“Extremely abundant on the hills back of Catbalogan in Samar. Sometimes comes down into the mangrove swamps near the town. In damp weather its hoarse cry can readily be heard a mile. Usually frequents very lofty trees, but may be readily called down by imitating its note. We secured a fine series of specimens in this way. In a few cases we observed H. semigaleatus feeding in low brush, and even on the ground. This species has a highly developed oil-gland the secretion from which is gamboge-yellow. When the feathers are well oiled the color of the whole bird is changed. Feeds on fruit.
“Two males measure, 883 in length; wing, 385; tail, 305; tarsus, 57; middle toe with claw, 74. Six females, length, 830; wing, 361; tail, 298; tarsus, 53; middle toe with claw, 71.” (Bourns and Worcester MS.)
Genus ANTHRACOCEROS Reichenbach, 1849.
Casque small, compressed and rounded on top, its outline gently curved, rounded and vertical behind, and continuous with culmen in front; very fine striæ near base of bill; chin and upper throat partly feathered.
292. ANTHRACOCEROS MONTANI (Oustalet).
MONTANO’S HORNBILL.
- Buceros montani Oustalet, Bull. Hebd. Assoc. Scien. Fr. (1880), 205.
- Anthracoceros montani Grant, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1892), 17, 370; Sharpe, Hand-List (1900), 2, 64; McGregor and Worcester, Hand-List (1906), 55.
Sulu (Montano & Rey, Bourns & Worcester); Tawi Tawi (Bourns & Worcester).
Adult (sexes alike).—Tail white; remainder of plumage black; back and wings slightly glossed with green. A female measures: Wing, 290; tail, 260; bill from nostril, 101; tarsus, 52. This species has been described as having the tail entirely white but in a female specimen collected in Tawi Tawi, November 2, 1891, by Bourns and Worcester, two rectrices on one side have the outer web black for about three-fourths of the distance from base to tip and one feather on the other side of the tail has the outer web black to a less extent; the inner webs, also, are black for a short distance on two of these feathers. More specimens are necessary to determine whether this is an individual variation or a normal character, perhaps dependent upon age, which has been previously overlooked.
“We were fortunate enough to secure a series of fourteen specimens of this rare hornbill from Sulu and Tawi Tawi. The tail is pure white; all other parts black, the feathers of the back and wings glossed with dark green. The bill in adult birds is coal-black; all of our adult males had the iris nearly white, while in the adult females it was dark brown; legs and feet dull leaden, nails black. Young birds have the tip of the bill white or pale horn.