In the last decade former Governor-General W. Cameron Forbes has
presented to the Museum of Comparative Zoology three large collections
of Philippine birds. One of these was made in 1911, another in 1913,
and the third and finest collection in 1921 while, with General
Leonard Wood and Colonel Gordon Johnston, Mr. Forbes was on an
official tour of inspection of the islands.
On the excursions which resulted in the gathering together of these
collections Mr. Forbes was sometimes accompanied by General Leonard
Wood, the Honourable Dean C. Worcester, and Dr. Richard C. McGregor,
and he had also the expert assistance of Mr. A. Celestino.
During the spring and summer of 1921 Governor Forbes and party visited
most of the islands of the group. Bird collecting was carried on with
enthusiasm by all the members of the party on every possible occasion,
but stops at the different islands were at best limited to a few days
and official business had, of course, precedence. The collections
therefore while large, interesting, and fairly representative are by
no means exhaustive.
The following notes, which include descriptions of five new forms, are
based on the three collections.
I am under great obligations to Dr. Chas. W. Richmond and Mr. J. H.
Riley of the United States National Museum for making some comparisons
in Washington and for giving me data from other specimens in the
collections under their care.
IREDIPARRA GALLINACEA GALLINACEA (Temminck).
Twelve specimens, both sexes, mostly fully adult, Lake Liguasan,
Mindanao, March and August.
The Comb-crested Jacana has been found in the Philippine Islands,
apparently only in Mindanao. Specimens from that island I am unable in
any way to distinguish from one skin in the M. C. Z. from Celebes, the
type-locality of the species. Mr. J. H. Riley writes me that he has
lately compared three specimens from Celebes with one from Mindanao
with the result that he could find no differences. It is safe
therefore to refer the Philippine bird to the typical form.
PLEGADIS FALCINELLUS PEREGRINUS Bonaparte.
Three specimens, two males and a female, from Mindanao, March and
August.
These belong, as of course was to be expected, to the decidedly small
form of Australia, Java, Celebes, etc., the range of which must be
extended to include the Philippines as well.