144 Letters, Extractfi, Notices, S^c. 



decumanus). At the end of every arching frond was attached 

 a long purse-like nest, and the whole were arranged as 

 symmetrically as if placed theVe by human hands. While 

 speaking of the Bunyah it may be as well to note that 

 another Hangnest, the large Black Rice-bird {Cassidix 

 oryzivora), seems never to build a home of her own, but 

 contents herself with making use of the deserted Bunyah 

 nests in which to lay her curiously marked eggs," 



Breediny-place of Ross's Gull. — One of Dr. Nansen's 

 achievements during his recent journey in the Polar Regions 

 seems to have been the discovery of the hitherto unknown 

 breeding-place of Ross's Gull {Rhodostethia rosea). ' As we 

 learn from the ' Daily Chronicle ' of Nov. 3rcl, large numbers 

 of this rare Gull were seen in the neighl)ourhood of four 

 islands (proposed to be called " Hvitenland "), situated in 

 latitude 81° 38' N. and longitude 63° E., in August 1895. 

 Dr. Nansen writes : — 



" This, the most markedly polar of all bird forms, is easily 

 recognizable from other species of Gull by its beautiful rose- 

 coloured breast, its wedge-shaped tail, and its airy flight. 



" It is, without comparison, the most beautiful of all the 

 animal forms of the frozen regions. Hitherto it has only 

 been seen by chance on the utmost confines of the unknown 

 Polar Sea, and no one knew whence it came or whither 

 it went ; but here we had unexpectedly come upon its native 

 haunt, and although it was too late in the year to find its 

 nests, there could be no doubt about its breeding in this 

 region.'^ 



New Index to 'The Ibis.' — The Index to the last three 

 series of 'The Ibis' (1877-94), edited by Mr. Salvin, is 

 making good progress through the press, and will, it is 

 hoped, be ready for issue in April of this year. It will 

 contain an index of the generic and specific names that 

 occur in the fourth, fifth, and sixth series, and an index to 

 the plates. 



