CORRESPONDENCE. 211 



Pheasants vary very often, and very much in plumage. They are sometimes 

 seen entirely white ; but when that is the case, they are generally, I think,rather 

 inferior in size. Another variety (female) has the neck and head white, the cen- 

 tre feathers of the tail also white ; the back is chiefly white, and likewise the quill 

 feathers of the wing ; the rest of the plumage is mottled throughout with white. 

 Another variety (a female) appears to be assuming the plumage of the male, but 

 is altogether more dull. The head is white with a few brown feathers, the breast 

 is almost all rust-coloured, with a few and not very dark-purple edgings to the 

 feathers ; the back feathers have white edgings, and rather light brown. A male 

 variety has the head nearly white, the neck purple, green, and white, the tail 

 white ; the rest of the plumage mottled, chiefly on the back ; part of the breast 

 of the ordinary colour. These three last are in the collection of Mr. W. H. 

 Rudston Read, of Frickley Hall [neat Doncaster. — Ed.]. Mr. Hugh Reid has 

 a Partridge with the breast, belly, vent, and shoulders white, a white indistinctly 

 marked line going from the latter round the neck. 



Since writing the above, I have seen an entirely black Sparrow, and an en- 

 tirely white one, though of rather a muddy colour, also a Sand Martin with the 

 breast quite white, a whitish band round the nape of the neck, and the whole 

 of the plumage of the back of the usual colour. 



I have seen a Rook, on the wing, of a light chocolate brown colour. Another 

 pied Blackbird which I have just seen, has the rump white, with a few black 

 feathers, and one white tail-covert, and a few white feathers on the fore-head, 

 shoulders, nape, and pinions. 



C To be continued. J 



[[The most remarkable varieties of birds that have fallen under our notice were 

 a Chaff Finch and a Corn Bunting. Both of these were pied in a very curious 

 manner. The former would, probably, never have altered ; but the latter ap- 

 peared to be rapidly turning white. We have seen a Bank Swallow of a uni- 

 form silvery colour, and have heard of a white Robin Redbreast. A white Gol- 

 den-crowned Kinglet, and many other interesting varieties of birds, may be seen 

 in the British Museum. — Ed.] 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Difference between Amber and Copal. 

 To the Editor of the Naturalist. 

 Dear Sir,— The greater number of mineralogists with whom I am acquainted 

 have been able to state what are the physical and chemical characters of Amber 

 No. 10, Vol. II. 2 f 



