S3 
Notices , Letters , Extracts from Correspondence, fyc. 99 
Mr. Blyth writes to us (from Calcutta, October 8th)— 
“ Among recent gatherings I have received Pakeornis erythro - 
genys, nobis (P. nicobaricus, Gould), from Port Blair (Andamans). 
My name, however, will stand, as erythrogenys of Lesson = Ion - 
gicauda and erythrogenys of Fraser, is subsequent, and, moreover, 
in my opinion, refers to the genuine P. barbatus. Some time ago 
a fellow sold me a wholly black Sturnopastor , which he falsely 
stated was from Port Blair. The bird has now moulted into the 
ordinary plumage of Sturnopastor contra . Varieties of this bird 
are not very rare; and upon one of them Major Tytler founded 
his St. mo or ii. I am rather pleased to hear that I have a living 
specimen of my new Kittacincla albiventris now doing well at 
Port Blair. Our taxidermist employed there wishes to bring it 
with him himself when he returns, fearing to trust it to anybody 
else. I have offered him a good price for as many as he can 
procure for me alive, and am curious to hear the voice of this 
species, the Shama (if macroura) being, as you know, the prince 
of songsters in this part of the world. However, I have a Bhrim- 
raj (Edolius paradiseus) which imitates the Shdmd’s song to such 
perfection that you cannot distinguish them apart. I formerly 
had another of the same species that did the same; but there is 
nothing that a good Bhrim-raj will not imitate. I had one that 
imitated the crow of a cock to perfection, and would set all the 
cocks crowing within hearing, taking his turn with the rest most 
laughably. Every sound a fowl, a cat, a goat, or sheep can 
utter, the cry of a dog being whipped, the cawing of a crow, 
the whistling of scraps of tunes, and the song of the best singing 
birds, all these were repeated with marvellous accuracy by my 
Bhrim-raj. In addition to all this, it is one of the most intelli¬ 
gent of birds (crow-like in this respect), and capable of strong 
attachment.” 
Besides a collection of birds, and valuable notes in this Num¬ 
ber, several letters have been received from Mr. Salvin since oui 
last issue, from which we give the following extracts 
“Duefias, August 30th.—I have now before me four very 
pretty skins of a Phalarope, which I shot upon the lake here a 
few days ago. The Snipe has not yet arrived, nor have the 
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