17 1 Ltttcrs, Extracts, Notices, fyc. 



in a totally different region, not on the coast of Abyssinia, 

 as stated by Mr. llavtert. but on the coast of the Danakil 

 country, which we may practically take as part oi' Somali- 

 land, which, as is well known, has a fauna different from that 

 of Abyssinia. 



My two specimens of A. assabensis, compared with the 

 description and figure of A. samharensis, differ in having no 

 rufous tinge whatever on the outer web of the vendues and 

 rectrices or on the sides of the head : the bill looks smaller 

 and straighter, and the dimensions are altogether smaller. 



As stated in the original description, A. assabensis is very 

 similar to A. satnrotus Grant, only much smaller; the latter 

 is from Southern Arabia, very near Assab, on the opposite 

 coast of the Red Sea, approaching the strait of Bab-cl- 

 Mandeb. 



Yours ^cc., 



Turin Zool. Museum, T. Salyadoiu. 



.lime 28rd, 1904. 



Siks, — The drumming of the Woodcock and the bleating 

 of the Snipe are well-known sounds in their respective haunts 

 in spring-time. Hardly less remarkable are the clapping 

 sounds made by the Common Wood-Pigeon and by certain 

 Larks of the genus Mirajra when the eestaey of love 

 overtakes them. But these are exaggerated instances of 

 flight-sounds, which almost divert our attention from the 

 fact that hardly any bird really flies silently. The rushing 

 noise made by a flock of Starlings as they pass with arrow- 

 like swiftness to or from their resting-places in early morning 

 or late evening cannot easily be forgotten, nor can the 

 strange throbbing vibrations which reach the ear of anyone 

 who happens to be under the aerial path of a Mock of Crams 

 when flying low. But even a bird no larger than a Sand- 

 Grouse or a Hook can make the welkin hum with its muscular 

 wing-beats. I have seen and heard all these things, but not 

 i them seemed so wonderful as the weird noises emitted 

 (as I suppose by the wings) of a party of Waders which came 



