430 Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 



Dunlins, most of tliem more or less assuming their summer 

 dresses. The gem of the collection is perhaps a Spotted 

 Redshank {Totanus fuscus), which is now nearly in full 

 summer plumage, and is rarely seen alive in this stage. A 

 pair of Pratincoles stand guard over their eggs in a safe 

 corner of the cage, and are now sitting by turns. It is 

 not known that this shy bird has ever previously bred in 

 captivity. 



The new Extinct Gigantic Bird of Australia. — We are still 

 without further information about the new extinct gigantic 

 bird of the Diprotodon-beds of Lake Callabonna, of which 

 Dr. Stirling published a preliminary notice in 'Nature' 

 nearly two years ago (see * Jbis/ 1894, p. 577). It is rather 

 hard on ornithologists that Dr. Stirling should keep us waiting 

 so long and not have given us even a name by which we may 

 call this extraordinary object. Australian naturalists who 

 have been recently in England speak of the remains as being 

 most remarkable from their size and general appearance. 



Death of Lord Lilford. — With the greatest regret we 

 have received, just as we are finishing the present number 

 of our Journal, the sad intelligence of the death of the 

 President of the British Ornithologists' Union. Lord 

 Lilford, who had been ailing seriously for some time past, 

 but was supposed within the last few days to be pro- 

 gressing more favourably, was seized with an attack 

 of syncope yesterday, June 17th, and expired rather 

 suddenly. We shall give some particulars of our late 

 President's life and labours in the next number of ' The 

 Ibis,' and for the present will only say that his loss will 

 be deeply felt, not only by the Members of the Union, 

 but also by many friends and correspondents in all parts 

 of the world.— (jMwe 18M, 1896.) 



