Li'lto's, E.tirocl.'^y and Xok's. 211 



California. This peculiar deposit, which is of Quaternary aije, 

 contains remains of a very large number of mammals, many 

 extinct {e.ff. Sabre-toed Tiger, Mastodons, Great Ground- 

 Sloths), and biids. Most of the birds belong to genera 

 still existing, though in some cases not in the same district. 

 One remarkable characteristic is the preponderance of the 

 remains of predatory birds, especially of those feeding ou 

 carrion, and it has been suggested that this may be accounted 

 for by supposing that these birds, in feeding on the dead 

 and dying mammals caught in the asphalt deposits, were 

 frequently involved themselves in the sticky mass. The 

 most notable of these predatory forms is Teratortiis merrlami, 

 representing a new genus and species, probably most nearly 

 related to the Cathartidae, but at the same time shewing 

 some characters a[)proxiraating to those of the Falconiche, 

 and even of the Serpentariidie. In fact, this peculiar species 

 will probably have to be referred to a new family. 



From the same deposit representatives of several genera, 

 especially interesting from the point of view of geogra- 

 phical distribution, have been found ; the most important of 

 these genera are Sarcorhamphus^ Cathartes, Pavo, Ciconia, 

 and Mi/cteria. 



I am, Sirs, 



Yours, &c., 



Chas. W, Axdkews. 



Sirs, — Some interesting remarks by Mr. Dewar in the 

 'Field^ of Nov. 18th, p. 108i, on the aerial speed of one 

 of our commonest British Sand])ipers aftbrds a fitting oppor- 

 tunity for considering the proper spelling of its English 

 name. The form " dunlin " adopted by Mr. Dewar is 

 doubtless that which is to be found in most works on British 

 birds; but the question is, looking to the etymology of the 

 name and the oldest form of it, whether this is correct. 

 I venture to think not, and for the following reasons. 



The meaning of the name '' dunling " is the little dun 

 thing, a diminutive akin to grayling, titling, s^iulcvling, 



