Miscellaneous, 71 



hatched so early in the season as the middle of March, if not 

 earlier, and the others in the month of June, one would be inclined 

 to suppose that these birds may occasionally rear two broods in the 

 year (?) ; or it may be explained merely by some accidental circum- 

 stances retarding the nidification of some individuals until such a late 

 period. 



2. I also take this opportunity of exhibiting to the Society this 

 very peculiar specimen of the Common or Corn Bunting {Embe' 

 riza miliaria, Linn.), which at first sight has more the appearance, 

 in colour at least, of an overgrown mealy canary. Its whole upper 

 and under parts being of a pale yellow, with the exception of a very 

 few brownish spots or feathers scattered over it ; these spots consist 

 apparently of the darker colour along the quill of the feather, still 

 remaining in a few instances ; the wing-coverts are pure white, but 

 the quills are of the usual brown colour, edged with lighter brown, 

 with the exception of the second quill in each wing, and two or three 

 of the secondaries of one wing, which are also pure white. The tail- 

 coverts are yellowish white, and the lateral tail-feathers are white, the 

 central ones being of a very pale brownish colour ; indeed only three 

 feathers retain their usual colour. The under mandible is also pale 

 yellow ; but the eyes were of their ordinary dark brown or black, con- 

 trasting strangely with its light-coloured plumage. The bird is an 

 adult female, being fully 7 inches in length, and was in plump and 

 well-fed condition. It was shot on the 7th of February last, to the 

 north of the village of Maxton, Roxburghshire. 



The Common Bunting, as it is called, is by no means a very common 

 bird in this locality, and indeed it would seem to be now much rarer 

 than formerly, as, unfortunately for its peace and safety, the quill- 

 feathers are highly esteemed by the anglers in the district for making 

 a very killing variety of artificial fly for trout-fishing. 



I have brought with me a specimen of the bird in its ordinary 

 plumage, that those of you who are not very familiar with its usual 

 appearance may see the great contrast exhibited by this pale yellow 

 specimen, where the dark colours are almost entirely obliterated, and 

 the naturally yellowish tinge of the lighter brown parts has become 

 extended over the whole bird and transformed into a pale yellow or 

 yellowish white. 



3. I exhibit also a specimen of the Lesser Redpole {Frinyilla 

 linaria, Linn.), shot near Stirling, which has the upper and back parts 

 of the head and sides of the neck pure white, and there are also a 

 few white feathers thinly scattered over other parts of its body. It 

 shows very well the more usual extent in which this accidental white- 

 coloured variety of plumage is generally found. 



4. I shall next notice this specimen of the Siskin (Carduelis 

 spinusy Cuv.), which was taken on Arthur's Seat, about the middle of 

 last September ; and my reason for doing so is that some of our natu- 

 ralists seem to me to consider it much rarer in the neighbourhood of 

 Edinburgh than it really is. Our bird-catchers I am informed are 

 in the habit of taking considerable numbers in this neighbourhood by 

 means of their call-birds and nets, all through the winter months ; in 



