1 62 Menage Expedition to the Philippines 



however, which is the chief desideratum. Good food is abund- 

 ant and cheap, and we are greatly indebted to Mr. Pickford, an 

 Enghsh sugar planter living near by, for much kindness received. 

 Mr. Bourns stayed with him before my arrival, and we have a 

 standing invitation to come to his house at once if we get run 

 down, and stay as long as we like. 



The number of species of birds known to exist in this island 

 before our arrival was fifty-five. These might well be divided 

 into tw^o groups. One, including nearly all the species, consisted 

 of the very common birds frequenting the open fields and groves 

 of palms in well cultivated country. These are worthless to us 

 now, as we have all the duplicates we can hope to handle, the 

 species being nearly all widespread. 



The other group included a few peculiar birds found about 

 the year 1876 by an English naturalist. From that day to this 

 no one has been able to rediscover them. We had never even 

 seen specimens, and knew them only by name. 



We have found almost every known species, including all 

 of the rare ones but one. The latter is a small owl, of which the 

 only specimen known was shot by myself when we were here 

 before. This can be obtained only by accident. 



We have also found just forty species never obtained in this 

 island before, and this in spite of the fact that the island has been 

 visited by nearly all the naturalists who have worked in the Phil- 

 ippines. 



W^e failed almost completely to get the birds we wanted on the 

 occasion of our visit in 1888, and so are the more rejoiced at our 

 success now. This will prove one of the most valuable sets of 

 birds obtained by us, not only because the species are rare or un- 

 know^n at present, but because it is probable that within ten years 

 the last bit of forest wall have been cleared from this island and 

 many species will become extinct. I think we got here in the 

 nick of time- We cannot pile up the number of specimens as 

 rapidly here as in some places, for it is rough, hard country to 

 hunt through, and birds are scarce, but those we do get are worth 

 having. 



I may say, also, that we are "on the trail" of another big 

 snake. He is reported to be a foot in diameter when not gorged 

 with food, and we have offered ten dollars for him if he comes 

 up to contract size. This would break the world's record, and if 



