520 LETTER FROM COMMANDER W. E. COOKSON, R.N. [June 20, 



Hab. Mountains of Naiabui, south of New Guinea (U Albertis et 

 Tomasinelli). 



Obs. Similis T.placenti, sed uropygio dorso concolori nee coeruleo, 

 pileo distinctius flavido et rectricibus magis rubris diversus. 



2. Cyclopsitta suavissima, sp. nov. (Plate LIV., S et § .) 



Supra psittaceo-viridis, rcmigibus nigricanlibus, horum limbo ex- 

 teriore cum f route lata cteruleis ; loris albis, genis nigris, gula 

 media et fascia lata colli antica lactescenti-albis ; pectore toto 

 aurautiaco, ventre et tectricibus siibalaribus pallide viridibas ; 

 rostro et pedibus nigris, iride nigra : long, tola 4 - 7, ula 3 2, 

 cauda \'3. Fern, mari similis, sed genis ccerulescentibus, colli 

 lateribus aurantiucis et pectore fiavicante diversa*. 



Hab. Naiabui, New Guinea, September 1875 {If Albert is etToma- 

 sinelli). 



Obs. Affinis C. melanogenice ex inss. Aroensibus, sed fronte 

 cserulea distinguenda. 



The following Letter, addressed by Commander W. E. Cookson, 

 R.N., to Dr. Giinther was read : — 



"H.M.S. 'Peterel,' at sea, 



"lat. 42° 40' N., long. 28° 30' W. 

 " May 29, 1876. 



" In accordance with the wish of Rear- Admiral the Honourable 

 A. A. Cochrane, I have much pleasure in forwarding to you two 

 living tortoises, which I obtained from Albemarle Island when on 

 a visit to the Galapagos group during June of last year. 



" Before directing me to proceed to these islands, Admiral Coch- 

 rane sent me a copy of your letter to him, of May 18th, 1874, 

 respecting their fauna, and desired me, if possible, to forward your 

 ■wishes. This 1 have not succeeded in doing as thoroughly as I 

 could wish ; but I hope the specimens I have obtained may not be 

 without value. Tbe two living specimens are male and female, and 

 undoubtedly adults ; we found them about four miles inland, on a 

 small elevated plain at the north-western extremity of the island. 

 The plateau on which they were found was covered with stunted 

 bush and high, very coarse, grass, through which their tracks were 

 very numerous. 



" Together with these live tortoises I send you the shells of five 

 others, lettered A, B, C, D, and E. A, B, C are the shells of 

 tortoises which we took from Abingdon Island ; D, and E are from 

 the same locality on Albemarle Island as the live ones come from. 



" I greatly regret that the two Abingdon tortoises, which I hoped 

 to have kept alive, died after being a few weeks on board, more 

 especially as I believe a comparison between these and those from 

 Albemarle Island will be a point of much interest ; for the officers 

 and myself were much struck with the difference in their general 



* I am indebted to the kindness of Count T. Salvador] Tor the loan of the 

 skin of the female of (his .species, as likewise of skins of C. melanogenia for 

 comparison. J'. L. S. 



