THE



83



Hxncultural fllbagasme,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURA L SOCIETY.



New Series. —VOL. IV. — No. 3 .—All rights reserved. JANUARY, 1906.



NOTES ON MRS. JOHNSTONE’S LORIKEET.


By Walter Goodfeeeow, M.B.O.U.


So far as it is at present known, this pretty Lorikeet is

found only on the mountains of Mindanao, in the Southern

Philippines, ranging between the altitude of 4,000 and 8,000 feet.

It was discovered by me in the early part of 1903 on the Apo

Volcano, the highest peak of the Philippine Archipelago, whose

altitude is said to be a little over 10,100 feet. The species was

named by Dr. Hartert of the Tring Museum in honour of Mrs.

Johnstone.


The picturesque and active Volcano of Apo stands about

20 miles inland from the S. E. Coast of the Davao province, and

appears to fall away in a succession of gradual forest-covered

slopes to the sea ; but, on nearer acquaintance, these slopes are

not nearly so gentle as they appear to be from a distance, for the

luxuriant forests hide many a deep gorge where raging torrents

rush down from the heights above and whose cold waters must

be traversed for considerable distances and crossed again and

again with no little danger to travellers. Cliffs must be scaled

at dizzy heights where scarce a foothold exists beyond that

afforded by a few clinging roots. Turning some ugly corners

in this manner is extremely risky work and at first sight seems

an impossibility. There is another and longer trail up the

mountains to the highest Bagobo village of Tandaya, by which

the worst part of the waters is avoided ; but it is in some ways

more tiring and is only used by the natives during the rainy

season when the former is impassable.


The whole mountain is covered with dense jungle up to



