Letters, Announcements, b^c. 143 



Upupa epops is apparently not. uncommon in the interior, 

 although rare about Simla ; and Col. Gott tells me it extends 

 upwards of two hundred miles from this in the hills, and up to 

 an elevation of 14,000 feet. 



Of Thrushes, Oreocates erythroyastra, O. cinclorkynchus, Myio- 

 phonus temmincki, of course, and several examples of our Hima- 

 layan INIistletoe Thrush, Turdus hodysoni. About Simla the 

 first of these is found only on Jacko, whilst its congener (the 

 second) only lives apparently some 2000 feet lower down. M. 

 temmincki is very abundant here ; but I have not seen the Mis- 

 tletoe Thrush nearer than Fagoo (fifteen miles). The Black- 

 birds in the collection are Merula houlboul and M. albocincta (?). 



Of Timaliina, Trochalopterum varieyntum and T. erythroce- 

 phalum, the A^ariegated and Red-headed Laughing Thrushes, 

 both of which occur within sixteen miles of Simla, although 

 neither appears to frequent the immediate vicinity. Space for- 

 bids me to say more ; but there are many other interesting 

 species in Dr. Stoliczka's gatherings, which I am not now able 

 to mention. 



Yours, &c., 



II. C. Beavan. 



41 Portman Square, London, 

 November 27tli, 1866. 

 Sir, — While staying in Rosshire lately an occurrence hap- 

 pened which I imagine to be very unusual and sufficiently inter- 

 esting to be recorded. My friend Mr. John Bateson was in 

 the forest one misty day in October and found a freshly killed 

 Falcon {Faico pereyrinus) , and all round it were quantities of 

 Grousers feathers. The Falcon had a bad wound on its back 

 like the mark of an Eaglets talon ; and the forester, who has 

 lived all his life among Eagles and Deer, said he was sure that 

 it was so, there being no other animal but an Eagle that could 

 have made such a mark. He added, however, that he had 

 never seen or heard of such a thing before. Golden Eagles 

 {Aquila chrysaetus) constantly frequent the place, and I myself 

 saw them at different times. I conclude that the Falcon had 

 killed the Grouse and was intent upon eating it, when the 



