98 Notices, Letteis, Extracts from Correspondence, ^c. 



many notes on the habits and nidificatiou of the birds of these 

 islands — which have, as far as we know, never been before in- 

 vestigated by a naturahst. We are not surprised at his meeting 

 with species apparently undescribed. The Humming-bird, Tro- 

 chilus bahamensis, does not, however, fall into that category, as 

 it is certainly Trochilus evelyna (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1847, p. 44), 

 belonging to the genus or section Thaumastura. Had the tail 

 of the male of this species really only eight feathers, as supposed 

 by Dr. Bryant, we should consider it even more wonderful than 

 is indicated by the generic name Thaumastura ; for we do not at 

 present recollect any exception to the normal number of ten 

 rectrices in the Trochilida. But a careful examination will, we 

 have little doubt, prove that the two medial rectrices, though 

 abnormally diminutive, are not altogether wanting. 



The other species described as new are Empidonax bahamensis, 

 Hirundo cyaneoviridis (allied to Gosse's H. euchrysea of Jamaica), 

 Laniovireo crassirostris, and Mimus bahamensis (probably the 

 same as Cabanis^s M. gundlachii). The accounts of the breeding 

 of Sula fiber and Pha'ethon flavirostris are of much interest. 



X. — Notices, Letters, Extracts from Con-espondence, ^c. 



It is with much regret that we commence our issue of the 

 Second Volume of ' The Ibis ' with the announcement of the 

 death of one of the original promoters of our Journal, and a 

 most valued contributor to its pages. Our friend and fellow- 

 labourer John Wolley, having been in declining health for several 

 months, died on the 20th of November last, at the early age of 

 36 years, leaving a vacancy in the number of the British Orni- 

 thologists' Union, which it will be very difficult to fill up. Of 

 Mr. Wolley's career as a naturalist, and of his many brilliant 

 discoveries and laborious explorations in various parts of the 

 world in pursuit of his favourite science, we hope, with the 

 kind assistance of a gentleman who is well acquainted with many 

 of the events of his short though active life, to give some account 

 in our next Number. 



