982 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON PERUVIAN BIRDS. [DcC. 12, 



5. On Peruvian Birds collected by Mr. H. Whitely. By 

 P. L. ScLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and Osbert 

 Salvin, F.Z.S.— Part I. 



(Plate XLVI.) 



The present paper contains an account of the first collection of 

 birds formed by Mr. Henry Whiteley, junior, during his new expe- 

 dition to South-western Peru. 



The following are extracts from several of Mr. Whitely's letters, 

 relating to his journe)- and the countries visited : — 



(Letter I., Islay.) " I left Southampton April 2nd of the present 

 year, and, after a fine voyage, arrived at Islay, via Panama, on the 

 evening of the (5th of May. I went out on the following day and 

 sliot my first bird in Peru, which in liabits was very similar to our 

 "Wheatear*. In a few days I intend to make some excursions to 

 the hills after Humming-birds, as the Grulls and Terns are all away 

 from here at this season. From the residents of Islay I have re- 

 ceived the greatest kindness and assistance. 



" I have made two trips to the ' Lomas.' These 'Lomas' are 

 hills about six miles from Islay. Between them are valleys in 

 which there are running streams of water. In these valleys there is 

 plenty of vegetation, small flowering shrubs, fir trees, olive-trees, &c., 

 which are frequented by numerous species of birds. Here also I 

 obtained nearly all the specimens of Humming-birds sent in the first 

 collection." 



(Letter II., Arequipa.) " I left Islay for Arequipa at 12 a.m. 

 on the 1 9th, being accompanied part of the way by some good friends 

 from Islay. We parted company at a house on the hills, and I then 

 went on with my guide. I had two horses with me for the journey. 

 My luggage will be sent up on mules. 



" After making a gradual ascent up the hill for about 3000 feet, 

 we came to a large plain, which extends for about forty-five miles. 

 As soon as you get on this plain you can see the volcano of Arequipa, 

 which is covered with snow at the top — and also some of the high 

 jieaks of the Andes, which are also covered with snow. 



" In the centre of the plain there is a very respectable sort of an inn, 

 kept by an Englishman. We arrived here at 6 o'clock in the even- 

 ing ; I had some refreshments, and then went to bed and slept five 

 hours, and left the inn at half-past one in the morning. We galloped 

 along the plain until we got to the foot of the hills, which we reached 

 at half-past three a.m. I then slept until six o'clock, and started 

 for Arequipa. In the plain there are some most peculiar mounds 

 of sand in the shape of a horseshoe, which must have been blown 

 from a considerable distance, as there is no sand of the same colour 

 anywhere on the plains. The colour of the sand on the mounds is 

 a dark lead, whilst the sand of the plains is of a reddish colour. 



" After ascending and descending several times, we at last caught 

 * It was Muncisaaicola mentalis (Lafr. et D'Orb.). — P. L. S. 



