1864.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON ASIATIC TORTOISES. 11 "5. 'Otatare' (Todiramphus tutus). A white bird, which builds its nest in the mountains. This gentleman is the terror of the little native girls, as he swoops down on their little pet pullets. (Two specimens.) " C. ' Ooea ' (Endynamis ta'itensis). A speckled bird with a long tail — a land-bird. " 7. ' Moora,' or Wild Duck {Anas superciliosd). Builds on the hillside in the trees. "8. 'Omamao' (Tatare ota'itiensis). A sort of Sparrow. " 9. 'Ohio' (Anous stolidus). A singing-bird, so called from its peculiar note. "10. 'Uupa' (Ptilonopus chrysogaster). Pigeons (two speci-mens). " The gentleman who, at my request, shot and preserved the above specimens is residing in Huaheine, one of the islands of the group, and is a collector of mountain and other Mollusca. As he under-stands preserving birds, I furnished him with materials out of your box. I only asked for the birds of prey; but as he sent the others, I thought you might as well have them all. " There is no Owl here ; but there is a species of Owl at the Sand-wich Islands ; and Mr. Garrett, the gentleman who sent these speci-mens, is visiting the Sandwich Islands, and will bring back some specimens. I do not know if there are any other birds of prey there." 3. Notes on certain Species of Tortoises from the Asia-tic Islands transmitted to the British Museum by Dr. Bleeker. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., etc. Dr. Bleeker has kindly sent to the British Museum a series of specimens of the Tortoises which he has lately named, but I believe not described, in the ' Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Nederlansch Indie,' xiii. 18.57, p. 4/0. I have compared these with the speci-mens in the British Museum, which I have at various times de-scribed, and herewith send the result of the comparison. I have done so because I think it is very important that there should be a uniformity between the names used in the British Museum and those adopted in the museums on the Continent, more especially as I am desirous of conforming to the rule of priority, and quite willing to adopt the names used by any continental natu-ralist, if they are given and described before those described in this country. It is more important that a concordance should be established as regards Dr. Bleeker's species, as I believe that he has sent specimeus to several of the larger continental and American collections. I take this opportunity of stating how much I consider myself indebted to Dr. Bleeker's kindness in contributing original typical specimens of these and other reptiles to the Museum, which has enabled me to make the comparisons.
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