76 BRITISH BIRDS. 



1890 {cf. Vol. I., p. 124), and the identification of this specimen 

 seems rather uncertain. One was recorded by Dr. Bree as 

 taken near Colchester in November, 1875, but this has not 

 been accepted as an authentic example. I have examined 

 Mr. Nichols's specimen, and find that it compares exactly with 

 examples collected by me in southern Spain. — H.F.W. 



HATCHING OF ABNORMALLY SHAPED EGGS OF 

 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 



On June 3rd, 1911, in Surrey, a Spotted Flycatcher 

 {Muscicapa grisola) was discovered sitting on five eggs, in 

 a nest situated in a thick, tangled creeper growing against a 

 wooden summer-house. The eggs were all of the unusual pale 

 blue variety, and with the exception of one, which was marked 

 with a single violet blotch, were entirely unspotted. Of 

 the five eggs, there was not one that was symmetrical in 

 shape ; the inequahty being most pronounced. The bird, 

 after a day or two, would remain on the nest when inspected 

 at a distance of only three or four feet. The eggs were all 

 successfully hatched,' and the young brood are now thriving. 

 It is worth mentioning that the male bird was never at 

 any time seen, though watch was kept by more than one 

 observer. Henry L. Cochrane. 



SISKINS IN HEREFORDSHIRE. 

 On June 5th, 1911, I saw a pair of adult Siskins {Chryso- 

 mitris spinus) in northern Herefordshire. I saw them only 

 one day, although I was frequently at the place where they 

 appeared, both before and after. 



W. S. Medlicott. 



DOWN-DISTRIBUTION OF NESTLING BIRDS. 



It is worthy of note that newly-hatched birds of the same 

 species show considerable individual variation in the dis- 

 tribution of the down, tracts being ]3 resent on one nestling 

 and absent on another. The most marked case of this which 

 I have met with was that of a young Rook [Corviis 

 frugilegus) ; instead of having the normal humeral, spinal, 

 ulnar, and femoral tracts, the down was entirely absent. 

 This is an approach to the usual condition of affairs in seme 

 other members of the Corvidse (Jay, Magpie) which do not 

 possess a down-plumage. 



The distribution of down on the nestling Raven {Conms 

 corax) is as follows : Inner supra-orbital, occipital, spinal, 

 humeral, ulnar, and femoral. Eric B. Dunlop. 



