





























































30 Mr. R. B. Sharpe’s Contributions to the 
by him in the ‘ Birds of Asia’ (part xxiv.) ; he is also known 
as the collector of a series of birds from the district of Sa- 
rawak, described by Lord Walden (Ibis, 1872, p. 860). The 
present consignment is also from the same part of the island, 
most of the birds being from the immediate neighbourhood 
of Sarawak. Sibu Island and the Matu river are situated 
in the northern part of the Brunna district, the former bemg 
some little way up the Bruit river. Although many of the 
species now recorded have been already mentioned by Lord 
Walden, I have imcluded them in the present paper for the 
sake of the excellent notes as to the coloration of the soft 
parts &c. for which Mr. Everett’s collections are always so 
favourably distinguished. It is to be hoped that his ex- 
ertions will be continued, as there remains a vast amount 
of ornithological work to be done in Borneo, and even a small 
consignment like the present adds several species to the avi- 
fauna of the island. JI must not conclude these introductory 
remarks without acknowledging the great assistance I have 
- derived from Count Salvadori’s work on the ornithology of 
Borneo, as is evidenced by the frequent references to it in 
the following pages :— ‘ 
1. Circus sprtonotus, Kaup; Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 58. 
a. No. 160. Sibu. Ins bright yellow; legs greenish 
yellow. 
6. Sibu, Dec. 15th, 1874. 
As hitherto no Harrier had been found in the island, this 
must be considered an interesting addition to the avifauna of 
Borneo, if I am correct in referring the species to (. spilo- 
notus, and not to C. eruginosus. The birds are both young, 
and are in the brown plumage with whitish heads which 
usually distinguish immature Marsh-Harriers; they are ap- 
parently male and female, and measure as follows :— 
a. Total length 20 inches, wing 15:6, tail 9°7, tarsus 3°5. 
6. Total length 23 inches, wing 16:6, tail 10°0, tarsus 3°7. 
It is quite certain that some time must elapse before the 
Harriers will be understood by ornithologists ; and at present 
every fresh specimen examined by me seems to present in- 
