MALINDANG SHORTWING.
- Brachypteryx malindangensis Mearns, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. (1909), 36, 441.
Mindanao (Mearns).
“Characters.—Most closely related to Brachypteryx brunneiceps Grant and B. mindanensis Mearns. Smaller than brunneiceps, about equaling mindanensis; coloration very dark; russet of front of head intensified to almost a burnt umber, and not extending backward beyond the eyes; edge and lining of wings, slate-color, instead of rusty.
“Adult male * * *.—Uniformly slate-black, becoming practically black on the whole head, except a minute and wholly concealed supraorbital white spot. Iris dark reddish brown; bill all jet-black; feet and claws plumbeous-black (from fresh specimen).
“Adult female (type).—Front of the head back to the eyes rusty burnt umber, with eye-ring of same color; hind half of head, neck all round, and all of body except abdomen, blackish slate; abdomen washed with brownish gray; wings and tail brownish black, washed with slate-color; edge and lining of wings slate-color, not russet. The colors of the iris, bill, and feet were noted as exactly like those of the male topotype.
“Measurements.—Adult male * * *: Total length, 160; alar expanse, 222; wing, 70; tail, 60; culmen (chord), 14.5; bill from nostril, 9; tarsus, 32; middle toe with claw, 24. Adult female (type): Total length, 148; alar expanse, 213; wing, 66; tail, 53; culmen (chord), 13; bill from nostril, 8.5; tarsus, 34; middle toe with claw, 24.5.” (Mearns.)
Family TURDIDÆ.
Bill slender; moderate to small in size; culmen curved near the tip; a slight notch in the cutting edge of bill; bristles about the bill usually reduced; wing flat and pointed; first primary not more than one-half of second, and often much less; tarsi and feet moderate to large, the former entire in front except for the lower part; young in first plumage spotted.[70]