1861.] LETTER FROM CAPT. J. H. SPEKE. 267 



their successful rearing and preservation. I liave been informed by 

 those who have eaten of these birds in the southern parts of AustraHa 

 that they are usually thin, aud the flesh coarse and not well-fla- 

 voured." 



The following letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by Capt. 

 J. H. Speke : — 



" H. B. M. Consulate, Zanzibar, 

 22nd September, 1860. 



" Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that I have this day 

 packed and left at this house two cases of specimens of natural hi- 

 story, which will be forwarded to the Royal Geographical Society, 

 London, through Her Majesty's Secretary of State, as soon as an op- 

 portunity ofi"ers itself to Her Majesty's Consul. They will probably 

 be forwarded by the next Hamburgh vessel that leaves this port. 



" 1. The specimens are preserved in spirits. All those found in 

 case No. 1 were collected in this island, save one Teal, one Sand- 

 piper, and one Lily-stalker, which were procured at Delagoa Bay ; 

 also one Owl from Europa Island, and one Vampire Bat from the 

 Island of Johanna, all of which may be easily recognized by a bit 

 of twine tied round one of each of their legs. 



" 2. All the specimens in case No. 2 are from Johanna Island. 

 The two larger Crabs are land ones ; whilst the two smaller ones and 

 the shells were taken from a sweet stream. 



" Note. — The little Antelope in case No. 1 is a young male three- 

 parts grown. There are many of them in this island, but whether 

 they have been imported or not appears doubtful. Some people 

 imagine they were first brought over and imported here from Arabia 

 by the late Imaum of Muscat ; but I would not recommend this be- 

 lief to be accepted until further inquiry has been made ; for there are 

 pigs on this island as well as these antelopes, and it is not likely that 

 Mussulmans would have brought them here. 



" 3. In furnishing these specimens, I am sorry that I cannot give 

 you more particulars about them, since the necessities incidental to 

 the organization of the expedition have occupied my time too much 

 for me to make the collection with my own hands. I have, there- 

 fore, employed my Hottentot guards both in shooting and in skinning 

 them ; but I think you will find them preserved in such a manner 

 as to be easily recognizable at first sight. 



" In concluding, I would beg you to be good enough to have these 

 as well as all other specimens that I may send you from Africa — 

 after they have been duly compared and reported on — placed aside 

 in one compartment of the Society's house until my return home to 

 England, when I shall be able to particularize them with you. 

 " I have the honour to be, Sir, 



" Your most obedient servant, 

 " J. H. Speke, 

 " To P. L. Sclater, Esq., " Com. E. African Expedition." 



Sec, Zoological Society, 

 London." 



