i SS5 . ] General Notes. 



3°3 



Random Notes on Natural History, II, 18S5, Nos. 4-6. 

 Sitzungs Protokolle des Ersten internationalen Ornithologen-Con- 

 gresses. Vienna, 1884, 4to. 



Tidings from Nature, I, Nos. 7-10, March-June, 1885. 

 Young Oologist, II, No. 1. Albion, N. Y., May, June, 18S5. 

 Young Ornithologist, I, Nos. 1, 2, Boston, April, May, 18S5. 

 Western Oologist, I, No. 1, Milwaukee, May, 1S85. 

 Zeitschrift fur die gesammte Ornithologie, II, Heft 1, 1SS5. 

 Zoologist, April, May, June, 1SS5. 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Abnormal Coloration in a Caged Robin. — In an account of an abnor- 

 mally colored Robin given in 'The Auk' for January, 1S84, p. 90, mention 

 was made of the softness of the bones. Such of these as Avere not neces- 

 sary to the proper make-up of the skin were submitted to a careful chemical 

 analysis under the direction of Prof. W. O. Atwater, of Wesleyan Univer- 

 sity, who found them to contain only about 25 per cent of mineral matter, 

 or about one-third the amount usually found in the bones of normal, 

 healthy birds. — W. B. Barrows, Middletown, Conn. 



Another Black Robin. — Some time ago I heard of a second 'Black 

 Robin,' and tried to find out the facts with regard to it, but failed to 

 get anything definite until to-day, when, by mere chance, I met the 

 owner of the abnormal bird and obtained from him the following facts 

 about it. The bird was taken from the nest here in Middletown while in 

 the ordinary first plumage, and for "two or three years" was like any other 

 caged Robin. The owner, Mr. H. S. Leonard, seemed principally struck with 

 the tremendous appetite of the bird, which he assured me ate "as much 

 as a goose" every day. Gradually the plumage became somewhat varie- 

 gated with black and white, the black predominating above, though Mr. 

 Leonard thinks the bird became ultimately almost white. 



There was no return to the normal plumage after the abnormal dress 

 was once assumed; but the bird, which proved to be a female, always 

 seemed in perfect health and laid several sets of eggs while in captivity, of 

 course hatching none. She, however, adopted any young bird, of what- 

 ever species, put into her cage, and in every case reared the young birds 

 successfully. She died when about five years old, through the carelessness 

 of the person left to feed her. Unfortunately her skin was not preserved. 

 The food was varied as much as possible, consisting largely of insects, 

 worms, fruit, etc., in summer, with a large proportion of meat,- bread, etc.. 

 in winter. — W. B. BARROWS, Middletown, Con?/. 



