347 
Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Timor. 
red-backed stage of plumage in this little-known species of 
Accipitrine. 
XXXVIII .—Notes on the Ornithology of Timor. 
By Alfred Russel Wallace. 
In pursuance of my plan of exploring the Zoology of the Malayan 
Archipelago, I have just completed a three-and-a-half months* 
residence at Belli, in the eastern part of the island of Timor, and 
have devoted myself principally to the Birds, every other class of 
animals being very poorly represented in this barren island. 
Owing to ill-health, the wet season, and a rebellion of the 
native tribes, I was unable to extend my excursions far from the 
town of Belli. I resided, however, in one of the most fertile 
valleys, about two miles from the town, and spent two weeks on 
the mountains at an elevation of 2000 feet. I was accompanied 
on this excursion by Mr. Geach, a mining engineer, who has been 
engaged here for more than two years in search of minerals, 
during which time he has traversed the island in several places 
from sea to sea, and who is altogether better acquainted than 
any person living with the eastern half of Timor. 
From this gentleman I obtained much information as to the 
character of the country, which seems to be very uniform, and 
not likely to be more productive in any other parts than in those 
that I have explored. 
Timor seems to consist entirely of a chain of mountains, rising 
in the central range to 5000 and 6000 feet, and near either 
coast to about 3000. In only two or three places in the island 
are there any level plains, the rest being a succession of moun¬ 
tainous ridges and precipitous ravines. Nowhere in the island 
are there any forests comparable with those of the other parts of 
the Archipelago, all the lower hills being covered with an open 
growth of more or less scrubby Eucalypti , and anything like a 
lofty or luxuriant vegetation being confined to those places in the 
ravines or on the mountain spurs where a little rich soil has been 
accumulated. At a height of above 4000 feet even this vege¬ 
tation disappears, and a scanty herbage of coarse grasses alone 
covers the higher ridges. Fruit-bearing trees are comparatively 
2 a 2 
