ula, ad quam nostri aquandi
gratia naves-appulerunt. Ibi phocarum armenta conspexere
admiranda quaedam multitudine. In quibus inerat tanta feritas et
truculentia, ut in homines irruerent. AVES etiam eo in loco visae
sunt, quas incolas apellant SOLTICARIOS, pares anscribus
magnitudine: plumis minime vestiuntur, alas habent similes alis
verspertionum: volare nequeunt, sed explicatis alarum membranis,
cursum celeritate summa conficiunt."

The islet was probably that of _La Cruz_; but what were the birds? and
what was the indigenous name which is represented by _Solticarios_? It
is possible that some of your correspondents may be familiar with the
original narration which Osorio follows, or Mr. Strickland may be able
to solve the question.

I may just remark, that my observation respecting the improbability of
Tradescant's stuffed specimen having been a fabrication could hardly be
considered superfluous, seeing that some naturalists, Dr. Gray, I
believe, among others, had suggested that it most probably was one.

S.W. SINGER.

May 3. 1850.

* * * * *

ABBEY OF ST. WANDRILLE.

In reply to the Vicar of Ecclesfield (No. 24. p. 382.), I am sorry to
say that the "Chronicle of the Abby of St. Wandrille," to which I
alluded (No. 21. p. 338.), contains nothing relating to the subject of
his inquiry. The Abbey of Fontanelle, or St. Wandrille, was founded A.D.
645; and this chronicle contains a very concise account of a few only of
its abbots and most celebrated members, down to the year 834: written,
it is supposed, by a cotemporary of Ansegisus, the last abbot therein
mentioned. It is followed by an appendix containing a compilation from a
book on miracles wrought in the translation of the body of St. Wilfran,
by an "eye-witness," which also recounts incidentally some of the acts
of the abbots of St. Wandrille to the year 1053. Acheri speaks of
persons who had been long engaged in collecting memorials of the history
of this abbey up to the time of his writing, 1659. Whether these have
ever been published, I have not the means at this moment of
ascertaining. Some account of this abbey, with views of its ruins, will
be found in that splendid work, _Voyages dans L'Ancienne France_, by
Nodier, &c., vol. i.

The following notes from this chronicle may not be without interest, as
showing an early connection between the abbey and this country, and our
attachment to the