464 Letters, Extracts, Notices, fyc. 



The bird is about the size of the common Ringed Plover 

 {JEgialitis hiaticula), but in plumage reminds one more of 

 the Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus) on account of its broad 

 rufous pectoral band and the white stripe over the eye. The 

 most striking feature, however, is the long tarsus, in which 

 it seems to approach the genus Himantopus. The birds 

 were not at all shy, and consequently easily approached, 

 and that they were genuine wild birds there is not a doubt. 

 This adds one more species to the British list, and it is to be 

 hoped will find a place amongst the beautiful plates in Lord 

 Lilford's new work, to which it will be a valuable addition. 



Yours &c, 



Herring-fleet Hall, E. A. Butler, Lt.-Col. 



Lowestoft, Suffolk, 



June 20th, 1890. 



P.S. — The sternum has been forwarded to Prof. Newton. 



[The specimen in question was exhibited by Mr. South- 

 well at the meeting of the Zoological Society of London on 

 June 17th.— Ed.] 



Sir, — It will probably interest your readers to hear that 

 there was sent to the Society's Gardens in the month of 

 March last, a Chaffinch [Eringilla ccelebs), a specimen which 

 was very curious. The right half of the bird was exactly 

 like that of a male in breeding-dress, whilst the left half was 

 that of a female. 



The two different plumages were so perfectly separated 

 that one could draw a straight line from the point of the 

 beak over the back and over the breast to the middle of the 

 tail. The beak itself presented the two different colourings 

 in perfect distinctness. 



The bird having been sacrificed to science, its post-mortem 

 examination was effected by Prof. Max Weber, who found 

 it, as was to be expected, a hermaphrodite. On the left 

 side the ovary was well developed, whilst the right side had 

 a normal testicle. 



