protection to forest-loving birds. It is not strange, therefore, that 
but few species are known from this island. 
The area of Sibuyan is four to five’ times that of Romblon. The 
island measures roughly 20 miles in length by 10 in greatest 
breadth. A large part of the island is well wooded, and the 
central part reaches a considerable elevation. The highest moun- 
tain, Giting Giting, is said to have an altitude of 6,500 feet. Con- 
siderable areas have been cleared for cocoanuts, but the forests 
of the interior have not been disturbed. The weather during 
~our stay in Sibuyan was such as to make it useless to attempt a 
trip into the interior, although my men spent three days on the 
mountain and secured beautiful specimens of Zonophaps and 
Ptilopus. On account of poor health, my own work was limited 
for the most part to the house and I was obliged finally to return 
to Manila long before the work was completed. In spite of the 
many interesting species collected, this expedition was a disappoint- 
ment to me, as I had hoped to work high up on Giting Giting, 
the mountain in Sibuyan, and to visit the small islands to the 
north of Romblon, which will, without doubt, prove to be good 
ground. Our work has been directed, as heretofore, by the Hon. 
Dean C. Worcester, Secretary of the Interior. 
NOTES ON THE SPECIES OBSERVED. 
MeEGAPODIUS CUMINGI Dillwyn. 
The “tabon” has been recorded from the three largest islands of 
Romblon Province, Romblon, Tablas, and Sibuyan, and appears 
to be rare. We observed it on Cresta de Gallo only, off the coast 
of Sibuyan, where it is said to be abundant. Plate I is reproduced 
from a photograph taken by Secretary Worcester on 'Tanobon 
Island, Calamianes group, and shows an unusually high mound of 
the “tabon.” In their efforts to gather the eggs the natives usually 
reduce the mounds to a level as fast as the birds build them up. 
Plate I bis is another view of the same mound and shows the 
entrance to a burrow. 
The mound figured herewith was measured by Secretary Wor- 
cester; its base was 21 by 23 feet in diameter, and its greatest 
height was 6 feet. Mr. H. D. McCaskey, Chief of the Philippine 
Mining Bureau, supplies the following note on 'Tanobon Island: 
“Tanobon [is], according to my notes and map, a worn-down 
