Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Timor. 347 



red-backed stage of plumage in this iittle-known species of 

 Accipitrine. 



XXXVIII. — Notes on the Ornithology of Timor. 

 By Alfred Russel Wallace. 



In pursuance of my plan of exploring the Zoology of the jMalayan 

 Archipelago, I have just completed a three-and-a-half months' 

 residence atDelli, in the eastern part of the island of Timor, and 

 have devoted myself principally to the Birds, every other class of 

 animals being very poorly represented in this barren island. 



Owing to ill-health, the wet season, and a rebellion of the 

 native tribes, I was unable to extend my excursions far from the 

 town of Belli. I resided, however, in one of the most fertile 

 valleys, about two miles from the town, and spent tw^o weeks on 

 the mountains at an elevation of 2000 feet. I was accompanied 

 on this excursion by Mr. Geach, a mining engineer, who has been 

 engaged here for more than two years in search of minerals, 

 during which time he has traversed the island in several places 

 from sea to sea, and who is altogether better acquainted than 

 any person living wdth the eastern half of Timor. 



From this gentleman I obtained much information as to the 

 character of the country, which seems to be very uniform, and 

 not likely to be more productive in any other parts than in those 

 that I have explored. 



Timor seems to consist entirely of a chain of mountains, rising 

 in the central range to 5000 and 6000 feet, and near either 

 coast to about 3000. In only two or three places in the island 

 are there any level plains, the rest being a succession of moun- 

 tainous ridges and precipitous ravines. Nowhere in the island 

 are there any forests comparable with those of the other parts of 

 the Archipelago, all the lower hills being covered with an open 

 growth of more or less scrubby Eucalypti, and anything like a 

 lofty or luxuriant vegetation being confined to those places in the 

 ravines or on the mountain spurs where a little rich soil has been 

 accumulated. At a height of above 4000 feet even this vege- 

 tation disappears, and a scanty herbage of coarse grasses alono- 



covers the higher ridges. Pi-uit-bearing trees are comparatively 



o . o 



