Nov., 1904 
THE CONDOR 
161 
cleaving to the Rocks as the Swallows ( p. 455) do to the Wall. 'I'hese are the so 
famous Birds Nests, whereof we have spoke in the foregoing Volume'''. 
“The Herrero' is a green Bird, as big as a Hen. Nature has furnish’d it with 
such a large and hard Beak, that it bores the Bodies of Trees to build its Nest. 
From the Noise it makes at this Work, w'hich is heard at a great distance, the 
Spmiiards took occasion to give it this name of FTerrero or Smith. Others think it 
was so call’d for an knowledge of an Herb, which lay’d upon Iron breaks it; for it 
is known by experience that the Hole on (sic) the Tree being cover’d with an iron 
Plate to save the Young that are in the Nest, it seeks out this Herb, and laying it 
on the Plate, breaks it, and so clears the way; but I will not vouch for the 
Truth hereof. 
“There is another rare bird call’d Colo-Colo k little less than an Eagle, Black, 
and half Fish half Bird, for it equall}" dives under Water, and flyes in the Air. It 
overtakes any Phsh and kills it with its Beak which is half a Yard long. The 
Feathers are so close that as soon as out of the Water it shakes them dry. 
“In the Island of Calanthines there are abundance of Peacocks'*'. The wild 
Mountain Cocks^ supply the want of Pheasants and Partridges, and well dress’d 
and excellently tasted. The Quails'" are half as big as ours, and have a red Beak 
and Feet. 
“In all the Islands at all times there are green Birds call’d Volanos" and .several 
.sorts of Parrots", and white Caca/nas/’, which have a Tuft of Feathers on their 
Head. * * * 
“The or Judge, D. John Srrra, show’d me another dead Bird that had 
most beautiful Featliers. as big as a Black-Bird, brought him from the Island of 
Borneo, where it was taken. It had no h'eet, but only great Wings to bear it up, 
and is therefore call’d the Bird of Paradice'-'. F. Combes in his History of the Is- 
land of Mindanao, says there are such there.’’ 
J/anila, /\ /, 
h The followiiii*' is tlie passage relerred tn: "The Hints Xesls are taken on the Coast ol Coihiiicliiini. the Islands 
of Borneo. Ciilaniiane.s. and nthers of the .A.rchipelag;n ol S. Lazaro. where they are hnilt upon inaccessible Rocks, bv 
certain Birds like Swallows, so artificially that they are eaten steep'd in warm Water, to take out any Feathers there 
may be in them It is not known to this Day, whether they are made fro n Clay, nr of what the Bird fetches from its 
Stomach; but they are of great nourishment, and taste like the /tah'an i'ennireHi." (page 374). 
/ I cannot make thisoiit unless it is one of the hornbills (/)ho7o et/rf:/') . iVone of them, however, are green and I 
doubt if they dig their own nesting holes. Five genera are known from the Philippines, three ol which are confined 
to the group, viz: Hydroeornx. 3 species: GriiniotiDinis, i species; Benetopides, 6 species. 
i Plot ns melanngaster (Gmelini probably. The single specie.s found in these I.slands ranges over the greater part 
of tire Oriental Region and into Celebes. I have never heard the name “Colo-Colo." The bird is known to the 
natives as “Casili." 
/(’None has been recorded from the Calamianes 
/(/«///«■ .gn//»,v r.innaeus. The wild chicken, or jungle fowl is common in most of the Islands and abundant in 
the Calamianes. 
ni Four species of quails have been recorded from the .Archipelago, all of them minute compared with our .Ameri- 
can partridges. I know of none with red bill and feel. 
n I don't know the ' Volano." 
o Four genera of parrots are present in the Philippines. /'/ 7 species; Tanynath ns, 3 species: Rolbopsit- 
lacus, 3 .species; genus pecidiar to Philippines; Loricnlus, 8 species. 
p Cacatua ha-matHropygia I P. I.. S. Muellerj. Carat na contains 17 species, distributed over the Oriental Region, 
except the present specie.s which is common in most of the Philippine I.slands. 
y These birds were long thought to be without feet as all the early specimens were obtained from nations who 
cut off the feet, .vone of this family has ever been found in Mindanao tho the myth that they occur there still persists. 
