324 
Letters , Announcements, fyc. 
neighbourhood of Beddgelert, and also Rhiwbryfdir, in subpro¬ 
vince 18. In that subprovince I found about 40 species 
breeding, among which are the Tawny Owl and the Pied Fly¬ 
catcher. The nest of the former was on the ground, in a wood 
of pines and beeches, and contained three eggs highly incubated; 
that of the latter was about ten feet from the ground, in the 
end-wall of a small stone-built cottage in a wood; and I think 
it contained young ones, but this I was unable to ascertain 
positively. 
I am, Sir, yours, &c., 
Charles Bygraye Wharton. 
In a letter lately received from Mr. C. J. Andersson, dated 
“Cape Town, December 8,1865,” that gentleman writes to us:— 
“ I believe I have got a clue to the mystery about the young 
Albatroses (Ibis, 1865, pp. 279-281); I mean as to how they 
are supported during the absence of their parents, and while 
they are yet unable to fly. I will relate the incident that led to 
the discovery (if such it be) as it occurred :— f What do you know, 
Captain B./ I said one day to an intelligent master of a sealing- 
vessel, from whom I have obtained many valuable data about sea- 
fowl — e what do you know about the Albatroses ? how are the 
young, for instance, fed after being abandoned by the parents? 5 
f Why, of course/ was his prompt reply, ‘ they live on their own 
fat? ‘ On their own fat! 5 I exclaimed; ‘ how do you j orove that ? 5 
* Because/ answered he, ‘ in the first place they are excessively 
fat at this season; secondly, they could not possibly in many 
instances get down to the water without being able to fly, and 
that they can't do; and thirdly, the common “ Jackass Penguin " 
\_Aptenodytes demersal live two months on shore without a 
morsel of food. I have seen them come on shore a mass of fat, 
and leave the land a mere skeleton. But you can't think, Mr. 
Andersson/ my friend wound up by saying, ( how fat some sea¬ 
birds are at certain seasons !' Perhaps you will smile at this; 
but if other animals, I would ask, can live for several consecutive 
months on their own fat, why not birds ? If you think my 
story may be of any interest to the readers of ‘ The Ibis/ by all 
means let them have the benefit of it.'' /Siy 
