SI 



ARACHNOTHERA FLAMMIFEEA. 



(ORANGE-TUFTED SPIDER-HUNTER.) 



Arachnothera flammifera, Tweeddale, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 343. 



3 ad. supra olivascenti-flavus, frontis et verticis plumis medialiter brunneo notatis : tectricibus alarum 

 minimis et medianis dorso concoloribus : majoribus et remigibus saturate bruuneis extus olivascenti- 

 flavo marginatis, secundariis latius : rectricibus nigricanti-brunneis dorsi colore extus lavatis, exteri- 

 oribus intiis ad apicem albo maculatis : capite laterali cinerascente : gutture et praepectore pallide 

 cineraeeis : pectore medio albido : corporis lateribus, abdomine et subcaudalibus laete flavis : fasciis 

 pectoralibus aurantiaco-rubris : tibiis albidis flavo lavatis : subalaribus albis, vix flavido lavatis : remi- 

 gibus infra brunneis, intus albido limbatis : rostro nigro : pedibus saturate plumbeis : iride rubra, 



Hab. in insula Philippinensi " Leyte" dicta. 



Adult Male. Upper parts olive-yellow, with dark brown centres to the feathers of the forehead and crown ; 

 wings dark brown, the least and median series of coverts olive-yellow, and the remainder of the 

 feathers edged with that colour ; tail brownish black, the feathers edged with olive-yellow, and with 

 pale ends, broadest on the outer feathers, and fading into large white spots on the inner webs ; sides of 

 the head ashy grey ; chin and throat hoary ash-colour, gradually fading into whitish down the centre 

 of the breast ; sides of the body, abdomen, and under tail-coverts rich yellow ; pectoral tufts bright 

 orange; thighs whitish washed with yellow; under surface of the wings dark brown, with the coverts 

 and the inner margins of the wings white, the former slightly tinted with yellow ; bill black, with a 

 portion of the lower mandible towards the base grey ; irides salmon-red ; legs dark leaden grey. 

 Total length 5 inches, culmen T15, wing 2'4, tail 1"75, tarsus 06. 



Hab. Island of Leyte, in the Philippine archipelago. 



The Orange-tufted Spider-hunter is nearly allied in form and colouring to the common A. longi- 

 rostra and to A. dilutior from Palawan. It is a smaller bird than either ; and in the type speci- 

 men, an adult male, the deep orange-colour of the pectoral tufts is a well-marked specific 

 character. It is somewhat intermediate in colouring between the two above-named species : 

 thus the ashy colouring of the throat and the white centre to the chest agree best with 

 A. dilutior, while the bright yellow flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts at once distinguish 

 it from that bird and ally it more nearly to A. Jongirostra. 



In the type specimen before me the sides of the head have been damaged. It was collected 

 in the southern portion of the island of Leyte by Mr. Everett, in September 1877; and the 

 colouring of the irides and legs has been taken from his label. 



I am indebted to the Marquis of Tweeddale for allowing me to describe and figure the 

 unique specimen of this well-marked species. 



2u 



