Birds from North Borneo Part 7

I saw this migrant at Semp.o.r.na on August 19, 1962; soon it was the most common swallow at each of the localities where seen.

_=Cecropsia striolata striolata=_ Temminck and Schlegel: Striated Swallow.--While in Kalabakan on November 3, 1962, I saw a swallow that differed markedly from others in town. I could not see the breast, but the rump was conspicuously tawny, clearly indicating that the bird belonged to this species. There are but two specimens from Borneo, both from southwestern Sarawak (Smythies, 1960:353). D. M. Batchelor records the species from Kimanis Bay but gives no dates other than November-December (Smythies, 1963:280). Batchelor's observation and mine provide the first records for North Borneo.

_=Dicrurus aeneus malayensis=_ (Blyth): Bronzed Drongo.--_Specimen_, 1: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 20, 1962, MCT 3104.

This drongo was seen only once, when a flock of three to five was feeding late one evening in a clearing where the trees had been cut down the day before.

_=Dicrurus paradiseus brachyphorus=_ (Bonaparte): Large Racket-tailed Drongo.--_Specimens_, 5: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] immature, 58.2 gm., August 4, 1962, MCT 2727; [Female], 65.1 gm., August 20, 1962, MCT 2786; [Male], December 1, 1962, MCT 3413. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 20, 1962, MCT 3102. Kalabakan: [Male], November 18, 1962, MCT 3303.

I seldom saw this species in the cocoa at Quoin Hill. Twelve miles north of Kalabakan it was common in tree tops 150 feet up, foraging in the upper canopy.

_=Oriolus xanthonotus consobrinus=_ Ramsay: Malaysian Black-headed Oriole.--_Specimens_, 9: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] imm., 41.8 gm., July 22, 1962, MCT 2639; [Female], 40.7 gm., July 23, 1962, MCT 2644; [Male] testis 1 1 mm., 48.2 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2653; [Female]

imm., 36.3 gm., July 28, 1962, MCT 2681; [Male] imm., 40.4 gm., August 25, 1962, MCT 2804; [Male], September 26, 1962; MCT 2962; [Male], November 29, 1962, MCT 3381; [Female], December 2, 1962, MCT 3426. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 28, 1962, MCT 3180.

This oriole was common in the cocoa and in secondary forest surrounding the cocoa at Quoin Hill.

_=Platylophus galericulatus coronatus=_ (Raffles): Crested Jay.--_Specimens_, 4: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 17, 1962, MCT 3068; [Female], October 21, 1962, MCT 3116; [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3117; [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3118.

This jay was observed several times at the forest camp at Kalabakan. The bird utters a metallic chattering noise much like that of other jays, except for the metallic quality. I observed it also in moss forest 5.5 miles north of Tenom.

Comparison of my specimens with series in the U. S. National Museum and the American Museum of Natural History indicates wide variation within this species in Borneo. The specimens vary considerably in depth of brown, some approaching _P. g. lemprieri_ and others _P.

g. coronatus_. Because of this wide variation I have not recognized the subspecies _lemprieri_ and place all specimens from Borneo under _coronatus_.

_=Platysmurus leucopterus aterrimus=_ (Temminck): Black Crested Magpie.--_Specimens_, 4: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] brood patch refeathering, 181.6 gm., July 21, 1962, MCT 2628; [Female] imm., 143.4 gm., July 21, 1962, MCT 2629; [Female], September 4, 1962, MCT 2865; [Male], 178.0 gm., September 6, 1962, MCT 2880.

The Black Crested Magpie was common at Quoin Hill in secondary forest and cocoa. At the Kalabakan forest camp, I saw a flock of 10 to 20 feeding 70 to 100 feet up in a tree in primary forest.

_=Corvus enca compilator=_ Richmond: Slender-billed Crow.--_Specimen_, 1: Pintasan Agricultural Station: [Female], October 17, 1963, ADG 315.

Small flocks in the cocoa and secondary forest were common at the Cocoa Research Station.

_=Pityriasis gymnocephala=_ (Temminck): Bald-headed Wood Shrike.--_Specimens_, 7: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] one testis, 115.0 gm., October 4, 1962, MCT 2987; [Female] largest ova 15 mm., well-developed brood patch, oviduct enlarged, 140.0 gm., October 4, 1962, MCT 2988; [Male] testis 8 5 mm., 121.0 gm., October 4, 1962, MCT 2989. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], November 8, 1962, MCT 3224; [Female], November 8, 1962, MCT 3225; [Male], November 8, 1962, MCT 3226; [Female], November 8, 1962, MCT 3227.

These birds first drew my attention at Quoin Hill by their peculiar whistle, which Smythies (1960:491) calls a "nasal whine." They seem not to descend lower than 30 feet above the ground. They are exceedingly tame; I shot at them two to four times without frightening them off. They were in badly disturbed primary forest at Quoin Hill. At a point 12 miles north of Kalabakan, I found them in primary forest. I took four birds from a flock of five or six.

Later in the afternoon, I heard another group in the tops of trees 150 feet high. They seemed to be fairly common, judging by the frequency with which the calls were heard. One of the birds I shot was only wounded and set up such a clamor that soon the rest of the flock approached, seemingly in response to the distress calls. Some individuals came within 20 feet of me. The noise also attracted an accipiter.

Some of the specimens were made into skeletons, which I think show important indications of the systematic position of this species.

The Bald-headed Wood Shrike has been placed in various families.

Gadow (1883:90) placed it with the Cracticidae, with its closest relative being _Cracticus_. Amadon (1956) thought that it was best left in the Prionopidae, with subfamily status. Hachisuka (1953) concluded that its closest affinities were with _Cracticus_ of the family Cracticidae. The latest reviser, A. L. Rand (_in_ Peters _et al._, 1960:364-365), places it in the Laniidae. A brief comparison of my skeletons of _Pityriasis_ tended to confirm Gadow's and Hachisuka's conclusion that it belongs with the Cracticidae. I think that it is best placed in this family, with subfamily status (Pityriasinae).

_=Sitta frontalis corallipes=_ (Sharpe): Velvet-fronted Nuthatch.--_Specimens_, 3: Cocoa Research Station: [Female] imm., 14.0 gm., July 23, 1962, MCT 2646; [Male] imm., 13.0 gm., August 20, 1963, MCT 2780; [Male] imm., August 27, 1962, MCT 2820.

I saw several nuthatches feeding in secondary forest at Quoin Hill and one 12 miles north of Kalabakan. One was observed feeding about 100 feet up in a dipterocarp.

_=Pellorneum capistratum morrelli=_ Chasen and Kloss. Black-capped Jungle Babbler.--_Specimens_, 7: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 3 2 mm., 21.1 gm., July 27, 1962, MCT 2667; [Female], 21.4 gm., July 31, 1962, MCT 2690; [Male], September 24, 1962, MCT 2938; [Female], June 13, 1963, ADG 131; [Female] imm., June 14, 1963, ADG 140; [Female], July 7, 1963, ADG 168. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Female], July 11, 1963, ADG 188.

This species was seen 12 miles north of Kalabakan and at Quoin Hill. It was fairly common and could be seen running on the ground ahead of the observer, occasionally hopping up on a brush pile or branch, seemingly to make a quick survey before moving back to the ground. It preferred primary forest but was occasionally observed in the primary-secondary forest edge vegetation.

_=Trichastoma pyrrhogenys canicapillum=_ (Sharpe): Temminck Jungle Babbler.--_Specimens_, 13: 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Female], December 17, 1962, MCT 3445; [Male], December 17, 1962, MCT 3446; [Male], December 17, 1962, MCT 3452; [Male], December 18, 1962, MCT 34554; [Female]

collapsed follicles, brood patch, December 18, 1962, MCT 3455; [Male], December 18, 1962, MCT 3460; [Male] testis 2 1 mm., December 18, 1962, MCT 3461; [Male], December 19, 1962, MCT 3474; [Male] testis 6 3 mm., December 19, 1962, MCT 3475; [Male], December 22, 1962, MCT 3505; [Male], December 24, 1962, MCT 3528; [Female] imm., December 25, 1962, MCT 3532; [Male] testis 5 3 mm., December 25, 1962, MCT 3533.

This species was common in the moss forest near Tenom. The female specimen with collapsed follicles indicates that some of the birds were in breeding condition. All specimens were netted.

_=Trichastoma malaccense poliogenys=_ (Strickland): Short-tailed Jungle Babbler.--_Specimens_, 17: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 7 4 mm., 24.5 gm., July 31, 1962, MCT 2687; [Female], September 5, 1962, MCT 2874; [Female], September 24, 1962, MCT 2941; [Male], November 29, 1962, MCT 3387; [Female], November 29, 1962, MCT 3388; [Male], December 1, 1962, MCT 3400; [Female], November 12, 1962, MCT 3262. Kalabakan: [Male], November 16, 1962, MCT 3292. Cocoa Research Station: [Male], June 11, 1963, ADG 123; [Male], June 12, 1963, ADG 127; [Female], June 13, 1963, ADG 132. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 9, 1963, ADG 179; [Male], July 9, 1963, ADG 179 (_sic_). Oil Palm Research Station: [Male], August 10, 1963, ADG 219; [Male], August 12, 1963, ADG 225; [Female], August 13, 1963, ADG 236; [Female], August 23, 1963, ADG 255.

This terrestrial species was common in primary forest, and occasionally in secondary forest, in low trees or around brush piles. On September 24, by "squeaking," I so aroused one bird that it ran back and forth on a limb of a fallen tree in great agitation. The specimen taken on November 12 was in heavy molt; it lacked tail feathers and the primaries were being replaced.

_=Trichastoma bicolor=_ (Lesson): Ferruginous Jungle Babbler.--_Specimens_, 6: 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 24, 1962, MCT 3143; [Female], October 26, 1962, MCT 3161; [Male], November 10, 1962, MCT 3135; [Female], November 12, 1962, MCT 3255. Oil Palm Research Station: [Male], August 12, 1963, ADG 266; [Female], August 28, 1963, ADG 269.

All specimens were taken in primary forest.

_=Trichastoma sepiarium harteri=_ (Chasen and Kloss): Horsfield Jungle Babbler.--_Specimens_, 6: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 8 5 mm., 25.7 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2652; [Male] testis 8 5 mm., 28.2 gm., July 27, 1962, MCT 2668; [Male] testis 8 7 mm., 28.2 gm., July 31, 1962, MCT 2688; [Male], June 15, 1963, ADG 142. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male] testis 8 5 mm., November 8, 1962, MCT 3233. Oil Palm Research Station: [Female], September 5, 1963, ADG 275.

This babbler tends to inhabit secondary growth more than does _T.

malaccense_ and was partly arboreal, occasionally ranging as high as 20 feet above ground. It occurred occasionally in flocks of four or five.

_=Malacopteron magnum magnum=_ Eyton: Greater Red-headed Babbler.--_Specimens_, 12: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 7 5 mm., September 7, 1962, MCT 2886; [Male] testis 9 5 mm., October 4, 1962, MCT 2990; [Male], November 30, 1962, MCT 3437; [Female], November 27, 1962, MCT 3340; [Female], April 30, 1963, ADG 91; [Male], June 14, 1963, ADG 136; [Male], July 9, 1963, ADG 178. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 11, 1963, ADG 191; [Male], July 16, 1963, ADG 205. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 22, 1962, MCT 3124; [Female], October 28, 1962, MCT 3176; [Male], October 28, 1962, MCT 3177.

This babbler was common at the Cocoa Research Station but uncommon elsewhere. It seemed to prefer primary forest and was only rarely seen in the cocoa. My series shows that this species was common at Quoin Hill and _M. cinereum_ was rare, while the opposite obtained 12 miles north of Kalabakan. For the moment this cannot be explained. Possibly these two species are compet.i.tive and tend toward mutual exclusion. Since the birds were mostly netted, it is a.s.sumed that I obtained a random sample. My observations at Quoin Hill seem to bear out the specimen record.

The specimens in my series of _M. m. magnum_ are more nearly black on the crown than those labelled _M. m. saba_ in the U. S. National Museum (from the Segah River), but there was much variation in the amount of black on the crown in all series examined. I consider _M.

m. saba_ to be synonymous with _M. m. magnum_.

_=Malacopteron cinereum cinereum=_ Eyton: Lesser Red-headed Babbler.--_Specimens_, 29: Cocoa Research Station: [Male], December 2, 1962, MCT 3428; [Female], June 11, 1963, ADG 124; [Male], July 9, 1963, ADG 178. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 13, 1962, MCT 3025; [Female], October 13, 1962, MCT 3030; [Male], October 13, 1962, MCT 3032; [Female], October 14, 1962, MCT 3042; [Male], October 14, 1962, MCT 3043; [Female], October 16, 1962, MCT 3059; [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3119; [Male], October 22, 1962, MCT 3128; [Female], October 24, 1962, MCT 3136; [Male], October 28, 1962, MCT 3178; s.e.x?, October 31, 1962, MCT 3188; [Female], November 7, 1962, MCT 3219; [Female], November 7, 1962, MCT 3220; [Male], November 12, 1962, MCT 3263; [Female], November 12, 1962, MCT 3264. Kalabakan: [Male], November 15, 1962, MCT 3282; [Male], November 15, 1962, MCT 3284; [Female], November 15, 1962, MCT 3285. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 13, 1963, ADG 197. Oil Palm Research Station: s.e.x?, August 16, 1963, ADG 245; [Female], August 28, 1963, ADG 272. Pintasan Agriculture Station: [Male], October 17, 1963, ADG 318; [Male], October 18, 1963, ADG 319; [Male], October 18, 1963, ADG 320; [Female], October 18, 1963, ADG 321; [Female], October 18, 1963, ADG 322. See remarks under _M. magnum_.

_=Malacopteron magnirostre cinereocapillum=_ (Salvadori): Brown-headed Babbler.--_Specimens_, 20: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 5 3 mm., 20.4 gm., July 23, 1962, MCT 2647; [Male] testis 2 1 mm., 20.0 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2656; [Male] testis 1 1 mm., 20.5 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2657; [Male], 20.4 gm., July 27, 1962, MCT 2669. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Male], October 10, 1962, MCT 2994; [Male] testis 5 3 mm., October 12, 1962, MCT 3016; [Female], October 12, 1962, MCT 3017; [Male], October 13, 1962, MCT 3026; [Female], October 13, 1962, MCT 3028; [Male], October 17, 1962, MCT 3070; [Male], October 19, 1962, MCT 3083; [Male], October 19, 1962, MCT 3084; [Male] testis 5 4 mm., October 20, 1962, MCT 3108; [Male], October 26, 1962, MCT 3158; [Female], October 26, 1962, MCT 3159; [Male], November 11, 1962, MCT 3253; [Female], November 11, 1962, MCT 3254. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 19, 1962, MCT 3462. Oil Palm Research Station: [Female], August 28, 1963, ADG 265.

This babbler inhabits the understory of primary forest, and occasionally is seen in secondary forest scrub. A specimen was taken at 4,000 feet elevation in moss forest near Tenom. The breeding season is seemingly in June and July but there is indication of gonadal activity in males in October (MCT 3108). On October 15, 1962, I observed an individual feeding on the rough bark of a large dipterocarp. The bird was clinging to the bark much as a nuthatch would, hopping along the vertical trunk upside down, laterally and straight up. Other birds of the species were feeding close by in small trees about 20 feet tall.

_=Pomatorhinus monta.n.u.s borneensis=_ Cabanis: Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler.--_Specimens_, 3: Cocoa Research Station: [Male] testis 5 2 mm., 33.1 gm., July 23, 1962, MCT 2643; [Male] testis 2 1 mm., 28.2 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2655. 5.5 mi. SW Tenom: [Male], December 22, 1962, MCT 3496.

This bird of the understory in primary forest was seen in only one other situation, 12 miles north of Kalabakan it was feeding in a clearing near our camp.

_=Ptilocichla leucogrammica=_ (Bonaparte): Bornean Wren-babbler.--_Specimens_, 3: Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 17, 1963, ADG 207: [Female] one egg in oviduct, July 19, 1963, ADG 211. Oil Palm Research Station: [Female] egg in oviduct, August 13, 1963, ADG 230.

Garcia netted three specimens in primary forest. This bird is known from Borneo only from a few specimens (Smythies, 1960:410). In North Borneo, it has been known previously only from Bettotan on the east coast (Smythies, 1960:410). The additional records published herewith also are for the east coast.

_=Kenopia striata=_ (Blyth): Striped Wren-babbler.--_Specimens_, 11: Cocoa Research Station: [Female], 21.1 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2649; [Male] testis 4 3 mm., 19.6 gm., July 24, 1962, MCT 2640; [Male]

testis 2 1 mm., 18.7 gm., July 27, 1962, MCT 2670. 12 mi. N Kalabakan: [Female], October 28, 1962, MCT 3172; [Male], October 21, 1962, MCT 3114; [Female], October 22, 1962, MCT 3123; [Male], October 26, 1962, MCT 3157; [Male], October 30, 1962, MCT 3187; [Male], November 1, 1962, MCT 3192. Ulu Balung Cocoa Estate: [Male], July 21, 1963, ADG 213. Oil Palm Research Station: [Male], August 13, 1963, ADG 229; [Female], August 19, 1963, ADG 250.

This bird of primary forest is found occasionally in adjacent secondary forest and spends about three-fourths of its time running about on the ground, only occasionally ascending to the lower branches of trees. The song may be rendered as _kittle jank_, the first note being trilled and a bit higher than the last, which is short and chopped off. This babbler appears to sing as it moves along the forest floor without stopping. It was observed foraging under leaves, and was common both at Quoin Hill and 12 miles north of Kalabakan, in groups of two or three birds.

_=Macronous gularis=_ (Horsfield): Striped t.i.t-babbler.--I saw this bird at the Semp.o.r.na Rest House feeding in shrubbery. It was not seen elsewhere.

_=Macronous ptilosus reclusus=_ Hartert: Fluffy-backed t.i.t-babbler.--_Specimens_, 2: Kalabakan: [Male], November 15, 1962, MCT 3283. Oil Palm Research Station: s.e.x?, August 23, 1963, ADG 254.

This bird was seen only at Kalabakan, in dense secondary growth. My specimen was in heavy molt.