Letters, Announcements, ^c. 151 



pecially as it seems most probable that tbe species occurring in 

 South Africa would be that found on the Zambesi. 



With reference to the opinion formed by Mr. Tristram and 

 myself (Ibis, 1869, pp. 437, 438) as to the probable identity of 

 Butorides atricapilla (Afzel.) and B. javanica (Horsf.), I had also 

 an opportunity of examining at Leyden a considerable series of 

 these two species, and I found that they bore out the distinction 

 mentioned by Prof. Schlegel (Mus. P.-B. Ardece, p. 43), who, 

 speaking of the latter, says that it is very like the former, " mais 

 d^une taille un peu moins forte, et le devant du cou d^un blanc 

 lave souvent d'une teinte fauve, mais sans raie rousse." Mr. 

 Tristram has, at my request, reexamined the specimens at 

 Greatham, with a special reference to the " raie rousse," which he 

 informs me he finds to be present in his examples of B. atricapilla, 

 but absent in all those of B. javanica except in one "summer 

 Chinese specimen which has o. fulvous line very hard upon rufous.'^ 

 On the whole he is now disposed to agree with me in considering 

 that these two very nearly related forms are rightly treated in 

 the Leyden Museum as specifically distinct, though the diflference 

 is certainly very shght. 



I may perhaps be allowed to take this opportunity of offering 

 my very best thanks to Prof. Schlegel for the very great kindness 

 and libei'ality with which, during a four days^ visit to the Leyden 

 Museum, he allowed me the full advantage of examining the vast 

 ornithological treasures of that noble collection, and also gave 

 me the valuable aid of his own great experience on many points 

 of ornithological interest respecting which I was desirous of 

 obtaining information. 



I am, yours &c., 



J. H. GURNEY. 



Sir, — When examining the Wading-birds in the collection of 

 the late Mr. C. J. Andersson, I found a single specimen of Tringa 

 bairdi, Coues, labelled " Tringa ? sp., male ; Walvisch Bay, 24th 

 Oct. 1863." The occurrence in South-west Africa of a little 

 Sandpiper which has hitherto been regarded as restricted to 

 America appears to me of sufficient interest to deserve a re- 

 cord. 



