Pipra papuensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. (1788), 1, pt. 2, 1004.
Dicæum rubriventer Lesson, Traité d'Orn. (1831), 303; Sharpe,
Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1885), 10, 36; Whitehead, Ibis (1899),
233 (habits).
Dicæum schistaceum Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 111, pl. 8,
fig. 1 (young).
Dicæum papuense McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 96.
Pi-pit pu-ña-la-da, Manila.
Basiao, off Samar (Bartsch); Basilan (Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, McGregor); Bohol (McGregor); Camiguin N. (McGregor);
Cebu (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Dinagat
(Everett); Leyte (Whitehead); Lubang (McGregor); Luzon (Everett,
Whitehead, McGregor); Marinduque (Steere Exp.); Masbate (Bourns &
Worcester, McGregor); Mindanao (Everett, Steere Exp., Bourns &
Worcester, Celestino); Samar (Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead);
Ticao (McGregor); Verde (McGregor).
Male and female.--Above black with a slight slate-blue gloss; lores
and ear-coverts black; chin, throat, and crissum white; remainder
of under parts cinereous, whitish on middle of lower abdomen; a wide
scarlet-vermilion line down center of breast and abdomen. Iris red;
bill, legs, and claws black. A male from Basilan measures: Wing,
56; tail, 31; culmen from base, 11; bill from nostril, 7; tarsus,
14. A female from Lubang, wing, 50; tail, 25; culmen from base, 12;
bill from nostril, 8; tarsus, 14.
Young.--Upper parts and sides of head and of neck dull smoky
brown; under parts dirty cinereous, slightly lighter on throat and
tail-coverts.
"The occurrence of this species in Masbate is somewhat surprising. We
should naturally expect to find D. hæmatostictum there. D. papuense
is, however, abundant, and D. hæmatostictum apparently does not
occur. Habits similar to D. hæmatostictum, and never occurs in the
same island with it so far as known. Eight males average: Length,
93; wing, 56; tail, 29; culmen, 13; tarsus, 13; middle toe with
claw, 14. Five females, length, 93; wing, 52; tail, 27; culmen,
13; tarsus, 13; middle toe with claw, 13.4. Bill, legs, feet, and
nails black. Breeding in Samar and Mindanao in August; in Cebu in
June." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)