406 Mr. W. R. Ogilvic Grant on the 



XXXV. — On the Birds of the Philippine Islands. — Part I. 

 Mount Arajat, Central Luzon. By W. R. Ogilvie Grant. 

 With Field-Notes by John Whitkhbad. 



Most of the readers of ' The Ibis ' are no douht already 

 aware that Mr. John Whitehead is once more busily engaged 

 in tlie collecting-field^ determined, if possible, to eclipse his 

 former splendid achievements on Mount Kina Balu. This time 

 the scene of his labours is the island of Luzon, one of the 

 Piiilippines, of which the greater part, especially the moun- 

 tains to the north, has never been visited by a naturalist. 

 The only collections that have been made in this island have 

 been obtained in the immediate neighbourhood of Manila, 

 all the highlands to the north being unexplored. For many 

 years it has been one of my most earnest desires to induce 

 soThe really first-rate naturalist to thoroughly explore Luzon 

 and some of the larger unknown islands of the group, and it 

 was with unbounded satisfaction that I succeeded in securing 

 Mr. Whitehead's co-operation. The mountains in the north 

 of this island rise to a height of from 7000 to 8000 feet, and 

 there can be little doubt that many unknown birds will be 

 discovered, while possibly some almost forgotten species, 

 such as Polyplectron napoleonis and Arboricola gingica, the 

 localities of which are unknown, will be rediscovered. 



Being merely the result of a three weeks' trial trip to 

 Mount Arajat, 40 miles to the north of Manila, the present 

 collection contains no novelties ; but, as the locality has not 

 been previously visited by a natui'alist, I have thought it 

 worth while to record the various species and give a few 

 notes. Li the last letter received from Mr. Whitehead, 

 written from the " highlands of North Luzon, 5000 feet," he 

 tells me that he has made a large collection containing a 

 number of interesting forms, which I hope to have the 

 pleasure of examining shortly. He appears to have lost 

 none of his old energy and indomitable perseverance, 

 rising superior to all the difficulties which presented them- 

 selves on his arrival. One of the most serious obstacles he 

 had to contend with was the impossibility of obtaining men 



