Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries : • * Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries (x l' IlTE c TO THE COLLECTION OB BORNEAN BIRDS IN •rag k w.timivak ivirsKi'ivi BY *T. O. IVI. O TT TOTV 33.Sc.-, F.R.G.S., F.L.S., F.Z-.S., F.E.S. Curator of the Sarawak Museum• 1914. *[dt v,.> Printed at the Sarawak Government Printing Office^ Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries \OTE. -— and the page* WITH the illustrations,exception ofthisthefluidefirst fonrwas publishedintroductoryin instal¬ ments in the Sarawak Gazette for 1913—14.' The first of the nineteen parts appeared on April 17th, 1913, the last on May 1st, 1914. The illustrations are reproduced by Messrs. West, Newman & Co. from photographs of Birds in the Museum taken by Mr. O. Jee Koo, of the Museum staff. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries • (0^ . CONTENTS. Pag . The Sarawak Museum Collection of Bornean Birds ... j The Birds of Borneo ... 2 Order I. Galliformes ... 5 „ II. Columbiformes ... ... 12 „ III. Ralliformes ... .. 19 ,, IV. Podicipedidiformes . 23 ,, V. Procellariiformes ... 23 ,, VI. Lariformes ... ... 24 „ VII. Oharadriiformes .. 28 ,, VIII. Ardeiformes ... ... 44 ,, IX. Anseriformes ... .. 54 ,, X. Pelecaniformes ... ... 57 „ XI. Accipitrif irmes ... (>1 XII. Strigiformes .. ... 71 „ XIII. Psittaciformes ... ... 76 ,, XIV. Coraciiformes ... ... 79 ,, XV. Troganes ... ... 102 „ XVI. Coccyges ... ... 105 ,, XVII. Scansores ... ... 114 ,, XVIII. Piciformes .. ... 118 ,, XIX. Eurvlnemiformes... ... 126 ,, XX. Passeriformes ... ... 129 Literature ... ... ... 216 Further observations wanted ... ... 218 Addenda et Corrigenda ... ... 219 Index ... ... ... ... 220 ILLUSTRATIONS. To-face page. Argus and Fiieback Pheasants 7 Bulwer's Pheasant 10 Water-hens and Rails 20 Curlews and Sandpipers 33 Ind an D rter and B >oby 59 Solid-casqued Hornbill 92 Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries -.1 Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries A GUIDE TO THE COLLECTION 0 F BORNEAN BIRDS IN THE SARAWAK MUSEUM. ->$<— The main object of this little book is to serve as a guide to the collection of Bornean Birds now exhibited in the Sarawak Museum. It further purports to be an up-to-date list of all the Birds now known from Borneo and, by the inclusion of brief descriptions, offers an introduction to Bor¬ nean Ornithology. Tiie Sarawak Museum Collection of Bornean Birds. The collection amounts to over 4,000 bird-skins representing about 420 different species. The majority are stored as a reference collection, but two extensive series are placed on exhibition on the Ground-floor of the Museum. These are : (i) The classified collection, contained in eight large glass-fronted teak-wood cases, numbered 1 to 4 and 4 a to 4 d. One example of each species for where the sexes differ, one.of. each sex) is Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries exhibited, and all are arranged in a certain order commencing with the Game-birds in Case i to the Accipitrine birds in Case 4, and continued by the Coraciiform birds in Case 4a down to the Passerine Birds which fill cases 4c and 4d. Below- each bird a label is placed giving the Latin name, English name and in some cases the native (Malay or Sea-Dayak) name. Before the Latin name is placed the number to which reference is made in this Guide. As far as the Museum collections can provide the material, every species of bird yet recorded from Borneo will be exhibited here. At present some 420 species are placed on exhibition. (ii) The grouped series are arranged 111 cases of different sizes, numbered 5 to 33. In these groups one case is devoted to the Kingfishers, another to the Hawks and Eagles, a third to the Pigeons, etc., etc. Each case bears a number to which reference is made in this Guide. The names of the birds (in Latin and English) are attached to each case, together with a small outline map of the world, coloured to show the geographical distri¬ bution of each group. These maps were prepared by the late Mr. Shelford, formerly Curator of this Museum. The Birds of Borneo. In this Guide 571 species are enumerated, from which 8 must be deducted as forms wrongly recorded from Borneo or insufficiently distinct to merit separation from allied forms. More work will probably reduce the total still further. On the other hand, migrants from the north are likely to be added, so that our total will remain much the same. We may say therefore that 570 different Birds are known in Borneo. They are distributed over 2d Natural Orders and 69 Families. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries The arrangement followed is that of the British Museum Hand-List of Birds, 1899—1909. As in that list, the artificial system of binomials has been adopted in preference to the more up-to-date trinomial system, by which we gain some insight into the interesting problems of geographical dis¬ tribution. However, this latter system, so far as the Birds of this region are concerned, is still in a transient stage, so no good can be gained by bur¬ dening the reader with an extra set of names, which are. incidentally, of doubtful permanent value. For this reason it is a little difficult to give anything like precise figures to indicate the geo¬ graphical distribution of Bornean species. The following points, however, stand out clearly and are worth remembering Hardly any distinct and well-defined genera or species are peculiar to Borneo. The great majority of species with restricted range are confined to the three countries—Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. At no great distant geological period these three countries were united to form one connected land, which I have called Neomalaya. This one region has a, bird-fauna peculiarly its own, which may be characterized as true Malayan, i. e., the source of Malayan elements in the bird-fauna of neighbour¬ ing countries. The next important feature is the general East Indian element, which is shown by a great number of birds ranging from the Himalayas south through the Malay Peninsula to the three Greater Sunda Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries Isles (Borneo, Sumatra and Java), to the Phi¬ lippines and in lesser degree to Celebes and the Lesser Sunda Isles. The Australian region has only a few straggling representatives in Borneo. During certain months of the year the numbers of true Bornean Birds are swelled by visitors. These all come from the North ; and we can dis¬ tinguish two lines of migration—one continental, from Siberia, South China and the Eastern Hima¬ layas, and the other .further East, from Japan. Formosa, and the Philippines. We have also occasional stragglers from neighbouring countries e.g. from Java to South Borneo, from Palawan to North Borneo. Although Bornean Birds have hardly any charac¬ ter peculiarly their own, a great many show very slight, but constant, differences which are sufficient to distinguish them from their close allies in Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. It may be a slightly different shade of colour, a greater exten¬ sion of one colour on the throat or breast for instance, or perhaps a very slight but regular difference in size, etc., etc. These small differences have been evolved since the breaking up of Neo- malaya into the three countries we know to-day as Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. In these countries we find further local differ¬ ences, thus a mountain form of one species is often seen to be regularly different from its lowland brother. Similarly, differences are noted between individuals of one species coming from different parts of Borneo, e.g. from North Borneo and from Western Sarawak. But in some cases intermedi¬ ate forms occur in the country between, so we are not yet justified in considering such species or local races as distinct. We can only note that there is a tendency for the individuals of a species in different parts of Borneo to show local differences. Original from and digitized by National University of Singapore Libraries [ 5 ] Order I. A Sj tj IFOICII E S. This Order is sub-divided into three Sub-Orders, (i) MEGAPODII, (ii) CRACES, (iii) PHA8IANI, of which the first and third are represented in Borneo, the second (CRACES) being confined to Central and South America. 'lire Order GALLIFORMES is composed of the Game "-Birds and about 400 different kinds are known, of which 16 are recorded from Borneo. Their chief characters are : bill, short and stout; body, well-built and robust; legs and toes, well adapted for walking and running; claws, stout and curved for digging up roots, insects and other food. Sub-Order 1. jVlog'sigtoriii. This Sub-Order consists of one Family only, the MEGAPODII DAE. Fam. I. MEGAPODIIDAE. The Megapodes or Mound-builders are remark¬ able for their peculiar nesting habits.