126 Letters, Announcements, 6fC. 



males. Whole colour a fine rich brown, lighter on the abdomen^ 

 and shaded with rufous on the flanks; bill yellowish-orange. 

 I consider this specimen a good type of the adult female. 



5. ? juv., from Simla in September. Corresponds with the 

 measurements of No. 3. Above brown, like No. 4, only a little 

 darker, with white streaks in the middle of the feathers of the 

 back. The outer half of the wing-feathers more or less chestnut, 

 which is bright at the tips at the bend. A whitish-chestnut 

 streak from the chin to the throat more or less speckled with 

 dark brown. Breast the same colour as the back, speckled 

 with whitish-fawn ; abdomen, flanks, and vent dark dusky- 

 brown. 



There is a great resemblance between this species and our 

 English Blackbird ; and its fine, clear, melodious note, early of a 

 morning, reminds me much of the European bird. Several of 

 them are at present in full song about my house ; and it is 

 truly charming to hear the early concert of these songsters. 



I will send a continuation of these notes in my next letter, in 



the meantime 



I am, &c., 



Robert S. Tytler. 



Victoria, Vancouver Island, 

 Oct. 29tli, 1868. 



SiR^ — From a note in 'The Ibis' for 1867 (page 126, note), 

 I perceive that you are somewhat uncertain as to the nature of 

 the bird mentioned by Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle under the 

 name of the " Booming Swallow." 



I think it hardly admits of a doubt that they refer to the 

 Common Night-Hawk (CAorc^z'/es virginianus) . In fact I look 

 on the description as remarkably accurate, proceeding as it does 

 from persons without any pretensions to a scientific knowledge 

 of ornithology. The long pointed wings, the Swift-like flight, 

 the hunting after flies, indicate the species correctly enough ; 

 and the strange booming noise made by the bird when shooting 

 down from a height is a sound well known to all those who have 

 had an opportunity of watching the Night-Hawk chasing its 

 prey. So little did I consider the species a matter of doubt, 

 that on reading the account I immediately marked " Chordiles 



