408 Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 



ago *, seems to be founded on the Nemura hodgsoni, Moore, 

 which, however, is no Nemura (i. e. lanthia, nobis ; Nemura 

 having been ah'eady used in Entomology), but a distinct generic 

 form/' 



" The Comte de Castelnau (French Consul at Bangkok), writes 

 me word that he has a new species of Argus from Camboja, and 

 also a new true Gallus, I believe from the same country." 



"Maulmein, May 10th, 1861. 



" Here I am in the enjoyment of a sea voyage to recruit my 

 health. I have visited Akyab and Rangoon, and next start for 

 Tavoy, Mergui, and the Andaman Islands, thence reversing my 

 former voyage back to Calcutta. Glorious hill-scenery here — 

 jungle-clad and pagoda-capped everywhere, with splendid views 

 and novelty in every shape and form. 



" The Common Sparrow of this country is Passer mo7itanus, 

 but more rufous above and more whitish beneath than the bird of 

 Britain, Sikhim, and China, from which countries examples are 

 utterly undistinguishable. The note also is a sharp 'chip chij},' 

 different from that of the British bird, which I remember per- 

 fectly, and most readily distinguishable from that of the British 

 and Indian House-Sparrows. At Akyab I observed both spe- 

 cies, but not intermixed — the so-called Tree-Sparrow becoming 

 a House-Sparrow, and so tame that it would hardly get out of 

 your way. At Rangoon we have only the P. montanus (?) , The 

 house in which I now sit is full of them, and they fly in and out 

 through the rooms and maintain an incessant chirping." 



" I have many novelties to describe, received from my late 

 host Col. Phayre, before I left Calcutta. One of the most re- 

 markable is a beautiful second species of true Crypsirhina ; an- 

 other is a new form of Turdmus-\\\ie birds with straight claws — 

 Merulanthus phayrii, nobis." 



The following extracts are from Mr. R. Swinhoe's last 



letters : — 



" British Consulate, Amoy, March 9, 1861. 



" I have just procured a specimen of Phalacrocorax bicristutus, 

 * See P.Z. S. 1861, p. 201. 



