FIRST APPEARANCES OP BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 199 



signs of having been kept in captivity. This is only the sixth 

 recorded occurrence of the species in this country. Its appearance 

 is noted in the October number of the Zoologist. Its note was 

 something like that of the Green Woodpecker. 



PIED FLYCATCHER. Warm well, March 1st (F. 0. P. Cambridge) 

 (J. C. M. P.). 



SNOW BUNTING. Shot at Kimmeridge, November 29th 

 (J. C. M. P.). 



TWITE. Flocking with GIRL BUNTINGS at Lyme Regis, in 

 February (Miss Lister). 



WATER RAIL. One at Kimmeridge, December 16th. (J.C.M.P.). 



GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. A female was caught in a trap at 

 Winterbourne Whitechurch, a distance of about 16 miles from the 

 sea, the weather being wet and stormy. (J. C. M. P.). 



QUAIL. Two frequented the park at Whatcombe in the early 

 part of July for a few days and then disappeared. (J. C. M. P.). 



LITTLE CRAKE. A specimen of the Olivaceous Gallinule of 

 Bewick, seen at Hay ward Bridge near Shillingstone. (D. C.). 



The following white varieties have been noticed : 



HOUSE SPARROW. A white variety was repeatedly seen with 

 others of the ordinary colour in the stubbles after harvest at 

 Portisham. (H. S. E.) 



BULLFINCH. Two white varieties were shot at the same time 

 about the middle of November by Mr. Wm. B. Knight, of 

 Axminster. Each specimen had the breast shaded with brick 

 colour at the sides. Mr. Mullins refers to the occurrence some 

 years ago of two white swallows with pink eyes (albino) near 

 Beaminster, now in the possession of Mr. Peat of that town, 

 and notices that their flight was weaker than that of normal 

 specimens. 



Dr. Curme mentions that he saw 13 cuckoos together in one 

 field on April 19th, and flocks of finches and bramblings on 

 January 8th. 



Mr. E. R. Bankes gives the following observations on birds and 

 squirrels during the Great Frost, January -February, 1895 : 



