BRITISnDIRDS 



EDITED BY H. F. WITHERBY, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



ASSISTED BY 



Rev.F. C. E. Jourdain, m.a., m.b.o.u.,W. P. Pycraft, a.l.s., 

 m.b.o.tj., and Norman F. Ticehurst, m.a., f.r.c.s., m.b.o.tj. 



Contents of Number 4, Vol. III. September 1, 1909. 



The Pterylosis of the Black-throated Diver, by W. P. Pycraf t Page 93 



Migration of Birds in the Mediterranean. II. Spring 

 Migration at Crete, by Commander H. Lynes, r.n., 

 m.b.o.tj. — {continued from page 77) . . ... 99 



On the Supposed " Colour- Change " and the Spring Moult 



of the Black-headed Gull, by P. H. Bahr, m.a., etc. 105 



The Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa latirostris, Rallies) in 



Kent, by M. J. Nicoll, m.b.o.tj. ... 112 



Notes: — Vertebrate Fauna of Cheshire (T. A. Coward) 

 Ornithology of Sussex (J. Walpole-Bond). Longevity 

 of Birds (Duchess of Bedford, E. G. B. Meade- Waldo, 

 H.W. Robinson, R. Staples-Browne and C. B. Ticehurst). 

 Unusual Nesting-Sites of Dipper, Blue Titmouse and 

 House-Sparrow (W. Stewart). Land-Birds Nesting in 

 Holes (N. Gilroy). Starlings' Nesting Sites (N. F. Tice- 

 hurst). Unusual Nests of Robin (A. G. Leigh). The 

 Meaning of Birds' Songs (F. B. Kirkman). Colour of the 

 Mouth of Nestling Waxwing (W. P. Pycraft). Red- 

 rumped Swallow in Kent (M. J. Nicoll). Lesser Redpoll 

 Nesting in Essex (L. Gray). Irruption of Crossbills (F. H. 

 Carruthers Gould, William Evans, etc.) Late Nesting of 

 Cirl Bunting (N. Gilroy). Rose-coloured Starling in 

 Lincolnshire (W. E. Suggitt). Short-eared Owl Breed- 

 ing in Lancashire (W. Mackay Wood). Little Owls in 

 Anglesey and Warwickshire (F. C. R. Jourdain and 

 A. G. Leigh). Common Buzzard in Sussex (Thomas 

 Parkin). Peregrine Falcon on the Yorkshire Cliffs (A. D. 

 Sapsworth). Osprey in co. Sligo (F. C. R. Jourdain). 

 White Stork in Kent (C. B. Ticehurst). Spoonbill in 

 Yorkshire (S. Duncan). Water-Rail carrying away its 

 Young (E. G. B. Meade-Waldo). Late Nesting of Wood- 

 cock (J. Davidson). Black-tailed God wit in Wigtown- 

 shire (Duchess of Bedford). Number of Eggs laid by 

 Terns (N. Gilroy). Short Notes 114 



ON THE PTERYLOSIS OF THE BLACK-THROATED 

 DIVER. 



BY 

 W. P. PYCRAFT. 



It is surely a matter for regret that so little interest has 

 been taken in that side of ornithology which concerns 

 structural characters, for these often throw an unsuspected 



