“Frequents bushes in open fields like C. viridis. Very common in Mindoro. Four males average, 445 in length; wing, 167; tail, 268; culmen, 37; tarsus, 35; middle toe with claw, 40. A female measures, 476 in length; wing, 176; tail, 279; culmen, 32; tarsus, 42; middle toe with claw, 42. Iris red; bill, legs, and feet black. Food insects.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
The Mindoro coucal builds a bulky globular nest of grass, with an entrance on one side. A nest found in April was situated in a thick bed of giant grass. The two eggs are dull white and covered with a thin layer of a white, chalky substance; their measurements are 27.4 by 21.8 and 24.3 by 21.
344. CENTROPUS CARPENTERI Mearns.
BATAN ISLAND COUCAL.
- Centropus carpenteri Mearns, Phil. Jour. Sci. (1907), 2, sec. A, 356; McGregor, ibid., 340.
Batan (Mearns, McGregor).
Adult.—Similar to Centropus mindorensis (Steere), but slightly larger. Mearns gives the following measurements:
“Centropus carpenteri: Adult male type: Length, 440; wing, 166; tail, 278; chord of culmen, 32; depth of bill, 16; tarsus, 42; middle toe with claw, 44.
“Centropus mindorensis: Average of three males: Length, 398; wing, 153; tail, 238; chord of culmen, 29.2; depth of bill, 13.7; tarsus, 40; middle toe with claw, 42.”
Young.—A young bird taken June 4 is black; upper parts including wings and tail lightly glossed with green; chin and throat slightly mottled with gray; tips of primaries and secondaries slightly rufous; alula and all upper wing-coverts barred with rufous. Wing, 140; tail, 112; culmen from base, 26.