512 Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 



reaching to a height of more than 30 feet. Three species of 

 birdsj a mammal^ a toad^ an earthworm^ a wood-louse, two 

 spiders, two myriapods, a dragon-fly, a butterfly, and a few 

 other small insects — chiefly beetles — are to be found on the 

 summit, and doubtless more complete examination will greatly 

 extend the list. The sandstone and conglomerate which form 

 the entire mass of the summit are worked into almost every 

 conceivable grotesque shape, and are more or less darkened 

 by weather and saturation with water, fine layers of sandy 

 shale here and there projecting from the mass. Clouds and 

 mists of various degrees of density constantly lie on or pass 

 across some portion of the plateau and make it a difficult 

 matter to secure good photographs. The cold winds and low 

 temperature (47° F.) make it necessary to secure good shelter 

 for the night ; while the rugged character of the plateau 

 entails a considerable amount of time for its exploration. 



" Descending on the evening of the 9th, at the urgent 

 entreaty of our Indians, to the village at the base of the 

 slope, we had to make arrangements for leaving on the 

 12th, and after a jouruey of 11 days, via the portage of 

 Kalisha-sararu, on the Kotinga, and Karona Falls, on the 

 Irena, we arrived at Kwaimatta on the 23rd November, 

 after an absence of 36 days.'^ 



The bird-skins obtained on Roraima on this occasion have 

 been brought to London by Mr. McConnell and examined at 

 the British Museum. As Mr. McConnell kindly informs us, 

 they have been referred to the following species : — Cyclorhis 

 guianensis , Diglossa major, and Zonotrichia pileata — all well- 

 known Guianan species. Besides these Mr. Quelch tells 

 us {in litt.) that a fine Humming-bird was seen, but not 

 obtained. 



Nesting of Geocichla nsevia in British Columbia. — Mr. W. 

 E. Brooks sends us the following extract from a letter re- 

 ceived on the 18th of June from his son in British Columbia : — 



" The trip we have just returned from was up to and beyond 

 Summit or Chilliweyuk Lake, at the source of the Veddar 

 River. Our party consisted of a Kansas man called Williams, 



