324 Letters, Announcements, ^'C. 



neighbourhood of Beddgelert, and also Rhiwbryfdir, in subpro- 

 vince 18. In that subprovince 1 found about 40 species 

 breeding, among which are the Tawny Owl and the Pied Fly- 

 catcher. The nest of the former was on the (/round, in a wood 

 of pines and beeches, and contained three eggs highly incubated ; 

 that of the latter was about ten feet from the ground, in the 

 end-wall of a small stone-built cottage in a wood ; and I think 

 it contained young ones, but this I was unable to ascertain 

 positively. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c., 



Charles Bygrave Wharton. 



In a letter lately received from Mr. C. J. Andersson, dated 

 "Cape Town, December 8, 1865," that gentleman writes to us: — 



" I believe I have got a clue to the mystery about the young 

 Albatroses (Ibis, 1865, pp. 279-281) ; I mean as to how they 

 are supported during the absence of their parents, and while 

 they are yet unable to fly. I will relate the incident that led to 

 the discovery (if such it be) as it occurred : — ' What do you know. 

 Captain B.,^ I said one day to an intelligent master of a sealing- 

 vessel, from whom I have obtained many valuable data about sea- 

 fowl — ' what do you know about the Albatroses ? how are the 

 young, for instance, fed after being abandoned by the parents?' 

 ' Why, of course,' was his prompt reply, ' they live on their own 

 fat.' ' On their own fat ! ' I exclaimed ; ' how do yoxxprove that ? ' 

 ' Because,' answered he, ' in the first place they are excessively 

 fat at this season; secondly, they could not possibly in many 

 instances get down to the water without being able to fly, and 

 that they can't do ; and thirdly, the common " Jackass Penguin " 

 {^Apterodytes demersa] will live two months on shore without a 

 morsel of food. I have seen them come on shore a mass of fat, 

 and leave the land a mere skeleton. But you can't think, Mr. 

 Andersson,' my friend wound up by saying, ' how fat some sea- 

 birds are at certain seasons ! ' Perhaps you will smile at this ,- 

 but if other animals, I would ask, can live for several consecutive 

 months on their own fat, why not birds ? If you think my 

 story may be of any interest to the readers of ' The Ibis,' by all 

 means let them have the benefit of it." 



