382 
Birds of Celebes: Muscicapidae. 
the species was recorded by H. O. Forbes from Amboina (P. Z. S. 1884, 431), and 
later again mentioned from the same island by Brittikofer (Notes Leyden Mns. 
1893, XV, 92). These two Amboina specimens are somewhat smaller than 
W. Blasius’s type, and it may be doubted where that bird really came from, 
though Amboina or the neighbourhood are the most probable localities (cf. also 
Salvad. , Agg. Orn Pap. 1890, 77). 
GENUS ZEOCEPHUS Bp. 
A Philippine genus of Flycatchers, now known also from Talaut. The bill 
is very large, the culmen from the cranial suture about as long as the cranium, 
and longer than the tarsus, the rictal bristles large ; wing rather long, the second 
quill about as long as the secondaries: the tail long, as long or longer than 
the wings, the two middle feathers more or less produced. The Talaut bird 
and one of the Philippine species are of a cinnamon-rufous colour, another 
form is greyish blue. The feathers of the head are rather short and velvety. 
+ * 134. ZEOCEPHUS TALAUTENSIS M.&Wg. 
Talaut Ferruginous Flycatcher. 
Plate XVI. 
Zeocephus talautensis (1) M. &Wg., J. f. 0. 1894, 243; (2) iid., Abh. Mus. Bresd. 1895, 
Nr. 9, p. 4. 
“Tabaheo”, Talaut, Nat. Coll. 
Adult. Above and below deep orange-ferruginous, somewhat the darkest on the under sur- 
face; tail duller; chest, and ear-coverts tinged with chestnut; inner webs of quills 
dusky for about their terminal half. Bill and feet in the skin leaden black (type, 
Salihahu, «(f” 28. Oct. 1893, Nat. Coll. — 0 13162). 
Younger. Like the adult, but below much paler; the lower breast and abdomen whitish; the 
head above washed with brown ; tail-feathers darker, passing into dusky for about the 
terminal 10 mm of the 3 middle pairs, shafts dark hrown. Under bill greyish horn- 
colour (Kabruang, 11. XL 93 — 0 13160). 
Measurements. Wing 88 — 95 mm; tail 82 — 95; bill from nostril 14.5 — 15.5; tarsus 17 mm c. 
Distribution. Talaut Is. — Kabruang, Salibabu and Karkellang (Nat. Coll, in Dresd. and 
Tring Museums). 
Numerous examples of this Flycatcher were obtained by our native collectors 
in Talaut on three expeditions in 1893, 1894 and 1896. They were killed in 
the autumn or late autumn, and at this time, when the rainy season is commenc- 
ing, the birds moult. Zeocephus has hitherto been known only as a Philippine 
genus, and Z. talautensis speaks for the Philippine character of its habitat, also 
shown by other species; though again other Talaut species have their nearest 
affinities in Sangi and elsewhere. 
The present species may be distinguished from Z. rufus (Gray) of the 
Philippines — Luzon, Panay, Negros, Marinduque, Mindoro, Mindanao, Basilan, 
