526 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the 



interesting notes and observations. He gradually worked 

 his way up the mountain to an elevation of over 6000 feet, 

 where he remained camped for three weeks. The Ornis was, 

 however, so poor that he did not think it worth while to stay 

 longer. Perhaps the most interesting species met with at 

 this high elevation was a new Blackbird [Turdus niyrorum) 

 with a brownish slate-grey breast and dark brown back, 

 quite distinct from anything previously known. This bird 

 was resident, and both young and eggs were obtained. 



The commonest bird was a large and brilliantly coloured 

 Silvereye {Zusterops siquijorensis), which was met with as 

 high up as the fumes, fires, and eruptions of the volcano 

 permit vegetation to approach its summit. The letter con- 

 tinues : " I climbed to the summit of the cone and had a 

 look down into the crater, from which were issuing clouds of 

 steam, accompanied by a dull roar like that of the distant 

 sea. It really made one feel quite nervous, and my men 

 were in such a state of fear that they could not stand erect. 

 To reach the edge of the crater the climb is slightly 

 dangerous, most of the mountain being very steep and 

 covered with small loose stones which give way at every step. 

 The fumes of the volcano were so strong that my canvas 

 tenting (Willesden) has been changed to a beautiful brown. 

 Really, a poor wanderer like myself sees and enjoys this 

 wonderful world more than many of the richest millionaires ! " 



On returning to Iloilo in the island of Panay, Mr. Whitehead 

 found my two letters of the 17th and 22nd of March awaiting 

 him ; from these he learned that the Samar collection had 

 been most probably destroyed by fire, as has been already 

 nai'rated in the introduction to my previous paper on the 

 birds of Mindc.ro. It had been his intention to visit the 

 mountains in the north of Pauay, but he now decided to 

 return once more to Samar and repair the loss he had 

 sustained. To reach this island he was obliged to return to 

 Manila, there being no direct steamers from Iloilo to Samar. 



Three of the birds collected by Mr. Whitehead are new :— 

 a Blackbird {Turdus nigrorum), a Shortwdng [Brachypterijx 

 brunneiceps) , and a Shama [CittucincJa nigruruin). There 



