Part 160

Adult.--Differs from T. javensis in having a wide band of light buff across the lower back thus resembling T. mindorensis from which it differs in having a much stouter bill and in having lower mandible gray or horn-white; lower mandible in dry skin dull yellow with a gray tip. In males the red malar-stripe is longer than in the other species mentioned and many of the black feathers of chin and sides of neck are tipped with red. Length of male, 420; wing, 220; tail, 180; culmen from base, 51; bill from nostril, 38; width of bill at base, 20; tarsus, 36. Wing of female, 218; tail, 185; culmen from base, 52; bill from nostril, 38; tarsus, 33.

The description and measurements above are from specimens taken in Masbate, one of the type localities of Thriponax philippinensis of Steere. In Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum the type locality of Thriponax hargitti is given as Palawan. Of these two supposed species Grant says: "The types have been compared and agree in all particulars." It seems to me almost incredible that this genus should be represented by the same species in Masbate and Palawan but as I have seen no specimens from the latter island I follow Grant's identification.

"Iris yellow; legs, feet, and nails leaden; upper mandible black, lower horn-gray. Three males average, 430 in length; wing, 207; tail, 174; culmen, 50; tarsus, 48; middle toe with claw, 39. Three females, length, 410; wing, 204; tail, 169; culmen, 50; tarsus, 31; middle toe with claw, 39." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Order EURYLÆMIFORMES.

BROAD BILLS.

Bill very wide and depressed; nostrils basal, round, and exposed; third and fourth toes united for nearly half their length.

Family EURYLÆMIDÆ.

Characters same as those given for the Order.

Subfamily EURYLÆMINÆ.

Genus SARCOPHANOPS Sharpe, 1877.

Eye surrounded by a wide fleshy wattle; tail short, rectrices strongly graduated; wings moderate, first primary shorter than sixth, fourth longest; a well-defined wing-bar across the secondaries.

Species.

a1. Back gray; wing-bar yellow and white. ... steeri (p. 410) a2. Back vinaceous; wing-bar vinaceous and white. ... samarensis (p. 411)

377. SARCOPHANOPS STEERI (Sharpe).

STEERE'S BROADBILL.

Eurylamus steerii Sharpe, Nature (1876), 14, 297. Sarcophanops steerii Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. (1877), 1, 344, pl. 54; Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 462; Bourns and Worcester, Occ. Papers Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. (1804), 1, 53; Hartert, Genera Avium, Eurylæmidæ (1905), 6, pl. 1, fig. 6 (head). Sarcophanops steerei Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 2; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.

Basilan (Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Mindanao (Steere Exp., Platen, Bourns & Worcester, Celestino).

Adult male.--Forehead and crown deep purple; a few spots of scarlet on occiput, not always present; feathers at base of bill with white bases; lores black; a white collar around neck; hind neck, back, and scapulars slate-gray; rump and tail-coverts chestnut, tipped with purple; tail chestnut; chin, throat, and sides of head black; breast, abdomen, and sides lilac, bases of the feathers white; middle of abdomen white; under tail-coverts white, tinged with lilac; thighs blackish gray; wings black; edge of wing and of first primary white; a distinct bar of golden yellow on secondaries, changing to white on inner secondaries; wing-lining black, axillars white. A male from Basilan measures: Wing, 85; tail, 64; culmen from base, 22; bill from nostril, 14; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 22.

Adult female.--Similar, but under parts pure white except the black chin and throat and gray thighs. A female from Basilan measures: Wing, 86; tail, 64; culmen from base, 23; bill from nostril, 15; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 21.

"There has been some difference of opinion between Dr. Steere and Mr. Everett as to the color of the eyes of this interesting species. Both were right and there was abundant room for still more divergence of opinion. The eyes of S. steerii are golden yellow, bright green, or a beautiful blue according to the way the light strikes them.

"The young show some interesting plumage changes. An immature male has the under surface white, some of the feathers tipped with pale lilac; chin black but throat white, a few black feathers just appearing; head as in adult but white nuchal collar much narrower; back and wing-coverts washed with olive-green, the wing-bar being ill-defined and paler than in adult; rump and tail as in adult. Bill as in adult except center of upper mandible which is black.

"Another young male, slightly older, has chin and throat black, the feathers narrowly tipped with white and shows more lilac on breast. Crown, nape, and back washed with olive-green, purple appearing on one or two feathers of forehead. Bill pure black.

"A young female is like the first young male described but without lilac on under surface." (Bourns and Worcester.)

"Usually found in deep woods in small flocks; once seen in a mangrove swamp close to the sea. It usually takes short flights, making a loud whir with its wings, and sits perfectly still for some time after. When perched on a limb, it has a curious habit of snapping its bill which produces a sound audible for some distance. Its food consists of insects which it holds in its bill and raps several times on a limb before swallowing. Its note is a plaintive whistle and it may be readily decoyed by imitating its call. At the discharge of a gun it does not fly away but sits perfectly still.

"Iris blue, green, or golden according to the light; bill, legs, feet, and eye-wattle light blue; nails nearly white. Ten males from Basilan average: Length, 174; wing, 84; tail, 60; culmen, 24; tarsus, 22; middle toe with claw, 25. Ten females average: Length, 172; wing, 85; tail, 87; culmen, 24; tarsus, 20; middle toe with claw, 24." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

378. SARCOPHANOPS SAMARENSIS Steere.

SAMAR BROADBILL.

Sarcophanops samarensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere Exp. (1890), 23; Bourns and Worcester, Minnesota Acad. Nat. Sci. Occ. Papers (1894), 1, 54; Hartert, Genera Avium, Eurylæmidæ (1905), 6; Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 2; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 68.