11^ Letters, Announcements, i^c. 



grass. It is most difficult of access, many of the boughs being 

 from a thorny Acacia, which grows in abundance in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The birds perch either on the nest or on the tree, 

 and stand out in bold relief against the sky, forming a striking 

 object in the landscape. 



The nests are used by other birds; a large Fishing-Eagle 

 {Haliaetus leucoryjjhxis) or Vulture [Gyps calvus) will sometimes 

 take possession at a season when it is not required by the 

 Storks. These leave various traces of their occupation, render- 

 ing it somewhat doubtful to which species to ascribe the rightful 

 ownership, and which was the original builder of the structure. 

 T am, 



Yours &c., 



Charles Horne. 



Auchnaba House, 



Loch-Gilp Head, N.B. 



20t]i December, 1870. 

 Sir, — It may interest some of the readers of * The Ibis ' to 

 hear that a Quail's nest, with twelve eggs (eight of which are 

 in my possession), was taken at the end of July last in the 

 island of North Uist. The bird was captured on the nest, and 

 the breast-bone sent to me. A Knot in summer plumage was 

 also sent to me at the same time from the same island. 



I am. 



Yours &c., 



J. W. P. Orde. 



Cliislehurst, Jan. 11, 1871. 

 Sir, — Dr. Jerdon has kindly informed me that he considers 

 Prinia albogularis, nob., Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. v. p. 219,= 

 Prinia hodgsoni, Blyth, J. A. S. B. vol. xiii. p. 376. And I 

 wish to add that Ephialtes jerdoni, nob., torn, cit., p. 417,= 

 Scops malaharicus, Jerdon, Madras J. L. & S. xiii. p. 119. 



I remain. 



Yours obediently, 



Walden. 



