Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 513 



who was our guidcj three others, and myself. Summit Lake 

 was reached on the fourth day, a fine sheet of water about 

 7 miles long by 1^ broad, rugged rocks running up on all 

 sides. The water-level of the lake is about 2500 feet, and the 

 mountains rise 5000 to 7000 feet above that. I went princi- 

 pally to get Rocky-Mountain Goats. We got into the goat- 

 country all right enough, but, not knowing their habits at this 

 season, we looked for them right up on top of the mountains 

 among the snow, when they were down in the valleys. Then 

 bad weather with snow came on, our provisions ran out, and 

 we had to scurry home without getting anything. Canada 

 Geese, Arctic Blue-birds, Goosanders, Pipits, and Audubon's 

 Thrushes breed up there, but the mountains were buried in 

 snow, and it snowed hard during part of our stay, so we did 

 not get any of their eggs. Several pairs of Bald Eagles had 

 nests around the lake, but no other Eaptors were seen. A 

 large flock of Velvet Scoters was on the lake : could they breed 

 there ? Mallards were breeding ; no other Ducks or Loons. 

 Blue Grouse common at timber-line on mountains : I shot 

 nine in a few hours. I also took the nest, with two eggs, of 

 Geocichla ncevia. I think that only one nest of this Thrush 

 has been found before — in Alaska. The eggs are large and 

 handsome, like those of Tardus musicus, but the spots are 

 light brown instead of black. These were about the only 

 noteworthy facts, although we must have travelled over 80 

 miles.'' 



The Parliamentary Report on the British Museum for the 

 present year mentions the following important acquisitions 

 in the Class of Birds during the year 1894 : — 1482 birds, 

 representing about 50 species, chiefly of the family Taua- 

 gridse, from various part of America; presented by F, D. 

 Godman, Esq., F.R.S., and Osbert Salvin, Esq., F.R.S. 

 183 birds from Nyasaland, presented by H. H. Johnston, 

 Esq., C.B., amongst which are the types of a new Parrakeet 

 {Agapornis lilicence). 86 specimens from the Shan States, 

 including the types of a small Flower-pecker {Ixulus clarkii) 

 and of a Scimitar Babbler {Pomatorhinus imherbis), new to 



