406 
hope during the ensuing summer to get the young of P. Biarmicus. 
You mentioned the female Fringilla Montana. I have never 
observed any difference in the plumage of the sexes excepting the 
hay color on the head of the female not being quite so bright as in 
the male : I have the eggs of this species. I have lately seen 
three specimens of the Purple Crested African Heron, Ardea 
purpurea, killed in this country — two of them in Norfolk & one 
near London, the latter an adult male & most splendid bird.* I 
have forwarded the box by an Edinburgh steamer from London, & 
directed it to the care of M r - D. Lizars, f & to be sent on to you. A 
Crane was shot in Oxfordshire about three months since, J & two 
specimens of Accentor alpinus at Cambridge.§ 
I am Sir Your Ob' n ' Ser vt - 
J. 1). Hov. 
I have thought it better to send you this by post : the box will 
be sent by an Edinburgh steamer from London on Saturday the 
26 th March, directed to the care of M r D. Lizars for you. 
P. J. Sklbz Esq. 
* These are mentioned by Selby ( Must . Br. Orn ., ii. p. 16, note), but 
without the introduction of Hoy’s name. What is known of the Norfolk 
specimens is given by Mr. Stevenson (B. Nor/, ii. pp. 146, 147). 
t Daniel Lizars of Edinburgh, elder brother of William If. Lizars, an 
engraver of considerable merit, and publisher of Selby’s and several of 
Jardine’s works. The first Lady Jardine was his sister. He emigrated to 
America, and died there about 1868. 
+ This is also noticed by Selby (ut supra p. 8, note). Messrs. Matthews 
in their ‘ Birds of Oxfordshire’ ( Zoologist , p. 2600) mention only one Crane 
as having been shot in that county, and this, say they, in the spring of 
1829. 
§ There is possibly a mistake here. Tire only two examples of the Alpine 
Accentor known to have been observed at Cambridge were those seen in 1S22, 
one of which was shot, as soon after recorded ( Zool . Journ. i. p. 134), and as 
mentioned by many subsequent writers. 
