The Zoologist— April, 18G7. 705 



Does the Yellow Wagtail ahvays Migrate ?— One was killed under the frame of my 

 bird-trap in December, 1814, during a slight frost, and a beautiful specimen it was • 

 and I also saw one on the 25th of December, 1866, at Keynsham, Somersetshire.— 

 Edward West; Sallford, near Bristol. 



Black Sky Lark,— About tweuiy years ago the writer called on a tailor, named John 

 Ycarsley, near Weaverham, in Cheshire, who had a sky lark nearly black, which bird 

 he said " had become so, as almost any other bird would do, by being fed wholly on 

 hemp-seed.'' — Id. 



Wood Lark in Kent.— Daring fee first severe snow here (Cobbam) flocks of larks 

 were continually passing over the park. These birds I imagine to have been wood 

 larks. J never could find out that they settled anywhere ; all I know is that they were 

 continually passing over my head in a S.W. direction : as they flew over me I noticed 

 that they seemed short compact birds, and that the tail was short— shorter I should 

 say than any sky lark's tail: the breast appeared to be of a pure white ground-colour, 

 the spots not being visible at such an altitude, while on the throat there was a very 

 thick and distinctly marked cluster of dark red spots. I consulted Mr. Harting's 

 book as to the distinctions between the two species, and was tolerably satisfied as°to 

 my birds being wood larks ; but what exactly gave me the idea of them was the figure 

 of the wood lark in ' Our Native Songsters.' I should like to know if any otf.er 

 southern ornithologists observed any wood larks last winter.— Clifton; March 10, 1867. 

 Lapland Bunting at Lewisham.— At a meeting of the West Kent Natural His- 

 tory Society, held at Blackheath on the 27th of February, Mr. Price exhibited a 

 very fine living specimen of the Lapland bunting. This very rare straggler was cap- 

 tured, during the late severe weather, in Lewisham brick-fields, near the Lewisham 

 Road. The specimen is a male in the winter plumage, the velvety black beginning to 

 show a little on the head and breast: the bird is very lively, and, though the lark-feet 

 would suggest a different habit, appears to prefer perching to resting on the ground. 

 I am glad to add that the bird is in good hands, and is not likely to be killed for 

 stuffing: it is quite refreshing to record the visit of so rare a bird without givino- an 

 account of its slaughter. I may add that it showed its affinity to the buntings by 

 descending when caught to the call of the common bunting.—/. Jenner Weir; 6, Haddo 

 Villas, Blackheath, February 28, 1867. 



Snow Bunting on Blackheath —I was fortunate enough to obtain this morning a 

 most beautiful specimen of the male snow bunting: the bird is in the variegated 

 plumage of spring, is very healthy and active, and I trust will form an interesting 

 a Idition to my aviary.— Id. 



Siskin at Oatlands.-We have the siskin here just now in very beautiful plumage 

 .— W. C. Heivilson; March 4, 1867. 



■ Siskin in Buckinghamshire.— About a fortnight ago I saw in a bird-fancier's shop 

 in Eton six siskins: he informed me that they had all been caught in the vicinity of 

 Eton, by clap-nets. On the 5th or 6th of March I was again at the shop, when an 

 addition of five or six had been made, having also been caught near Eton. I fancy 

 these birds are not common about here, not having noticed any before. They were all 

 in good plumage, especially the male birds.— -4. Clark- Kenned y ; Eton, March 11, 

 1867. 



Canaries breeding in January.— A man who lives in Windsor told me that he had" 

 had some very early canaries this year: he said that the old birds began to form the 

 SECOND SERIES— VOL. II. 2 A 



