60 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Ardea garzetta, but apart from the fact that its geographical 

 distribution hardly warrants the assumption that it could ever 

 have been a common bird in England, we are surprised that 

 in his researches the writer has found no evidence to put 

 before us of instances of the use in dress of the plumes of the 

 Egret in this country. The use of the " Egret " was well 

 known to early writers. Willughby mentions " their use in 

 caps and head pieces for ornament, and which are sold very 

 dear in the cities subject to the Turk," and Aldrovand, 

 Gesner and Belon write to the same effect. The following 

 passage from Belon's UHistoire de la Nature des Oyseaux, 1555, 

 p. 195, is perhaps Avorth quoting, and if his derivation of the 

 word was in any way warranted, the application of the name 

 Egret to several birds other than A. garzetta is at once apparent. 

 " L' Aigrette doit estre mise entre les especes des Herons. . . . 

 Les rran9oys Font ainsi appellee, a cause de I'aigreur de sa 

 voix." . . . . " Sa chair est delicate and tendre." 



The Acts of Parliament (19 Hen. VII., and 25 Hen. VIII.) 

 which are cited at the conclusion of the article, do not mention 

 the Egret, and only point to the rapid extinction of many 

 species of wild-fowl in England ; perhaps even a more pregnant 

 quotation of the destruction that was then commencing is that 

 which occurs in the Norfolk Household Book of the L' Estranges 

 of Hunstanton, 1533, " the xxxviijth weke, Tewysdaye, Itm. 

 a Cranne kylld wt. the gun." A Correspondent. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker in Scotland. — With reference 

 to the spread of D. major in Scotland the following notes are 

 of interest : — One seen on December 23rd, 1909, near Penpont, 

 Dumfriesshire, by Mr. H. S. Gladstone ; and the following 

 recorded by Mr. Harvie-BroAATi — one got near Dunipace, 

 Larbert, Stirlingsliire, about March 12th, 1909 ; one seen in 

 Carron Glen on July 18th, 1909 ; one seen near Aberdeen 

 in 1908 and 1909 {Ann. S.N.H., 1910, p. 118). 



Stock-Dove in Dee. — Mr. Harvie-Brown records {Ann. 

 S.N^.H., 1910, p. 119) that Columha osnas, which is spreading 

 in Scotland, has nested for two years (1908 and 1909) in the 

 parish of Banchory Ternan. 



Blackcock and Capercaillie hybrids. — -Mr. H. S. 

 Gladstone in recording {Ann. S.N.H., 1910, p. 119) a brood 

 of these hybrids reared in 1906 near Fasque, Laurencekirk, 

 Kincardineshire, remarks that Mr. Millais has stated that 

 female examples of this liybrid are extremely rare. The 

 brood recorded is said to have consisted of four cocks and three 

 hens. The four males have been shot and examined, and 

 two of the females have been shot, but only one retrieved, 

 and this unfortunately was not preserved. 



