OTES 



REMARKABLE VARIETIES OF MAGPIE. 



Two varieties of the Magpie {Pica p. pica) were obtained in 

 April 1921, one by Major Trevor Corbet, at Longnor, the other 

 near Much Wenlock. Both places he south of Shrewsbury, 

 and are within six miles of one another. 



In the first, all the parts of the plumage which in a normal 

 Magpie would be black, are of a pale grey colour. If this 

 were the only peculiarity we should regard it as a semi- 

 albino, but, strange to say, the primaries (which normally 

 are black and white) are entirely of the pale grey colour — 

 there is no white whatever. This negatives the idea that it 

 is a case of semi-albinism, as in such a bird all white parts 

 would still be white ; whereas in this example the primaries 

 are not white at all. The bird must surely be unique. 



In the second, the parts of the plumage normally black 

 are dull fawn colour on the neck, breast, rump and legs, 

 but the rest of the plumage is nearly white. It has much 

 more white than the first. The top of the head is grey, 

 exactly like a Jackdaw's. A peculiarity of both birds, to 

 which I have not yet alluded, is that all the primaries and 

 rectrices are of a hair-like texture, due to a defect in the 

 structure of the web. I have only previously met with this 

 phenomenon in the Moor-Hen. See note in the Zoologist, 

 1901, p. 108. H. E. Forrest. 



LARGE CLUTCH OF LINNET'S EGGS. 



On June loth, 1921, in a field opposite my house at West- 

 bourne, Sussex, I came across the nest of a Linnet {Carduelis 

 c. cannahina) with seven eggs in it. The eggs were all fertile, 

 and slightly incubated. 



There is no doubt in my mind that this large clutch is the 

 product of a single hen. I was able to watch this nest for 

 several hours ; moreover, the eggs are of a level type. 



In this locality, five is normal for this species, six is a 

 rarity, and I have no record for seven. 



I should be most interested to know whether the Rev. 

 F. C. R. Jourdain, or any of your readers, have notes of such 

 a big clutch. Cecil Smeed. 



[Seven have been occasionally recorded ; see Practical 

 Handbook, I., p. 70. — Eds.] 



