WCP2358

[1]

Zamboanga.

April 13. 1878.

My dear Sir

Your letter¹ containing the list of the "Challenger" birds reached me in Manila a few weeks ago. I was glad to have the list, for I know nothing that has been published on the birds of the Philippines except the Marquis of Tweeddale’s² old catalogue in the Transactions³ — of the reviews published of Steere’s⁴ Collection⁵ and of my own no copies have yet reached me — As you remark, the collectors here previous to Steere must have been very superficial. Even Zamboanga which has been so often visited has never been worked. Here in sight of the town I have collected in 20 days 214 skins representing 87 species, and have passed over a dozen species more as not worth preserving. Only that I am single-handed, having lost my assistant by fever in Palawan, I have no doubt that I could have done half as well again. Several of the birds are new — some 6 or 7 I think and I have a nice little series of the Batrachostomas, — both sexes in rufous plumage.

My trip to Palawan was most unfortunate. In the first place it was expensive, and in the second, though I was three months there, I collected next to nothing owing to the severe jungle-fever for which the island is well-known. The small lot of birds which I sent last March sufficiently shows, however, what there is to be done in this locality, and I fully intend returning there when S. Mindanao and Basilan have been well worked. The island seems still poorer in Mammalia than the rest of the Philippines. As for the various new mammals of which I spoke in former letters, I have sent to Dr. Gunther,⁶ or have ascertained beyond doubt the existence of, nine species, not including the Tupaia and squirrel from Palawan, which I believe Sterre obtained. These species are belong to the following genera:

1. Sorex - Cebu.

2. Felis - S. Negros

3. Sciurus - S. Leyte

4. Tupaiae - S. Mindanao

5. Hystrix - Palawan

6. Pteromys - Palawan

7. Tragulus - Balabac

8. Mus? - S. Negros

9. Gymnura?? - - - Palawan

Of this last I am not sure, not having seen a specimen. I sent also a large rat from Dinagat where it lives in the rice-fields, but I think it was only a common brown-rat which had undergone a slight alteration in size and in its fur. The Sorex is the "blind-earth-rat" of which my informant spoke. The Tupaia from Zamboanga is remarkable for its stout limbs and sparsely-haired tail. I have no doubt that there still remain some species [2] of mammals to be discovered, especially in Palawan. Can you inform me on what authority Cynopithecus has been included in the Philippine fauna? I can find no evidence of its existence and the only localities which I have not visited where it may exist are Mindoro and N. Luzon. The natives tell me that black monkies [sic] are brought up from "the Moluccas" — a term including Celebes — in trading vessels, together with numbers of red Lories, which may be seen all over Manila, where they are said to be brought from Sulu, though really coming from the Moluccas through Zamboanga.

I am sorry to say that I have done nothing in these islands in the way of collecting either beetles or butterflies. I find the vertebrates take up most of my time and besides I dare not be out in the sun now during the best hours for insects. The beetles I sent from Dinagat were collected by the natives. By the way, in Palawan I saw an Ornithoptera which exactly resembled O. brookiana. It flew up quite close to me and there could be no mistake about its general identity, though it is most likely a representative species. I cannot definitely promise to send you the small series of the finest butterflies, but if I get them and in duplicate, they will come to you. M^r. Higgins⁷ has ceased to act as my Agent in London, and my collections will, I believe, go in the first instance to M^r. H. E. Dresser⁸ for the future.

In your list of Philippine Mammalia, the existence of a sp<text damaged> of wild swine is left doubtful. Wild pigs are abundant in all the large islands that I have visited — but whether of one or several varieties I am unable to say.

I remain | very truly yours | A Everett.⁹ [signature]

P. S. I have just received a letter from Mr. J. Evans¹⁰ today that the money for the Borneo Caves will be forthcoming.