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Show 346 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE BIRDS OF LABUAN. [Apr. 1, are very noisy, and are fond of associating with the Pigeons in the dove-cot, where I believe they also breed. They will nest occasionally under the eaves of houses ; and one pair built its nest and reared its young this year in the verandah in a blind or screen which is kept rolled up, forming a hollow inside." Two sets of eggs were procured by Mr. Low with the old birds. The first contained only a single egg, the latter being long in shape, of a light greenish blue, sparsely spotted with faint underlying spots of brown and larger spots and blotches of red, principally distributed at the obtuse end; axis 1*15, diam. 0*7. The second set consisted of three eggs not so elongated as the first, and somewhat more plentifully spotted with red as regards two out of the three; axis 1*05, diam. 0*75. The eggs were obtained in June 1873. 98. GRACULA JAVANENSIS (Osb.). Gracula javanensis, Motl. & Dillw. t. c. p. 25 ; Salvad. t. c. p. 274. According to Mr. Low, this bird is called by the natives " Burong tiong;" and the eggs are said to be very difficult to get. The two sent by him are pure white, and are large for the size of the bird ; axis 1'3, diam. ]*15 ; they were obtained in May 1874. Family PITTID^:. 99. PITTA MUELLERI (Bp.). Pitta muelleri, Salvad. t. c. p. 240. Sent by all three naturalists. Native name "Teong tanah," according to Mr. Treacher. Five eggs are sent by Mr. Low, along with the old female. Their ground-colour is creamy-white, rather thickly scribbled over with reddish-brown lines and spots, and plentifully varied with underlying spots of light purple ; axis 0*95-1*0 in., diam. 0*8 in. Order COLUMBA. 100. CHALCOPHAPS INDICA (L.). Chalcophaps indica, Salvad. t. c. p. 299. One specimen sent by Governor Ussher, with a note : - " § Dove : Labuan. Five of these were brought to me alive; but one night a cat got at them, and only left this female. The males were lavender-coloured, grey about the head and neck." To Mr. Burbidge I am indebted for the following interesting notes and sketches :- " Herewith I send you sketches and a short account of the ' call-wigwams' used by the Kadyans (a pastoral race who live in N.W. Borneo) in order to capture the small green ' Puni' Pigeon. " The call is formed of two pieces of bamboo (a), a slender tube (b), a short piece 3"-4" in diameter, and a connecting piece of wood (c). |