Remarks on the Rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), and some other species mentioned in Mr. Ridley’s paper on the birds of the botanical gardens. {With a note H.N. Ridley
A brief exchange between A. L. Butler and H. N. Ridley correcting and supplementing several points in Ridley’s paper on the birds of the Botanical Gardens, published in JSBRAS Vol. 32 (1899).
Summary
Butler addresses four points from Ridley’s paper. On the Rhinoceros Hornbill, he reports examining a mounted specimen’s bill and concludes that the red colouration is inherent to the horny casing rather than applied by the uropygial oil, though the oil may serve to prevent the surface from cracking (p. 216). He then corrects Ridley’s comparison of Ægithina tiphia to the goldfinch, noting the Iora differs markedly in gregariousness, habitat, and diet. On Turnix plumbipes, Butler points out that it is the hens, not cocks, that are used as decoys and that do the fighting in the genus. Finally, he notes that Gallinago Sthenura is the correct spelling, the alternative arising from a misprint (p. 216).
Ridley appends a short note confirming Butler’s observation on the quail, reporting that all decoy birds he examined in Sungei Ujong were females and that the Malays confirmed males do not fight (p. 217).