Lapoc, off Siasi (Bartsch); Sulu (Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester).
“The Sulu form differs from the Sula bird in smaller size (wings and tail) and somewhat smaller glossy spangles on the breast and from D. borneensis in having a larger bill and longer tail.” (Hartert.) Measurements of this species are given as follows: “Wing, 145 to 155; tail, 133 to 136; bill, 34 to 36.”
719. DICRURUS MIRABILIS Walden and Layard.
WHITE-BELLIED DRONGO.
- Dicrurus mirabilis Walden and Layard, Ibis (1872), 103, pl. 5; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1877), 3, 231; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 101 (voice); McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 107.
Ca-uac-uac, Ticao.
Bantayan (McGregor); Cebu (Everett, McGregor); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros (Layard, Meyer, Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Celestino); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester); Ticao (McGregor).
Adult (sexes alike).—Black, glossed with steel-green like D. balicassius, but lower breast, abdomen, and crissum pure white. A male from Ticao Island measures: Length, 280; wing, 142; tail, 121; bill from nostril, 23; depth of bill at nostril, 11.5; tarsus, 13. A female from the same island, wing, 137; tail, 120; bill from nostril, 21; depth of bill at nostril, 11; tarsus, 24.
“Bourns thought that he saw an individual of this species in Siquijor on one occasion, but he failed to secure it, and it was not again met with in the island. If it occurs there, it must be very rare. It is rather more shy than the other Philippine representatives of the genus.
“Four males from Cebu average: Length, 260; wing, 137; tail, 117; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Five females, length, 260; wing, 137; tail, 119; culmen, 33; tarsus, 23; middle toe with claw, 25. Specimens from other localities agree closely in dimensions with the above. Bill, legs, feet, and nails black. Food insects. Breeding in June and July.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)