Birds. 9531 



fields on his wold farm for some time past, apparently coming from 

 the H umber. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker. — A mature female of this species was 

 shot in the Burton Bushes, close to Beverley, on the 25th of February, 

 by James Bishoprick, from whom I purchased it. It is very nearly two 

 years since one of these birds has visited our neighbourhood. 



Water Rail. — I observe in the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 946S) a notice, 

 from Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown, of the occurrence of this species in 

 Stirliugshire. I was not aware that this bird was decidedly rare in 

 any part of Britain, although, from its shy and retiring habits, it is 

 seldom seen. Mr. Harvie Brown considers it "extremely rare" in the 

 locality from which he writes. 1 cannot term it a common bird on 

 the River Hull, for in ordinary seasons 1 have certainly met with fewer 

 examples of this rail than of the spotted crake. In 1863 this was 

 markedly the case, but during 1864 more specimens of the water rail 

 were shot on our. river than I ever recollect in a single season, whilst 

 I never saw so few specimens of the spotted crake, which is generally 

 plentiful during the summer months. 



Pied Blackbirds. — Three or four specimens of this species, more or 

 less pied, have been lately seen near to Beverley. One has been shot 

 beautifully variegated in its plumage ; two are still at large close to 

 the town; and another is often seen near to the village of Leven, 

 about six miles from Beverley. 



Black Sparrows. — Mr. H. Blake-Knox, in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 

 9467), records the fact of having seen a perfectly black sparrow. At 

 Leven there is a breed of black sparrows; at least, the male birds are 

 the deepest blackish brown, so nearly black as only to be distinguished 

 from that colour when in the hand ; the females are a shade lighter. 

 The young of these birds have slaty black down, like that on the body 

 of a black bantam chick. During the past summer three of these 

 birds were sent to me for preservation, and are now in my collection ; 

 they were two females and a young one nearly fledged ; the old male 

 was shot also, but was unfortunately lost by dropping into the branches 

 of a tree, amongst the foliage of which he stuck, and was never found. 

 I hope to be able to secure an adult male this year, as several have 

 been seen at various times near Leven. I have obtained white spar- 

 rows, one pale buflf-coloured variety, and many pied specimens, but 

 I never saw black sparrows until those I have mentioned were sent 



*° ""^- W. W. BOULTON. 



Beverley, March 4, 1866. 



