68 MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE ON THE [Jail. 14, 



M. assimilis inhabits Cape York, and according to Mr. Ramsay also 

 Rockingham Bay, where, always according to the same Mr. Ramsay 

 it meets 



M. magnifica, which is generally known to inhabit South Australia 

 and the river Hunter to Moreton Bay. 



Turin, Zoolog. Museum, Nov. 19, 1878. 



5. Contributions to the Ornithology of the Philippines. — 

 No. XII. On the Collection made by Mr. A. H. Everett 

 in the island of Basilan. By Akthur^ Marquis of 

 TwEEDDALEj F.R.S.j President of the Society. 



[Eeceived November 26, 1878.] 



In the year 1876, the island of Basilan was for the first time visited 

 by an ornithological collector. Dr. Steere, who, during the fortnight he 

 resided at the Spanish settlement of Isabella, obtained examples of 

 23 species of birds. Mr. Everett reached the game island in the 

 month of May of the present year, and remained there during June. 

 Of the collection of birds he formed it is now proposed to give an 

 account. 



In all Mr. Everett obtained representatives of .56 species. Of these 

 1 2 only have already been enumerated by Mr. Sharpe ; so that through 

 Mr. Everett's exertions I am enabled to increase the number of 

 known Basilan birds by 48. To the 56 species collected by Mr. 

 Everett must be added the 1 1 obtained over and above by Dr. Steere ; 

 and the known total of Basilan birds will thus be found to be 67. 



By the discovery of Totanus calidris in Basilan, Mr. Everett has 

 established one certain Philippine habitat for a species hitherto 

 but doubtfully known to inhabit the archipelago. So now only 

 28 species are left, the occurrence of which in the Philippines still 

 remains somewhat uncertain. 



Mr. Everett writes, that he finds the " wet season at its height, and 

 the rain has been incessant. The hostility of the natives renders it im- 

 possible to go beyond a radius of four or five miles from the village 

 without a well-armed party. Hence the collection is rather meagre. 

 Apart from these causes, however, the collection is likely to prove 

 disappointing ; for the avifauna of the island does not seem to offer 

 any very marked features to distinguish it from that of the Zam- 

 boanga peninsula." 



1. Prioniturus discurus (2). 

 [Basilan, S $ , May, June.] 



2. Tanygnathus luconensis (3). 

 [Basilan, c?,May.] 



3. LORICULUS HARTLAUBI (7). 



[Basilan, d, May.] 



