Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, fyc. 415 
not think I should now speak so positively as I have done of the 
specific distinctness of Galeridce abyssinica, isahellina, and areni- 
cola. Not that I should unsay what I said, but I am not now 
so clear as to the specific rank of races inhabiting areas so very 
closely conterminous as those of the different districts of the 
North-African Sahara.” 
Kilmory, Lochgilp Head, N.B., August 18, 1861. 
Mr. Editor, — I regret that I can give you no further par¬ 
ticulars about the Gyrfalcon which I submitted to you in the 
summer, further th^n that it was shot in the month of October 
last, on the island of North IJist, belonging to my father; the 
keeper thinks it was about the 10th or 12th. I observe it is a 
much darker specimen than that killed, not five miles from the 
same place, in March of the previous year, 1859 *. That had all 
the tail-feathers white, except the two centre ones, though the 
shafts of the others are of a brown tinge—paler, I have little 
doubt, from bleaching before found, as it was not secured on the 
day it was shot. 
Believe me, yours truly, 
J. W. P. Orde. 
" Of the gigantic Struthionidce, bones of many species occur all 
over the islands of New Zealand. Feathers have also been found, 
and fragments of egg-shells; also one perfect egg, taken out of 
the grave of a native in 1856. It is believed by many natives 
that none of the species are entirely extinct. They give tolerably 
minute descriptions of many species; but it is impossible from 
their descriptions to define the number formerly existing. Pro¬ 
fessor Owen has detected fourteen distinct species, from the 
various bones which have from time to time been sent to England. 
Wherever the bones of the larger species are found, there exists 
about a quart of pebbles, used doubtless to assist digestion. I 
can only give the native names and descriptions of a few extinct 
species. All these birds were hunted by the natives for food. 
“ Moa . The largest species stood 16 feet high. Colour red- 
* See 4 Ibis,’ 1859, p.469. 
