur. Govt. Laboratories (1905), No. 34, 

 15, PI. XII (Mindoro). 



On April 2, 1911, Dr. and Mrs. H. C. Curl collected near Ca- 

 vite, Luzon, a large spine-tailed swift (No. 13270). This speci- 

 men is in somewhat worn plumage, but in colors and markings 

 it cannot be distinguished from the type of Chsetura dubia. This 

 appears to be the first positive record of any species of this 

 genus from Luzon. 



In 1902 I observed large swifts near Mariveles, Bataan Prov- 

 ince; and in January, 1918, at Dupax, Nueva Vizcaya Province, 

 large swifts flew over the town low enough to tempt us to shoot 

 at them. It was impossible for me to determine to what species 

 these belonged, but that they were one of the large species of 

 Chsetura there can be no doubt. The immense size of these 

 birds and the grace and high speed of their flight are extremely 

 characteristic. 



The following letter refers to some species of Chsetura: '' 



Baguio, March 16th, 1910. 

 My Dear Mr. McGregor: The first Sunday after my arrival I rode 

 my big horse to the top of Santo Tomas, over a pretty good trail. I saw 

 a number of birds about there but the thing that particularly interested 

 me was two pairs (apparently) of Chaetura, which were chasing each 

 other about the very summit of the mountain and repeatedly passed within 

 ten feet of my head. I have heretofore believed that the Luzon represen- 

 tative of this species did not have the white spots in front of the eyes, but 

 am now forced to change my opinion. I am quite positive that I saw 

 these white spots but as you know, this bird flies with tremendous velocity 

 and I could not be absolutely certain that this was the case. I am now 

 of the opinion that it will prove identical with the Mindoro species or 

 closely allied to it. 



Sincerely yours. 



Dean C. Worcester, 

 Secretary of the Interior. 



Ridgway * has made Chsetura picina Tweeddale the type of a 

 genus, Mearnsia. If this genus be recognized, Hirundapus 



'See also previous note by Mr. Worcester, This Journal (1906), 1, 766. 

 'Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. (1911), 50, Pt. V, 686. 



