Birds of the Philippine Islands. 459 



with again. On the 19th October, 1895, he left Manila with 

 a staff of seven colleetors for the island of Mindoro, with the 

 object of exploring the wcll-Avooded highlands of this com- 

 paratively little-known island, and returned to Manila on the 

 16th February, 1896, after four months' absence. The results 

 of this expedition are, Mr. Whitehead considers, by no means 

 satisfactory, for at the time of his visit the wet season was 

 at its height, and, owing to the almost continuous rains, 

 collecting could only be carried on under the greatest diffi- 

 culties. He tells us that during his stay on Mindoro seventy 

 days out of a hundred were very wet, twenty dull and drizzling, 

 while only ten were comparatively bright and fine ; so it can 

 easily be understood that he was unable to do nearly as much 

 as he had hoped. Bird-life was comparatively scarce, and 

 there can be little doubt that the majority of species, at least, 

 change their abode during the rainy season and seek more 

 sheltered quarters. 



Unfortunately he experienced great trouble with his col- 

 lectors, all of whom suffered at one time or another from 

 fever, and took every opportunity of misbehaving. One man 

 robbed him of his money, while others, left at the foot of 

 the mountain to make a loAvland collection, did practically 

 nothing during many weeks, and sold both gun-caps and 

 powder to the natives. 



Although the Mindoro collection, representing " four 

 months' very hard work and slow starvation," is not large, 

 all the skins are as perfect as those sent in previous con- 

 signments, and one of the novelties, an enormous Fruit- 

 Pigeon, obtained at an elevation of between 5000 and 6000 

 feet, is certainly one of the finest and most remarkable birds 

 that Mr. Whitehead has discovered during his travels. 



On landing at Mindoro a guide was engaged as pilot to 

 the high ground, but this worthy led the expedition by a 

 wrong path, and after a long day's march in the usual deluge 

 of rain, Mr. Whitehead found himself on the bank of a fine 

 river surrounded by the most dense and magnificent forest, 

 where he was forced to remain for ten days waiting for 

 porters. It w as here that the expedition was nearly wrecked, 



