272 Letters, Announcements, S^c. 



gregate and become blended at the larger end. Of the origi- 

 nal five, three (which I still retain) measure respectively as 

 follows— Ml X -88, 1-12 X 'S7, MS x "88 inch. The nest— 

 a somewhat bulky structure — is composed outwardly of dried 

 twigs, and inwardly of soft bark fibres, and a peculiar grey 

 pulpy substance, Avhicli resembles the film to be foimd on the 

 surface of very old weather-worn boards." 



Very truly youi's, Elliott Coues. 

 P.S. The same newspaper contains accounts of the notable 

 occurrence, in Massachusetts, oiXema sabinii and Mimuspoly- 

 glottus — both of which are interesting items, although not 

 wholly unexpected. All three of the articles are stated to 

 have been read before the " Nuttall Ornithological Club " of 

 Cambridge, Mass., — a promising yomig association, from 

 which we shall doubtless hear more in due time ; and 1 am 

 sure you will join me in wishing it abundant success. 



Sir, — Some tendency towards that interest in Arctic disco- 

 very which was once taken by all Englishmen having been of 

 late called forth, I may perhaps be allowed to record in ' The 

 Ibis,' without any chance of off'ending its readers, the addition 

 of two species to the casual avifauna of Spitsbergen. Last 

 summer Mr. Arthur Campbell visited that country ; and the 

 sailors of his vessel saw a Raven there, while a Swallow was 

 observed by three of his party in Coal Harbour. Neither 

 this gentleman nor any of his companions, I understand, pro- 

 fess themselves to be expert ornithologists ; but with regard to 

 two such well-known birds I cannot conceive that any mis- 

 take has been made, and 1 therefore consider the accidental 

 occuiTcnce of Corvus corax and Hirundo 7'usiica — the latter, 

 be it remembered, having been already observed in Nova 

 Zembla (Ibis, 1870, p. 306) — in Spitsbergen to be placed be- 

 yond doubt. I must add that I am indebted to Mr. Ernest 

 Farquhar for the opportunity of reading the letter from Mr. 

 Campbell containing this information. 



I am. Sir, Your obedient sei'vant, 



Alfred Newton. 



Magdalene College, Cambridge, 

 20th March, 1875. 



