Letters, Announcements , ^c. 361 



so many erroneous observations on the axillary plume as 

 Dr. Rochebrune imputes to liim. 



Houbaras as Food. — ""^ Three Houbaras were shot, and on our 

 arrival in camp (between Souakin and Cassala) we found the 

 cook-boy had caught one in a noose : we were glad to dis- 

 cover sporting tendencies in our servants. I never ate a 

 more delicious bird than the Houbara. It is but too fre- 

 quently the case that the game of these countries is dry and 

 unpalatable — at any rate, it would be thought so in civi- 

 lized countries ; but this bird would be a great delicacy 

 anywhere. Its flesh when cooked is dark brown and firm, 

 very much resembling that of a Goose, and has a flavour 

 entirely its own. The birds that we shot were very fat, in 

 excellent condition, and were very good eating, both hot and 

 cold.^^ — James's Wild Tribes of the Soudari, 



News of the Kilima-ndjaro Expedition. — Letters have been 

 received from Mr. H. H. Johnston dated from the British 

 Residency, Zanzibar, May 13th. After consultation with 

 Sir John Kirk, Mr. Johnston had selected the INIombasa 

 route for Kilima-ndjaro, and was expecting to depart for 

 that port in about a fortnight^s time. The country between 

 Mombasa and Chaga was said to be quiet, and to present no 

 serious difficulties in the way. Mr. Johnston had succeeded 

 in obtaining the services of three of the bird-skinners that 

 had been employed by Dr. Fischer, and of a botanical col- 

 lector trained under Sir John Kirk, of whose kindness and 

 assistance he speaks in the highest terms. Mr. Johnston, in 

 spite of the trying climate of Zanzibar, was in excellent 

 health and had strong hopes of the success of the expedition. 



Ridgway Ornithological Club, Chicago. — At the monthly 

 meeting held March 6th last, after the reception of donations 

 and election of new members and regular business of the 

 meeting, Mr. B. T. Gault read a paper on Picus nuttalli, 

 with an account of its nesting in California. Mr. G. L. 

 Toppan exhibited a fine male Milvulus tyrannus, with tail 



SER. V. VOL. II. 2d 



