1872.] IN THE ISLAND OF NEGEOS. 117 



which agrees with Calornis 'pcmayensis (Scoi[>.)= cantor, Gm., were secured. Mr. L. Layard 

 states that this species breeds in the holes of the bamboo staging erected round the eno-ine- 

 house chimney, to catch the bricks in case of its being shaken down by an earthquake, and thus 

 avert the serious accidents that might result from its foil. 



The eggs are of various shades of verditer, blotched somewhat sparsely, but thickest at the 

 obtuse end, with irregularly shaped spots and blotches of dark brown, madder, and faint purple. 

 Axis 13"', diam. DJ'". 



Mr. L. Layard says that these birds fly in small flocks, and that their habits reminded him 

 of the Cape Jin'da morio. The irides he describes as red. 



Besides the little blue Swallow already noted, Mr. L. Layard mentions " a small dark Swift " 

 (a Collocalial, one of the products of the island being edible birds' nests), and a Swallow, the 

 common one of the country, probably Htjimrolej)sis javanica (Sparrm.), of which he sends four 

 eggs. Unfortunately no description of this bird or of its nest is given. The eggs are of a dirty 

 pink ground, profusely sprinkled with dark madder-coloured spots, which are notably coarsest 

 and closest set at the obtuse end, with a faint indication of some light purple ones in the form 

 of a ring. Axis 9"', diam. C" ; but they vary in shape, some being longer and narrower. I'^i^- 1872, 



On the 2nd February an excursion was made to the Island of Guimaras, situated in the ^' ^^" 

 channel which separates Panay from Negros. Besides two large Hornbills, twelve examples of 

 a large fruit-eating Pigeon, apparently an undescribed species, lanthoenas griseogularis, nob., 

 were obtained. 



The tameness of some of the Falconidse is illustrated in the following passao-e : "We are 



awfully bothered with locusts ; but it is a curious sight, the men all assembled and beatino- old 

 tins to drive them away, the great red-backed Kites (Ilaliastur hid us I) swooping down and 

 catching them in their feet and eating them in the air, and lots of smaller Hawks, Flycatchers 

 and Swallows harrying the swarm ; and then the sound of their rushing wings !! " " There is one 

 fine Hawk about the size of Circus maurus, white breast, black head and throat, and white wino-s 

 tipped with black (Circus melanohucusi), and another beautiful little Hawk very much like the 

 one we shot with Capt. B. on the Flats near the windmills (this was IIijpotriorcMs suhhuteo). He 

 sat in a tree eating his locust, and would not fly, though I twice struck the branch beneath him 

 with a stone. I have not yet got my gun out of the clutches of the Spanish Custom-House, or 

 he would have come to grief." (This is probably Falco sevcrus.) 



The want of his gun prevented Mr. L. Layard obtaining many of the birds observed. The 

 Spanish Customs' authorities detained his gun (a double-barrel 12-bore Westley Eichards) for 

 many months on the plea that it was a " pea "-rifle ! It appears it is necessary to o-et a license 

 from the Spanish authorities to live in the islands, and another to possess and use a gun. 



" Last week coming out of the ' camarine,' I saw a fine Eagle hovering just over my head, and 

 its mate higher up. How I longed for my gun ! It was a whity brown, with a large white tail 

 and as big as any of our Cape Eagles. It is evidently a rare species, as I have only seen these two. 

 One was shot by a Middy some months ago, and the foot is still here ; it is laro-e." He saw the 

 species again, " sailing along the coast, and nearly got a shot at one " {Cuncuma leucogasfer ?). 



The rainy season commences on the western coasts of the Philippines at the end of April '^'^^^ 1872, 

 and continues to September-, the eastern coasts being dry until October, when they, in their turn ^' ^^' 

 become subject to heavy rains. Mr. L. Layard thus alludes to the ushering in of the May mon- 



