474 Letters, Extracts, Notices, 6^'c. 



Mr. Forbes is right on this point is perhaps doubtful, but the 

 discovery of this new extinct bird is one of great interest. 



Recent Researches in Fossil Birds. — Under this heading 

 will be found an article in the last number of ' Natural 

 Science' which deserves the close attention of ornithologists. 

 It contains an account of some very remarkable discoveries 

 in the Lower Tertiaries of South America recently made by 

 Prof. Ameghino and by Messrs. Moreno and Mercerat. The 

 fossil remains obtained by Prof. Ameghino are said to indicate 

 the former existence of birds of a '' totally abnormal type, 

 and larger than any hitherto known, by the side of which 

 Moas may be regarded as dwarfs." In the memoir of 

 Messrs. INIoreno and Mercerat ("Los Ptijaros Fosiles de la 

 Repiiblica Argentina") figures are stated to be given of a 

 large number of other gigantic extinct flightless birds of the 

 Lower Tertiaries of Argentina, which are referred to no less 

 than nine distinct genera and to a new Order, " Stereornithes." 

 There seems, however, to be much doubt about the validity 

 of some of the conclusions arrived at, and we urge that, 

 having regard to the undoubted importance of these dis- 

 coveries, some European paleontologist well versed in the 

 determination of fossil bones should be directed to proceed 

 to Buenos Ayres and give us the benefit of his judgment 

 upon the subject. 



Anniversary Meeting of the British Omit hoi ot/ists' Union, 

 1892. — The Annual General Meeting of the British Orni- 

 thologists' Union was held at the rooms of the Zoological 

 Society of London, 3 Hanover Square, on Wednesday, the 

 18th of May, at G p.m., Mr. Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., 

 Ph.D., F.R.S., in the Chair. The Minutes of the last 

 Annual Meeting having been read and confirmed, the Report 

 of the Committee was read. It stated that one Honorary 

 Member (Herr A. v. Pelzeln) and two Ordinary Members 

 (Col. Sir Oliver St. John and Mr. E. W. Harcourt) of the 

 ITnion had died during the year, and that four Ordinary 



