WCP764

Dear Mr. Wallace, with many thanks I return yr. specimens I regret to have been obliged to keep them so long.

I am going to trouble you with a few questions, which I do with little hesitation as you are the only person able to answer them.

1. Do you admit Calocacla <Collocalia> spiluva, G. R. Gray,² as Batchian, & C. neglecta, G. R. Gray, as E. Timor to be distinct species fromC. esculenta (L.)? Judging from yr. paper on the subject I imagine not.

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^X It is probable. Is it not recorded in any of Schlegel’s³ papers on collections from Bernstein⁴ & Rosenberg? ⁵

2. Is there any authority for saying that Coracias temminckii, occurs also in the Sula Islands? as recorded in Hand list. nr. 899.

[2]⁶ X3. Gray⁷, H<and>. list 2074, 2077, 2083, gives these species of Philemon from Celebes. Does that or any allied genus occur there at all? No. 2074 you have already shewn⁸ to be a Mimeta.

I know of none.

4^X. Does Climacteris picumnus, Tem. P<lanches>. C<oloriées>⁹. 281, or any allied genus occur in Celebes?

None to my knowledge C<limacteris>. picumnus undoubtedly an error.

5.^X Drymophila alecto T., where is this from. P<lanches>. C<oloriées>. 430. p. 1. given by Tem.¹⁰ & Gray from Celebes — does it there occur?

It may be Celebesian, but I saw nothing like it, & I know no locality for it.

♂. Myiagra niteus G. R. Gray Ternate is not unlike it.

6.^X What is Muscicapa hypogrammica, G. R. Gray, Hand list No. 4814? Does it occur in Celebes?

Is my Butalis hypogrammica. Ibis¹¹ 1862. p. 350¹², & is the same as Hemichelidon griseisticta. Swinhoe, Ibis. 1861 p. 330¹³ — a regular visitant to China, according to Blyth¹⁴ & Swinhoe¹⁵.

7. Munia pallida, Wallace Hand list 6755 — where is this described — does it occur in Celebes? as well as in Lombok & Flores?

I think not — It would however be well to see what specimens are in the B<ritish>. M<useum>. a few distinct things having been overlooked by me, or mistaken by Stevens¹⁶ & so got there.

Walden Cottage

Chislehurst.

^X8. Eos cochinsinensis (Lath.) H<and>. list 8202

^Xand Ptilonopus flavicollis, G. R. Gray H<and>. l<ist>. 9125 — given as Celebes — I presume neither occur there?

I should say — certainly not.

^X9. Ptilonopus zanthogaster <sic>, Wagl. = Pt<ilonopus>. diadematus (Tem<m>.) H<and>. L<ist>. 9136.

Certainly not.

^XPt<ilonopus>. hyogaster, (Reinw.) H<and>. L<ist>. 9144.

Certainly not.

^XMacropygia reinwardtii, Tem<m>. 9310

These three are also given as Celebes by Gray on Temminck’s authorit<y> I suppose. As a matter of form will you tell me if they occur there? Your valuable researches appear to be getting ignored by the British Museum ornithologist.

Certainly not.

[4] 10. How many species of Turnix do you know of in Celebes? Gould¹⁷ has figured Philippine T<urnix>. fasciata, Tem<m>. as from Macassar <Makassar>. (Birds of Asia).¹⁸ Did he figure T<urnix>. rufilatus, Wallace, by mistake.

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To save you trouble I have left the opposite sides blank for any remarks you may wish to make.

^XLalage aurea is given by Hartlaub¹⁹ as Celebes am I safe to include it.

I think not — It is a true Moluccan species, & the Celebes form is L<alage>. orientalis. ? — There is much communication between Ternate & Menado <Manado>, and collections of birds & insects from either place are not to be trusted unless sent by some one who knows the value of locality.

Believe me | Truly y<ou>rs | Walden <signature>

^XWhat is y<ou>r "Parus?" Ibis 1860, p. 141²⁰. Can you oblige me with the loan of an example of Motacilla flavescens from Timor?

= Prionochilus aureolimbatus. Wall.

²¹ Is it known for certain that Hirundo javanica Sparrman occurs in Celebes?

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I noted it as common in Macassar, building its new<?> nests in verandahs in the town. I think you may therefore put it as certainly found there, — though it is just possible it may be a distinct race.

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Scythrops novaehollandiae, is common in Amboyna <Ambon> & Ceram <Seram>. I did not find it in any other of the Moluccas.