480 MR. A. R. WALLACE ON THE [NoV. 24, 



26. PoPA UNDATA, Fabricius, Entom. Syst. ii. p. 19. 



Theoclytes undata, Sennlle, Hist. Nat. des Orthop. p. 152. 

 Mantis undata, Charpentier, Orthop. Descr. et Dep. c? $ , pi. 38. 

 Popa spurca, Stal, Ofversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademiens 

 Forhandlingar, 1856, p. 169. 



This remarkable Mantis, which, when its wings are closed, has a 

 striking resemblance to a withered fragment of a tree-branch, is 

 hitherto known only as an inhabitant of Southern Africa. The Ma- 

 dagascar specimen (a female) is about one-third larger than Natal 

 examples ; but the only difference, besides size, which I find is the 

 greater breadth of the hyaline streaks accompanying the transverse 

 veins of the wings. 



27. AcRiDiTJM RTJFICORNE, Olivicr, Encycl. Method, ix. p. 221. 

 n. 25. 



Found also at the Cape of Good Hope. 



3. A List of the Birds inhabiting the Islands of Timor, 

 Flores, and Lombock, with Descriptions of the New 

 Species. By Alfred R. Wallace. 



(Plate XXXIX.) 



The chain of islands situated to the cast of Java, and ending in 

 Timor, forms a natural subdivision of the Malayan archipelago, being 

 distinguished by peculiarities of physical geography as well as by a 

 characteristic tauna. These islands all contain active volcanoes, and 

 are for the most part of volcanic origin. Timor, however, which 

 lies somewhat obliquely to the rest, consists in a great measure of 

 ancient sedimentary rocks, which seem to have been exposed for long 

 periods to volcanic convulsions, since they are everywhere shattered 

 and distorted in a remarkable manner. All of these islands have a 

 climate which differs from that of the rest of the archipelago in 

 being remarkably dry ; and this has produced a characteristic vege- 

 tation, in which spiny and prickly shrubs abound, while the dense 

 luxuriant forests of the regions nearer the equator are quite unknown. 

 The forest-trees of Timor are chiefly Eucalypti and Acacias, thinly 

 scattered over bare and gravelly slopes ; while it is only in the damper 

 and more sheltered spots that patches of bush and thickets occur. 



I visited Timor twice, and collected for nearly five months in both 

 the eastern and western districts, obtaining 1 1 2 species of birds. Ill 

 health and wars between the Portuguese and the natives prevented 

 me from going far into the interior, where, especially on the south 

 coast, I have reason to believe many additional species might have 

 been obtained. Six other birds are said to be from Timor, mostly 

 collected by the naturalists of the Dutch Government expeditions, 

 makmg a total of 1 18 species from this island. My assistant, Mr. 

 Allen, collected for nearly four months in the large island of Flores, 

 and obtained eighty-six species of birds ; and I am not aware that a 



