84 THE BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
did also the birds procured by Schrenck in Upper and Lower 
Amoorland. Radde likewise procured specimens during his 
journey through the south of Hast Siberia, and observes that they 
agreed exactly with those collected by Schrenck in Amoorland. 
The birds also which he obtained at Onon and Irktursk are 
precisely the same as the European bird, ‘ which,’’ says he ‘‘is 
very extraordinary ; for from the Upper Ussuri we have received 
through Herr Maximowicz a Titmouse which neither in the 
marking of the head, nor in its proportions, agrees with Parus 
trivirgatus of Temminck and Schlegel, but sufficiently so with old 
Siberian Long-tailed Titmice.”’ 
In Germany it also occurs; and Mr. Harting has very kindly 
given me a specimen from that country. This is a male, pro- 
cured in August 1863 ; and from the worn condition of the plu- 
mage itis evident that it had not begun to moult. I mention 
this because it is suggested by some that the white head is only 
the winter dress of the Scandinavian bird. 
That the Parus caudatus of Linneus was founded upon this 
persistently white-headed bird there can be, I think, no doubt; 
and when we consider the characters on which DMotacilla yarrelli 
is distinguished from If, alba, Pyrrhula coccinea from P. vulgaris, 
Sitta cesia from 8. europea, and Troglodytes borealis from 7. 
europeus, we cannot refuse to acknowledge the specific distinctness 
of the British form, on which the name Mecistura rosea was long 
ago bestowed by Mr. Blyth.”* 
To be continued. R. B, SHARPE. 
Fern Erenks.+ 
| 5 ae the heroes of ancient mythology that we used to 
read about in our school days, was one of the water deities 
named Proteus, who had the rather whimsical foible of never 
* Wuitr’s ‘Natural History of Selborne,’ With Notes by Epwarp 
Buyrx. London: 1835; p. 111, note. 
t Read before the Society at the Fifth Evening Meeting of the Fourth 
Winter Session, March 28rd, 1869, 8 Mi! our 
