Introduction: Migration. 
43 
During our studies it has become abundantly evident to us that ornithologists 
are not generally aware that migration goes on in the East Indies to the great 
extent it does. Naturalists travelling in the Archipelago have rarely had a 
word to say on this subject, for the reason that they themselves are continually 
on the move from place to place and are consequently unable to say whether 
the birds they see are visitors or stationary. Among the residents or travellers 
of longer standing it would be difficult to mention the names of more than 
two or three competent observers; of these Mr. Everett has as yet published 
nothing on migration to our knowledge beyond a few terse notes on individual 
species, but there are a number of interesting observations extant from the pen 
of Mr. Whitehead. We quote from this gentleman the following passages 
relating to the S. E. parts of Palawan: “When the great rush of birds from 
the far north takes place these plains have a much more lively aspect; hun- 
dreds of Wagtails, Pipits, Snipes, and other small Waders are continually flying 
up on your approach . . . Towards the middle of September, after we had 
collected all the resident species within our reach, the sea-coast, with its rocky 
points and estuaries, was by far the most attractive hunting-ground; for about 
that time the great winter migration from the north reaches the coasts and 
forests of Palawan. Most Waders passed between 5 and 6. P. M. , all in one 
direction, S.W. ; if a small flock settled and was disturbed, never did the birds 
return, but still hurried on their southward course. By continuing this line of 
flight they would touch Balabac, and then turn due south down to the coast of 
Borneo, where some remain for the winter, but most seem to travel further still. 
When the wind was blowing gales from the S.W., bringing up heavy clouds 
loaded with rain, then was the liveliest time for moving; on calm, or even 
moderate days, it was seldom worth while to visit the coast. All these great 
travellers were as fat as butter, and in no state for a bird-collector” (Ibis 1890 
p. 40). Out of a total of 157 species in Palawan 49 are migrants. 
I 
Birds at sea. — Nearly all naturalists when at sea in these regions have 
been visited by birds of migratory species for a temporary rest on board ship. 
When sailing ships were common this was possibly a more usual occurrence 
than in these days of steamers. The following passage from E. J. F. Meyen’s 
“Reise um die Erde”, 1835 II, 195, is of interest. When crossing the China 
Sea between Macao, Canton River, and Manila, “besides the ordinary sea-birds 
a number of various small land-birds were seen, which, as we quickly per- 
ceived, were migrating and resting upon our ship. We obtained on this occasion 
the Lanius 'phoenicm'us (Pall.) [= L. lucionensis), the Hirundo domestica Pall, and 
the Motacilla Jlava, all of them birds which spend the summer months in Southern 
Siberia ... As it appeared all these birds were directing their course towards 
the Moluccas; the Swallows came along in such numbers that we caught eight 
of them in the evening. One day the head of a palm-tree drifted by our ship . . . 
Large birds were resting on this swimming island as it came towards us, and 
6 * 
