7428 lUrds. 



eggs, and so also did several of ray friends, so that there can be no doubt as to its spe- 

 cies. I sent one of the eggs to the lale Mr. Yarrell, who expressed much delight at 

 the acquisition of a British specimen. — Henry L. Saxhy ; Bulla Sound, Shetland. 



Thrush Sinking hy Moonlight. — On Friday night, the 22i)d of February, at ten 

 minutes before ten, I was surprised to hear a thrush in full song. It was quite calm, 

 after two days of tremendous tempest, — the moon had just shone out in splendour, 

 after being obscured by dark clouds ; whether this sweet bird had mistaken ibis sudden 

 light for the early dawn of day no one can tell, but in the whole course of my life I 

 never met with an instance before so late at night and in winter. At midsummer, and 

 at full moon, I have heard the blackcap and cuckoo and several minor songsters ; but 

 even at such a time I never heard a thrush sing after ten o'clock. — H. W. Newman ; 

 Cheltenham. 



Blackbirds Singing in the Night. — A few days after that unusually severe hurricane 

 which visited this and other parts of England, at the end of last month, a very unusual 

 phenomenon in Natural History was observed here, which perhaps may interest 

 some of the readers of the ' Zoologist,' and admit of a satisfactory explanation. I 

 happened to be up rather late at night, and heard a blackbird singing as joyously and 

 vigorously as if in broad daylight. This was between twelve and one o'clock in the 

 morning. The night was moonlight and calm, with light fleecy clouds. The same 

 fact was mentioned to me by the village policeman, who, when on his beat that night, 

 was, as he told me, astonished to hear so many birds singing in all directions. With 

 the exception of nightingales and a few other birds, this is not usual even in the 

 summer at night, but during the month of February seems to be a very extraordinary 

 occurrence. — P. B. Brodie ; Vicarage, Rowinglon, near Warwick, March 12, !86J. 



Dun Variety of the Robin (Sylvia rubecula). — The colouring of this singular 

 variety is an uniform light dun, which pervades its entire plumage, save the 

 breast and throat, which is red, many shades lighter than in an ordinary specimen; 

 tarsus and toes lightish brown ; irides light hazel. The bird I describe was shot by 

 Mr. J. Hamilton, of Minard Castle, Argyleshire, near a small mountain stream. In 

 a letter to me that gentleman states that the poor little bird had not a moment's 

 peace from the incessant worrying of numerous sparrows, and of birds of its own 

 species. This quarrelsome exhibition was undoubtedly caused by Master Bobby 

 appearing in an uncommon livery, hence he was not known, or if so not acknowledged, 

 as one of the family. Mr. Hamilton also informs me that a second variety, exactly 

 similar to the one now described, was shot about a week prior to this instance. Surely 

 Minard must be rich in varieties, from the f ict that no less than three have been shot 

 in an exceeding short space of time. — S. P. Saville, Dover House, Union Road, Cam- 

 bridge. 



Singular Variety of the Chaffinch (Fringilla cujlebs). — This is the second occur- 

 rence of one of these prettily pied chaffinches having come under my notice; the first 

 example has been described by me in one of the former numbers of the' Zoologist,' 

 the second I would wish to describe as truthfully as possible ; its pied markings areas 

 follows. Head and neck pure white. Back pied with white light buff, and interspersed 

 here and there with a bright lemon-coloured feather. Rump bright lemon-colour. 

 Fore part of breast and belly light salmon, each feather having its edges white. Vent 

 lighter. Tail interspersed more or less with white feathers. Wings same as tail. 

 Legs light brown. Irides light hazel. Its rump feathers arc differently marked to 

 those in the first example, which were green (ordinary), those of the latter being bright 



