422 Captain P. P. King on the Animals 



Art. XLV. Extracts from a letter addressed hy Capt. 

 Philip Parker King, R.N., F.R.S. and L.S., to 



N. A. Vigors, Esq., on the Animals of the Straits of 

 Magellan. 



[The information contained in the followin!T extracts from a 

 communication lately received from Capt. King is of so mucli 

 interest, that I do not hesitate to publish it in the form in which 

 it has reached me. It was Capt. King's wish that the descriptions 

 of the species which he thinks new should be extracted from his 

 list and published in this Journal. But I consider that the whole 

 list, although drawn up in a hasty manner, merely for the pur- 

 poses of reference, and without any view to immediate publication, 

 is of so much value as to authorize the insertion of it nearly entire. 

 One of the chief advantages of a Journal like ours is that it admits 

 of the speedy publication of such information as the present, 

 which may ultimately be moulded into a more scientifick form, as 

 leisure and opportunity permit. We may thus hope to see the 

 following list encreased, and scientifically arranged by Capt. King; 

 and, I trust, at no distant period. At present it speaks highly of 

 the science and activity of that accomplished iuid enterprizing 

 officer.— N. A. V.] 



Adventure, Rio de Janeiro, July 8, 1827. 



• — — In about three weeks we shall sail from this on our 



second trip to the southward, which I have every reason to think 

 will be more productive and comprize more variety in Natural 

 History than the former. The cases at present dispatched contain 

 the whole of the collections which I made during that trip. The 

 Quadrupeds, Insects, and Birds, I have directed to you ; the 

 Shells to Mr. Stokes, for himself and Mr. Broderip to look over; 

 the Geology goes to Dr. Fitton ; and the Plants of course to Mr. 

 Brown. 



The Mammalia are very few, scarcely worth mentioning. The 

 only specimens arc, No. 1, a Fox, very common in the Straits. 



