380 Letters, Announcements, ^c. 



was brought to me on the 3rd of June. Curiously enough, 

 two years ago^ on the very same day, the same boy killed a 

 young male of the same species by flinging a stone at it. Of 

 this fine Bunting I have now obtained altogether five adult 

 males in spring plumage, three old females, and two young 

 males. Out of the whole number one young male only was 

 shot here in autumn, all the remainder during the first half 

 of June — thus testifying to the rule that south-eastern species^ 

 from the Caspian provinces, Arabia, Asia Minor, and Greece, 

 stray beyond their normal bounds, with very rare exceptions, 

 in spring only ; whilst the natives of Eastern and North- 

 eastern Asia are given to making such extra trips almost 

 entirely during their autumnal migrations. 



The specimen oi Phylloscopus viridanus obtained by me last 

 autumn came here under circumstances which put its eastern 

 origin beyond any doubt; and as little doubt exists that the 

 present bird started from Turkestan, or thereabouts, under 

 the same impulse which induced E.pyrrhuloides, A.pispoletta, 

 and E. melanocepliala to start on an exceptionally long north- 

 western journey. 



The bodies of the above four birds I have sent to Prof. A. 

 Newton, for his collection of the sternums of birds. 



I am &c., 



H. Gatke. 



P.S. — This morning (8th of June) a very fine old male of 

 Fringilla serirms was shot here, and brought to me. This 

 pretty little bird had been seen here only once before, and was 

 a desideratum to my collection. British collectors had better 

 keep a bright look-out, as it seems there is an uncommonly 

 lively move of our friends from the far south-east. 



P.S. (June 9th). — Just now a fine specimen of Pastor 

 roseus has turned up in my garden. 



Proposed Index to Reichenhach' s 'Avium Systema Natu- 

 rale.' — We learn with great pleasure that Dr. A. B. Meyer 

 is proposing to issue a General Index to Reichenbach's ' Sys- 

 tema Avium Naturale ' and other works. This will be most 

 useful ; for, as every one knows who has occasion to use them, 



