Cittocincla nigra Sharpe, Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877),
1, 335, pl. 52; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1883), 7, 90; Hand-List
(1903), 4, 161; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 86.
Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan
(Steere, Everett, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Everett, Celestino, White).
Adult male and female.--Almost entirely glossy blue-black; some
feathers of lower abdomen, flanks, and sides of back with white shafts,
or with subterminal white spots which are more or less concealed;
under tail-coverts black, broadly tipped with white; four central
rectrices black, the others white with concealed black bases; wings
black, most of the feathers edged with glossy blue-black. Length,
215 to 220 mm. A male from Palawan measures: Wing, 88; tail, 105;
culmen from base, 17; bill from nostril, 12; tarsus, 26; middle toe
with claw, 23. A female, wing, 81; tail, 98; culmen, from base, 17;
bill from nostril, 11; tarsus, 22.
Young.--Similar to the adult but throat and breast less glossy;
abdomen, flanks, and crissum entirely white, thighs brown; the flanks
slightly washed with earthy brown. In more nearly adult plumage
the throat and breast become glossy and the white of the abdomen is
reduced in extent and broken up; the thighs become black.
"Quite common in Palawan, where we found it skulking in thickets in
the deep woods, usually near or on the ground, though it would fly
up into the trees if followed. In the Calamianes Islands we found it
abundantly in bamboo thickets.
"Four males from Palawan average: Length, 205; wing, 87; tail, 107;
culmen, 21; tarsus, 24; middle toe with claw, 22. Two females, length,
230; wing, 90; tail, 105; culmen, 20; tarsus, 25; middle toe with claw,
22. Iris dark brown to black; legs, feet, and nails brown to black;
bill black. Called by natives of Palawan 'tam-be-lad-nun'." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)