OO General Notes. [January 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Abnormal Coloration in a Caged Robin. — Through the kindness of its 

 owner, Mr. A. R. Crittenden, I have recently examined a caged Robin 

 {Tiirdiis migratorius) which is now in peculiar plumage, and which has a 

 somewhat unusual history. When taken from the nest, about six years 

 ago, it was perfectly normal in color of plumage, and so remained for two 

 years. It has moulted once. a year, in early autumn. After the fourth 

 rhoult a few white feathers were noticed, and here and there a black one, 

 but it was not until the following year — after the fifth moult — that the 

 change was marked. The bird then appeared with wings and tail almost 

 completely white, while below he was clear black, except for a side patch of 

 red under each wing, and the usual white belly. The following winter 

 (last winter), he came out in perfectly normal plumage, though Mr. Crit- 

 tenden thinks the colors were unusualh' rich. 



This winter, again, the abnormal dress has been assumed, but varying 

 somewhat in detail. He now appears as follows: Above clear black; 

 tail mostly white; interscapulars and most of the wing-feathers white on 

 outer webs; chin, throat, belly, and under-tail coverts normal. The 

 upper breast shows a somewhat crescent-shaped patch of red, and almost 

 as continuations of this on either side are red patches under the wings. 

 A few red feathers down the middle of the breast imperfectly separate the 

 black which would otherwise form a single large pectoral patch. The 

 white about the eyes is normal. The bird is a male, apparentl}' in perfect 

 health, and with a voracious appetite. His food has been principally one 

 part prepared Mocking-bird food to three parts Indian meal, the whole 

 mixed together with a teaspoonful of melted lard. In addition to this he 

 has had only a little fruit and a few insects, mostly house-flies. — W. B. 

 Barrows, Middleto-wn, Cotui. 



[Two previous instances of melanism in the Robin have been recorded 

 in the 'Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club' (Vol. I. p. 24; Vol. 

 Ill, p. 47). — Edd.] 



Nest and Eggs of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet {Regulus calendula). — 

 My friend, Mr. Frank W. Ritchie, of Ottawa, who is at present attending 

 Bishop's College, at Lennoxville, C^iebec, has kindly furnished me with 

 the following description of these rarities for publication in 'The Auk.' 



"A nest of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet was found by two friends of mine, 

 near Lennoxville, on May 15, 1882. The nest was pensile, and was at- 

 tached to a branch of a small tree, a few feet from the ground. It was 

 composed of fine moss, evenly and firmly felted, and was lined with bright 

 feathers of the Wild Pigeon. The inside was almost entirely hidden from 

 view by the upper feathers of the lining being caught at the edge of the 

 nest; curving gracefully toward the centre, their points almost meeting, 

 they left but a small opening. The nest measured ten inches in cir- 



