312 MR. R. B. SHARPE ON THE [Apr. 1, 



permission from the authorities of the Oxford Museum to describe 

 the large Bornean collections forwarded to that institution by Mr. W. 

 H. Treacher, Acting Governor of Labuan. Amongst them are a 

 few birds from Sooloo, but apparently not the result of a separate 

 expedition, but presented to Mr. Treacher by Mr. Burbidge. To 

 the latter gentleman I am indebted for the following notes. 

 "Among the birds which I saw in Sooloo, but could not secure, I 

 would particularly mention : — some Hornbills, seemingly the common 

 black-and-white small kind from Labuan ; a fine white Harrier, 

 with black tips to the wings (this is a distinct and handsome bird, 

 not unfrequently seen circling over rice-fields or grassy plains) ; the 

 •fire-backed' Pheasant; and an Owl, apparently a larger and brighter- 

 coloured edition of our Common Barn-Owl or Screeching species. 

 The blue, white-ringed Kingfisher {Halcyon chloris) of Labuan is 

 very common here, as is also the rufous, white-headed Scavenger 

 Hawk or Eagle x ; and at least two other species, both larger, are to 

 be found looking out for food near the wharf at Meimbong. Curlews 

 are as plentiful here as in Sarawak and other parts of Borneo. I 

 missed the nocturnal ' chuck-chuck ' of the Goatsucker, so common 

 in Labuan. Water-Rails and a pretty blue Kingfisher are not un- 

 common by the margin of the Meimbong river, which is close to the 

 harbour, and is an excellent shooting-ground. Gun-boats often 

 come here ; and as the country is now readily accessible, much might 

 doubtless be done in ornithology. Capital angling may be had in 

 this little river; and there is a good bathing place near the town and 

 close to the market, where one may be entirely free from the fear of an 

 Alligator lurkiug about in wait for a meal. Now and then the Sultan 

 and his court, male and female, together with all the principal people 

 in the island, meet to enjoy the fun of Pig-hunting, the Wild Boar 

 being very plentiful here, together with two or three species of Deer. 

 These Pigs do a good deal of damage to cultivated crops ; so that 

 now and then a regular field-day is organized, and nearly every man, 

 pony, dog, and spear in the island are out, versus « Piggy,' as many 

 as fifty of the latter being slain in a single day. There are so many 

 kinds of sport easily attainable here, provisions of the best are so 

 cheap, a pony may be hired for about Is. 6d. a day, and there is so 

 much that is novel to be seen about the towns and the court, that 

 the wonder is that some traveller, fond of sport and especially 

 ornithology, does not take up his quarters here for a month or two — 

 and particularly as the place is easily reached from Singapore via 

 Labuan, or from Hong-Kong, via Manila." 



Mr. Burbidge left England on a botanical expedition organized by 

 Messrs. H. Veitch and Son ; and his success in this department of 

 natural history is well known. His chief attention having been 

 devoted to plants, it only remains to thank him for the intelligent 

 way in which he devoted his scanty leisure time to forming the 

 present collection of birds. 



The following I believe to be a correct list of Sooloo birds as at 

 present known ; and I have included the few species mentioned by 

 1 Doubtless Haliastur intermedins. 



