1916 |] H. C. Ropinson & C. B. Kioss: Kedah Peak. 225 
which was extensively worked by one of us. From the nature 
of the terrain it was not therefore probable that Kedah as a 
whole would disclose any form of special interest, but it was 
thought possible that Kedah Peak, rising as it does to a height of 
approximately 4,000 feet, might harbour some of the mountain 
species that are known from the main range mountains of the 
Federated Malay States to the south and from the mountains 
of Trang and Bandon to the North and North East. Moreover 
it was desirable to ascertain, whether the faunal boundary 
separating purely Malayan species from Tenasserimese races 
passed to the north or south of the peak. 
With this object in view the mountain on its higher levels 
from the summit to about 2,500 feet was exhaustively searched 
from November 29th to December 11th, by three trained Dyak 
Collectors, well acquainted with the local fauna, and we do not 
think that they are likely to have missed any species really 
resident on the hill at the time. 
As a result the hill was found to be extraordinarily barren 
in bird life, both species and individuals being very scarce, the 
only forms at all common being Aethopyga temmuincht, 
Turdinus magnirostris and Hemixus cinerea. 
The results conclusively show that Kedah Peak has never 
been connected either with the Trang mountains or those of 
the main range in such a manner as to permit the passage of 
the fauna of these two districts to it. The tradition in Malay 
Legend that until comparatively recent times the Peak was an 
island has probably therefore some foundation in geological 
fact. 
Besides the specimens actually listed, three species of 
hornbills were seen and numerous individuals of a large 
Spizaetus, probably the black form of Sf. limnaetus, but these 
have no bearing on the general conclusions. No game birds 
were seen or heard nor did pigeons of any kind occur on the 
peak, though Carpophaga badia is usually found on mountains 
of this elevation. Round the summit Hirundo javanica and 
A. gutturalis, Chaetura gigantea and Ch. peecEyevelss were noted, 
but no species of Collocatia. 
The rarest and most interesting acquisition was Prionochilus 
thoracious, of which but few specimens have ever been obtained 
in the Malay Peninsula, while Anthus maculatus and Cichloselys 
sibericus are rare seasonal visitors. The specimens obtained 
have been listed in detail but it has not been thought necessary 
to give any extensive references to the local literature. Occur- 
rence to the north in Trang and Bandon have, however, usually 
been quoted. 
RALLINA SUPERCILIARIS (Eyton). 
Rallina superciliaris (Eyton); Sharpe, Cat. Birds Bnit. 
Mus. xxi, p. 76 (1894) Robinson & Kloss, Ibis, rg11, p. 10. 
a. I Femaleimm. Kedah Peak, 3,000 ft. 30th Novem- 
ber, 1915. No. 2,112. “Iris orange, bill dark slate, sea 
February, 1916. 4 
— 
