170 Menage Expedition to the Philippines 



The rain was favorable to the collecting of land shells, and we 

 were very successful, getting a large collection, among which are 

 several large and fine species not previously known from this 

 island. One of our land shells from Sibuyan proves to be new. 

 Unfortunately we could secure only a single specimen, but the 

 Academy will at least have the only one in existence. 



I leave day after tomorrow for a second visit to the Calami- 

 anes. I hope to be able to reach the forest said to exist in the in- 

 terior of Busuanga, and to find there some birds we did not find 

 in Culion. I propose to spend several days at first in putting into 

 practice my ideas about securing specimens of big snakes, though 

 I do not care to make any promises as to results. I expect also 

 to visit the Tagbanoa burying caves, and make a collection of 

 skulls at least. I probably shall not be able to report myself for 

 some time, but hope to have good news to communicate. Mateo 

 and I are both strong and in the best of health, and if the weath- 

 er improves, as it ought to in December, I think we can give 

 a good account of ourselves. 



Yours most sincerely, 



Dean C. Worcester. 



XII. 



Sebangan, Borneo, January 12, 1893. 



As I am just about to start on a month's trip, away from all 

 mail facilities, I shall drop you a line now. I am much gratified 

 to hear that you feel pleased with the collections so far received. 

 That, when they are all in, they may be satisfactory is the end to- 

 ward which we are working. As I have already written both you 

 and Mr. Menage about my Sulu and Tawi Tawi collections, I 

 will not repeat much here. There are one hundred and eight cases 

 in all, which I hope you will receive in good condition. The Moro 

 arms, clothes, etc., I did not send, as I had not the collection 

 made when the other boxes were shipped. They are now in Sing- 

 apore and will be sent with my Borneo collections. 



I arrived in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak island, Borneo, 

 on December 17th. By advice of Mr. Maxwell, the Resident of 

 Sarawak, I decided to try the Sadeng River, as the orang-outang 

 (here called the mias) was reported to be abundant there. I 

 left on the first opportunity, embarking on the 23rd on a small 



