Letters, Extracts, Notices, &;c. 327 



An extinct Apterygine Bird in Australia. — lu a memoir 

 on the extinct birds of Queensland^ recently published (Proc. 

 L. S. N. S. W. ser. 2, vi. p. 437, 1892), Mr. C. W. De Vis 

 has established a new genus and species [Metupteryx bifrons) 

 on the distal half of a single tarso-metatarsus from the 

 fluviatile deposits of the Darling Downs. In spite of all his 

 preconceived opinions to the contrary, Mr. De Vis, after 

 careful examination, has come to the conclusion that " this 

 Australian relic represents a bird with a decided family 

 relationship to the Apterygidse/^ 



Sale of a Great Auk's Egy. — There was a considerable 

 muster of ornithologists at Stevens's Auction-rooms on 

 Thursday, the 22nd February last, to witness the sale of the 

 e^^ of a Great Auk [Alca iinpennis). Not only was this the 

 case on account of the fact that the eggs of this extinct bird 

 rarely come into the market, but also because the present speci- 

 men, so to speak, was an historic egg, having been originally 

 bought by Yarrell in France, it is said, for a few francs. 

 After Yarrell's decease the Ggg was sold in 1856, in the same 

 auction-room, for twenty guineas, to the late Mr. F. Bond. 

 From Mr. Bond it passed into the possession of Baron Louis 

 d'Hamonville, of Chateau de Manonville, by whom it has 

 just been disposed of. It is the specimen figured in Hewit- 

 son's 'Brit. Oology' (vol. ii. pi. cxlv.). The bidding com- 

 menced at 100 guineas, went rapidly up to 200 guineas, and 

 then gradually increased to 290 guineas. It was finally 

 secured by Sir Vauncey Harpur-Crewe, Bt., for 300 guineas. 

 The last Great Auk's egg that was sold at auction realized 

 j6225, and as there are only 68 eggs known to exist in Europe 

 and America, it seems probable that their value will not 

 diminish in future years. 



The Black Crow of Somaliland.—ln ' The Ibis ' for 1891 

 (p. 628) will be found a letter from Mr. E. Cavendish Taylor, 

 calling attention to the Black Crow of Somaliland, in the 

 nests of which the Great Spotted Cuckoo [Coccystes glan- 



