B H
HYIlRdCOEAX MINDANENSIS
HYDROCORAX MINDANENSIS.
MINDANAO FLAT-CASQUE EOENBILL.
Buceros mindanensis, Lord Twccddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1877) pp. 543, 823, (1878) pp. 278, 946.
HAB. Island of Miadanao, Valley of Pasananea, Zamboaiiga (EVEIIETT).
This apparently distinct species was procured by the officers of the ' Challenger' in the valley
of Pasananea, island of Mindanao, about seven miles from Zamboanga, and described by the late
Marc^uis of Tweeddale {I. c.). Three examples were obtained—a male, a female, and a youn^
female. Mr. Murray, the naturalist of the expedition, furnished the follomng notes regarding
them:—"The stomachs of all contained seeds and fruits, and grubs, centipedes, grasshoppers, &c.
These bn-ds make a loud sound, like a crow somewhat, and frequent the highest trees. Several
times in the early morning we came upon them on the ground under the trees; and I rather
think they scrape at the roots of trees for food."
Though closely allied to the U. i^lanieornis, the present species is distinguished by having a
corrugated plate on the sides of the mandible at its base, by the casque being narrower, by the
half of the maxilla and three fourths of the mandible anteriorly being white, and by the rufous
of the plumage being darker. Tlic sexes do not differ in the colour of their plumage.
Casque, basal half of maxilla, and crura of mandible deep red. The corrugated
plates on mandible are a darker red; rest of bill pale yellowish white. A black band surrounds
the eye, extends down the face, and covers the chin. Upper part of throat tawny. Breast black.
Rest of plumage of head and body, except tail-coverts, deep rufous. Interscapulars and wingcoverts
brown. Upper tail-coverts ferruginous; under coverts rust-colour. Primaries black;
secondaries margined on the outer web with ferruginous. Rectrices huif. The colour of tlie iris
seems to vaiy from bright yellow to a pale green in examples from different parts of th(s island.
Orbital skin blackish, with a yellow streak under the eye. Bare skin of throat yellow. I'eet anrl
tarsi coral-red.
Wing 15i inches; taU. 14; bill along gape 6-62; length of casque 6, breadth 2; tarsus
middle toe 1-60.
Immature Bird.—JL&s the casque not so fully developed anteriorly, and not overhanging tlu;
ti-ue culmen. This latter is gccy-brown, and the top of the casque rod, as is also the base of
mandible. The grooved lateral plates have not appeared; but there are indications of gi'ooves
on the mandible at base. Peet and tarsi red. Bill blackish, tinged with red. Irides blue.
Length, wing l i ^ inches, tail 13J, bill along gape 5'62, casque breadth of same li.,
tarsus 3, middle toe If.
Female has the iris white, feet light coral-rcd.