Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, S^c. 463 



where those from Cuenea, Gualaquiza and Zamora are intermixed. 

 You have no idea how confused this appears to me. They should 

 stand somewhat thus : — 



Cuenca, Riobamba, Quito (9000 feet). 



Gualaquiza^ Zamora, Macas. 



Pallatanga, Nanegal (4000 feet). 



Matos, Pinipi, Calacali, Perrucho, Puellaro. 

 " Prof. Jameson will use his best endeavours to obtain Tetra- 

 yonops^ for me, since I have given up the idea of returning to 

 Nanegal, its habitat (not Cayambe, as you state). With respect 

 to Milvago megalopteims f, I should say the birds were adult. 

 They are only found on the Parano (the high, bare plains), and 

 not having a tent, I only obtained them by accident. I think 

 No. 2105 is another specimen of the same species, killed about 

 14,000 feet up Pichincha. Upon my first visit I saw four 

 birds of this kind, two black and white, and two of a brownish 

 colour. I took the former to be the parents and the latter the 

 young, but they flew so high and so wild, that I could never get 

 within rifle-shot of them." 



The second letter, dated Babahoyo J, July 24th, says : — 

 " This place is generally called ' Bodegas,^ i.e. warehouses or 

 shops, it being the place where salt is deposited and pays duty. 

 I reckon it at about 200 or 250 feet above the sea-level. Birds 

 are abundant, both as to species and specimens : flocks are seen 

 here, which is nowhere the case on the mountains. I have added 

 to my collection 57 species during the two weeks I have been 

 here. There is something very extraordinary as well as interest- 

 ing in the moulting of birds in this country. I think the sud- 

 den changes produce it. I found the Pichincha Humming- 

 bird {Oreotrochilus pichincha) pairing in imperfect plumage. 

 Here, at this moment, it is common to see birds without tails, or 



* Tetragonops rhamphastinus is a very singular form of Capitonidce 

 (described by Sir William Jardine in Edinb. New Phil. Journ. n. s. ii. 

 p. 404, and iii. p. 90. pi. 4), to which we had expressly called Mr. Eraser's 

 attention. 



t This is in answer to a question as to the age of the specimens men- 

 tioned in P.Z.S. 1858, p. 555. 



X Babahoyo is situated upon the river of that name, thirty or forty miles 

 N.E. of Guayaquil. 



