A LIST OF THE BIRDS HITHERTO REPORTED AS 

 OCCURR1NG IN THE LIU-KIU ISLANDS, JAPAN. 



By Leonhard Stejneger. 



[Plate II.) 



The avifauna of the Liu-Kiu Islands, from their intermediate 

 position between Formosa and Japan, might be expected to present 

 a great variety of forms, and an inspection of the list, given below, 

 of the species hitherto recorded from that group shows at once, that 

 our expectations were well founded. The comparatively great num- 

 ber of peculiar forms, some of which are quite remarkable for their 

 very pronounced distinctness, is especially noteworthy. On the other 

 hand, the total number of species is very low, but it is evident that 

 this is due chiefly, if not only, to the fact, that the islands are, as yet, 

 explored to a very small extent, and that in a rather superficial, and — 

 so to speak — accidental manner. 



The first notes on Liu-Kiu Islands birds were given by Mr. 

 Cassin, from specimens collected by the two American North Paci- 

 fic Exploring Expeditions under Perry and Rodgers. During the 

 short stay of these, about 17 species were obtained. Since then only a 

 few specimens have been picked up accidentally by vessels passing 

 by the islands, until two two Japanese gentlemen, Messrs. Tegima 

 and Namiye, the former the director, and the latter a curator of the 

 Tokio Educational Museum, visited the group of the Great Liu-Kiu 

 during March, 1886. Mr. Namiye collected a number of species addi- 



