THE GREY-BREASTED SPIDER-HUNTER. 
329 
are overrun with wild plantains, the flowers of which appear to be rich 
both in nectar and insects. It is rather a shy bird, flying very rapidly 
from tree to tree and shunning observation ; it has a peculiar note often 
uttered. I have never been able to find its nest. 
311. ARACHNOTHEHA MODESTA. 
THE GREY-BREASTED SPIDER-HUNTER. 
Anthreptes modesta, Eijton, P. Z. S. 1839, p. 105 ; Salvad. TJce. Born. p. 183 ; 
Humej 8: F. iii. p. 85 ; Wald. in Bl. B. Burm. p. 140 ; Hume ^ Dav. S. F. 
vi. p. 176; Shelley, Mon. Nect. pp. 1, 353, pi. 113 ; Hume, S. F. viii. pp. 55, 89. 
Description. — Male and female. The whole upper plumage and wing- 
coverts bright yellowish green, the feathers of the head dark-centred ; 
quills dark brown, broadly edged with the colour of the back, the tertiaries 
almost wholly of this colour ; sides of the neck and the upper part of the 
ear-coverts olive- green ; cheeks, the lower portion of the ear-coverts, chin, 
throat and fore neck ashy green, obscurely streaked with brown ; remainder 
of the lower plumage ashy green, paler on the abdomen, and the under tail- 
coverts tipped yellowish white ; central tail-feathers yellowish green, broadly 
tipped with black ; the others blackish, the basal two thirds of the outer 
webs yellowish green, and all the feathers with a spot of white near the tip 
on the inner webs ; edge of the wing bright yellow ; under wing-coverts 
and axillaries pale yellow. 
Legs and feet reddish ochre to pale reddish brown ; the upper mandible 
black, the lower reddish horny to pale reddish brown; irides brown. 
(Davison.) 
Length 7 inches, tail 2'2, wing 3'5, tarsus '75, bill from gape 1*5. The 
female is rather smaller. 
The Grey-breasted Spider-hunter was observed by Mr. Davison in Tenas- 
serim from the extreme south up to the north-west spurs of Mooleyit 
mountain. 
It extends down the Malay peninsula, and is found in the islands of 
Sumatra and Java. Dr. Tiraud says that it is very common in Cochin 
China. 
Mr. Davison records nothing peculiar about its habits. 
