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Show 520 LETTER FROM COMMANDER W. E. COOKSON, R.N. [June 20, Hab. Mountains of Naiabui, south of New Guinea (D'Albertis et Tomasinelli). Obs. Similis T.placenti, sed uropygio. dorso concolori nee caeruleo, pileo distinctius fiavido et rectricibus magis rubris diversus. 2. CYCLOPSITTA SUAVISSIMA, sp. nov. (Plate LIV., S et $ .) Supra psittaceo-viridis, remigibus nigricantibus, horum limbo exteriore cum fronte lata caruleis ; loris albis, genis nigris, gula media et fascia lata colli antica lactescenti-albis; pectore toto aurantiaco, ventre et tectricibus subalaribus pallide viridibus; rostro et pedibus nigris, iride nigra : long, tota 4-7, ala 3 2, cauda 1*3. Fern, mari similis, sed genis carulescentibus, colli lateribus aurantiacis et pectore flavicante diversa*. Hab. Naiabui, New Guinea, September 1875 (D'Albertis etToma-sinelli). Obs. Affinis C. melanogenia ex inss. Aroensibus, sed fronte ceerulea distinguenda. « The following Letter, addressed by Commander W. E. Cookson, R.N., to Dr. Gunther was read :- "H.M.S. 'Peterel,' at sea, "lat. 42° 40' N., long. 28° 30' W. " May 29, 1876. " In accordance with the wish of Rear-Admiral the Honourable A. A. Cochrane, I have much pleasure in forwarding to you two living tortoises, which I obtained from Albemarle Island when on a visit to the Galapagos group during June of last year. " Before directing me to proceed to these islands, Admiral Cochrane sent me a copy of your letter to him, of May 18th, 1874, respecting their fauna, and desired me, if possible, to forward your wishes. This I have not succeeded in doing as thoroughly as I could wish ; but I hope the specimens I have obtained may not be without value. The two living specimens are male and female, and undoubtedly adults ; we found them about four miles inland, on a small elevated plain at the north-western extremity of the island. The plateau on which they were found was covered with stunted bush and high, very coarse, grass, through which their tracks were very numerous. " Together with these live tortoises I send you the shells of five others, lettered A, B, C, D, and E. A, B, C are the shells of tortoises which we took from Abingdon Island ; D, and E are from the same locality on Albemarle Island as the live ones come from. " I greatly regret that the two Abingdon tortoises, which I hoped to have kept alive, died after being a few weeks on board, more especially as I believe a comparison between these and those from Albemarle Island will be a point of much interest; for the officers and myself were much struck with the difference in their general * I am indebted to the kindness of Count T. Salvadori for the loan of the skin of the female of this species, as likewise of skins of C. melanogenia for comparison.-P. L. S. |
