APPENDIX A 265 



Amongst the Pigeons of which no fewer than twenty- 

 seven different kinds were obtained, it would seem as 

 though, in some instances at least. Nature had almost 

 come to the end of her resources in devising new and 

 wonderful arrangements of colour and markings ; for in 

 some of the smaller Fruit-Pigeons, such as PHlopus 

 gestroi and P. zonunts we find two perfectly distinct 

 species, occurring side by side, possessing almost exactly 

 the same remarkable scheme of colouration, and only 

 differing in certain minor points to be found in the 

 markings of the wing-coverts. Another very similar 

 instance is to be seen in PHlopus coronulatiis and P. nanus 

 almost the same colours and pattern being repeated in 

 both. 



The collection obtained by our expedition is a very 

 valuable one, and has added many new and interesting 

 forms of bird-life to the incomparable series in the 

 Natural History Museum, to which the bulk of the 

 specimens have been presented by the subscribers. A 

 large proportion of the birds were obtained at low eleva- 

 tions from sea-level to 2,000 feet, only a comparatively 

 small number being procured at from 3000-4000 feet. 

 It is to be regretted that the immense physical difficul- 

 ties encountered and other causes prevented our col- 

 lectors from reaching a higher zone between 5000 and 

 10,000 feet, where no doubt much of interest remains to 

 be discovered by those who are fortunate enough to get 

 there. 



