_Aplonis kittlitzi kurodai_ Momiyama, Tori, 2, 1920, p. 1. (Type
locality, Yap.)
_Calornis kittlitzi_ Hartlaub and Finsch (part), Proc. Zool. Soc.
London, 1872, p. 100 (Uap); Gräffe, Journ. Mus. Godeffroy, 2,
1873, p. 123 (Yap); Finsch (part), Journ. Mus. Godeffroy, 8, 1875,
pp. 5, 24 (Yap); Schmeltz and Krause (part), Ethnogr. Abth. Mus.
Godeffroy, 1881, p. 298 (Yap).
_Calornis pacificus_ Finsch (part), Journ. Mus. Godeffroy, 12,
1876, p. 32 (Yap).
_Aplonis kittlitzi_ Wiglesworth, Abhandl. und Ber. Zool. Mus.
Dresden, no. 6, 1890-1891 (1891), p. 44 (Yap); Oustalet (part),
Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, (3), 7, 1895, p. 216 (Yap);
Hartert (part), Novit. Zool., 5, 1898, p. 58 (Yap); Bolau (part),
Mitteil. Naturhist. Mus. Hamburg, 1898, p. 62 (Yap); Matschie
(part), Journ. f. Ornith., 49, 1901, p. 112 (Yap); Takatsukasa and
Kuroda (part), Tori, 1, 1915, p. 64 (Yap).
_Aplonis opaca kurodai_ Momiyama, Birds Micronesia, 1922, p. 11
(Yap); Kuroda, in Momiyama, Birds Micronesia, 1922, p. 71 (Yap);
Mathews, Syst. Avium Australasianarum, 2, 1930, p. 848 (Yap);
Hand-list Japanese Birds, rev., 1932, p. 170 (Yap).
_Aplonis opaca kurodai_ Takatsukasa and Yamashina, Dobutsu,
Zasshi, 43, 1931, p. 458 (Yap?); Hand-list Japanese Birds, 3d ed.,
1942, p. 188 (Yap).
_Aplonis opacus kurodai_ Mayr, Birds Southwest Pacific, 1945, p.
297 (Yap); Baker, Smithson. Misc. Coll., vol. 107, no. 15, 1948,
p. 71 (Yap).
_Geographic range._--Micronesia: Caroline Islands--Yap.
_Characters._--Adult: According to Momiyama (1922:11), "Similar to
_A. o. anga_ from Ruk group, but the bill thicker (9-10.5 mm.;
that of the latter 8.5-9.5 mm.) and much longer (24-27.5 mm.; that
of the latter 21.5-25 mm.) and the wing also longer in average
(119.5-130 mm. instead of 116.5-129.5 mm.). It differs from
typical _opaca_ by the edge of feathers of both body sides very
distinctly tinged with a bronzy-green lustre, by the bill being
longer and thicker (in typical _opaca_ exposed culmen 21.5-24.5
mm., depth of bill 9-9.5 mm.)."
Immature: "Similar to the immature of the typical form, but both
sides of body somewhat deeper in colour and the edge of feathers
distinctly tinged with lustrous bronzy-green. It differs from the
same stage of _A. o. anga_ by the under-parts being without
pale-yellowish area." Momiyama (1922:11).
Young: "Similar to the young of typical bird, but differs from it
by the mantle being very faintly tinged with bronzy-green and by
the under-parts being somewhat tinged with brown. In the same
stage of the typical form, the under-parts are much more
greyish-ashy in colour." Momiyama (1922:11).
_Remarks._--No specimens have been examined. Momiyama (1920:1) regarded
the birds at Yap and at Saipan as _A. o. kurodai_. Later (1922:10) he
separated the birds at Saipan as _A. o. harterti_, remarking that the
birds from Saipan differ "from _A. o. kurodai_ Momiyama from Yap
islands, by the green lustre on both sides of body being less distinct
and showing tendency to a purplish lustre, by the bill being decidedly
shorter, and by the same thickness."
Price (1936a:19) describes a method by which starlings and other birds
are captured by the natives of Yap. The natives make slashes in the
trunk of a breadfruit tree and allow the exuding juice to harden. This
material is then chewed until soft and adhesive. It is then placed on a
stick which has been secured directly under a papaya fruit. When the
birds alight on this perch, they become stuck and are captured.
=Aplonis opacus orii= (Takatsukasa and Yamashina)