ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF TIMOR-LAUT. 197 



common Socotran shell BuUmulus socotorensis of Pfeiffer. All the allied 

 species on the island I have pat into this group until we know more 

 about the land shells of the mainland near Cape Guardafai. We have 

 altogether ten species in this genns ; some of them very prettily marked 

 forms. One group of BuUmulus is very peculiar, and in form and colora- 

 tion approaches B. velntinus, Pfr., from the Seychelles Islands. 



Of the genus Ennea we have one form already known, passamiana, 

 Petit, and a new species which I have named after Professor Balfour. 



Of the Stenogyrida3 there are some fine shells ; one elongate form, 

 ■which is used as a pipe by the natives of the island, I have named 

 fumificatus ; the other species are gollonsirensis, adonaensis, Jessica, and 

 enodis. A Sululina with hairy epidermis (hirsuta) closes the list, with one 

 Pupa (rupicola). These twenty-two togetherwith eleven operculated species 

 give a total of thirty- three. It is a curious fact that there is not a single 

 Helix in the collection. The freshwater shells I have not yet had time to 

 v7ork out. A number of small forms have been brought home on the water 

 plants that were collected, and these I have been taking out. I find among 

 them examples of the following genera and species : — 



Planorbis, no less than three species, one large. 



Bithinea, one very small form. 



Melania, four or five ; one very beautiful spined species, reminding one 

 of a similar form from Ceylon. One Gerithium occurred with these. 



I have alluded to how little is known of the mainland of Africa, near 

 Cape Gaardafui. When this has been examined, and it is very necessary it 

 should be, we shall know more as regards the range of some of these 

 Socotran forms ; and I hope that the British Association will be able to 

 assist a naturalist to visit this district. 



Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. Sclater, Mr. Howard 

 Saunders, and Mr. Thiselton Dyer, appointed for the purpose 

 of investigating the Natural History of Timo7'-laut. 



In a letter addressed to Sir Joseph Hooker, Director of the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, Mr. H. O. Forbes wrote from Sumatra, oSering, if some 

 assistance could be forwarded him, to attempt an expedition to Timor- 

 laut for the purpose of investigating its natural history — ' an object,' as 

 Mr. Forbes states, ' the accomplishment of which is desired both by 

 botanists and zoologists.' An application on Mr. Forbes's behalf was 

 accordingly made to the British Association, and a sum of 501. was voted 

 by the General Committee at the Swansea Meeting to be placed at the 

 disposal of the Committee, to whom the conduct of the matter was 

 entrusted. 



The action taken by the Association was communicated to Mr. 

 Forbes,* and the letter, of which a copy is annexed, was received in reply. 

 This is the most recent information which the Committee possess as to his 

 plans. It is somewhat doubtful whether, owing to insufficiency of funds, 

 he was able to start. At any rate, the grant made at Swansea remains 

 in the hands of your Committee. 



The expedition is obviously attended with some difficulty, if not 

 danger. Its success must be largely dependent on fortunate accident. 



