SHOUT NOTES ON PROFESSIONAL SUBJECTS. 
51 
43. Purchase of Mules for the Abyssinian Expedition. —The Com¬ 
mittee of the E.A. Institution feel sure that every Member of the Institution will 
read with satisfaction the following complimentary letter from the War Office, 
conveying the thanks of the Secretary of State for War to Captain E. T. Whinyates, 
E.A. 
Commandant’s Office, 
17/4/68. 
The Major-General Commanding has great pleasure in publishing to the district 
the enclosed letter from the War Office. 
By order, 
(Signed) B. J. HAY, B.M. 
No 
7678. 
‘Alexandria. 
War Office, 
30th March, 1868. 
Sir, 
With reference to the letter from this office dated 24th ultimo, conveying 
the expression of Secretary Sir John Pakington’s satisfaction at the manner in 
which the duties connected with the collection of mules for the Abyssinian expe¬ 
dition had been conducted by the military officers employed; I am now requested 
to state for the information of H.B.H. the Pield Marshal Commanding in Chief 
that the Beports received from Egypt shew that the mules procured at Alicante 
were not only cheaper than any purchased in Spain, but also that they were of 
superior quality, which circumstance coupled with the fact that the shipments at 
Alicante were much larger than from any other port, induces Sir John Pakington 
to request that his thanks may be specially conveyed to Captain Whinyates, B.A., 
the military officer in charge, to whose intelligence and energy these satisfactory 
results are chiefly due. 
I have, &c., 
(Signed) EDWAED LUGAED. 
The Military Secretary, 
Horse Guards. 
Forwarded to Major-General Warde, C.B., for notification to Captain 
Whinyates. 
(Signed) W. A. MIDDLETON, 
A.A.G. 
Horse Guards, 
16th April, 1868. 
44. Specimen of Slate-Coloured Partridge. —In Part XX. of Gould’s 
Birds of Asia , published in April, 1868, a specimen of Malacoturnix Superciliosus 
is figured. This information will no doubt interest Members of the E.A. Institu¬ 
tion, as the British Museum is indebted to Lieut.-Col. L’Estrange, E.A., for this 
valuable addition to the National Collection. Mr Gould thus refers to Lieut.-Col. 
L’Estrange’s specimen:— 
“ It gives me great pleasure to figure, in the Birds of Asia , both sexes of this 
highly curious member of the GaUinacem —a bird which is, I believe, only known 
by two specimens in the Derby Museum at Liverpool, and an example in the 
British Museum, to which establishment it was presented by Col. L’Estrange. 
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