498 MR. WALLACE ON THE RHINOCEROS OF BORNEO. [Nov. 3, 



tains. Five were killed ; but one large one was torn by tbe dogs and 

 rendered useless. In order to make the difference apparent I exhibit 

 a series of A. oweni, the nearest affine of A. haastii, in various stages ; 

 one of these is the largest skin (as usual a female) which I have 

 seen. 



" The colour of A. haastii is so much darker, the size so much 

 greater, equal to the largest A. australis, that I am strongly of 

 opinion that this species will stand. It appears to be rare. Mr. 

 Potts, to whom I believe the discovery is due, has done good 

 service. Here let me call attention to the wonderful vicissitudes 

 A. australis and A. mantelli have undergone : first they were 

 the same; then (P. Z. S. 1850, p. 274) Mr. Bartlett made them 

 two ; after which, for some time, they returned to unity, and are now 

 again made different by Dr. Buller and Dr. Haast on account of the 

 hardness and softness of their respective plumages, which, however, 

 Dr. Finsch in a series pronounces ' to have different degrees obser- 

 vable.' He regards the Kiwi of the North Island ' only as a race 

 or local form' (Trans. N. Z. Institute, 1872, vol. v. p. 212). The 

 high value I attach to the opinions of these gentlemen, and the small 

 amount of variation discovered, induce me to consider it optional, 

 according to the fancy of those who do, or do not, like to make out 

 a new species from a variety. As far as I am able to judge, we have 

 three Apteryges in New Zealand — A. australis with variety mantelli, 

 A. haasti, and A. oweni. We have yet to discover that great and 

 glorious form, A. maxima, which may, perhaps, reward the zeal of 

 some painstaking naturalist. 



"The skin brought to me as Nestor superbus is an albino variety 

 of N. meridionalis. It was endeavoured to preserve this bird alive ; 

 for its talking-powers were described as good. The other forms, such 

 as N. esslingii &c, will probably be found to be only varieties ; the 

 present one is a remarkable bird. 



" The two living Owls (Sceloglaux albifacies, Buller), which have 

 never before been brought to England alive, are now very rare in 

 New Zealand, and will soon, alas, be extinct ; they are said to have 

 a horrible cry, but have not yet given me an opportunity of knowing it. 

 The peculiar nature of this Owl, partly accipitrine, renders it, like 

 the Stringops, which has an owl-like tendency, an object of interest. 

 My birds are fond of washing, and allow themselves to be handled." 



Mr. Alfred R. Wallace, F.Z.S., exhibited some Rhinoceros-horns, 

 sent from Borneo by Mr. Everett, and read the following letter 

 addressed to him by Mr. Everett concerning them : — 



"Sarawak, March 12, 1874. 



" I have forwarded to you, through Dr. Jessopp, of Norwich, two 

 Rhinoceros-horns, obtained in the Bazaar at Sibu, the principal 

 station of the Sarawak Government in the Rejang river. 



" These specimens, together with three others, the largest of which, 

 measured perpendicularly, stood 8| inches high, were brought pro- 

 bably from the country about the headwaters of the Koti ; but there 



