286 Mr. EK. F. Sandeman on the 
any reference to me, as the absurd error above quoted shows ; 
and his generalizations are as full of mistakes “as an egg’s 
full of meat!” 
The Doctor having thus broken faith, I, on my return to 
England, published my “‘ Notes” in the ‘ Annals and Maga- 
zine of Natural History,’ at the urgent request of my lamented 
friends, Strickland, Sir W. Jardine, and the brothers Gray, 
who kindly said the information I possessed was too valuable 
to be lost. 
Cinnyris minima. ‘This species was included in the minia- 
ture figures already alluded to, and was the subject of special 
search, being required by my dear old friend Blyth. I can 
well remember my delight when I found it (nm my time not 
at all uncommon) round Point Pedro, whence I immediately 
sent it to Blyth, who confirmed my identification. 
IT see Cuming’s name frequently alluded to, in the work 
under discussion, as the authority for certain birds from 
Ceylon. I presume this is my old friend the late Hugh 
Cuming, of conchological fame. Was he ever in Ceylon? I 
doubt it ; and if my memory does not play me very false, he 
himself told me he never had been there. He was well known 
as a dealer, and purchased other things besides shells, if they 
came together. He paid no attention to birds ; and I should 
be very loth to accept a “habitat” on the ground that 
Cuming had stated it. 
With these remarks I stop, for the present, awaiting the 
arrival of the last portion of this valuable addition to our 
ornithological literature. | 
Noumea, January 1880. 
XXVII.—On the Habits of the Honey-bird (Indicator). 
By E. F. SanpEman. 
[Ir is always of interest to have accounts of such strange 
phenomena as those presented to us in the habits of the 
Honey-guides confirmed, however well known they may be. 
We have therefore no hesitation in transferring to the pages 
