Adult male.--"Whole top [of head] and sides of neck, and hind neck
black; mantle gray (No. 10 Ridgway), fading to pale cream-buff on back;
scapulars pale cream-buff, broadly bordered with white; rump and upper
tail-coverts pinkish buff; primaries black with an exposed spot of
white, formed by white bands crossing the external webs of third to
seventh primaries opposite the end of the alula; secondaries black,
tipped and edged externally with white; tail black, with outer feathers
gray at base, tipped with grayish white; chin, throat, breast, thighs,
axillars, and lining of wings pure white; side buff; abdomen pinkish
vinaceous; under tail-coverts buffy white. Length (of skin), 240;
wing, 95; tail, 135; culmen, 17; depth of bill at angle of gonys,
8.7; tarsus, 28.
"In size and color pattern this species closely resembles Lanius
nasutus Scopoli from which it may be distinguished by the pale color
of the scapulars, back, and rump, as well as by the pinkish vinaceous
color of the abdomen." (Mearns.)
The long-tailed shrikes collected in Sulu by Bourns and Worcester
and by Guillemard were probably of this species. I have not seen a
specimen from Sulu.
Genus OTOMELA Bonaparte, 1853.
The Philippine species of Otomela may be recognized by the nearly
uniformly colored upper parts, narrow, white or pale buff, superciliary
stripe, and short tail; wing and tail about equal in length. [79]
Species.
a1. Forehead pearl-gray, shading gradually into earthy brown on the
crown and back. ... lucionensis (p. 597)
a2. Forehead not gray, the upper parts reddish brown.
b1. Upper parts duller brown. ... cristata (p. 598)
b2. Upper parts brighter, reddish or fox-brown. ... superciliosa
(p. 598)