139 



III. BIRDS. 



By 11. C. ROBINSON, c.m.z.s., m.b.o.u. 

 The main object of our vi.sit to the gi'oup was the acquisition of 

 large series of the local mammals and we did not therefore attempt 

 to collect many individual .specimens of birds, thoug'h an example of 

 eveiy species seen was, if possible, obtained. 



As is the case with all the islands off the east coast of the Malay 

 Peninsula the ornis presents few features of interest and after allow- 

 ing for varying circumstances, such as the degree of deaff'orestment, 

 and the existence or otherwise of paddy land, is identical in all the 

 islands. In all, certain birds such as Cittocincla macrura, Etdabes sjJ. 

 and Calornis chalybea are very common while certain groups such as 

 the Woodpeckers, Barbets, Trogons and Timeliids are either rare or 

 entirely absent. The present islands differ from Pulau Tionian and 

 Tinggi further south in possessing two species of game bird, Turnix 

 taigoor and Gallus gallus; but the latter, of which we did not obtain 

 specimens, has possibly mei-ely been introduced by the Siamese 

 population the local domestic breed being extraordinarily close to 

 the wild bird. Hornbills, Dichoceros bicornis, also were common on 

 the hills, but these as well as Alcedo meninting and Accipiter gnlaris 

 were only noted though they were seen more than once. The 



