434 



lirlr Hote. 



Brown variety of the Common Moorhen at ClyfTe 



Pypard. On the pond at Clyffe Manor there is a remarkable variety 

 of the Common Moorhen (Gallinula eliloropus). The following is a 

 description as accurate as possible as seen through an opera glass at 

 thirty yards distance, on August 27th last. Shape in all respects that 

 of an ordinary Moorhen, but slightly larger in size, as compared with 

 two black specimens swimming near it, but not larger than an ex- 

 ceptionally fine chloropus. Head, crown, also neck and nape, dark 

 chestnut brown ; chin, white ; throat and breast, light brown, with white 

 striations or reticulations ; belly very light, almost white ; back above, 

 light brown; wings, the same. As it swam it appeared to have dark 

 chestnut brown bands down each side, probably due to the scapulars 

 feathers being of this colour. Tail, brown ; also upper tail coverts ; 

 under tail coverts, black, but the usual white feathers so conspicuous in 

 ordinary Moorhens were also conspicuously present in the tail coverts of 

 this bird. Legs and bill the usual colour of young Moorhens. As it 

 sat in the water the bird had a general likeness to the colouring of a hen 

 Pintail Duck. The owner of the pond. Admiral Wilson, believes it 

 to have been bred on the pond, and it is almost certainly a young bird. 

 It has been there continuously for some three months up to the time of 

 writing, October 6th, 1906. Considering how seldom the Moorhen is 

 subject to albinism or colour variation, the Clyffe bird is very interesting. 

 Morris describes one killed near Ipswich, Dec. 16th, 1847, coloured 

 somewhat similarly, and also having the webs of the feathers disunited, 

 having the appearance of hairs. This last peculiarity does not appear 

 to be present in the Clyffe specimen. — D. Percy Harrison. 



IKIontagU'S Harrier (Circus dneraceus). I saw a specimen of 

 this bird on October 28th, 1905, near Braydon. It was sitting on the 

 telegraph wires by the railway. By the colouring it was a cock bird, 

 and gave me a good view of it at about one hundred yards distance as 

 it swept away over the hedges northwards. — D. P. Harrison. 



Kohby (Faleo subbtdeoj. A pair of these birds nest near Braydon, and 

 last year brought oft their young, which were taken. They were seen 

 and apparently tried to nest again this j^ear (1906), but I am not aware 

 whether they succeeded in doing so. — D. P. Harrison. 



