“Eight males from Basilan measure, 134 in length; wing, 58; tail, 21; culmen, 36; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.
“Eighteen females from the same place measure, 135 in length; wing, 58; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 14.
“Four males from Mindanao measure, length, 135; wing, 58; tail, 22; culmen, 39; tarsus, 8; middle toe with claw, 15.
“Two females from same island measure, 143 in length; wing, 59; tail, 23; culmen, 39; tarsus, 9; middle toe with claw, 16.
“Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails scarlet to orange-red. Usually keeps near ground. Occasionally alights 5 to 10 meters above ground. Food, insects and their larvæ.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
277. CEYX SAMARENSIS Steere.
SAMAR KINGFISHER.
- Ceyx samarensis Steere, List Birds & Mams. Steere Exped. (1890), 10; Grant, Ibis (1897), 243; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 53; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 53.
- Ceyx melanura Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 180 (part).
Leyte (Steere Exp.); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).
“Upper surface deep rufous; interscapulars forming two broad black bands; wings black, coverts black and spotted with cobalt; sides of the head rich lilac; breast and upper abdomen lilac, fainter behind. Length, 147; tail, 30; bill, 30; wing, 66; middle toe with claw, 15. Differs from true C. melanura of Luzon in its larger size, in coloring of cheeks and breast, and in amount of coloring on the lower surface.” (Steere.)