ABSTRACTS 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing in 

 this issue. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — The birds of the Tamhelan Islands, South China 

 Sea. Harry C. OberhoIvSER. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 55: 

 129-143. 1919. 

 The Tambelan Islands lie in the southern part of the South China 

 Sea, about 100 miles west of Borneo. Dr. W. L. Abbott, who was the 

 first ornithologist to explore these islands, spent two weeks there from 

 August 3 to August 15, 1899, during which time he collected 53 birds, 

 representing 12 species. These, together with his field notes, bring 

 the number of avian species now known from these islands collectively 

 up to 22. A list of these, with critical notes on specimens obtained, 

 forms the present contribution. There are apparently few, if any, 

 endemic forms in these islands; and their affinities so far as birds are 

 concerned seem to be with the Anamba Islands which lie 150 miles 

 farther north, rather than with the nearer Bornean coast. The form 

 of Orthorhamphus magnirostris occurring in this region is apparently 

 without a name and is here called Orthorhamphus magnirostris scom- 

 mophorus. H. C. O. 



ORNITHOLOGY.— A^ote5 on birds collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott on Pulo 



Taya, Berhala Strait, southeastern Sumatra. Harry C. ObER- 



H01.SER. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 55: 267-274. 1919. 



The island of Taya is situated at the eastern end of Berhala Strait 



about 30 miles north of the coast of Sumatra. Dr. W. L. Abbott 



visited this island and the near-by Nyamok Islets from July 26 to July 28, 



1899, and obtained a small collection of 30 specimens of birds representing 



8 species. Two other species were seen but not obtained. Critical 



notes here presented include the description of two new subspecies, 



Lamprocorax panayensis richmondi and Cinnyris ornata microleuca, 



both of which are apparently peculiar to this island. Of considerable 



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