=================+======+=========+=========+=============+=========
SPECIES | No. | Wing | Tail | Culmen | Tarsus
-----------------+------+---------+---------+-------------+---------
_R. palauensis_ | 19 | 80 | 54 | 21.5 | 25
| | (76-84) | (51-57) | (20.0-22.5) | (24-26)
| | | | |
_R. ruki_ | 8 | 81 | 52 | 21.5 | 23
| | (76-85) | (51-52) | (20.0-23.0) | (22-24)
| | | | |
_R. sanfordi_ | 18 | 70 | 44 | 23.0 | 21
| | (67-71) | (41-47) | (22.0-24.0) | (20-22)
-----------------+------+---------+---------+-------------+---------
_Specimens examined._--Total number, 21 (12 males, 9 females), as
follows: Palau Islands, USNM--Peleliu, 11 (Aug. 27, 29, 30, Sept.
4, 5, 6, 7, Dec. 4, 5); AMNH--Peleliu?, 10 (Dec.).
_Molt._--Specimens taken in August and September are in worn
plumage, a few individuals show evidence of molt. Specimens taken
in December are in fresh plumage, although two or three individuals
are in the final stages of molt. This places the period of molt as
September, October, and November. Nesting evidently occurs in the
summer; one male taken on August 27, 1945, had enlarged gonads.
_Remarks._--The Palau Greater White-eye was described under the generic
name _Cleptornis_ by Reichenow. This generic allocation was not followed
by subsequent authors; Stresemann proposed the generic name
_Megazosterops_ in 1930, and Mayr (1944b:7) placed this white-eye in the
genus _Rukia_ along with other large white-eyes from Micronesia. In
employing this name, Mayr writes, "The generic names _Rukia_ (for
_ruki_) and _Kubaryum_ (for _oleaginea_) were published simultaneously
in the same publication. As first reviser I select the name _Rukia_,
which not only is shorter but is also based on a species which I have
been able to examine."
_R. palauensis_ is recorded from Babelthuap and Peleliu of the Palau
Islands. In 1931, Coultas found the birds only at the island of Peleliu,
where he obtained nine specimens from a flock. In 1940, Yamashina
(1940:674) writes that it is a very rare species at Palau. Marshall
(1949:219) found the bird at Peleliu but at no other islands visited. In
1945, the NAMRU2 party obtained eight specimens at Peleliu from two
localities on the eastern side of the island in jungle areas relatively
undisturbed by war activities. The birds were fairly common in the brush
and vines of the jungle undergrowth at these two areas. There were no
flocks seen; usually singles or pairs were noted. The bird bears a
striking resemblance to _Psamathia annae_, which lives in the same
environment and has a somewhat similar coloration, shape and posture.
These two birds probably have undergone a parallel development.
Competition between the two was not noted. _Psamathia_ is evidently less
restricted in its distribution.
_R. palauensis_ has a restricted distribution in the Palau Islands, as
indicated by the observations of Coultas, the Japanese and the NAMRU2
party. The disturbance resulting from the war activities has undoubtedly
influenced the population and restricted further the preferred habitat
of this white-eye, especially at Peleliu.
=Rukia oleaginea= (Hartlaub and Finsch)