1884.] MR. RIEDEL ON BIRDS FROM TIMORLAO. 531 



birds from Timorlao and Tanembar to Europe, as I also did after 

 his departure. I cannot understand why he should wish (p. 426) 

 to discredit my hunters, who can all read and write ; they had 

 in former years accompanied many naturalists, such as Hoedt, 

 Beccari, and others, and are thoroughly trustworthy. My hunters 

 were collecting on the Tanembar and Timorlao islands for three 

 years following, viz. on Motu, Larat, Lutur, Leera, and on the 

 large island of Yamdena near Botani, Atemar, "Wermatan, and on 

 Selaru near Adau, therefore on many more places than Mr. Forbes's 

 hunters. On Larat and Lutur Mr. Forbes did not penetrate into the 

 country, as his hunters themselves and the Dutch official on Ritabel 

 (a half-caste) assured me, being afraid of the people of Keliobar and 

 being besides ill with fever in consequence of being insufficiently 

 provided with the necessary food. The European superintendence of 

 my hunters, which Mr. Forbes thinks necessary, is quite superfluous 

 with men of their experience. My hunters also collected on Keei, 

 Aru, and other places, and always attached labels to the birds with 

 the habitat and the sex. Therefore no birds from other islands 

 came into the collection from Timorlao and Tanembar, as Mr. Forbes 

 conjectures may have been the case. 



" Mr. Forbes further asserts, that the group of islands under 

 consideration is only one, but bears two different names (p. 426), 

 whereas in fact the natives use these two names for different parts of 

 the group, and look on each part as a group for itself. To the 

 Tanembar group belong: — Motu, Nuskalboor, Nusnitu, Wajanga, 

 Maru, Kiabelenga, Nuslima, Virinun, Watborat, Nuskabawa, Nus- 

 karata, Barnusa, Vordata,Watsira, Nukahao, Larat, Lutur, Nusanlao, 

 Slewar, Mitak, Kokolat, Wawoan, Teen, Nemaan, Nustemar, 

 Laibobar, Taval, Wulmali or Bulumali, Tual, Unggar, Myanr.traa, 

 Nuswotar, Nujanatrool, Wuliaru, Nustaran, Wolas, Kesiwu, Seelu- 

 Nusnitu, Salal, Sekeleer, Manu, Seera, Molin, Watuwawan, Nuskee, 

 Lokihinilavon, Kamitwaan,Watsalat, Tendula, Kotkola, and Watletan. 

 The islands which belong to the Timorlao group are Yamdena or 

 Yanatleer, Anggarmasa, Vual or Tual, Eiikmiri, Watleran, Nustawon 

 or Nustabun, Watkusa, Najanat, Watdua, Nuskesa, Watsira, Solat, 

 Selaru, and Ariama. 



" The name Timorlao signifies the far east, from lao=far and 

 timor = east, as Nusalao the far island, Seranglao the far Serang. 

 It is erroneous to suppose that Timorlao is a corruption of the 

 word for "seaward Timor " (p. 429), for lao is not =lawut (of the 

 Malay). Mr. Forbes therefore is quite wrong in altering Dr. A. B. 

 Meyer's specific name "timorlaoensis" into " timorlautensis ;" and 

 as to the euphony of a word, it is difficult to dispute between 

 different tongues, especially if the Latin is pronounced after the 

 English fashion." 



Utrecht, Nov.. 1st, 18S4. 



The following papers were read : — 



