192 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



ADDENDA. 



Turdus Merula. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, junr., has favoured us with 

 the following remarks on a specimen obtained near 

 Cotehill by W. Little, February 4th, 1886 :— 



" This buff-coloured specimen of the Blackbird 

 is not only deficient in colouring matter, but also 

 in some parts of its plumage, for the centre tail 

 feathers and some of the wing feathers have no 

 barbules. This is evident to the naked eye, but 

 is better seen under a powerful magnifying glass. 

 The same appearance, only extending to the bird's 

 whole plumage, is presented by the hair-like variety 

 of the Moorhen. The tail in this Blackbird may be 

 compared with a cut of the corresponding feathers 

 in the Moorhen given in Norwich Nat. Trans, 

 (iii, p. 585). It is singular how the middle tail 

 feathers of a bird seem more liable to lose the 

 barbules than any other portion of the plumage." 



Lanius Excuhitor. 



The caution of the Authors, in declining full 

 specific rank to Grey Shrikes with single wing bars, 

 appears to be confirmed by Professor CoUett's paper 

 (Ibis, 1886). At the present time (March, 1886), a 

 Grey Shrike has taken up his residence on the out- 

 skirts of Carlisle, and an impaled, and partially 

 eaten, Yellow Bunting was found upon his "beat" 

 a few days since. 



