328 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Sabine's Snipe in co. Cork. — The " Field," February 1st, 

 contains a short account of the melanic variety of the Common 

 Snipe, at one time regarded as a distinct species — Sabine's 

 Snipe — killed near Middleton, co. Cork, on January 24th, by 

 Dr. Richard Fitzgerald. Like the specimen described in 

 the " Ibis," 1905, p. 289, this bird seems to have lacked the 

 characteristic longitudinal striping of the upper parts ; and 

 as I suggested (I.e.) these birds cannot properly be regarded as 

 melanoid varieties, since they do not show traces of the normal 

 plumage pattern through the dark pigment. It was pointed 

 out by Mr. J. L. Bonhote that they bear resemblance in the 

 pattern of their plumage to a perfectly distinct species — the 

 Sohtary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria), and they are to be 

 regarded as instances of mutations, or discontinuous 

 variations. WPP 



Sabine's Gull in the Firth of Forth. — An immature 

 specimen of Xema sabinii was identified on August 31st, 1907 

 (W. Evans, Ann. S.N.H., 1908, p. 53). 



Sale of a Great Auk's Egg. — On the disposal of the 

 museum of curiosities formed by the late T. G. Middlebrook 

 at the " Edinburgh Castle " in January last, a Great Auk's 

 egg was knocked down to Messrs. Rowland Ward & Co., for 

 £110 — the lowest price paid for a Great Auk's egg for many 

 years. This egg has changed hands many times. Originally 

 in the Field Collection, it passed to the Potts Collection, and 

 was next purchased, together with a stuffed bird, for 600 

 guineas by Mr. Rowland Ward. The egg was then put up 

 to auction at Stevens' Rooms, and was bought by Middle- 

 brook for 280 guineas. Now it has again returned to 

 Piccadilly. 



BOOKS PUBLISHED DURING FEBRUARY. 



Wild Birds at Home. Third Series. 18mo. (Go wans.) 6d. net. 



A Booh of Birds, by W. P. Pyeraft. (Sydney Appleton.) 6s. 



British Bird Life, by W. Percival Westell, with an introduction by 

 The Rt. Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart , F.R.S. 60 illustrations. 

 (T. Fisher Unwin.) 3s. 6d. cheap edition. 



