Letters, Extracts, Notices, 8$e. 039 



selves down on to the ice, and skimmed over it quickly, using 

 their feet for propulsion, and steering with their wings. We 

 noticed the small Penguins only in small groups, while the 

 larger ones passed by the ship in spring and autumn in flocks 

 numbering as many as two hundred. We found especial 

 pleasure in watching them in the leads, whence they would 

 spring up on to the ice, and there continue their way in a 

 swimming posture. The spectator had need to take care 

 that the birds, some of them as much as 75 lbs. in weight, 

 did not strike him in springing out of the water. 



"The larger Penguins were very useful to us as food, 

 especially for the dogs. These consumed for some time three 

 Penguins a day. The skins and fat were burned, and so 

 saved our fuel. The consumption of the expedition amounted 

 in all to more than five hundred Penguins. Others fell a 

 prey to our dogs." 



The Red-cheeked Ibis in Europe. — A further article on this 

 bird and on its former existence in Europe (cf. Ibis, 1898, 

 p. 454) is given in the lately issued seventh volume of the new 

 edition of Naumann (Nat. Vog. Mitteleuropas, vii. p. 199). 

 Additional information on this interesting subject will also 

 be found in a paper by Herr Schuster of Mainz (Orn. 

 Monatsehr. d. Deuts. Ver. z. Schutze d. Vogelwelt, 1902, 

 p. 520), from which it appears that the Red-cheeked Ibis 

 was formerly found on the high rocks on the Danube in the 

 vicinity of Passau and Kehlheim. We agree with Herr 

 Schuster that the best name of this bird is Geronticus eremita, 

 as it is not necessary to separate it generically from G. calvus 

 of South Africa. Our readers may also be referred on this 

 subject to pp. x, 95, of Mr. A. H. Evans's translation of 

 Turner's 'Avium . . . Historia ' just issued. 



Death of Capt. H. F. Francis. — In his Report on the 

 South African Museum for the year ending Dec. 31st, 

 1901, which has been lately published, Mr. W. L. Sclatcr 

 laments the death of Capt. H. P. Francis, of Steiuacker's 

 Horse, who was killed in action on the Sabi River, in the 

 Eastern Transvaal, towards the close of the war. His 

 younger brother, Walter Francis, had fallen previously 



