Dicæum dorsale Sharpe, Nature (1876), 14, 298;
Trans. Linn. Soc. 2d. ser. Zool. (1877), 1, 340; Cat. Birds
Brit. Mus. (1885), 10, 40; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 232; McGregor
and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 96.
Masbate (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, McGregor); Negros
(Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead, Celestino); Panay
(Steere, Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester).
Male.--Above dark plumbeous or slate-blue; wing-feathers and rectrices
black, edged with slate-blue; a patch of feathers in the middle of
upper back orpiment-orange; sides of head and neck slate-blue; lores
black; under parts bright lemon-yellow, becoming cadmium-yellow on
abdomen and orpiment-orange on breast; inner webs of quills white;
axillars and wing-lining white, washed with yellow. Iris light brown;
bill and nails black; legs dark slate-blue. A male from Masbate
measures: Wing, 50; tail, 23; culmen from base, 12; bill from nostril,
8; tarsus, 13.
"Female.--Different from the male; above olive-green, the rump more
yellowish; sides of the face uniform with the head; under surface
of body bright yellowish; breast and under wing-coverts richer
in color. Length, 94; culmen, 12.7; wing, 48; tail, 22.8; tarsus,
14." (Sharpe.)
"True D. dorsale is confined to Panay, Negros, and Masbate, where it
is abundant both about flowering and fruiting trees in the forest,
and in coconut groves. Five males average: Length, 89; wing, 49; tail,
24; culmen, 13; tarsus, 12; middle toe with claw, 13. Six females,
wing, 48; tail, 24; culmen, 14; tarsus, 12.4; middle toe with claw,
13. Iris very dark brown; bill, legs, feet, and nails black." (Bourns
and Worcester MS.)