Birds from North Borneo Part 12

testis 4 2 mm., October 18, 1962, MCT 3073; [Female], October 17, 1962, MCT 3064; [Male] testis 7 5 mm., October 19, 1962, MCT 3079; [Female], October 19, 1962, MCT 3093; [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3120; [Male], October 23, 1962, MCT 3134; [Male] testis enlarged, October 25, 1962, MCT 3150; [Male] testis 7 5 mm., October 26, 1962, MCT 3156; [Female], October 28, 1962, MCT 3173; [Male], November 2, 1962, MCT 3204; [Male], November 4, 1962, MCT 3209; [Male] testis 5 4 mm., November 4, 1962, MCT 3210; [Male] testis 2 1 mm., November 6, 1962, MCT 3214; [Female], November 11, 1962, MCT 3252. Kalabakan: [Female], November 15, 1962, MCT 3278; [Female] 2 eggs in oviduct, ovary enlarged, brood patch, November 15, 1962, MCT 3279; [Female] brood patch, two collapsed follicles, November 15, 1962, MCT 3280; [Male]

testis 7 6 mm., November 15, 1962, MCT 3281; [Female] brood patch, egg in oviduct, largest ovum 6 mm., November 15, 1962, MCT 3286; [Male]

testis 7 6 mm., November 16, 1962, MCT 3290; [Male] testis 3 2 mm., November 16, 1962, MCT 3294; [Female], November 16, 1962, MCT 3295; [Male] testis 6 3 mm., November 17, 1962, MCT 3297; [Male] testis 5 5 mm., November 17, 1962, MCT 3298; [Female], November 17, 1962, MCT 3299. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Female], December 26, 1962, MCT 3538. Gum-Gum: [Male], October 4, 1963, ADG 290; [Female], October 5, 1963, ADG 294; [Female], October 5, 1963, ADG 295.

This was the most common of all the spiderhunters, and was found at all localities. It was readily taken in mist nets. Unlike most birds, these spiderhunters become quite agitated in nets, and within a few minutes usually strangle themselves.

From October 16 through November 11, I took several specimens 12 miles north of Kalabakan, but only one in breeding condition. On November 15, I moved 12 miles back to Kalabakan from an elevation of 600 feet to an elevation of 50 feet. As can be seen from the specimen-data, nearly all the females then collected either had nests with eggs or were approaching oviposition. The specimens were all taken in nets in an area approximately 200 feet square. On November 20 at the Brantian Estate a bird sitting on a branch six inches up in secondary forest jumped down to the ground and fed on unknown material.

_=Arachnothera cra.s.sirostris=_ (Reichenbach): Thick-billed Spiderhunter.--_Specimen_, 1: Cocoa Research Station: [Female], 14.8 gm., August 9, 1962, MCT 2746.

This spiderhunter was recorded on the basis of one specimen and one sight record. One seen in secondary forest would dart out from its perch on a limb, hover near the end of a branch, and then return to its perch. No flowers were visible and I a.s.sumed that the bird was catching insects.

_=Arachnothera flavigaster=_ (Eyton): Greater Yellow-eared Spiderhunter.--_Specimens_, 9: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] imm., 36.3 gm., August 21, 1962, MCT 2789; [Female] imm., 38.4 gm., August 21, 1962, MCT 2790; [Female], 38.4 gm., August 22, 1962, MCT 2795; [Female]

brood patch, largest ova 2 mm., November 27, 1962, MCT 3330; [Male], November 28, 1962, MCT 3359; [Male] testis 7 6 mm., November 29, 1962, MCT 3379; [Male], November 30, 1962, MCT 3395; [Female], April 27, 1963, ADG 66; [Female], April 27, 1963, ADG 67.

This species was met with only at Quoin Hill, where it was common around the abaca and wild bananas. The primary diet seemed to be pollen, nectar, and spiders. I found it easy to differentiate from the next species in the field (see below).

_=Arachnothera chrysogenys harrissoni=_ Deignan: Lesser Yellow-eared Spiderhunter.--_Specimens_, 4: Cocoa Research Station: [Female], 23.5 gm., August 21, 1962, MCT 2788; [Male], April 27, 1963, ADG 68; [Male], April 30, 1963, ADG 92; [Male], May 27, 1963, ADG 113.

I observed this species at Quoin Hill only once, but Garcia took three specimens at the same locality. He labels his specimens as taken in primary forest. I never saw the species there and took my one specimen in the abaca, where the bird was eating spiders, nectar, and pollen. The chief characters distinguis.h.i.+ng this species from _A. flavigaster_ were the tuft of yellow feathers on the side of the head and the narrow eye ring in _A. chrysogenys_.

_=Arachnothera affinis pars=_ Riley: Gray-breasted Spiderhunter.--_Specimens_, 27: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], 27.2 gm., August 13, 1962, MCT 2771; [Female], 22.2 gm., August 13, 1962, MCT 2772; [Female] imm., 21.1 gm., August 13, 1962, MCT 2773; [Male], 29.2 gm., August 13, 1962, MCT 2774; [Male], 27.0 gm., August 21, 1962, MCT 2791; [Male], 26.6 gm., August 21, 1962, MCT 2792; [Male], April 27, 1963, ADG 65; [Female] imm., May 1, 1963, ADG 99; [Male], June 12, 1963, ADG 126; [Male], June 20, 1963, ADG 154-B. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 15, 1962, MCT 3046; [Female], October 24, 1962, MCT 3139. Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 3 2 mm., November 27, 1962, MCT 3327; [Female], November 27, 1962, MCT 3328; [Female], November 27, 1962, MCT 3329; [Female], November 27, 1962, MCT 3338; [Male] testis 5 4 mm., November 27, 1962, MCT 3339; [Male], November 28, 1962, MCT 3363; [Female], November 28, 1962, MCT 3364; [Male], November 28, 1962, MCT 3365; [Female], November 28, 1962, MCT 3366; [Female], November 29, 1962, MCT 3390; [Male] testis enlarged, November 29, 1962, MCT 3391; [Female]?, November 29, 1962, MCT 3392; [Male], December 1, 1962, MCT 3393; [Male], December 2, 1962, MCT 3429; [Male], November 30, 1962, MCT 3442.

This bird was fairly common at Quoin Hill in the abaca and wild bananas and, at Kalabakan, in primary forest. Its feeding habits are the same as those of the preceding species. The order of abundance of the spiderhunters is probably best shown by the number of each species taken: _Arachnothera longirostris_, 58; _A.

affinis_, 27; _A. flavigaster_, 9; _A. chrysogenys_, 4; _A.

cra.s.sirostris_, 1.

_=Prionichilus xanthopygius=_ (Salvadori): Yellow-rumped Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--_Specimens_, 7: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 5 5 mm., 8.9 gm., August 23, 1962, MCT 2800; [Female] largest ova 3 mm., oviduct enlarged, 10.2 gm., September 13, 1962, MCT 2910; [Female] imm., 9.7 gm., September 13, 1962, MCT 2911; [Male] testis 3 2 mm., 9.5 gm., September 13, 1962, MCT 2912; [Female] imm., 7.0 gm., September 14, 1962, MCT 2920; [Male] testis 6 4 mm., vas deferens enlarged, September 26, 1962, MCT 2966; [Male], November 27, 1962, MCT 3344.

This species did not appear at Quoin Hill until August 23. The gonads of most of the adults taken from that time on appeared to be regressing from breeding condition, and several immatures were taken also, suggesting that the breeding season was over. The birds seemed to be attracted, with bulbuls, to the tree _Trema orientalis_.

_=Prionichilus maculatus maculatus=_ (Temminck): Yellow-throated Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--_Specimen_, 1: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 19, 1962, MCT 3094.

I observed this flowerp.e.c.k.e.r once at Quoin Hill, in much-disturbed primary forest, but was unable to secure a specimen. Twelve miles north of Kalabakan it was found in primary forest.

_=Dicaeum chrysorrheum=_ Temminck: Yellow-vented Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--I observed one feeding about 50 feet high among epiphytic plants in the moss forest 5.5 miles north of Tenom.

_=Dicaeum monticolum=_ Sharpe: Black-sided Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--_Specimen_, 1: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male] testis 5 3 mm., December 17, 1962, MCT 3449.

I saw this flowerp.e.c.k.e.r once, in the moss forest above Tenom.

Treatment of this species as monotypic follows the revision of Salomonsen (1961:17).

_=Dicaeum cruentatum=_ (Linnaeus): Scarlet-backed Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--Along the seash.o.r.e near Tawau this species fed in flowering trees. Males were pugnacious and persistently chased what appeared to be females.

_=Dicaeum trigonostigma dayakanum=_ Chasen and Kloss: Orange-bellied Flowerp.e.c.k.e.r.--_Specimen_, 1: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 23, 1962, MCT 3507.

This flowerp.e.c.k.e.r was found only in the moss forest above Tenom, where it was seen numerous times feeding among the epiphytic plants.

_=Zosterops everetti tahanensis=_ Ogilvie-Grant: Everett's White-eye.--_Specimens_, 9: Cocoa Research Station: [Female], August 8, 1962, MCT 2734; [Male] testis 4 3 mm., August 8, 1962, MCT 2735; [Female], 8.6 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2757; [Female], 7.8 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2758; [Female] imm., 7.9 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2759; [Female], 8.2 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2760; [Male], 7.8 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2761; [Male] imm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2762; [Male] imm., 7.8 gm., August 11, 1962, MCT 2764.

At the Cocoa Research Station flocks of 20 to 40 birds were seen daily, feeding in the cocoa trees. Only once was this species seen away from the cocoa trees; this was in secondary forest where the birds were feeding in a tree about 30 feet tall. They move in flocks and are noisy.

Smythies (1960:485) states that this species occurs from the Poi Range up to the lower slopes of Kinabalu. This is apparently the first record from eastern Borneo.

_=Lonchura fuscans=_ (Ca.s.sin): Dusky Munia.--_Specimens_, 11. Cocoa Research Station: [Female], July 6, 1962, MCT 2603; [Female], September 1, 1962, MCT 2847; [Male] testis 7 6 mm., September 1, 1962, MCT 2848; [Male] testis enlarged, September 24, 1962, MCT 2943. Tenom: [Female], January 6, 1962, MCT 3584; [Female], January 6, 1963, MCT 3585; [Male]

testis enlarged, January 6, 1963, MCT 3586; [Female] several collapsed follicles, old brood patch, January 6, 1963, MCT 3587; [Female] imm., January 6, 1963, MCT 3588; [Female], January 6, 1963, MCT 3590; [Male]

testis enlarged, January 6, 1963, MCT 3591.

In contrast to _L. malacca_, this species was commonly found in secondary forest away from cultivated fields. It was common at Quoin Hill and Kalabakan. On July 18, 1962, a pair was observed building a nest near Kalabakan, in a native kampong under the eave of a house. There the birds were fastening the nest to the palm thatching about 20 feet up and nearly over the door. Another pair was nesting, close to the same house, about eight feet up in a citrus tree. In Kalabakan proper, I saw a pair with fledgling young in a croton bush about six feet from the door of a house, on November 15, 1962. This nest was about seven feet up.

_=Lonchura malacca=_ (Linnaeus): Chestnut Munia.--_Specimens_, 6: Tawau: [Female] imm., September 2, 1962, MCT 2862. Tenom: [Male], January 6, 1963, MCT 3589. Tuaran: [Female], January 12, 1963, MCT 3594; [Female], January 12, 1963, MCT 3595; hermaphrodite, testis 8 5 mm., largest ovum of ovary 2 mm., January 12, 1963, MCT 3596; [Female], January 12, 1963, MCT 3597.

This was a common bird in the lowlands away from forest. I observed it feeding on lawns in Tawau. A pair was building a nest on July 19, 1962, in an ironwood tree about 10 feet above the ground. The nest was typically ball-shaped with a side entrance. This species appears to stay in age groups when it flocks, as evidenced by the large flocks of young in first-year plumage.

The hermaphroditic specimen was of some interest, since the ovary and testis both seemed to be enlarged.

LITERATURE CITED

Amadon, D.

1956. Remarks on the starlings, Family Sturnidae. Amer. Mus.

Novit., No. 1803:1-41.

Banks, E.

1950. Breeding seasons of birds in Sarawak and North Borneo. Ibis, 92:642.

Browne, F. G.

1955. Forest trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their products. Govt.

Printing Office, Kuching, xviii + 369 pp., illus.

Chasen, F. N.

1935. A handlist of Malaysian birds. Bull. Raffles Mus., 11:389.

1939. The birds of the Malay Peninsula. Vol. 4. Witherby, London, xxvi + 485 pp.

Darlington, P. J.

1957. Zoogeography: geographical distribution of animals. Wiley, New York, 675 pp.

Delacour, J. and Mayr, E.

1946. Birds of the Philippines. MacMillan, New York, xv + 309 pp.