142 Menage Expedition to the Philippines 



admirably. After two weeks' work in and around San Antonio, 

 we returned to Siquija, and on Friday, March 6th, sailed for 

 Dumaguete. 



The results of our work at Siquija are very satisfactory. The 

 number of birds previously known from the island was 54. To 

 this number we have added 2y, of which at least four are new 

 to science. They are : ( i ) Another kingfisher of the genus Ceyx. 

 It is the most brilliant-colored representative of the genus yet 

 discovered. We have three specimens, two males and a female. 

 (2) A kingfisher of the genus Halcyon, very similar to Halcyon 

 Winchelli, but brighter in color, and showing one or two other 

 differences. We have but a single specimen, a male. (3) A very 

 remarkable crested cuckoo, belonging to a genus unfamiliar to 

 us. It is unlike any cuckoo we have ever seen from these islands. 

 We regret we were unable to obtain but a single specimen. 

 (4) A cuckoo w^hich has become protectively modified. It so 

 much resembles a small hawk found in the island that we mis- 

 took it for the latter when seen on the wing. 



We left San Antonio, arrived at Siquija the same day and on 

 Friday, March 6th, embarked for Dumaguete where we arrived 

 just in time to see a steamer bound for Iloilo (our destination) 

 sail out of the harbor. We fortunately caught a boat on the 

 following Monday. Although we had only 220 miles to go, it 

 took five days to make the journey. The boat stopped at several 

 small towns in Negros and Cebu and in each case several hours. 



One of the stops however proved of great value to us. The 

 island of Cebu has been under cultivation for so long that very 

 little forest is now left, and that is being rapidly destroyed. The 

 eastern and southern parts of the island are entirely destitute of 

 anything approaching virgin forest, and but very little is found 

 in the northern and western portions. So difficult is it to find 

 forest, that collectors have done very little there, as is shown 

 by the fact that only fifty-five birds are recorded. 



At one of the places where the boat stopped to load sugar, a 

 bit of forest could be seen a mile or two bade from the coast. 

 As the boat was to stop several hours, one of the party took a 

 gun and went on shore. The results of a four hours' tramp in 

 the woods show clearly that Cebu is still a good field for a nat- 

 uralist. 



