432 Letters, Extracts, §c. 



As Prof. Giglioli observes (Avifauna Italica, p. 354) , it is 

 a singular fact, and one worthy of notice, as being contrary 

 to the generally accepted ideas regarding the laws governing 

 the migration of birds, that the cases recorded of the occur- 

 rence in Europe of this tropical Ethiopian species should all 

 have occurred during the autumn or winter months. 



The species has no doubt rightly been separated generi- 

 cally from Porphyrio under the name of Porphyrula Blyth, 

 or Porphyriola, as perhaps it should be spelled. 



While on the subject of rarcs aves, for this part of the 

 world at least, I may mention having this winter obtained a 

 tine adult specimen of the Gannet (Sulci bassana). This was 

 taken alive in a fishing-net off the coast near Palermo and 

 brought to me by some fishermen. The bird lived in my 

 garden for more than two months, but died about the end of 

 March, on the approach of warm weather. 



This northern species, although apparently common in 

 winter about the Straits of Gibraltar, is more or less rare 

 so far east in the Mediterranean as Sicily, particularly in 

 its adult dress ; and the present capture is, I believe, but the 

 third recorded for Italy in that state of plumage. The 

 Florence Museum possesses one ; another, obtained oil' the 

 small island of Levanzo in the month of May, is in the 

 Trapani Lyceum collection, and that now recorded appears 

 to be the third. Young Gannets in their dark dress are 

 more often met with in this part of the Mediterranean, 

 and I myself last year obtained one of them here, and 

 another near Tunis. The species, although no doubt more 

 or less uncommon on the Italian coasts, is probably less 

 rare than is generally supposed. Colonel Irby, who was in 

 Palermo during the past winter, informed me that he and 

 his son, when out walking one day, saw an adult Gannet 

 flymg not far from the shore below Monte Pellegrino. 

 From Tunis also 1 have heard of an adult Gannet having 

 been obtained during the past winter on the Lake of 



Bizerta. 



Yours &c, 



Palermo, Joseph I. S. Whitakkk. 



May 30th, 1903. 



