192 Letters, Extracts from Coirespondence, Notices, 6fc. 



IV. American Publications. 



The only papers relating to Ornithology which have appeared 

 in the ' Proceedings' of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia since our last issue are upon the birds collected 

 by Mr. Xantus at Cape S. Lucas, at the southern extremity of 

 Lower California, by Mr. Xantus himself and Prof. Baird. The 

 new species are described by Mr. Xantus as Picus lucasanus, Cam- 

 pylorhynchus affinis, Harporhynchus cinereus, and Brachyrhamphus 

 hypoleucus. Prof. Baird gives a general list, enumerating forty- 

 two species. " The Fauna " of this region, he says, " is almost 

 identical with that of the Gila river, and to a certain extent with 

 that of the Rio Grande. It is an important fact also, that, while 

 these relationships are exceedingly intimate, there is almost none 

 to the coast-fauna of Upper California.'' 



XXIV. — Letta's, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, S^c. 



Mr. Eraser, whom we last noticed as collecting at Babahoyo, 

 on the river Guayaquil, has forwarded a series of about 360 birds 

 obtained there during the months of July, August, and part of 

 September last. They are not generally in a good state of pre- 

 servation, having been attacked by insects, but there are many 

 new and interesting species amongst them, of which an account 

 will be given in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society. A 

 letter dated Babahoyo, August 28th, says : " This place is some 

 200 miles up the river from Guayaquil, and in the wet or summer 

 season is under water for many months, some four or five feet; 

 so you may imagine what a nasty, sickly place it is. The in- 

 bitants are always complaining, more or less, of fever. The 

 houses are of sticks, with sides of bamboos. At present people 

 are living on the ground-floor, but as the waters rise they ascend 

 their ladders and occupy the first floor. All communication 

 then takes place by canoe, and the cattle are driven off" to the 

 higher lands. A white butterfly is here in myriads, and always 

 seems to be going up stream." 



Mr. Fraser left Guayaquil for Esmeraldas, higher up the coast, 

 m the beginning of October, and collected at the latter place 



