Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. 587 



As Stereornis is a synonym of Phororhacos, and has no 

 affinities with the Eocene European Gastornis, the term 

 Stereornithes can no longer be used in the sense in which I 

 have employed it in Bronn^s ' Thierreich/ 



Anyhow, the Stereornithes, as originally proposed by 

 ]\Ioreno and jMercerat, are, as a group, only of historical 

 interest, and do not any longer convey a taxonomic meaning. 



Yours &c., 



H. Gadow. 



University jMuseuin of Zoology, Cambridge. 

 August 22nd, 1896. 



jBreec^iw^' q/'Mycteria aniericana. — '^ On the banks o£ the 

 Awaricru the ' Negro Cop ' [Mycteria americand) breeds -4~ 

 regularly. The nest, which is a rather bulky affair, consists 

 of a bundle of sticks, these varying from half to one inch in 

 circumference. It much resembles a gigantic Pigeon's nest, 

 and has but a very slight depression in the centre for the 

 reception of the eggs. These nests are generally placed on 

 the large limbs of the silk-cotton tree {Eriodendron anfrac- 

 tiiosum), parallel to the limb, and, to avoid being l)lown down 

 l)y the wind, are cemented by a thick layer of mud mixed with 

 grass, which on drying becomes hard, and thus thoroughly 

 secures the structure. The eggs, w'hich are about the size 

 of those of a Goose and of a dirty white colour, are laid in 

 September, the usual number being four, but occasionally 

 five are deposited. The young birds make their appearance 

 about the end of October, and are then of the size of young 

 Ducks and covered with greyish-white down. They are 

 unable at first either to stand or squat up, but lie in the nest 

 stretched at full length, with their heads on one .side, as if 

 lifeless. The beak at this stage is perfectly straight, showing 

 not the slightest indication of the upward curve at the tip 

 characteristic of the adult bird. When the nesting-tree is 

 approached the mother bird stands upright in the nest as a 

 signal to her mate, who is never far off. The latter hastens at 

 once to her side, and strutting up and down, claps his man- 

 dibles together with a loud defiant click that can be heard 



