The mountain racket-tailed parrakeet was discovered by Whitehead in the mountains of Abra and Lepanto Provinces. At San Jose a live bird was purchased. The natives said it “had been snared in their maize-fields and that it was common enough when the cereal was ripe.” We collected a number of specimens in Benguet Province where it was not uncommon though somewhat difficult to secure; the species is well known to the Igorot by the name “u-lis.” It is improbable that this beautiful parrot occurs below the pine belt but with our meager knowledge of the vertical distribution of birds in the Philippines it is better to follow this statement with a large interrogation mark. This species is very noisy and does not differ in habits from lowland members of the genus.

237. PRIONITURUS DISCURUS (Vieillot).
PHILIPPINE RACKET-TAILED PARRAKEET.

Pa-lé-ta, Manila; ma-ná-guin, Ticao; ca-gak′, Bohol.

Basilan (Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Doherty, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Catanduanes (Whitehead); Cebu (Everett, Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Guimaras (Meyer, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Leyte (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Luzon (Meyer, Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Cuming, Murray, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Celestino, Goodfellow); Negros (Steere Exp., Whitehead, Keay); Samar (Steere Exp., Whitehead); Sibuyan (Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Sulu (Burbidge, Platen, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester).

Adult.—General color green, vertex verditer-blue changing with the light; rest of head, neck, and face bright grass-green; rest of upper parts and wings dark green; below uniform yellowish green; spatules black, sometimes tinged with green or with blue; short rectrices blue along shaft, bordered with green and tipped with black. Sexes alike. Iris dark; cere very dark blue; bill light horn-blue; feet and nails darker blue. Length, including rackets, 292 to 317; four specimens from Ticao measure, wing, 160 to 169; tail without rackets, 76 to 85; culmen from cere, 21 to 23; tarsus, 15 to 17.

“A common and widely spread species. P. discurus, as well as the other five Philippine representatives of the genus, is usually met with in the forest or in fruit trees in the open, where it has gone to feed. At certain seasons it frequents the mangrove swamps. All the Philippine species are birds of very rapid flight, and scream almost constantly when on the wing. They usually fly in small flocks. In the forest they make the most of their protective coloring, and one may pass within ten feet of one without seeing it.

“Measurements are given exclusive of rackets. Four males from Basilan measure, 232 in length; wing, 149; tail, 66; culmen, 21; tarsus, 14; middle toe with claw, 28.