758 Letters, Extracts, and Notes. [Ibis, 



direction of the Rev. F. R. C. Jourdain. Heie a collection 

 of about 80 skins was made and some 300 eg:gs were 

 collected^ while two new breeding species were recorded for 

 the first time from the island. On 23 June the Expedition 

 sailed for Spitsbergen, and the shores of Ice Fjord, as well 

 as the west and north coast east to Liefe Bay, were explored 

 and further collections made. Mr. J. S. Huxley was in 

 charge of a party encamped on Prince Charles Foreland 

 from 30 June to 11 July, when they rejoined the sloop, 

 which served as base for the rest of the trip. The results 

 have proved most interesting from an ornithological point 

 of view, and also as regards marine zoology, botany, and 

 geology. Altogether about 300 skins have been brought 

 home, including a large proportion of young in down of 

 many species and specimens of all three breeding Geese in 

 their flightless condition. The egg collection consists of 

 about 500 specimens, including no fewer than 22 eggs of 

 the Barnacle-Goose [Branta leucopsis). The only authentic 

 eggs of this species taken under natural conditions were the 

 12 obtained by Professor Koenig's two expeditions in 1907 

 and 1908. Much valuable information as to the breeding- 

 ranges of the birds of the group was also obtained, and in 

 some cases the courtship habits and life-history have been 

 closely studied. The last paper published in ' The Ibis ^ on 

 the ornithology of Spitsbergen was in 1897, and only 

 29 species were then recorded from all sources. At the 

 present time 38 species are known to have occurred on Bear 

 Island alone, while at least 53 must be included in the list 

 from Spitsbergen proper. 



News of Capt. Lynes. 

 Capt. Lynes's last letter is addressed to Dr. Percy Lowe 

 and is dated 3 June, from Talingei, Lat. 12^ N., Long. 25^ E. 

 January to April was spent in the Jebel Marra at 4000- 

 9500 feet, where the peaks and plateau and " downs " were 

 thoroughly explored, and many temperate plants such as 

 bracken, heaths, etc., etc., were obtained. During the rainy 

 season fresh quarters were found on the Wadi Ariba, an 



