Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Malacca. 95 



Since this paper was written, Dr. Balfour has kindly placed in 

 my hands all his specimens of these plants, and I learn from them 

 that he gathered H. anglicum on the banks of the Crinan Canal 

 in Argyleshire (1827), near Culross on the Frith of Forth (1833), 

 and near Galway (1838). It will probably soon be noticed in 

 many other places. It is hoped that these remarks will cause 

 botanists to examine carefully all specimens named H, andro- 

 scemumy in order that we may soon be informed of the true claims 

 of H. anglicum to be separated from it ; and may also learn what 

 is the geographical range of each of the plants. 



X. — On the Ornithology of Malacca. 

 By Alfred R. Wallace, Esq. 



Although Malacca birds are among the very commonest in 

 European collections, I am not aware that the country has been 

 visited by any ornithologist ; a few remarks upon the birds I 

 met with may not therefore be unacceptable to your readers. I 

 spent nine weeks there, but for a fortnight I was ill in the 

 town, and seven only were occupied in collecting. Neverthe- 

 less I made extensive collections of insects, and procured 135 

 species of Passerine birds. In the ' Annals ' for May 1854 is a 

 list of birds collected during a two years^ residence at Barrack- 

 pore, which comprises only 127 land birds (including Gallinacece 

 which I have not reckoned) ; and in a note of the numbers of 

 Ceylon birds, kindly furnished me by Mr. Edgar L. Layard, I 

 find 165 Passeres were the whole number known to him after 

 several years^ researches in that fertile island. Now, as I cer- 

 tainly have not obtained one-half of the birds to be procured in 

 Malacca, we must conclude the locality to be an exceedingly pro- 

 ductive one for the ornithologist. 



Among the commonest and most characteristic birds are 

 Cymbirhynchus macrorynchus, Gm., Oriolus xanthonotus, Horsf., 

 Nyctiornis amicta, Sw. (one of the loveliest of Eastern birds), 

 the beautiful azure and black Irena puelhy Horsf., Megalaima 

 versicolor (the commonest of the Barbets), Calyptomena viridis 

 of Raffles (abundant) ; and beautiful Kingfishers are not un- 

 common. The first bird I have mentioned was that which I 

 first shot, and I was both surprised and delighted at its extreme 

 beauty, especially the bright colours of the enormous beak, which 

 all fade in the dry specimens and are replaced by a dull black. 

 The upper mandible is clear sky-blue ; the lower bright orange- 

 yellow, margined with blue, and the eyes emerald-green, or blue 

 and black powdered ; these colours all contrasting beautifully 

 with the deep black, pure white, and rich claret colour of the 



