( 580 ) 



larger form. The male lias a red eye, ihefermlfi brown. Tnckoglosmis haematodes 

 is jirobably scarcely different from the Timor form.* There is also a Tanygnathus, 

 probably new, f and both sexes of a probably new Eckctus.X The latter two 

 species we did not shoot, but got them from Mr. dc Korte, who received them from 

 natives who brought them alive from the interior of the island, '^iy female of the 

 Eclectus came from Lewa, my male from the country back of Mclolo, where the bird 

 is said to be common. The Eclectus is sometimes seen near Waingapu, and we saw 

 VL female flying, bnt did not get it. As to the Tanijijnathas, it seems to be very rare. 

 The one I send was brought from some remote part of the Taimanu state, and is 

 said to be a true mountain bird. However, most of the natives here (at Waiugapn) 

 did not know it. 



" Mijnheerde Korte's daughter Marie gave me a Pilta (sex not ascertained, eye 

 said to have been rich brown), which she had stuffed herself very well. It was 

 brought by a native from the mountains back of Melolo. I think it hardly differs 

 much from Pitta irena of Timor. § 



" Of Ploceitlae you will fiml a number of interesting species. I did not send the 

 crow, because it is evidently, I should say, the common Corms macrorhyncha,\ and 

 was too big for my box. For the same reason I did not send the common Mega- 

 podius. I send two kinds of hawks. Several shore-frequenting birds and au eagle 

 were not sent. I send two kinds of owl, but no Caprimidgm or Batrncliostomns was 

 seen or heard of. . . . There is a little lark, Mimfra parva, and a very lark-like wag- 

 tail, Anthus rufulus, I think.H Its flight and habits are exactly like a skylark's, and 

 it is found in vast numbers over the coral meadows. I suppose it outnumbers all the 

 other birds in the island put together. Caloniis minor was common, but no Eulahes 

 seems to be found in Sumba, but E. ve>icratns is brought over from Ende in Flores 

 as a cage-bird. ... No Cei/x, no Woodpecker, was seen. No jungle fowls— a. pity. 



" As regards the season, I was unlucky in coming in a very rainy year. When I 

 was there before it was quite dry at Waingaj)!!, and the butterflies were already 

 rather /;«««<•'«, so to speak, on Blarch 20th ; this year there is no trace of the com- 

 mencement of the brood on March 10th. Such is luck ! ... It seems that I formerly 

 greatly underrated the rainfall of the Sumba coast. My idea now is that the rains 

 are short, but rather heavy, and the desolate look of the country is entirely due to 

 the coral crust." 



The species not formerly stated to occur in Sumba are marked with an asterisk. 



1. Pratincola caprata (L.). 



Adult mules [mdj'cmalrs and young birds. ' The young birds luive the leathers 

 above and below dark brown, with darker edges and whitish spots before the tips. 



~. Acrocephalus australis Gray. 



Two females of a middle-sized reed-warbler arc somewhat doubtfully referred 

 to this species. They are ccrtaiuly .smaller than typical 4. australis. The third 

 primary is longest, the second equal to the si.xth. Wings 6.5 and 66 mm. ; culmen 



* It is not distinguishable.— E. H. 



t T. mcr/alorliynchis xumbinnsMeycT. — E. H. 



X JE. Cornelia lip.— E. H. 



§ It is diSFcrcnt and was named by mo P. »inW,i.— E. II. 



II As crows arc difficult to distinguish this must remain an open question.— E. H. 



t A. Tufvhis mcdau (Wall.).— E. H. 



