specimens, of which two are stated to be fine healthy birds ; the other two were weakly, and from the 

 necessary exposure to wet and confinement, Sec. were seized with blindness, and one of them had died. 

 My friend doubts the other ever recovering its eyesight, but he trusts the two will survive, to be sent in due 

 time to England. He had however determined, and I think wisely, not to risk their voyage before April 

 next, when he will send them by some careful captain, either to Liverpool, if possible, or if not, to London ; 

 as if sent in the winter they would have no chance of coming safe, owing to the severe north winds which 

 prevail on these coasts. I certainly do not feel confident at all as yet, but I am delighted, as I think there 

 is now a better chance than I have ever had of possessing these beauties in life. I do not know what sexes 

 these birds are, or aught more than I have told you, but I shall in consequence postpone at least the idea I 

 had in contemplation, of letting Bates go again and make another attempt." — 1844. 



*' As you are interested in the Mekagris, I may as well tell you I have heard from Mr. Skinner, who 

 has lately gone out again to Belize, who says that the first thing he saw on landing was a fine male, strut- 

 ting about Mr. Thompson's yard with his poultry, in good health but wofully mutilated in plumage. Mr. 

 Thompson, thinking they would be happier together, put my two surviving birds : in this way they quar- 

 reled, and one only remains, which Mr. Skinner has advised to be sent oflf by a sailing rather than a steam- 

 vessel, and I imagine it is now on its route. I shall however relinquish the hope of introducing this bird, 

 on account of its fierce disposition ; but I must try to obtain the female and young, dead or alive." — 

 Feb. 18, 1844. 



*'I am glad to tell you Dyson has brought a specimen oiMel ocellata home, which is now, I am glad to 

 say, doing well here ; but by what I hear of it (for till today our weather has not permitted me to get to 

 the Aviary), I am much afraid it will turn out to be a female, and of course the idea of a breed must be 

 abandoned, unless some one else shall be hereafter lucky enough to bring me a mate for her." — Oct. 5, 1845. 



" I am glad to tell you I have had a letter from Mr. Skinner, which has actually restored in some 

 degree my almost extinguished hopes of the male Mel. ocellata^ 



"We meditate trying my Honduras female with a true male American Turkey. The Honduras Turkey 

 has laid about thirteen eggs, but her first were not good." 



" The versicolor Pheasant egg laid by the hen before it died on the passage is very small, and rather duller 

 in colour even than our common Pheasant." 



*' The Phasianus mrsicolor here is so like the P. Colchicus, that I shall try to cross my male with some of 

 our common Hens, for fear of losing him by any sudden accident ; or perhaps the Bohemian Hen might 

 answer better for the cross." 



" The Bohemian Hen, put to the male Phasianus versicolor, has laid, but it is doubtful if the egg is by 

 him." 



" The egg laid by the Phasianus versicolor Hen on her journey from Amsterdam, and also that laid by 

 the Bohemian Hen which we put to the male since their arrival here, have both proved bad." — July 2, 1846. 



" My Double-spurred Partridge, brought by Whitfield from W. Africa, has laid three eggs, and one of 

 the others has hatched today." — May 31, 1845. 



*' Of my young Perdios Clappertonii we have lost but one, having seven still doing well, but of course we 

 know not what sex." 



" The old pair of Perdix Clappertonii, which hatched eight young last year, all now alive, has this year 

 produced five more. None of those of last year have yet bred. I have now thirteen, and gave a pair to 

 Sir R. Heron."— June 23, 1844. 



" I am glad certainly that the Perdios Clappertonii has been prolific again, but I would rather this pro- 

 duce should have come from some of those bred last year, than from the original importation." — June 25, 

 1846. 



" I find too that some of the Ortyges brought by Bates have bred and hatched, but I fear it is a cross ; 

 at any rate, this is too late in the year to hope to rear them, but we will try." 

 " My young hybrid Quails, or rather Ortyges, are still progressing well." 



" We have two other Ortyges now laying, but one of them is the same as laid last year, having crossed 

 with another species, so that it will be a cross-breed ; she then laid four eggs and hatched one, which I be- 

 lieve is still living." — Jan. 26, 1845. 



" John has just come in with two young Odontophori, just hatched, out of three eggs, but we have about 

 eight more of them to come out. I do not know the species. They were brought to me by Bates from 

 Central America, and are evidently very nearly allied to, but certainly not identical with, P. Guianensis of 

 Gould."— Jan. 26, 1845. 



"The two young that my larger Ortyges have produced do not progress so well as we could wish, but 

 we have two of the hybrid breed, such as those bred last year, that are all doing quite well, and seem 

 hardier than the large kind." 



" I flatter myself that I have now succeeded in establishing the Black Grouse in the woods here, and I 

 have good hopes of the Prairie Hen, T. cupedo. I mean to try hereafter others if I can get them, especially 

 the Ruflfed Grouse."— 1844. 



" My Prairie Hen has laid thirteen eggs, of which eleven are set, and the Ruffed Grouse have begun to 

 lay."_May 16, 1845. 



