

AEACHNOTHEEA MODESTA 



(GREY-BREASTED SPIDER-HUNTER.) 



Anthreptes modesta, Eyton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 105. 



Arachnothera modesta, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 981 (1843), xv, p. 43 (1846); id. Cat. B. 

 Mus. A. S. B. p. 222, no. 1345 (1849) ; Bp. Consp. Av. i, p. 410, no. 6 (1850) ; Horsf. & 

 Moore, Cat. B. E.I. Co. Mus. ii, p. 730, no. 1063 (1856); Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 460; 

 Gray, Hand-1. B. i, p. Ill, no. 1379 (1869); Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxix, p. 302, no. 40 

 (1870); Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genova, v, p. 183 (1874); Hume, Str. F. 1874, p. 473, 

 1875, p. 85; Blyth & Walden, Mamm. & Birds of Burma, p. 140, no. 488 (1875). 



Arachnothera latirostris, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 982 (1843), xiv, p. 557 (1845); Gray, Gen. 

 B. i, p. 99, no. 6 (1847). 



Arachnothera affinis, Pelz. Beise Novara, i, p. 53 (1865). 



cf ad. supra flavicanti-olivaceus, pilei plumis obscure medialiter brunneis : tectricibus alarum minimis et 

 medianis dorso concoloribus : majoribus remigibusque saturate brunneis, extiis late flavicanti-olivaceis, 

 secundariis intimis dorso concoloribus : rectricibus nigricantibus ad apicem pogonii interni albido 

 maculatis, duabus centralibus olivascenti-navis, nigricanti terminatis, omnibus olivascenti-flavo extiis 

 marginatis : macula anteoculari genisque fuscescenti-cinereis : subtus pallide cineraceus vix olivaceo 

 lavatus : gutture imo et prsepectore obscure brunneo striolatis : subcaudalibus olivascenti- brunneis 

 flavido terminatis : subalaribus brunnescenti-albidis, extimis flavis basaliter brunneis : rostro saturate 

 brunneo : pedibus pallide carneis : iride pallide brunnea. 



2 baud a mare distinguenda. 



Hab. in peninsula Malayana, et in insula " Borneo " dicta. 



Adult Male. Upper parts yellowish olive ; the centres of the feathers of the forehead and crown more 

 dusky, with black shaft-stripes ; wings of the same colour as the back, with the inner webs of the 

 greater coverts and quills brownish black; tail yellowish olive, with a broad terminal band and the 

 inner webs of all but the two centre feathers black, and having a clear white subterminal spot on the 

 inner webs of the four outer feathers on each side ; sides of the head yellowish olive, shaded with ashy 

 grey in front of the eyes and on the lower portion of the cheeks and ear-coverts ; underparts pale olive- 

 shaded ash, the feathers on the lower half of the throat with rather indistinct dusky brown shaft- 

 stripes ; under tail-coverts dusky olive, broadly edged with pale buff ; under surface of the wings dark 

 brown, with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts white, the latter towards the edge of the 

 wing shading into sulphur-yellow, and having brownish-black centres ; upper mandible black, lower one 

 reddish horn-colour ; iris brown ; legs vary from reddish ochre to pale reddish brown. Total length 

 6 - 5 inches, culmen l - 4, wing 33, tail 2 - l, tarsus 0'7. 



Adult Female. Similar in plumage to the adult male. Total length 6 inches, culmen 1'25, wing 2'9, 

 tail 1'8, tarsus - 7. 



Hab. Malay peninsula and Borneo. 



Arachnothera modesta and A. affinis may be distinguished from the other species of this genus 



2k2 



