Birds. 



7429 



lemon -yellow. From ihe unusually bright yellow feathers upon its rump and various 

 other parts of its plumage, I was at first rather inclined to the idea that it was a 

 hybrid between the yellow bunting and chaffinch, but I have now decided it is no 

 other than a pied chaflBnch, after minute and careful dissection. This handsome 

 variety has been kindly sent to me for identity by Mr. Hamilton, on whose estate it 

 was shot by the gamekeper, on the 29th of December, 1860. The bird now graces the 

 extensive collection of the above gentleman, to whom my very best thanks are due- 

 s'. P. Saville; February 12, 1861. 



Varieties of the Bullfinch. — That black or nearly black bullfinches do now and 

 then appear is a fact perhaps well known to ornithologists ; I of course do not 

 allude to those kept in confinement and fed on hemp seed, but rather to such as 

 have the pleasure of enjoying the freedom of Nature. I have one myself that was 

 killed some years since in the park of Duff House, which, with the exception of a 

 pinkish feather here and there, is altogether of a jet-black I may say. Another was 

 trapped also near here, by a gardener, last summer. This bird was likewise wholly 

 black, except that it had three white feathers in one wing, one in the other, and two 

 in the tail ; but white ones, at least so far as I am aware, are of rarer occurrence; 

 still something of the kind is to be met with here. I am now preserving one for jMajor 

 DuflT, M.P. for Banffshire, which was shot a few days ago in a plantation on his estate 

 of Drummuir, by one of his keepers. The breast and a portion of the head are slightly 

 tinged with a beautful yet delicate pink. The bill, feet and legs are of Tbright or 

 orange-yellow, otherwise it is of a pure white ; in fact, it may be said to vie almost 

 with the snow in whiteness. Altogether it is one of the most delicate-looking varieties 

 of any species I have ever seen, being so while and pure. — Thomas Edward ; Banff', 

 February 28, 1861. 



Extraordinary Mulliformation in ihe Rnok's Beak. — The bird from which this 

 drawing is taken is an exact counterpart and presents one of the most peculiar features 

 of mulliformation I ever saw, the 

 upper and lower mandibles being 

 particularly elongated. One 

 feature in the beak is, 1 think, 

 worthy of remark, i.e., the fact 

 of the utter impossibility of the 

 bird having the power of di- 

 viding its beak. It must of 

 necessity have taken its food — 

 taking for granted it could not 

 subsist upon atmospheric air — 

 entirely holding its head on one 

 side, so as to be able to nibble 

 any suitable nutriment^which by 

 chance came in the way. From 

 all external appearances the bird 

 presented one of age. The 

 greater quills especially appeared "^ 



as though they had not been shed, being of a dirty rust-colour, as is more or less the 

 entire plumage. Beak minus the naked space at base, but having the hairy-like 

 feathers peculiar to a young bird. The last rare fact verifies the idea that the constant 



