286 Notes and Nezvs. [April 



\'oung bird of this species was shot November 17. 1S83, and is now in the 

 collection of Mr. Anthony. The person who shot the bird said that many 

 other Gulls were seen, but whether they "were of this species is ques- 

 tionable. It was shot on a small lake a few miles from the city. — Horace 

 G. Smith, Jr.. Denver, Col. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



^Correspondents are requested to write briefly and to the point. No attention luill 

 be paid to anonymous coininui/ications.^ 



Revival of the Sexual Passion in Birds in Autumn. 



To THE Editors of The Auk : — 



Sirs: In "The Auk' for January (p. 141), Mr. Bradford Torrey speaks 

 of the revival of the sexual passion of birds in autumn. A similar oc- 

 currence has been observed here for two or three years past. The early 

 winter (November and December), thisyear was exceptionally mild in this 

 l.jcality. During this weather the English Sparrows were seen building 

 their nests and the male birds were seen hopping about the females with 

 lowered wings and acting exactly as they do in spring. The birds were 

 very noisy and a great deal of fighting occurred. As soon as cold weather 

 came on all this stopped and the Sparrows found it necessary to spend all 

 their time in securing food. 



Respectfully, Chas. Keeler. 



Mihvaiikec. (f^/x. , January 29, 1SS6. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The Fish Commission Steamer -Albatross' sailed from the Washington 

 Navyyard February 15, for a cruise among the Bahamas and other islands 

 in the West Indies. Among the islands which will be visited is Cat 

 Island, or San Salvador, the first land discovered by Columbus. The 

 'Albatross' is well provided with trained naturalists and collectors, of 

 whom Mr. James E. Benedict, Mr. Thomas Lee, Mr. W. Nye, and Mr. 

 Chas. W. Townsend will pay special attention to the birds, of which they 

 are prepared to make a judiciously limited and selected collection, while in 

 no case will they jeopardize the continued existence of any local species, 



