larger form. The male has a red eye, the female brown. Trichoglossus haematodes 

 is probably scarcely different from the Timor form.* There is also a Tanygnathus, 

 probably new, f and both sexes of a probably new Eclectus. J The latter two 

 species we did not shoot, but got them from Mr. de Korte, who received them from 

 natives who brought them alive from the interior of the island. My female of the 

 Eclectus came from Lewa, my male from the country back of Melolo, where the bird 

 is said to be common. The Eclectus is sometimes seen near Waingapu, and we saw 

 a female flying, but did not get it. As to the Tanygnathus, it seems to be very rare. 

 The one I send was brought from some remote part of the Taimanu state, and is 

 said to be a true mountain bird. However, most of the natives here (at Waingapu) 

 did not know it. 



" Mijnheer de Korfce's daughter Marie gave me a Pitta (sex not ascertained, eye 

 said to have been rich brown), which she had stuffed herself very well. It was 

 brought by a native from the mountains back of Melolo. I think it hardly differs 

 much from Pitta irena of Timor. 



" Of Ploceidae you will find a number of interesting species. I did not send the 

 crow, because it is evidently, I should say, the common Corvus macrorhyncha,^ and 

 was too big for my box. For the same reason I did not send the common Mega- 

 podius. I send two kinds of hawks. Several shore-frequenting birds and an eagle 

 were not sent. I send two kinds of owl, but no Caprimulgus or Batrachostomus was 

 seen or heard of. ... There is a little lark, Mirafra parva, and a very lark-like wag- 

 tail, Anthus rufulus, I think.! Its flight and habits are exactly like a skylark's, and 

 it is found in vast numbers over the coral meadows. I suppose it outnumbers all the 

 other birds in the island put together. Calornis minor was common, but no Euldbes 

 seems to be found in Sumba, but E. veneratus is brought over from Ende in Flores 

 as a cage-bird. ... No Ceyx, no Woodpecker, was seen. No jungle fowls a pity. 



u As regards the season, I was unlucky in coming in a very rainy year. When I 

 was there before it was quite dry at Waingapu, and the butterflies were already 

 rather passes, so to speak, on March 20th ; this year there is no trace of the com- 

 mencement of the brood on March 10th. Such is luck ! ... It seems that I formerly 

 greatly underrated the rainfall of the Sumba coast. My idea now is that the rains 

 are short, but rather heavy, and the desolate look of the country is entirely due to 

 the coral crust." 



The species not formerly stated to occur in Sumba are marked with an asterisk. 



1. Pratincola caprata (L.). 



Adult males and females and young birds. The young birds have the feathers 

 above and below dark brown, with darker edges and whitish spots before the tips. 



2. Acrocephalus australis Gray. 



Two females of a middle-sized reed-warbler are somewhat doubtfully referred 

 to this species. They are certainly smaller than typical A. australis. The third 

 primary is longest, the second equal to the sixth. Wings 65 and 66 mm. ; culrnen 



* It is not distinguishable. E. H. 

 f T. megalorhyncMs sumlensis Meyer. E. H. 

 J E, Cornelia Bp. E. H. 



It is different and was named by me P. maria. E. H. 



|| As crows are difficult to distinguish this must remain an open question. E. H, 

 *f A. rufulu* medius (Wall.). E. H. 



