64 o:n- a cruise to the solo:mox islands, 



is a very beautiful Pigeon — lantlienas 'pliili])j)an(E ; a fruit dove — 

 JPtUopus Jeiuisil ; a small ground pigeon whicli has been named — 

 ChaJcophaps mortonii ; a hawk — Astur versicolor; a starling — 

 Stunioides minor ; and a king-fisher — Halcyon salomonis. This 

 branch of my collection contained 200 specimens representing 

 50 species, among which were also many rare kinds not hitherto 

 represented in the Museum. 



Mammals were very scarce, an opossum — -Cusctcs orientalis, the 

 species common throughout the islands, and a E-at, an undescribed 

 species of Iftts, being the only species obtained. 



Eishes were plentiful, both fresh and salt w^ater kinds, of the 

 former I obtained about 20 species. Of fresh water Crustacea 

 I only obtained two species. The reptiles collected consist of a 

 common species of Python, one species of tree snake Dendropliis 

 one venomous species, and a few Lizards common to all the 

 Islands. 



Land shells were numerous ; I found in all 28 species, several 

 of them being rare kinds, which determined the localities of some 

 that were of doubtful origin. Presh w^ater shells were not 

 plentiful, but I succeeded in getting over 20 species, chiefly on 

 Ugi. Ethnological specimens were the most difficult to obtain, a 

 few stone Tomahawks similar to those described being all that I 

 procured worth mentioning. I secured however, an interesting 

 series of human skulls, and the head of a native from the Lord 

 Howe's Grrouj) in spirits. 



On the return of the Cormorant, provisions and coal being 

 short, we sailed direct for Noumea, New Caledonia, and arrived 

 safely after a short and pleasant passage. On arriving Captain 

 Bruce unexpectedly determined to return to the Solomons, there 

 to meet H.M.S. Miranda, before proceeding to Sydney. So after 

 a few day's residence in the Prench colony I returned to Sydney 

 in the s. s. City of Melbourne with my collections. 



