1863.] LETTER FROM MR. R. GUNN. 103 



information respecting the existence of this bird, and, if possible 

 specimens, dead or alive. I also gave him an accurately coloured 

 drawing of the bird, copied from Gould's 'Birds of Australia.' On 

 the 26th of December 1862, 1 received the following letter from him, 

 dated from Apia, Navigators' Islands, November 1862 : — 



"'Dear Sir, — According to my promise, immediately on landing, 

 I made inquiries concerning the ' Manu Mea,' the result of which 

 you will find detailed below. From inquiries made of the natives, I 

 find that on this island (Upolu) the bird, if not totally, is almost ex- 

 tinct. Mr. Williams, the British Consul, had one, which he pur- 

 chased for six dollars (255.). I found, in the course of conversation, 

 that a few might be found on the mountains at the island of Savaii, 

 an island about thirty miles to the leeward of this place ; and on 

 mentioning the kind of bird to a gentleman here of the name of 

 Trail, he told me that he knew of a bird answering the description 

 and drawing in the possession of a native on Savaii, which he would 

 procure and send to Sydney by the schooner 'Mechanic,' not having 

 time to procure it before my departure, for £5. You will think the 

 price high ; but recollect that there are many scientific people who 

 have been inquiring here and offering large sums for the bird. 



" ' I am, dear Sir, 

 " ' Yours truly, 



" ' J. O'Hea.' 



"On the 7th January Mr. O'Hea arrived in Sydney, and inforined 

 me that he had countermanded the bird, when procured, from being 

 sent by any vessel until the return of his vessel (the ' J. K. Beatson') 

 in two months, as he had ascertained the ' Mechanic ' might not 

 call at Savaii. He informs me that the Diduncttlus in Mr. Williams's 

 possession is a very young bird, with' the teeth of the mandible not 

 well developed ; it ran rapidly about the cage on any one looking 

 at it, being very wild and not accustomed to confinement, and it was 

 obliged to be driven in a coiner of its cage to enable the spectator to 

 have a good view of it. It had then been in Mr. Williams's pos- 

 session only about six weeks. It is not now found at Upolu ; but in 

 the island of Savaii, the largest and most mountainous island of the 

 group, it is thought it may still be procured, but is very rare. 



" The natives were surprised at the great interest taken in the 

 bird ; and the numerous inquiries and large prices offered will lead 

 them, I have no doubt, to place almost a prohibitory price upon it. 

 Captain M*^Lecd has also sailed for the Navigators' group, and has 

 also a drawing of the bird, and will make every exertion to procure 

 it. 1 have not limited him to any reasonable price, and I shall not 

 object to give £5 to ^£10 a pair even for skins, as I expect the bird 

 is nearly extinct, or only to be procured with great difliculty." 



A letter was read from Eonald Gunn, Esq., Corr. Memb., dated 

 Launceston, Jan. J 9th, 1863, announcing the shipment of a living 

 female Thylacine {Thylucinus ctjnocephalus) with three young ones 

 for the Society. Mr. Gunn stated, with reference to this animal : — 



