490 Letters, Extracts, Notices, i^c. 



the Norfolk-Island Parrot {Nestor productus), and the Rara- 

 tongan Flycatcher {Monarcha dhnidiata) ; besides a number 

 of bones of the Great Auk {Alca impennis). 



The Tristram Collection is poorer in South- American birds 

 than in those of any other region. In the birds of that 

 region, however, the famous collection o£ the 14th Earl 

 of Derby, presented to the Museum in 1851, is singularly 

 rich, so that the two collections supplement each other in a 

 most unexpected manner, and it will be found that the 

 entire collection of birds belonging to the Corporation, when 

 the general catalogue, now in progress, has been completed, 

 is second only to that in the British Museum. What the 

 number of species and specimens in the Derby Collection 

 may be it is impossible, as yet, to say, as no catalogue at 

 all approaching completeness exists ; but it is well known to 

 contain a very large number of specimens of, perhaps, even 

 greater historical interest than the Tristram Collection, as 

 they were obtained in the great voyages of the end of the 

 last century. So far as the catalogue has progressed, there 

 are indications that a number of untraced types and historical 

 specimens will be found to have been buried in the Derby 

 cabinets. 



Restored Skeleton of ^pyornis. — Amongst the numerous 

 objects of scientific interest at the Royal Society's Conver- 

 sazione on May 19th was a restored skeleton oi the JEpyornis 

 hildebrandti of Burckhardt, put together in the British 

 Museum from the numerous bones of this form recently 

 obtained by Dr. C. I. Forsyth Major at Sirabe, in Mada- 

 gascar. This is the first skeleton of the iEpyornithidse 

 articulated, and is nearly complete. It stands about 63 

 inches (=158 cm.) in height. 



Movements of Ornithologists and Collectors at home and 

 abroad. — Mr. E. W. Gates has quitted Burmah for England, 

 and will shortly take up his permanent residence in or near 

 London. We are much pleased to be able to rank our friend 

 again among the ornithologists of the metropolis. There is 

 an ample field at home for the exercise o£ his abilities and 

 powers of work. 



