A FEW RARE BIRDS FROM LUZON AND MINDORO 



By John T. Zimmer 

 (Port Moresby, Papua) 



In the collection of birds secured by me in the Philippines 

 during 1913 to 1916, inclusive, are various specimens that 

 through the rarity of the species concerned, unusual distribu- 

 tion, or peculiar plumage represent captures of special interest. 

 One form of thickhead (Laniidse) is described as new. Numbers 

 in tables and in parentheses after discussions of species refer 

 to my collection, which is at Lincoln, Nebraska, U. S. A. 



Acknowledgments are made to Mr. R. C. McGregor, of the 

 Philippine Bureau of Science at Manila, for the freedom of the 

 collection at that institution and for other generous assistance. 



Tumix whiteheadi Grant. 



On the night of October 25, 1914, I was crossing a stretch 

 of cogon-covered hills near Bondog Point in the southern part 

 of Tayabas Province, Luzon. I had a small acetylene lamp 

 fastened to my hat and was on the lookout for whatever might 

 appear in the ray of light before me, when suddenly a covey 

 of button quails got up from underfoot and, as usual, scattered 

 in all directions. One of the birds, blinded by the glare of the 

 light, flew directly into my hands, and I captured it before it 

 could escape. Upon examination it proved to be a female Tumix 

 whiteheadi. The habits and habitat of this species appear to 

 be little known, since the only specimens heretofore on record 

 were trapped by Filipinos and were sold in the Manila markets. 

 (No. 1117.) 



Leucotreron marchei (Oustalet). 



It has been supposed that this handsome pigeon was confined 

 to the Lepanto and Bontoc mountains of northern Luzon, but 

 it proves to occur in the southern part of Luzon also. On Decem- 

 ber 31, 1915, I secured an adult female from a small flock, at 

 about 1,500 meters' elevation (5,000 feet) on Mount Banahao, 

 Laguna Province. This specimen is identical with one from the 

 north. (No. 1333.) 



Sterna sinensis Gmelin. 



This tern is by no means common on Luzon. My only speci- 

 men is a female, which I shot out of a small flock wheeling 

 over the Las Piiias salt beds, near Manila, on September 12, 

 1915. (No. 1278.) 



155555 4 223 



