Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, Sec. 465 



Even in England this is a very rai'e bird. The specimen is now 

 in the Calcutta Museum. I suspect that the genus Catmractes 

 has never before been recorded as occurring, even accidentally, 

 within the Tropics ; and one great reason for sepai*ating C. an- 

 tarcticus from C. skua was the great improbability of such a bird 

 ever crossing the Equator. 



I have been repeatedly asked for specimens from the Andaman 

 Islands. Let me assure you that they are not easy to procure. 

 The savages maintain their own so well, that our people cannot 

 venture on the main island except in strong bodies ; and not 

 the smallest progress has been made in pacifying the Negrillo 

 aborigines. By degrees, however, I am getting to know some- 

 thing of the Andaman fauna, though chiefly the marine species. 

 Among these is the Dugong [Halichore) in the class Mammalia. 

 Of terrestrial species we know as yet only of the peculiar little 

 Pig, Sus andamensis; and I have taken a Mouse (apparently 

 M. manei, and if so, doubtless introduced) from the stomach of 

 a venomous snake. I have information, besides, of what would 

 seem to be a Tupaia ; and there is a Rat of some kind, not of 

 recent introduction. But though sundry other small mammals 

 may be expected, as Squirrels and Flying Squirrels, Shrews, 

 Bats, &c., we know nothing of them as yet. Of birds, there is 

 evidence of the abundance of Parrots, Green Pigeons [Treron), 

 Nectariniidof, &c. ; but all that I as yet know of for certain are 

 as follows: — 



1. Hcsmatornis cheela. 



2. Blagrus leucogaster. 



3. Todirhampkus collaris. 



4. Halcyon coromanda. 



5. H. smyrnensis. 



6. Corvus culminatus. 



7. Gracula javanica. 



8. Temenuchus erythropygius. 



9. Tephrodornis griseoln. 



10, Geocichla innotata. 



11. Copsychus saularis. 



12. Kittacincla albiventris. 



13. Artamus leucorhynchus . 



14. Edolius retifer. 



15. Pericrocotus peregrinus. 



16. Pycnonotusjocosus*. 



17. Irena puellaf. 



18. Oriolus coronatus (?). 



19. Carpophaga sylvatica. 



20. Calcenas nicobarica J. 



21. Anous stolidus. 



* Malaj^an variety, with shorter ear-tufts of a deeper crimson than in 

 the Indian race. 



t Indian variety, /. indica, A. Hay. 



X From the Cocos rocks northward. 

 VOL. I. 2 K 



