16,4 McGregor: Some Features of the Philippine Ornis 393 
clear of undergrowth as may be — but, hilly or level, the primary 
forest is almost the only vegetation that will yield local endemic 
species. Coconut groves must not be overlooked, and some 
valuable specimens can be found in the beach forest. The par- 
rakeets of the genus Loriculus and all or most of the sunbirds 
feed among the blossoms of the coconut palm, and such forest 
birds as the small orioles and the fairy bluebirds often feed in 
small second-growth trees when conditions suit them ; but these 
birds are at home in the primary forest and are attracted to 
other types of vegetation by abundance of food. 
In order to reach primary forest it is usually necessary to pass 
through areas of grassland, cultivated fields, and thickets. Un- 
less a trail can be utilized, there is often much difficulty in 
entering the forest, for the borders are usually a thick tangle 
of grasses, vines, and shrubs. 
When the primary forest has been cleared from the level parts 
of an island, it becomes necessary to search for birds among 
the trees on more or less steep mountain sides. In such situa- 
tions there seem to be fewer birds than in forests on level 
ground, and the difficulty of collecting is increased; this results 
partly from the less ease with which one can walk and partly 
from the fact that birds, if killed in trees on hillsides, usually 
fall much farther from the shooter than they do when killed in 
trees on level ground and consequently are more frequently lost. 
So far as I can judge there is little if any difference in the 
species of birds of the dipterocarp forest, the molave type, and 
Brown’s midmountain forest. The last sort of forest is com- 
posed of lower, smaller trees and seems to have fewer species 
of birds, but these birds are species that are also found in the 
dipterocarp forest. 
Within many forests the ground is nearly clear of undergrowth 
so that one can wander at will, provided that care is taken to 
avoid the sharp hooks on the long flagella terminating the fea- 
thery fronds of rattan palms. If the ground is level, it is an 
easy matter to become confused as to directions. The light 
filters through many layers of leafy branches, and the air is 
damp and cool. No hat is needed even when the heat is 
dizzying in the open. Much of the time such a forest is abso- 
lutely silent. Although the monsoon may be blowing a gale, 
its effect ceases at the border of the forest. Occasionally a troop 
of monkeys will suddenly chatter and make a great commotion 
leaping and crashing from one tree to another. A large cicada 
170592- 
