504 
Letters , Announcements , fyc. 
In f The Ibis"’ for July 1874, p. 300, Mr. Blanford says, 
“ At the same time I cannot agree with Mr. Brooks that allied 
species do not interbreed in the wild state. I may recall a 
few instances to his recollection; I can assure him they are 
facts and not speculations. First we have the occurrence of 
intermediate forms between Hypolais pallida and H. caligata 
in Persia."” 
“ Intermediate forms ” between Aquila fulvescens , Gray, 
and Aquila maculata, Gm. ( A . clanga 3 Pallas), and between 
Anthus arboreus and Anthus maculatus, have been heard of; 
but these were easily resolved into one of the species named, 
and so will it be with all other intermediate forms. H. pal¬ 
lida and H. rama (Mr. Blanford refers to this bird as H, ca¬ 
ligata) have different voices and songs; and although we con¬ 
sider them much alike, I think their eyes and ears are better 
than ours, and that they would not interbreed in a wild state. 
When two species are much alike in colour, but differ in size, 
it is a very difficult thing to tell a large skin of the smaller 
from a small one of the larger species; but we must not on 
this account conclude that they are identical. The voice of 
the doubtful bird would probably have cleared up the diffi¬ 
culty ; and we much need the help of the living bird when 
closely affined species are under consideration. 
L.— Letters , Announcements , fyc. 
The following letters, addressed “To the Editor of f The 
Ibis/ ” have been received :—■ 
Levuka, May 1876. 
Sir, —Permit me to make a few remarks on the “ List of 
Samoan Birds,” by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, in your number 
for last October (1875, p. 436), for the purpose of correcting 
one or two slight errors (or supposed errors) into which my 
friend has fallen, and in the correction of which I think he 
agrees with me. I say “ supposed errors,” for without con¬ 
sulting the original description by the first describer, I see how 
errors of identification may easily be made. The mistakes in 
