238 Zoological Collections. Vertebrata. 



Thomson. — The jfifth branchial arch on the left side forms the Ductus 

 Botalli, The communication a is referred to in the note, p. 237, supra. 



Arvicola amphihiusy (the Water Rat,) — The black variety of the water 

 rat seems to frequent certain parts of Aberdeenshire. We have recently 

 been favoured, by Sir George Mackenzie of Coul, Bart., with a specimen 

 for dissection, which, as far as we could judge from its appearance when 

 removed from the spirits in which it was preserved, must be referred to 

 this variety. But we should wish to examine a more recent subject before 

 giving a decided opinion as to the differences which it may present, and 

 should be glad to receive specimens from any of our friends. This indi- 

 vidual " was turned up by a plough in a field ; in its nest was a quantity of 

 the roots of the knot grass, (Po/[(/(7onMm ay jcwZore.)" 



We believe our friend Mr Macgillivray has a description of this variety 

 in the forthcoming volume of the Wernerian Memoirs, in which he has been 

 able to establish some fundamental characters distinguishing it from the 

 common water rat. — Ed. 



Mergus cucullatus. Hooded Merganser. — I have great pleasure in adding 

 this beautiful species of Mergus to the list of British birds, upon the autho- 

 rity of a specimen killed near Yarmouth, in Norfolk, in the winter of 1829. 

 The skin of this bird M'as lately sent to me by Mr Elton, of Redland, near 

 Bristol, to whom it was presented by a friend, who purchased it as a rare 

 variety, in a fresh state, from the person who actually shot it. From the 

 state of its plumage, it appears to be a young female, the crest not being so 

 full or large, and the white upon the secondary quills less extended than in 

 the skin of an old female, lent to me by Sir William Jardine for compari- 

 son. At first I was much in doubt as to the species, the description of 

 the female in Wilson's American Orniiliohgy, and in other works, being very 

 deficient in accuracy and detail ; and until I received the American skin 

 from Jardine Hall, I was almost inclined to consider it a new species, or 

 one very nearly allied to the Mergus fuscus o£ Latham's Index. Ornith., Pen- 

 nant's brown merganser, which, indeed, I suspect to be the young male of 

 Mergus Cucullatus. 



This is the first recorded instance that I can find of its capture, not only 

 in Britain, but in Europe, as it is not mentioned by Temminck, or other 

 continental authors. The following is a correct description: — Length 

 about 18 inches. Bill, 1^ inch, rather slender, and not nearly so thick or 

 high at the base as in the smew ; the serratures broad and fiat ; colour, 

 reddish brown at the base, the tip, black ; the nail, hooked and prominent. 

 The chin is grayish white, speckled with grayish brown ; and the whole of 

 the face, cheeks, and neck, of an uniform grayish brown, or mouse colour; 

 crown of head, darker ; occipital crest, large and semicircular, composed of 

 long lax feathers of a pale reddish brown colour, tinged with gray; the 

 breast is gray ; the margins of the feathers paler ; the upper back and wing- 

 coverts, grayish black ; the feathers margined with obscure grayish brown ; 

 the scapulars and lower back are black ; the margins of four or five of the 

 secondary quills are white, and form a small spot in the middle of the wings ; 

 the quills and tail are grayish black ; the lower part of the breast, the belly, 

 and abdomen, pure white, with a silken lustre ; the sides and flanks, deep 

 grayish brown ; the legs, reddish brown ; the tarsus measures 1 inch in 

 length P. J. Selby Twizel House, March 14, 1831. 



Chenalopex Egyptiaca, (Anas Egyptiaca, Linn.) — Egyptian Goose or 



Spurwing About a week ago a beautiful female of this species, which 



had been shot upon the Tweed, near Berwick, a day or two previously, was 

 sent to me in a fresh state. Although this is the fifth specimen killed 

 apparently in a wild state, in this district, within the last fifteen months, I 



