NOTES. 248 



wiXH observed on the shore at Whitley Bay in a sick condition, 

 and being easily caught was kept alive for a day, and after- 

 wards brought to me. The carcase was sent to Dr. N. F. 

 Ticehurst who pronounced it a male and stated : "I could 

 find no adequate cause for death, i.e. no disease or gross 

 injury. The stomach contained a small quantity of bright 

 green vegetable substance, much macerated, perhaps Zostera. 

 I should think that a Fulmar must be very hard up for food 

 to pick up this, and coupled with the entire absence of internal 

 fat, it rather suggests that the bird died of exhaustion during 

 the recent gales." Previous occurrences in this district 

 number only two. J. M. Charlton. 



[We can but think that the Little Owl recorded had escaped 

 from cax^tivity, otherwise it would not have returned to the 

 cage when set at liberty. — Eds.] 



RECOVERY FROM INJURY IN BIRDS. 



In most cases of severe injury to birds, not of itself fatal to 

 life, the sufferer probably falls a victim to one or other of its 

 natural enemies during the consequent period of debility. 

 A Lapwing [Vanellus vulgaris), however, which I recently 

 obtained, showed that such is not always the case. Although 

 this bird had some time previously had its left tibia fractured 

 about the middle of the shaft, and the whole limb completely 

 amputated at the upper third of the metatarsus, yet it had 

 recovered completely from these injuries, and was in good 

 condition. The healed stump presented a somewhat " clubby" 

 appearance, and the union of the fracture (a comminuted 

 one, as one might expect) was strong and without a great 

 amount of deformity. The terminal joint of the right third 

 toe was also missing. M. Winzar Compton. 



BLACKCAP WINTERING IN SOMERSET. 



On Januury 14th and 15th, 1912, two boys reported to the 

 Rev. W. L. Mackennal, of Dunster, Somerset, that they had 

 trapped a Blackcap {Sylvia atricapilla) , but the bird was 

 released before he saw it. On the morning of the 18th, Mr. 

 Mackennal's cat brought in an injured, but living, male 

 Blackcap, which I received on the 19th. As it is seldom 

 possible to examine a British-taken Blackcap in winter dress, 

 I give the following particulars : Crown black, with a slight 

 rusty tinge ; nape, ear-coverts, throat, and breast olive-grey 

 (Ridgway) ; back olive-buff ; wings and tail olive-brown to 

 hair-brown, primaries paler on the anterior edge ; chin only 

 slightly paler than throat, but the grey on the upper-breast 



