402 Ltlters, Extracts, and Xotcs. 



Fincli. I forget it' you have been in tlie soutli of Gran 

 Cauaria, but if so, you will remember that the piue-forests 

 cover a large extent of ground, and on the ride from Juncal 

 to the Cueva delas Ninas the niulc-path winds through pines 

 almost all the way. Juncal, which is a very small village, 

 consisting of a few straggling houses, is situated in a deep 

 barranca 3600 ft. above the sea. 



Higher up again, at 4000 ft., the Pinar Pajonal commences, 

 and here it is that I found the Finches to be most plentiful, 

 but even in these pines they are very locally distributed. 

 As we rode through these forests on the 5th of Februaiy we 

 saw about six or eight pairs of it — a week later none were 

 to be seen there at all ; so I imagine they move about in 

 small parties through the forests, in a similar manner to the 

 Tits. This is an extremely silent bird, and the note did not 

 appear to be nearly so loud as that of our English Chaffinch, 

 thougli, from the original account of the species by Capt. 

 Polatzek, it would appear to be a great deal more pronounced. 

 It is often to be seen on the ground beneath the pines, dili- 

 gently searching amongst the pine-needles, and when suddenly 

 disturbed flies silently into a tree close at hand, shewing very 

 little fear. JMost of the birds seennear Juncal were in pairs, 

 but I met with several single cock birds in the forests near 

 the Cueva de las Ninas : the latter were absolutely silent. 

 The ovaries of two females dissected contained very minute 

 eggs and. the testes of the males were small. I imagine that 

 these birds are rather late breeders, and the local shepherds 

 and Guardias, who were intimate with the bird, informed 

 me that they had found the nests in April. I obtained 

 three pairs of these Chaffinches for the British Museum, 

 and I hope now they will be allowed to increase in peace : 

 you may be sure I shall do all I can out here to keep their 

 liiding-place a secret from wandering collectors ! 

 I am, Sirs, 



Yours &c., 



(him Canaria, Davio A. EawKR.MAX. 



Feb. Gtli, 1911. 



Birds of the Centrtd Saliara. — In the interesting narrative 

 of his journey from Tripoli to Bornu across the Central 

 Sahara, ]Mr. Vischcr writes at the oasis of Bilma (now 



