Letters, Extracts, Notices, fyc, 219 
and which I understand intends to include all feathers in its 
field of work, will he able to do much good. 
It is to the civilized West that one must look, and I fear 
look in vain, for help ! 
That it is a subject in which I know you take an interest 
must be my excuse for inflicting this lengthy document on 
you. 
Yours &c., 
Foochow, C. B. Rickett. 
August 25th, 1899. 
Sirs, —It may interest your readers to know that a female 
Yellow-billed American Cuckoo ( Coccyzus americanus) was 
found lying dead at Craig-y-don, on the shores of the Menai 
Straits, on the 10th inst. It was in good condition, and I 
have had it placed in my collection. 
I presume that it w r as brought over by the heavy westerly 
gales prevailing at the time. Apparently this is only the 
sixth instance of this bird having been found in this 
country. 
Yours &c\, 
23 Abercromby Square, Liverpool, Geo. Dick INSOX. 
November 16th, 1899. 
The Pairing and Incubation of the Ostrich. —In reference 
to the vexed question of the mode of pairing and incubation 
of the Ostrich (see Ibis, 1899, p. 481), our attention has 
been called to the excellent article on this subject published 
by Mr. S. C. Cronwright Schreiner in the f Zoologist’ of 1897 
(p. 97). Mr. Schreiner, who has had nine years* experience 
of Ostrich-farming in Cape Colony, shows most conclusively 
that the Ostrich is practically monogamous, one male 
and one female pairing and making the nest, both birds 
taking their share in the duties of incubation —“ the hen 
sitting generally from 8 or 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m., and the 
cock from 4 p.m. to about 8 or 9 a,m.** —and both parents 
taking charge of the young birds when hatched. The curious 
