Letters, Announcements, S^-r. 393 



to one of the Rallidfe I was acquainted with . hut for some time 

 could not make out which. At last it struck me that it must 

 he the Australian Rallus brachypus ; and on comparing the 

 Auckland with the Australian bird, I found them to agree 

 very closely, though the colouring seemed different; but as 

 the Canterbury-Museum specimen appears to be very old and 

 faded, it is impossible to judge. It is curious, my falling in 

 with so many things from the Auckland Isles, and especially 

 a " Rail,^'' now that I am just working at them. I shall be 

 able to determine if my Rail is Rallus brachipus or new as soon 

 as I get to Melbourne, there being a good series there. At 

 all events it is the first Rail known to have been procured in 

 the group 



Of New-Zealand things I have got a very fair collection — 

 some 300 specimens already. Ocydromiis I have of course 

 gone in for, and have a lot of notes about it. I don't believe 

 in more than three good species — 0. australis (with endless 

 varieties), O. fuscus, and O. earli. The last two are difficult to 

 procure, although I shall doubtless get a series of the latter in 

 the North Island ; but of O. australis one could get a shipload 

 in a very short time. I have got a splendid series, showing 

 every age from embryo to adult, and varieties to perfection. 



Now with regard to my plans, my route will be as follows : — 



North Island, New Zealand; Sidney [en route to Mel- 

 bourne) ; Melbourne, to pack up things. Leave Sidney in 

 April. The 'John Wesley' touches at Fiji, Rotumah, Samoa 

 (hurrah for Didunculus !), Friendly, and other groups. Then 

 goes to New Ireland and New Britain, and from there to the 

 New-Guinea mainland. She will probably return by New 

 Hebrides &c. The trip is to take not less than six months ; so 

 that I shall have good time for work. Of course I shall engage 

 an assistant to go with me. After New Guinea (or should 

 the expedition come to grief in any way) I am straight oft' to 

 N. Australia, beginning at Nicol Bay ; but I wont forget your 

 two Hawks at King George's Sound en route. After Aus- 

 tralia I think I shall try work in N.E. Borneo, and then go to 

 Japan and work the interior some time ; and then I shall see 

 what is to be done. I do not care to look too far into the 



SEK. III. VOL. v. 2 p 



