Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, 8cc. 465 
Even in England this is a very rare bird. The specimen is now 
in the Calcutta Museum. I suspect that the genus Catarractes 
has never before been recorded as occurring, even accidentally, 
within the Tropics; and one great reason for separating C. an- 
tarcticus from C. skua was the great improbability of such a bird 
ever crossing the Equator. 
I have been repeatedly asked for specimens from the Andaman 
Islands. Let me assure you that they are not easy to procure. 
The savages maintain their own so well, that our people cannot 
venture on the main island except in strong bodies; and not 
the smallest progress has been made in pacifying the Negrillo 
aborigines. By degrees, however, I am getting to know some¬ 
thing of the Andaman fauna, though chiefly the marine species. 
Among these is the Dugong (Halichore) in the class Mammalia. 
Of terrestrial species we know as yet only of the peculiar little 
Pig, Sus andamensis; and I have taken a Mouse (apparently 
M. manei, and if so, doubtless introduced) from the stomach of 
a venomous snake. I have information, besides, of what would 
seem to be a Tupoia; and there is a Bat of some kind, not of 
recent introduction. But though sundry other small mammals 
may be expected, as Squirrels and Flying Squirrels, Shrews, 
Bats, &c., we know nothing of them as yet. Of birds, there is 
evidence of the abundance of Parrots, Green Pigeons ( Treron ), 
Nectariniidai, &c.; but all that I as yet know of for certain are 
as follows:—■ 
1. Hcematornis cheela. 
2. Blagrus leucogaster. 
3. Todirhamphus collaris. 
4. Halcyon coromanda. 
5. H. smyrnensis. 
6. Corms culminatus. 
7. Gracula javanica. 
8. Temenuchus erythropygius. 
9. Teplnrodornis griseola . 
10. Geocichla innotata. 
11. Copsychus saularis. 
12. Kittacincla albiventris. 
13. Artamus leucorhynchus. 
14. Edolius retifer. 
15. Pericrocotus peregrinus. 
16. Pycnonotusjocosus*. 
17. Irena puella f. 
18. Oriolus coronatus (?). 
19. Carpophaga sylvatica . 
20. Calcenas nicobarica J. 
21. Anous stolidus. 
* Malayan variety, with shorter ear-tufts of a deeper crimson than in 
the Indian race. 
t Indian variety, I. indica, A. Hay. 
X From the Cocos rocks northward. 
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