754 The Zoologist— May, 1867. 



They were very young when taken from the nest, and would probably have died unless 

 the old cat had taken pity upon them. — A. Clark- Kennedy. 



Greenland Seal at Ryde. — Will Captain Hadfiekl kindly give us further particulars 

 as to the specimen of the Greenland seal said to have been killed near Ryde (Zool. 

 S. S. 700). I have myself no doubt but that it may really be that animal, but the 

 authentic occurrences of this species on our shores are so few that it would be a pity 

 should the identification of this example rest on a birdstuffer's examination of the 

 tusks. I trust therefore that either Captain Hadfield himself, or some other equally 

 competent observer, will examine and report on the specimen. — Edward R. Alston ; 

 205, Bath Street, Glasgow. 



[I cordially concur in this request : I was rather surprised that Captain Hadfield 

 should be content to allow so important a statement to rest on such really slender 

 evidence. — Edward Newman.'] 



Dates of Oviposition this Year. — 



Song Thrush. — First nest with eggs on the 3rd of April. 



Blackbird. — First eggs on the 4th of April. 



Missel Thrush. — First nest with four eggs on the 9th of April. 



Rook. — First eggs on the 30th of March. 



Lapwing.— The lapwing began to lay about the 6lh of April in this neighbourhood. 

 Yesterday the gamekeeper found a nest containing two full-sized eggs and one minia- 

 ture one shaped and coloured like the common varieties of plovers' eggs, but not 

 larger than the egg of the water ouzel. — II. W. Feilden; Feniscowles, Blackburn, 

 April 15, 1867. 



Arrival of Summer Visitants in County Wicktow. — It may interest some readers of 

 the 'Zoologist' to know that when crossing a field near here on the 25th of March 

 I observed two birds of the swallow tribe flying about: they did not approach very 

 near me, nor did they stay longer than one minute, but judging from their appearance 

 and flight I think they were the common swallow. Is this not very early for them to 

 arrive? There was snow on the mountains at the time: the wind was blowing hard 

 from S.E. The chiffchaff arrived on the 25th of March also, and on the 1st of April 

 they were very numerous in our woods. The wheatear I saw for the first time 

 yesterday. — R. M. Barringlon ; Fassaroe, Bray, County Wicklow, April 3, 1867. 

 PS. I heard a fieldfare to-day.— R. M. B. 



Blue and White Varieties of British Birds' Eggs. — In reply to Mr. Clark-Kennedy's 

 query in the April number of the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 706) respecting white varieties of 

 the robin's eggs, I beg to say they are not of uncommon occurrence in this neighbour- 

 hood. I have met with several nests containing examples of this variety during the 

 last few years, and have some now in my collection. I have also entirely white eggs 

 of the following birds : — Sparrowhawk, common buzzard, whitethroat, chiffchaff, cole 

 tit, common bunting, blackheaded bunting, yellowhammer, starling, wren and red- 

 legged partridge. 1 have pale blue varieties of the missel thrush, thrush, blackbird, 

 chaffinch, common guillemot and blackheaded gull: the eggs of the missel thrush and 

 blackbird are slightly blotched with pale reddish brown ; the others are entirely clear. 

 I have also some very curious and uncommon varieties of the blackheaded bunting, 

 whitethroat, chaffinch, ptarmigan, ring dotterel, waterhen, common tern, blackheaded 



