64 Mr. Gibbs on an Abnormal Form of 



Its bill was of a dark brown colour, cere, legs and toes 

 bright yellow, irides yellowish brown. The head, neck, 

 back, and breast were of a very light colour, indeed almost 

 white, with the exception of a streak of brown down the 

 centre of each feather, and that part of the breast about 

 and between the legs, which was of a very dark brown. 

 The outer primaries were also of this latter colour, but the 

 rest lighter in hue. 



All of us will doubtless feel some regret that rare and 

 interesting birds should be shot down almost as soon as 

 seen ; but it would be hard to dispute the statement that 

 England is not now in a condition long to support such 

 large birds as the Bustard in a wild state, and we must 

 confess that the ornithologist, with gun in hand, would be 

 sorely tempted to secure such a prize when within reach. 



E. M. C. 



Chdmsford, February IWi, 1880. 



Note on an Abnormal Foem of Gardamlnc i)ratcnsis, L., 



OBSEKVED NEAR ChELMSFORD. 



By JOHN GIBBS. 



[Bead March 20th, 1880.) 



It was in 1859, twenty-one years ago, that I found in a 

 field in the parish of Widford, within two miles of Chelms- 

 ford, some plants of. Cardainine iwatensis, of which the 

 flowers were peculiar, inasmuch as the pistil protruded 

 above the stamens, and, after the other parts of the flower 

 were fallen, was raised upon a lengthening stalk and 

 swelled into the bud of a second flower, instead of becom- 

 ing a pod containing seed. A specimen of this curious 

 variety of a well-known plant I gave to my friend Mr. 



