129 



and minutely freckled with brownish-black, a line of buff down the 

 crown and nape, and a narrow line of brownish -white down the 

 centre of the feathers, changing to broad and conspicuous stripes of 

 buff on the lower part of the back and tail-coverts ; wings pale brown ; 

 chin and throat black, on each side of which is an oblong patch of 

 white encircled by a narrow line of black ; below the black a broad 

 crescent of white, fringed on the sides with black, and bounded 

 below by a narrow semi-crescent of deep black ; under surface grey, 

 mottled on the flanks like the upper surface ; line down the centre 

 of the abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts chestnut-red ; bill 

 black ; feet yellowish. 



Total length 3 inches, bill \, wing 2^, tarsi f. 



Hah. Vicinity of Macassar, Celebes. 



Remark. — For this, the most diminutive species of the Gallinacece 

 yet discovered, we are indebted to the researches of A. R. Wallace, 

 Esq. It is of precisely the same form and very nearly allied to, but 

 quite distinct from, the well-known Chinese Quail, Excalfactoria 

 chinensis (Coturnu chinensis of authors). 



The following extract from a Letter received by Mr. S. Stevens 

 from Mr. Wallace, dated Batchian, Moluccas, Oct. 29, 1858, was 

 read : — 



" Here I have been as yet only five days ; but from the nature of 

 the country, and what I have already done, I am inclined to think 

 it may prove one of the best localities I have yet visited. Birds are 

 as yet very scarce ; but I still hope to get a fine collection, though I 

 believe I have already the finest and most wonderful bird in the 

 island. I had a good mind to keep it a secret, but I cannot resist 

 telling you . I have a new Bird of Paradise ! of a new genus ! ! 

 quite unlike anything yet known, very curious and very handsome!!! 

 When I can get a couple of pairs, I will send them overland, to see 

 what a new Bird of Paradise will really fetch. Had I seen the bird in 

 Ternate, I should never have believed it came from here, so far out of 

 the hitherto supposed region of the Paradiseidce. I consider it the 

 greatest discovery I have yet made ; and it gives me hopes of getting 

 other species in Gilolo and Ceram. There is also here a species of 

 Monkey — much further eastwards than in any other island ; so you 

 see this is a most curious locality, combining forms of the East and 

 West of the Archipelago, yet with species peculiar to itself. It also 

 differs from all the other Moluccas in its geological formation, con- 

 taining iron, coal, copper, and gold, with a glorious forest vegetation 

 and fine large mountain streams : it is a continent in miniature. The 

 Dutch are working the coals ; and there is a good road to the mines, 

 which gives one easy access to the interior forests. 



"I can do nothing at drawing birds, but send you a horrible 

 sketch of my discovery, that you may not die of curiosity. I am 

 told the wet season here is terrible, and it begins in December ; so I 

 shall probably have to leave then." 



No. 392. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



