153 Letters, Announcements, ^"c. 



The case, it is true, is not without a sort of parallel, at least 

 as regards the Limicolce ; for Trinya canutus, T. subarquata, and 

 Calidris arenaria are found alike in North America and in South 

 Africa; but these three species are all found also in Europe, and 

 might travel from the most northern parts of our continent to 

 the Cape of Good Hope with comparative ease by stages which 

 would admit of rest and food on the way. T. bairdi, however, 

 so far as I am aware, has not been recognized in Europe; we may 

 therefore presume that the example procured as above by Mr. 

 Andersson accomplished the entire journey from South America 

 to Walvisch Bay by water — a fact which, considering the dis- 

 tance, seems truly marvellous. 



This statement would naturally suggest to the mind of the 

 sceptical a probable mistake in the determination of the specimen; 

 I was therefore unwilling to speak positively on the subject until 

 I had made a careful comparison of it with authentic examples 

 from the New World. The result of my examination has shown 

 me that in point of measurement, form, and relative proportion 

 of bill, feet, and tarsi, as well as in coloration, it differs in no 

 material respect from specimens of T. bairdi obtained in the 

 United States and Mexico. 



I am. Sir, &c., 



J. Edmund Harting. 

 loth Dec. 1869. 



Sir, — I have recently received from Prof. Sundevall a letter 

 containing some remarks on my paper on the genus Acredula 

 (Ibis, 1868, pp. 295-302); and he informs me that, when adult, 

 the female of A. caudata has the head white like the male. I 

 think, therefore, that the most sceptical will not refuse specific 

 rank to the Long-tailed Titmouse of our island, A. rosea (Blyth), 

 as compared with the Scandinavian bird. The distinction be- 

 tween the two species must not, however, be considered (as I set 

 fortb in my paper) to depend mainly on the statement which 

 Prof. Sundevall has shown to be incorrect, but on the permanent 

 differences when adult, the British bird having a broad black 

 bar from the eye joining the black of the nape, while the whole 

 head of the Scandinavian bird is pure white. I must do Mr. 

 Keulemans the justice of saying that shortly after the publica- 



