32 The Zoologist — January, 1866. 



strengthened by its note, and its large eye is also much like ihe expression of the 

 stonecliat. — Edward Henrte Rodd ; Penzance, November 9, 1865. 



On the Whhuhat nesting in Grass Meadows. — Mr. W. Jesse (Zi)o1.9790) enquires 

 if the above dccuiience is not rather unusual. Now, Morris (' British Birds,' vol. iv. 

 p. 68) savs of the nesl of iliis bird, " Where there are no gorse-hushes, it is placed in 

 the rough grass in a pasture field, or in a meadow." And I have myself twice seen 

 its nest mown over in a grass-field at Willesden Green, viz. on June 25, 1863, when 

 the nest contained six fresh eggs; and then again in almost the same place in 

 the same field on June 20, 1864. — Charles B. Wharton; Willesden, Middlesex, 

 November 3, 1865. 



Richard's Pipit in Ceylon. — This bird is so uncommon throughout the world that 

 I feel justified in recording a specimen which came into my possession iudireclly, from 

 Ceylon. The Rev. G. Swift, of Beverley, kindly presented to me several skins of birds 

 that had been sent to his father by a friend in Ceylon. Amongst these was a fine 

 specimen of Richard's pipit, which I ha»e had carefully mounted and added to my 

 collection. — W. W. Bnuttim ; Beverley, November?, 1865. 



Black 5/Jarrow.— Yesterday (Ociober 28, 1865), while out walking,! saw a sparrow 

 (Frinyilla domestira) quite black; the bill and legs were of a light oranj-e colour. I 

 never saw a sparrow of this colour before, except once, and thai was in Ireland. — E. E. 

 Knox; Yorhlown, Hants. 



Late Nesting of the Sparrow. — A heavy pair of sheers were erected here last week 

 for the purpose of dismounting a large gun ; as soon as they were up some sparrows 

 took possession of the tackle of the bead, and, notwithstanding that it was constantly 

 in motion and forty men working at ii, tliey stuck to it manfully. Ou taking down the 

 sheers on Tuesday last I was surprised to find a nest tinislied, fixed between the rope 

 and one of the spars. This is very late in the year for nesting, and is a curious 

 instance of ihe boldness of the ever-iu)i)ertiuent sparrow. — V. Legije ; South Shuebury, 

 November 9, 1665. 



While Starling. — A perfectly white variety of the starling {Sturnus vulgari.i) was 

 shot near here, in the islaml of Foulness, on the 31st of July last. It is in the posses- 

 sion ol a bird-stnffer here, and, judging from its small size, it is most probably a 

 female. It would seem that such varieties of Siurnus vulgaris are often met with iu 

 this neighbourhood, as Morris mentions two that were shot in the island of Sheppy. 

 —Id. 



Cornish Chough at East Looe. — A Cornish chough was shot here last Friday, being 

 the only one I have seen in this part of the county for upwards of twenty-five years, 

 although I have been told they have bred in the cliffs near Polperro for three consecutive 

 years. I have gone on purpose to look for them, but have never succeeiled iu seeing any. 

 The bird shot was a bird of this year. — Stephen Clogg ; East Looe, Cornwall, 

 November 2, 1 865. 



Raven Nesting in a Cucumber-frame. — Last sprinu 4 man named William Fowler, 

 residing at Willingdon, near this jdace, had a raven which built a nest in a cucumber- 

 frame, where, I believe, it is to be seen at the present moment. It was a very large 

 nest, nearly as big as two faggots. Many persons went to see it. in the summer the 

 raven flew away, hut came back, sat on Fowler's shoulder, tufi'eted him and knocked 

 his cap off; after that it again flew away to the downs, and has never returned. — John 

 Button ; Eastbourne, November, 1865. 



