LETTER TO CANON TRISTRAM 129 



that they are as yet unrivalled : be that as it 

 may, they are the best that I can obtain for 

 money. 



' The only remarkable ornithological fact that 

 I have to communicate is that my old Blue Eock 

 Thrush, taken from the nest in May 1882, moulted 

 in September last very thoroughly into a plumage 

 much resembling, but rather an exaggeration of 

 that of a nestling bird, all the breast and flank 

 feathers edged with dirty white, and the plumage 

 of these parts unusually downy and thick. I 

 have some other pleasant cage birds — Alpine 

 Accentors (quite new to me in captivity), Azure, 

 Crested, and Boreal Titmice, Shore Lark and 

 others. ' Yours very truly, 



' Lilfoed.' 



