Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c. 117 



" The geographical boundaries of the two species will be an 

 interesting subject of inquiry. 



'' Is it possible that the presence or absence of the nuchal 

 collar is not a specific, but a sexual distinction ? 



" Perhaps this is a question deserving the attention of ob- 

 servers who may have the opportunity of ascertaining the fact. 



" J. H. GURNEY." 



Dr. G. Hartlaub has lately received some important ornitho- 

 logical MSS. from Freiherr von Heuglin, relating to his recent 

 discoveries on the White Nile. One of these we have already 

 given [antea, p, 31). Dr. Hartlaub further mentions a new 

 Corephegnathus, a Lamprocolius, two Ardea, and a Ciconia, as 

 being of great interest. The latter is described, " cauda longa, 

 profunde furcata, alba ; rectrice prima valde elongata, nigra" 

 This very anomalous Stork von Heuglin calls Ciconia pruysse- 

 naeri, after the Belgian Baron Pruysseuaer de Lawostyne, from 

 Bruges, who has lately been exploring the White Nile. 



Mr. Gerard KrefFt, in a letter dated Sydney, April 24, says : — 

 " During the last week, I have noticed a great number of the 

 Yellow-eared Black Cockatoo {Calyptorhynchus xunthonotus) . 

 Flocks of from ten to fifty have been flying over the Museum, 

 which is situated in a central part of the city. Their favourite 

 place of resort is the thick scrubby countiy between Randovick 

 and Botany. Though within a few miles of Sydney, this place is 

 seldom disturbed by any of our Sunday sportsmen, which may 

 account for the tameness of the birds ; for I approached within 

 twenty yards of a large flock several times. TJiey seem to feed 

 on the BanksicB and Eucalypti, of which all the thickets are com- 

 posed ; and their plaintive cries may be heard for miles. 



" If one of these birds is wounded, you are sure of the whole 

 flock; they will not leave a companion m distress: and I am soiTy 

 to say that when on a collecting expedition to the Lower 

 Darling, I often took advantage of their attachment to each 

 other, and bagged as many out of a flock as the men of the camp 

 could skin.^' 



The following extracts are from Mr. Blyth's recent letters: — 

 " We have two allied species of Owl from Africa, each of which 



