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Show 1868.] LETTER FROM THE REV. W. HINCKS. 211 ministrateurs du Muse'um de Paris, que je cherche en vain a, me procurer depuis deux aus ; il est tout d'un bleu uniforme, plus obscur dans les parties inferieures, avec la queue noire et courte, et les pieds et le bee rouges. Un Lophophore peut-etre?" A letter was read from Percy Brandon, Esq., dated Bogota, Jan. 16th, 1868, stating that the Great Ant-eater (Myrmecophaga jubata) in the Society's Gardens, which had been presented by him on the 8th Nov. 1867, had been obtained when quite young from the Llanos of Casanare" on the eastern side of the Andes of N e w Granada. Dr. Murie communicated the subjoined extract of a letter from the Rev. William Hincks of Toronto*:- " You will observe that I carefully guarded, in m y first communication, against too great reliance on any of the characters which might possibly be affected by the degree of stretching or the precise position given in setting up. I still think these points worth careful comparison, but I referred to them in confirmation only of other characters ; but we must not let their uncertainty affect more important points. As to colour we must always allow for some variation ; and no doubt there are Trumpeter-Swans pure white like those that fell under your notice. Reliance cannot, therefore, be placed on this character, although it is well known here that the Trumpeter generally has the ferruginous hue on the head and neck, which Cygnus americanus never has, and which none of the specimens examined which seem to belong to C. passmori have, but which m y last young specimen of C. buccinator has prominently, according to the rule to which I referred in m y first paper, that such colouring is seen most in young birds. Absence of the characteristic colour is, then, some presumption against a Swan being C. buccinator, though after your specimens it is evident it is no proof, since the sterna you figure make it certain that your birds belong to C. buccinator. " N o w as to the sizes : of course very young birds are very small, and have to pass through all the grades to their full size; but their growth is generally pretty rapid, and in very young birds there are various signs of immaturity, specially, for instance, the condition of the generative organs, which I had examined in every specimen. I stated in m y paper that our first specimen of C. passmori (then the only one) seemed to be a mature bird. Now in comparing birds that have passed their first season, size is generally accounted a very important character ; and, as an instance in point, I referred in my last letter to the case of Bernicla canadensis and B. hutchinsii, where * I have been favoured by a communication from the above-named gentleman in which he expresses his unaltered conviction that Cygnus passmori is a distinct species from C. buccinator. As in a former paper of mine laid before this Society (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 8), I ventured to oppose the specific separation of C passmori from C. buccinator, I think it but justice to Mr. Hincks to publish such portions of his letter to me as may vindicate his assertion.-J. M. |