G32 Letters, Extracts, Notices, fyc. 



in ray original assertion of 1897 being that the Cryptogam, 

 to which the hair-like substance supposed to be a Lichen 

 appertains, turns out, on further examination, to be a 

 rhizomorph of the genus Marasmius and therefore not 

 a Lichen. Dr. Ruber's studies on this subject have been 

 •confirmed, it will be observed, by Herr Paul Hennings, 

 the Mycologist of the Royal Museum of Berlin, to whom 

 examples of the disputed substance have been furnished. 



As regards the existence of Ostinups decumanus in the 

 State of Para, which Dr. v. Ihering appears to question 

 in a recent letter addressed to me, there can really be no 

 ■doubt at all. The presence of this species in many places 

 •on the Lower Amazon has been testified by well-known 

 Naturalists of former and recent days — such as Natterer, 

 Prince Adalbert of Prussia, and other authorities whom I 

 need not mention. In the vicinity of Para the Japu has 

 been regularly seen and obtained since 1894 by the taxider- 

 mists of our Museum, and, I may add, has been personally 

 observed by the Director. It is, in fact, found throughout 

 the Lower Amazonian district, and in certain localities is 

 rather a common bird, well known to everyone. 



Thus, whatever may be said to the contrary, the employ- 

 ment of the mycelium of a species of Marasmius in the nests 

 of Ostinups decumanus and the frequent occurrence of this 

 bird in Lower Amazonia are two scientific facts, the truth of 

 which cannot be fairly disputed. 



Yours &c., 



Goeldi Museum, Para, Brazil, Dr. Emil A. GoELDI. 



July loth, 1903. 



Sirs, — In an article " On the Eggs of the Moa," by Dr. A. 

 B. Meyer, in the April number of ' The Ibis ' (above, p. 188), 

 there are some statements which, with your permission, I 

 desire to correct. 



In discussing the entire Moa's egg, now in the Otago 

 University Museum (No. 2 in the article), Dr. Meyer has 

 been misinformed as to several of the facts, which are, 

 however, correctly stated in my brief note on the egg in the 



