Part 127

Bohol (McGregor); Leyte (Everett, Steere Exp., Whitehead); Panaon (Everett); Samar (Steere Exp., Bourns & Worcester, Whitehead).

Adult.--Colors of plumage as in the two preceding species, colors of bill as in H. mindanensis, but the casque abruptly contracted in front and its upper outline, in front, continuous with that of the culmen. "Naked skin round eye darkest sepia, almost black; gular skin dark indian-yellow; iris light yellow (light green in living bird); feet coral-red; nails dark brownish gray." (Everett.) Length of male, about 890; wing, 400; tail, 320; bill from nostril, 153; greatest width of casque, 53; tarsus, 53.

"Adult female.--Does not differ in plumage from the male. Length, 787; wing, 350; tail, 279; tarsus, 53.

"Young.--Similar to that of H. mindanensis, except that the outer tail-feathers have not the basal half chestnut, although the middle feathers are the same.

"In older examples of both sexes, when the adult plumage has been nearly attained the bill is jet-black, the yellow tip of the young having disappeared, and the anterior part of the casque is distinctly raised above the line of the culmen." (Grant.)

"Extremely abundant on the hills back of Catbalogan in Samar. Sometimes comes down into the mangrove swamps near the town. In damp weather its hoarse cry can readily be heard a mile. Usually frequents very lofty trees, but may be readily called down by imitating its note. We secured a fine series of specimens in this way. In a few cases we observed H. semigaleatus feeding in low brush, and even on the ground. This species has a highly developed oil-gland the secretion from which is gamboge-yellow. When the feathers are well oiled the color of the whole bird is changed. Feeds on fruit.

"Two males measure, 883 in length; wing, 385; tail, 305; tarsus, 57; middle toe with claw, 74. Six females, length, 830; wing, 361; tail, 298; tarsus, 53; middle toe with claw, 71." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Genus ANTHRACOCEROS Reichenbach, 1849.

Casque small, compressed and rounded on top, its outline gently curved, rounded and vertical behind, and continuous with culmen in front; very fine striæ near base of bill; chin and upper throat partly feathered.

292. ANTHRACOCEROS MONTANI (Oustalet).

MONTANO'S HORNBILL.

Buceros montani Oustalet, Bull. Hebd. Assoc. Scien. Fr. (1880), 205. Anthracoceros montani Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 370; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 64; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 55.

Sulu (Montano & Rey, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).

Adult (sexes alike).--Tail white; remainder of plumage black; back and wings slightly glossed with green. A female measures: Wing, 290; tail, 260; bill from nostril, 101; tarsus, 52. This species has been described as having the tail entirely white but in a female specimen collected in Tawi Tawi, November 2, 1891, by Bourns and Worcester, two rectrices on one side have the outer web black for about three-fourths of the distance from base to tip and one feather on the other side of the tail has the outer web black to a less extent; the inner webs, also, are black for a short distance on two of these feathers. More specimens are necessary to determine whether this is an individual variation or a normal character, perhaps dependent upon age, which has been previously overlooked.

"We were fortunate enough to secure a series of fourteen specimens of this rare hornbill from Sulu and Tawi Tawi. The tail is pure white; all other parts black, the feathers of the back and wings glossed with dark green. The bill in adult birds is coal-black; all of our adult males had the iris nearly white, while in the adult females it was dark brown; legs and feet dull leaden, nails black. Young birds have the tip of the bill white or pale horn.

"Common on the hills back of the town of Sulu, and very abundant in Tawi Tawi where it occurs in great flocks, but very wild and extremely difficult to approach. The cry of this bird is the most peculiar bird-note we have ever heard. It begins with a series of notes precisely like the 'song' of a common hen magnified about fifty-fold, and ends with an indescribable combination of cackles and shrieks.

"Two males from Tawi Tawi measure, 717 in length; wing, 293; tail, 243; tarsus, 52; middle toe with claw, 59. Six females from same locality measure: Length, 672; wing, 268; tail, 224; tarsus, 51; middle toe with claw, 55. A male and two females from Sulu are slightly smaller. Eyes vary from nearly white to nearly black, the females usually having the darker eyes; bare skin of head black; bill black. Food fruit." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Genus GYMNOLÆMUS Grant, 1892.

Casque large, compressed, and fairly smooth, its top rounded, outline gently curved, overhanging behind and abruptly truncated in front; no chiseling on sides of bill; chin, upper throat, and large space around eye entirely nude.

293. GYMNOLÆMUS LEMPRIERI (Sharpe).

PALAWAN HORNBILL.

Anthracoceros lemprieri Sharpe, Nature (1885), 32, 46 (desc. nulla); Proc. Zool. Soc. (1885), 446, pl. 26; Everett, Ibis (1895), 30. Anthracoceros marchii Oustalet, Le Naturaliste (1885), 108. Gymnolæmus marchii Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 370. Gymnolæmus lemprieri Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 65; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 56.

Balabac (Everett); Calamianes (Bourns & Worcester); Palawan (Marche, Lempriere, Whitehead, Platen, Steere Exp., Celestino).

Adult male.--Rectrices pure white, their shafts pale yellow; remainder of plumage black, glossed with dark green. A male from Palawan measures: Length, about 710; wing, 290; tail, 240; bill from nostril, 111; greatest length of crest, 106; tarsus, 52.

"Adult female.--Resembles the male, but the casque is less developed and the size smaller. Length, 610; wing, 264; tail, 216; tarsus, 53." (Grant.)

"We saw this bird on several occasions in Palawan, but always in very high trees, and it was so extremely wild that we did not succeed in securing any specimens from that island. In the Calamianes Islands we found it both common and tame. On several occasions we saw it feeding in low fruit trees within a few feet of the ground.

"Iris brown; legs and feet leaden; nails black; bill white except base of lower mandible; bare skin of head white. A female measures, 610 in length; wing, 263; tail, 204; tarsus, 46; middle toe with claw, 58." (Bourns and Worcester MS.)

Genus PENELOPIDES Reichenbach, 1849.