355 



she had collected a few stems of grass, and found two Bggg; these 

 were all we met with ; the nest was placed in the high fields where 

 in the iln parts scarcely any vegetation is to be seen, while the 

 swampy portions where the snow had melted were covered with 



coarse grass and the dwarf willow, which is the only thing approach- 

 ing to a shrnh on these barren treeless islands. The specimen sent 

 was shot on the 27th of June on the south shore of la Sound in 

 about 771° N. lat. 



" The neighbouring country consisted of a belt of swampy ground 

 covered with rank grass, with high, rugged, and barren mountains 

 rising behind, covered with snow, except on their sharp ridges and 

 steep sides ; these mountains, which arc interspersed with vast snow- 

 clad plains, stretch away for miles inland, and rise into beautiful 

 cones in the distance ; here and there in a few sheltered spots a 

 scanty supply of small flowers were to be found, mostly belonging to 

 the following families : Druba, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, &c. The 

 dark grey rocks were covered with lichens in great variety, but of a 

 gloomy and sombre hue, in strict keeping with the wildness of the 

 scene ; here too the reindeer moss grew in great abundance. I may 

 remark that the Ptarmigans were so tame, that we could easily have 

 knocked them down with a long stick, doubtless from being so un- 

 accustomed to the intrusion of human visitors." 



I cannot conclude without expressing a hope that some person 

 visiting the country, such as the noble Lord Dufferin, will think of 

 our museums as well as of gratifying their palates, and send us spe- 

 cimens of this new species, which would be highly prized. 



2. Descriptions of Two New Species of the Family Hirun- 

 dinid.e. By J. Gould, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., etc. 



One an Atticora from Guatemala, the other a Chelidon from 

 Cashmere. 



Atticora pileata, Goidd. 



Size of the Sand Martin {Cotyle riparia) ; crown of the head, 

 car-coverts, and back of the neck black, with bluish reflexions; back 

 deep brown, becoming darker on the upper tail-coverts ; wings 

 bbu-kish-brown, darkest on the shoulders; tail moderately forked. 

 and of the same colour as the wing ; throat mottled with dark brown 

 and greyish-white; breast white, blending into brown on the Banks : 

 under tail-coverts largely developed, and of a dark purplish-brown ; 

 bill and feet dark purplish-brown ; thighs brown, gartered with 

 white. 



Total length, 54 inches ; wing, 3^ ; tail, 2\ ; tarsi, 



Hub. Guatemala. 



Remark. — This bird is much smaller, but is of precisely the same 

 form as the Atticora faaciata. Science is indebted t<> Georgi 



Skinner. Esq., for the introduction Of thlS new and interesting 

 Swallow. 



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