4 BULLETIN 159, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Saraia are the principal islands; of the latter, Bungiiran (or Great 

 Natima) and Laut. Api Passage, about 14 miles in width, separates 

 the South Natuna Islands from Borneo; but a deeper channel inter- 

 venes between these islands and Bunguran Island of the northern 

 group. (See fig. 1.) 



The Natuna Islands are generally rocky, but many of them are 

 more or less flat, and some of them are covered mth heavy forest. 

 Some of the larger islands are sparsely inhabited, but the land is not 

 well suited for cultivation. Extensive reefs surround many of the 

 islands, making navigation dangerous. 



Pulo Subi, or Flat Island, is about 12 miles in north and south 

 length, and about 5 miles in greatest width. 



Sirhassen Island, of the larger islands the one nearest Borneo, is 

 about 9 miles long, and is partly mountainous. 



Bunguran Island is the largest of all the Natuna Islands, and is 

 about 25 miles in \vidth. It is mostly mountainous and heavily 

 forested. Two mountains of considerable height, Mount Bedong 

 and Mount Ranay, are situated in the northern part of the island. 

 The latter is commonly given as 1,890 feet in height, but Doctor 

 Abbott thinks that it is nearer 3,000 feet. 



Pulo Laut, or Sea Island, is the extreme northern large island of 

 the group, and is sometimes considered, owing to its separation from 

 Bunguran Island, as belonging to a third division of the Natuna 

 Islands, the North Natuna Islands. This island is about 8 miles 

 long, but relatively narrow\ 



CHECK LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE NATUNA ISLANDS 



The total number of species and subspecies of birds at present 

 known from the Natuna Island is 127. Of these Doctor Abbott 

 obtained specimens of 40. Doubtless a considerable number will be 

 added when all the islands are more fully explored. The following 

 list includes all that have been reported from the Natuna group: 



1. Demigreila sacra sacra (Gmelin). 



2. Dutorides javanicus amurensis (Schrenck). 



3. Buiorides javanicus abbotti Oberholser.* 



4. Ixobrychus sinensis lepidus (Horsfield). 



5. Polioaetus humilis humilis (Miiller and Schlegel). 



6. Cuncuma leucogastris (Gmelin). 



7. Spilornis cheela pallidus Walden. 



8. Accipiter virgatus virgatus (Temminck). 



9. Lophospiza irivirgata trivirgata (Temminck). 



10. Amaurornis phoenicura javanica (Horsfield). 



11. Arenaria inter pres oahuensis (Bloxham). 



12. Squatarola squatarola hypomela (Pallas). 



13. Pluvialis dominica fulva (Gmelin). 



14. Eupoda vereda (Gould). 



* New subspecies; described beyond. 



