Macropteryx comata Hartert, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 16,
517 (part). Macropteryx major Hartert, Novit. Zool. (1897), 4,
11; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 89; McGregor and Worcester,
Hand-List (1906), 58.
Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Cebu
(Everett, Bourns & Worcester); Guimaras (Steere Exp.); Luzon
(Meyer, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, McGregor);
Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns & Worcester); Mindanao
(Steere, Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Goodfellow);
Mindoro (Steere Exp., Schmacker, McGregor, Porter); Negros (Steere,
Bourns & Worcester, Keay, Whitehead); Panay (Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester); Samar (Bourns & Worcester); Sibutu (Everett); Sulu
(Guillemard, Bourns & Worcester); Tablas (Bourns & Worcester);
Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult male.--Lores deep black; ear-coverts chestnut; a broad white
stripe from base of culmen, continued over eye and running out in
elongated feathers to nape; a similar white line under ear-coverts,
continued from the large white chin-patch; remainder of head and throat
dark metallic blue; back, rump, upper tail-coverts, breast, and sides
of body bronze-brown; middle of abdomen and under tail-coverts white;
wings and tail dark metallic blue; innermost secondaries white. Iris
dark brown; bill and legs black. A male from Mariveles, Luzon,
measures: Wing, 140; tail, 80; tarsus, 6.
Adult female.--Like the male but ear-coverts metallic blue instead
of chestnut. A female from Irisan, Benguet, Luzon, measures: Wing,
140; tail, 81; tarsus, 6.
"Curiously local in its habits. Perches in the same place day after
day, taking short flights from time to time in pursuit of insects. The
ground under its favorite perch is usually covered with excrement. Five
males average, 148 in length; wing, 129; tail, 73; culmen, 6; tarsus,
7; middle toe with claw, 12. Two females are somewhat larger, measuring
160 in length; wing, 136; tail, 81; culmen, 6; tarsus, 7; middle toe
with claw, 13." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Family MICROPODIDÆ.
Wing long, pointed, and when closed extending far beyond the end
of tail; bill small and weak but gape very wide; legs and feet very
small and weak; plumage mostly black or dark brown, slightly glossy,
often with patches or mottlings of white; small birds capable of
long continued flight; nests usually placed in caves or fastened to
cliffs or houses; eggs two, white and unspotted. Certain species of
the genus Collocalia vel Salangana make the edible nests of commerce
and nest in great colonies. Birds of this family are wide ranging
and one or more species may be expected to occur in any island of
the Philippine group. Of the genera, Tachornis may be recognized by
its deeply forked tail; Chætura by its sharp, stiff tail-feathers;
Collocalia by its square, or nearly square, tail without spines;
Micropus by its white throat and tail without spines.
Subfamilies.
a1. Tarsi unfeathered or with a few feathers only; tail square or
but slightly forked; toes arranged normally, three in front one
behind. ... Chæturinæ (p. 352)
a2. Tarsi distinctly feathered; tail decidedly or even deeply forked;
all the toes directed forward. ... Micropodinæ (p. 360)
Subfamily CHÆTURINÆ.
Genera.
a1. Shafts of rectrices ordinary and without spinous tips; wing less
than 140 mm. ... Collocalia (p. 352)
a2. Shafts of rectrices stiff and extending in a sharp point beyond
the web; wing more than 150 mm. ... Chætura (p. 357)