208 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



been observed in tlie north of Ireland, generally in the month 

 of September. A few specimens have been recorded by- 

 Mr Yarrell as taken in England, and on the Continent 

 of Europe. Dr Saxby has recorded the capture of two 

 specimens in Orkney. In the appendix to Mr Edward's 

 Life, already referred to, he states that he had " an exciting 

 chase after one, but failed to capture it." But I fear this 

 instance must be considered as at least very doubtful. 



The bird now exhibited, Mr Small informs me, is a 

 female, and it is apparently in the immature plumage of a 

 young or first year's bird. In the gulls the plumage of 

 the adult male and female are nearly alike, the female 

 being smaller in size. It is the only instance of its capture 

 off the mainland of Scotland, as far as I am aware; and 

 besides its great rarity, it is of especial interest from its 

 state of plumage. I may mention that the adult bird in 

 summer has the head dark ash, nearly black, and the back 

 dark ash grey, or lead colour, lighter than the head; 

 with the under parts white. This young specimen has 

 the front of the head nearly white ; the back of the head 

 and upper parts blackish grey, mottled with brown, the 

 feathers edged with lighter ; the under parts, with the excep- 

 tion of the sides of the breast, which are also blackish grey, 

 being white. The primaries of wing generally black; the 

 secondaries white; the tail forked and white, with a black 

 bar across its extremity. 



Mr Egbert Gray said, as Dr Smith had referred to him in 

 regard to the statement of the snowy owl having bred in 

 Banffshire, he might mention that he took the trouble of care- 

 fully investigating the whole matter at the time, and was con- 

 vinced that it was a complete mistake, and that the bird 

 described was really nothing else than the common white 

 barn owl {Stria flammea) ; which, he might however say, was, 

 he believed, a rather rare and little known bird in that parti- 

 cular district of country. 



I 



