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Show 68 MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE ON THE [Jan. 14 M. assimilis inhabits Cape York, and according to Mr. Ramsay also Rockingham Bay, where, always according to the same M r . Ramsay it meets M. magnifica, which is generally known to inhabit South Australia and the river Hunter to Moreton Bay. Turin, Zoolog. Museum, Nov. 19, 1878. 5. Contributions to the Ornithology of the Philippines.- N o . XII. O n the Collection m a d e by M r . A . H . Everett in the island of Basilan. By A R T H U R , Marquis of T W E E D D A L E , F.R.S., President of the Society. [Eeceived November 26, 1878.] In the year 1876, the island of Basilan was for the first time visited by an ornithological collector, Dr. Steere, who, during the fortnight he resided at the Spanish settlement of Isabella, obtained examples of 23 species of birds. Mr. Everett reached the same island in the month of M a y of the present year, and remained there during June. Of the collection of birds he formed it is now proposed to give an account. In all Mr. Everett obtained representatives of 56 species. Of these 12 only have already been enumerated by Mr. Sharpe; so that through Mr. Everett's exertions I a m enabled to increase the number of known Basilan birds by 48. To the 56 species collected by Mr. Everett must be added the 11 obtained over and above by Dr. Steere ; and the known total of Basilan birds will thus be found to be 67. By the discovery of Totanus calidris in Basilan, Mr. Everett has established one certain Philippine habitat for a species hitherto but doubtfully known to inhabit the archipelago. So now only 28 species are left, the occurrence of which in the Philippines still remains somewhat uncertain. Mr. Everett writes, that he finds the " wet season at its height, and the rain has been incessant. The hostility of the natives renders it impossible to go beyond a radius of four or five miles from the village without a well-armed party. Hence the collection is rather meagre. Apart from these causes, however, the collection is likely to prove disappointing; for the avifauna of the island does not seem to offer any very marked features to distinguish it from that of the Zarnboanga peninsula." 1. PRIONITURUS DISCURUS (2). [Basilan, o* $ , May, June.] 2. TANYGNATHUS LUCONENSIS (3). [Basilan, 6\ May.] 3. LORICULUS HARTLAUBI (7). [Basilan, <$, May.] |