Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 297 



miranda *, but there is no knowing what still remains hidden 

 in the recesses of this wonderful group of mountains. 



Mr. C. W. de Vis wrote to us from Brisbane on Dec. 22nd 

 last that he was intending to resign his appointment in the 

 Queensland Museum, and would probably return to England. 

 He had prepared, in conformity with our suggestion, a list 

 of the birds of British New Guinea as then represented in 

 the Queensland Museum, but we have not yet received it. 

 We trust that it may shortly reach us, as it would be a very 

 useful piece of work. 



Mr. E. Degen has recently left England for Uganda in 

 company with Prof. Minchin's mission for the further 

 investigation of the " Sleeping Sickness," which appears to 

 be making great havoc among the natives in certain parts of 

 the Protectorate. He will collect specimens for the British 

 Museum. 



It will be seen, therefore, that ornithology has a good 

 many irons in the fire in different parts of the world, but 

 there is room for more. An easy and attractive expedition 

 would be that to North-western Rhodesia by the new railway 

 now open to Victoria Falls, whence the extension of the line 

 already in progress might be followed to Kalomo and the 

 Copper-districts beyond. The high lands to the north of 

 this country, which form the water-parting between the 

 Zambesi and the Congo, have never been touched, we believe, 

 by the collector, and would be sure to furnish much material 

 of great interest. 



The new Migration Committee of the B. O. C. — It may not 

 be known to all Members of the Union that a Committee 

 of the B. O. C. has lately been appointed " to collect evidence 

 concerning the arrival and the lines of dispersal within the 

 British Islands of the commoner summer migrants/' Mr. J. 

 L. Bonhote ( c /o The Zoological Society, 3 Hanover Square, 

 London, W.) has undertaken the duties of Secretary to the 

 Committee, and will be glad to supply schedules to those 

 * Bull. B. 0. C. xiv. p. 11. 



