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Show 1885.] DURING THE VOYAGE OF THE YACHT • MARCHESA.' 253 Iris brown ; tarsus brownish yellow. Length 16*5-16*wing 9*4-9*6 centims. The five individuals of this species, all of which are males, are almost identical both in colouring and measurement. The forehead is bright orange-red, shading off into a rich orange on the nape. Back and scapulars green, more or less washed with golden yellow ; rump and upper tail-coverts light crimson, almost scarlet in some lights, and with a silky gloss. The rest of the body-surface is green, with the exception of a pectoral patch of the same colour as the rump, which commences just below the chin. None show any trace of blue on the head. This series, then, does not seem to differ appreciably from L. hartlaubi, described by Lord Tweeddale, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 819; and a comparison with the skins in the collection of the British Museum shows merely a slightly more scarlet shade in the red of the Sulu examples. But L. bonapartei of Souance also appears identical in every way, and I have therefore adopted his title. In his description the beak is said to be black. It is worthy of note that in the five Sulu examples under consideration the colour of the beak is different in nearly every case. In two birds it is noted as "red," while in the remaining three it is " brown black," " brownish," and " very dark yellow." Yet no one bird appears more adult than another. It is curious that in all the Sulu birds the beaks in the dried skin are black. 6. HALIASTUR INTERMEDIUS, Gurney. Haliastur intermedius, Gurney, Ibis, 1865, p. 28 ; idem, 1866, p. 247. Hab. Luzon (Meyer) ; Guimaras (Meyer) ; Zebu, Leyte, Bohol, Negros, and Mindanao (Everett) ; Malanipa (H.M.S. 'Challenger'); Sulu (Guillemard) ; Celebes, Borneo (Mottley). a. cf • Sulu Island. An old male, the black shafts of the white feathers on the head much prolonged beyond the web of the feather. Iris light pearly yellow ; beak pea-green, bluish at base ; tarsus pale yellow; claws black. Length 45*0 centims. ; wing 38*3. Common on Sulu Island. 7. ELANUS HYPOLEUCUS, Gould. Elanus hypoleucus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 127; Walden, L. S. viii. p. 36 ; id. ibid. ix. p. 142 ; Tweed. P. Z. S. 1877, p. 757; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 314. Hab. Luzon (Jagor) ; Zebu (Everett) ; Mindanao and Basilan (Everett) ; Sulu (Burbidge); N.W. Borneo (Treacher); Celebes (Forsten). 8. BUTASTUR INDICUS (Gmelin). Falco indicus, Gm. S. N. i. p. 264. Butastur indicus, Walden, Tr. Z. S. vol. ix. part ii. p. 143. Hab. Luzon and Guimaras (Meyer) ; Panay and Mindanao |
