94 Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 



the provinces of Quilengues, Caconda, and Bihe, it cbanges to 

 one of great luxuriaiice and wonderful abundance of animal life. 

 I say this, of course, from hearsay, as well as from the number 

 of skins, &c., that come from thence. 



" I shall shortly leave for Mossamedes (Little Fish Bay), a 

 locality said to be of great interest ; and if the fauna partakes of 

 the same character as the flora, it must certainly be very sin- 

 gular, I had viva voce information of the interior of that place 

 from your countryman, Dr. Welwitsch, who there discovered 

 some extraordinary novelties at a place called ' Huila,' where 

 the Portuguese have lately established a colony. I may not very 

 likely have an opportunity of penetrating far inland in my mine- 

 I'alogical explorations, but I expect even in the littoral region to 

 come across interesting specimens. Mr. Sclater will be glad to 

 know that this Pro\ance of Benguela is the place par excellence 

 for the Finch family, and that I have already some exquisite 

 little things. My Bembe friend, Pijtelia mojiteiri, I have never 

 again seen, but hope to introduce some other little beauties to 

 the next London season." 



Mr. Edward Newton has at last been able to accomplish his 

 long-wished-for visit to Madagascar, having been appointed one 

 of the deputation sent from Mauritius to congratulate the new 

 king Radama on his accession. The mission left Port Louis on 

 22nd Sept. last, and arrived in Taniatave Roads after a good 

 passage of four days. Our correspondent's last letters are dated 

 12th Oct., but contain no ornithological information. Mr. Newton 

 was then four days' journey from Antananarivo, the residence 

 of the Court of the Hovas. 



Writing just after his arrival at Tamatave (27th Sept. 1861), 

 Mr. Newton says, on the passage he saw very little, except some 

 Tropic-birds, and a few Whimbrels, Shearwaters, and Petrels. 

 At the Port he had observed some Crows, a Kite, some Necta- 

 rinice, a Centropus or Coua, and a few Whimbrels and Gulls, but 

 little besides. The party expected to be ten days on their jour- 

 ney up to the capital, to remain there ten days, and take ten 

 days on their x'eturn ; so that, with the uncertainty of their ar- 

 riving at Mauritius in time for the December mail, it is probable 



