141 



had ascertained that they were nocturnal, it was a matter of surprise 

 to me how the birds whicli were seen around the vessel at nightfall 

 were to be observed crossing our wake at daybreak on the following 

 morning, the ship having frequently run a distance of nearly 100 

 miles during the night. 



" In conclusion, I may observe, that whatever success I have met 

 with on the ocean, or whatever pleasures I may have enjoyed during 

 the voyage, the country to which we were safely conveyed by our 

 frail bark (now lying a wreck on the Trowbridge Shoal, Spencer's 

 Gulf) has still greater treasures. 



" During the eight months spent in these regions, six have been 

 devoted to Van Diemen's Land and the islands in Bass's Straits, 

 where I have made extensive and most interesting collections. In- 

 dependently of the skins of birds and quadrupeds, skeletons of all 

 the forms, together with entire bodies for dissection, have been pro- 

 cured, as also the nests and eggs of nearly seventy species of birds 

 from Van Diemen's Land alone. The short visit I have paid to the 

 continent of Australia has convinced me that much of interest there 

 remains buried in obscurity, and that I shall there find much to oc- 

 cupy my attention when I fairly commence my researches in that 

 country. The drought this season has been most distressing to the 

 colonists. The Liverpool range was the furthest journey I made into 

 the interior. While there I procured several specimens of the Me- 

 nura superba ; three of these I have entire for Mr. Owen to dissect ; 

 I have also the skeletons of two others, besides skins, &'C. The only 

 remark I shall now offer respecting this truly interesting bird is, that 

 it has no relationship whatever to the Gallinaceas, as has hitherto 

 been considered. 



" My assistant is now at Swan River, and I start for South Au- 

 stralia tomorrow ; after which I proceed to Sydney ; thence into the 

 interior. I intend going to Moreton Bay and New Zealand before 

 my return, and if I can accomplish, it to Port Essington and other 

 parts of the north. 



" I am happy to add, that in the execution of my researches the 

 governors of the different colonies lend me their aid most willingly ; 

 and I shall ever be proud publicly to acknowledge the unremitting 

 kindness of Sir John Franklin, whose goodness of heart is only 

 equalled by his zealous attention to the duties of his high official 

 station." 



Mr. Gould's descriptions of the new Australian birds referred to 

 in the letter were next read. 



Cypselus australis. Cyp- gulture et uropygio albis ; corpore 



superne et sublus intense fusco ; dorso metallice splendenle ; 



plumis pectoris ahdominisque albo marginatis ; alts eauddque ni- 



grescentibus ; rostro, oculis, et pedibus nigrts. 



Long. tot. 6^ poll. ; rostri, ^ ; alcB, 7^ ; caudcB, ^\ ; tarsi, -^. 



This species is about the size of Cypselus murarius : I first met 



with it on the 8th of March, 1839. They were in considerable 



abundance, but flying very high. I succeeded in killing one, which 



