Menage Expedition to the Philippines 145 



would not hesitate about separatino^ them, but with the series 

 of specimens that we have it is a hard matter to decide what 

 should be done. It is one of the cases where it would be con- 

 venient to "throw the intermediate forms out of the window." 



Reports as to Tawi Tawi are most encouraging. The natives 

 are friendly, we' are assured that we shall find virgin forest 

 at our very doors, and that there are fifty birds there for every 

 one here. The Spanish authorities agree that the island has 

 never been visited, and the natives agree that the birds there 

 are different from those here. Theoretically they ought to be, 

 and we hope to break the record both on number of specimens 

 and number of new species. Present indications are that Tawi 

 Tawi will prove one of our best islands, if not the best one of 

 the group. 



The drawbacks are scarcity of food, and the prevalence of 

 malarial troubles, but we have plenty of provisions and plenty 

 of medicines. From Tawi Tawi wx shall return to this place, 

 and I will report again at that time. 



Some valuable Moro arms have been presented to us by 

 Spanish officials here in Sulu. We shall make a much more 

 complete collection of arms, articles of dress and utensils of one 

 sort or another before our final leave. 



Very truly yours, 



Dean C. Worcester. 



IV. 



Sulu, November 12, 1891. 

 Your letter of September nth was waiting for us on our 

 return from Tawi Tawi a week ago, and was very gladly re- 

 ceived. On the 9th of October we arrived at Tataan, in the 

 island of Tawi Tawi. The entire north coast of Tawi Tawi is 

 uninhabited, except at Tataan which is a small Spanish military 

 post, kept up merely to maintain their claim to the island. 

 There is a small fort, large enough to accommodate one com- 

 pany of soldiers, who are under the command of a Lieutenant. 

 There is also a Governor, an army Captain, who combines the 

 office of Governor, "Commandante" of the post, Administrator 

 of the Post Office, Captain of the Port, and I cannot say how 

 many others. The present incumbent is a very genial gray- 



