574 
Birds of Celebes: Sturnidae, 
* 240. BASILEORNIS GALEATUS A.B.M. 
Greater King Starling. 
Plate XXXVI. 
Basileornis galeatus (I) Meyer, Abli. Mas. Dresd. 1894, Nr. 2, p. 2, fig.; (2) M. & Wg., ib. 
1896, Nr. 2, p. 19. 
“Banding”, Banggai, Nat. Ooll. 
Figure and description. Meyer I. 
Diagnosis. Differs from B. celebensis in having the crest about 3 times as high; the tail 
more rounded, the outermost feather being about 20 mm shorter than the middle 
ones, as against 10 mm in the mainland species; size larger. 
Bill yellow'sh white; legs and feet yellow, claws browner (in skin). 
Young. The crest much shorter than in the adult; chin brown, throat less glossy; upper 
mandible clouded with dusky; general plumage less glossy (Banggai — 0 14719). 
Iffeasurements. 
Wing 
Tail 
Tarsus 
Bill from 
nostril 
a. (0 13283) ad., type, locality unknown 
144 
100 
32.5 
18 
b. (0 14718) ad., Banggai Id., V. — Vlii. 95 (Nat. Coll.) 
149 
99 
34 
20 
c. (0 14716) ad., Banggai Id., V.— Vill. 95 (Nat. Ooll.) 
mlt. 
94 
32 
17 
d. (0 14717) ad., Banggai Id., V.— VTH. 95 (Nat. Ooll.) 
143 
97 
32 
18 
e. (0 14719) juv., Banggai Id., V. — VTH. 95 (Nat. Ooll.) 
137 
93 
30 
16 
Distribution. Banggai Island (Nat. Ooll. in Dresd. & Tring Mus.). 
This fine species is known only from the small island of Banggai between 
East Celebes and Sula, where six specimens were collected by our hunters in 
1895. It is not known where the type of the species came from, but it appears 
to differ in no way from the Banggai birds. 
In respect of its crest this species appears to be a highly developed form 
of the simpler B. celebensis of the mainland of Celebes. A further modification 
of the crest is seen in B. corythaioc of Ceram. 
GENUS STREPTOCITTA Bp. 
A form peculiar to Celebes, easily distinguishable from the other Passeres 
of the island by its extremely long graduated tail, which is sometimes double 
the wing in length, with the outermost rectrix only about Vs the length of the 
middle ones. The feathers of the head are somewhat lengthened and “waxy”, 
those of the lores and nostril directed upwards and forwards, hiding the nostril. 
Bill about as long as the cranium, decurved, with a slight hook; a space of 
bare skin around and behind the eye; primary longer than in most Starlings, 
about 35 mm, 3'* and 4*'’* the longest; tarsus and feet black, the tarsus longer 
than the culmen and about equal to the middle toe with claw. The black of 
the plumage glossy. Sexes alike. 
