Letters, Announcements , &^c. 103 



Nesting of Batrachostomus. — In Dr. F. Kutter's lately 

 published paper on the breeding of Bornean Birds (Journ. f. 

 Orn. 1885j p. 338) will be found a very interesting account 

 of the nest and eggs of Batrachostomus cornutus, of which 

 figures are also given (tab. iv.). This bird makes a slight 

 flat nest on the branch of a sugar-palm {Arenga saccharifera) 

 or other tree, and lays a single pure-Avhite egg. The nest is 

 composed mainly of the bird^s own feathers mixed with a 

 little moss and grass. The allied forms Podargus and jEgo- 

 theles are also known to lay colourless eggs. 



News from Diego Garcia. — Mr. G. C. Bourne, whose de- 

 parture for Diego Garcia was announced in our number for 

 July last (see Ibis, 1885, p. 340), has arrived safely at that 

 distant spot, but does not give us much reason to hope for 

 new discoveries in the bird-life of that hitherto unexplored 

 islet, although there is no doubt that he will reap an abun- 

 dant harvest in other branches of zoology. Writing on the 

 30th October last, Mr. Bourne tells us that he had only found 

 one true laud-bird in Diego Garcia. This is said to have 

 been introduced from Mauritius, and, according to his de- 

 scription, must be a Weaver-bird of some species. Four 

 kinds of Tern appear to be common and to breed in the 

 island, besides which there are two or three species of Boobies 

 or Gannets {Sula). At the date of his letter Mr. Bourne 

 had not seen any species of Tropic-bird [Phaethon), but had 

 been informed of its occasional occurrence. Mr. Bourue^s first 

 consignment of specimens is expected to arrive very shortly. 



New Ornithological Works in Progress. — Dr. A. B. ]\Ieyer 

 of Dresden has in preparation a monograph of the European 

 Grouse and their various local forms, which will be illustrated 

 by about ten folio coloured plates, to be prepared by the well- 

 known zoological artist G. Miitzel. The work is dedicated 

 to the Crown-Prince Rudolf of Austria. 



Mr. H. E. Dresser is at work on a monograph of the 

 Rollers, to form a companion volume to the ' Bee-eaters,' 

 of which the last part is now in the press. About tliirtv 



