Phapitreron amethystina Bonaparte, Consp. Gen. Avium (1854),
2, 28; Compt. Rend. (1855), 40, 214; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 10.
Phabotreron amethystina Walden, Trans. Zool. Soc. (1875), 9, 214,
pl. 34, fig. 2; Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1893), 21, 66;
Sharpe, Hand-List (1899), 1, 55.
Bohol (McGregor); Dinagat (Everett); Leyte (Steere Exp.); Luzon
(Meyer, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Goodfellow, Celestino);
Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Whitehead).
Adult.--A black line below eye from gape to neck; below this a line
of white mixed with reddish brown; general color above dark brown,
lighter on forehead and fore crown; bird held toward the light,
neck and its sides, beautiful, iridescent purple and violet-blue;
wing-coverts, back, rump, and tail-coverts, dark glossy green;
bird held away from the light, neck and sides of neck blue or deep
violet; wings, back, tail, and its coverts washed with purple;
below uniform light brown except middle of abdomen and tail-coverts
which are dark buff; tail dark brown with a broad, apical, gray band,
the middle pair of rectrices do not show this band from above. Iris
light brown; bare skin about eyes dark, dirty red; bill black; legs
and feet bright carmine; nails horn-colored. Length, about 255. In a
male from Bataan Province, Luzon, the wing is 140; tail, 99; culmen,
23; tarsus, 20.5. Salvadori gives the following measurements: Wing,
146; tail, 78; bill, 22; tarsus, 22.
"A rare bird in the few islands where it is found. Legs dull pink;
iris dark brown; feet dark pink; nails brown; bill black. Length, 292;
wing, 145; tail, 97; culmen, 25; tarsus, 21; middle toe with claw,
30." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)