830 The Zoologist — July, 18(57. 



The plumage of the bird is that described as the immature state, exhibiting generally 

 brown rufous tints, especially the neck, which is bay-red. I observe the colour of the 

 legs of this species is not given by Yarrell, Montagu, Selby, Jenyus or Morris. The 

 naked part of the thigh (tibia) is bright yellow, extending to and a little below the 

 tarsal joint ; from thence this colour descends all the way down on the hinder portion of 

 the tarsus, the front being brown. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the stages of 

 plumage of this species, nor of the actual difference in the plumage of the adult of both 

 sexes, to say whether the female is ever adorned with the plumes, crest, dorsal filaments 

 and other characteristics which belong to the adult male, two specimens of which, in the 

 most perfect plumage, I have received from the neighbourhood, as previously recorded 

 in the 'Zoologist.' At all events, if three years are necessary to complete this perfect 

 plumage, the state of plumage of the present example must not be regarded as that of 

 the female bird, as a matter of course, although the ovary shows that it is not a young 

 bird.— E. H. Rodd; April 24, 1867. 



Squacco Heron. — We generally get specimens of this elegant heron every spring 

 from the Land's End district, and I believe every example that has come under my 

 notice in the last thirty years has occurred at this season of the year only. I have 

 received them in April and May, but I never yet have seen one with the occipital and 

 dorsal plumes fully developed. I have found, on turning up the feathers on the neck 

 and back, the new plumal feathers in active progress and indicating a development in 

 a short time. One which I examined to-day was in that state, perhaps more forward 

 than usual, as one of the occipital plumes was considerably extended beyond the 

 ordinary feathers. Ou examining the under plumage all over there was a profusion of 

 these ornamental feathers about an inch long. We have arrived at the end of the first 

 week in May, and it is curious that the vernal plumage should be so backwaid, and I 

 am at a loss to know whether to account for it by the age of the bird or by the real 

 period of its assuming the ornamental plumage being altogether late, or simply to old 

 birds retaining the plumed feathers permanently, as I believe they have been killed 

 earlier in the spring elsewhere with a fully developed plumage. — Id. ; May 7, 1867. 



Hybridity in Water-fowl. — Naturalists interested in hybridity will appreciate the 

 following instance: — Last autumn two geese, hybrids between the Canada goose and 

 the Egyptian bargander (sex unknown, characters approximating more nearly to the 

 Canada) were placed on the water in this park. In the spring one of them paired 

 with a large mallard duck, displaying the most assiduous and jealous attachment to 

 her, and suffering nothing else to approach her. The duck laid several eggs, but 

 from various mishaps three only were preserved: these, with a full nest of other eggs, 

 were incubated by her, the gander meanwhile mounting guard day and night over the 

 island on which she was nestling, and becoming furious at the intrusion of even the 

 regular attendant. Of the three eggs one proved to be addled, another on the point of 

 being hatched disappeared in toto, the third was safely matured. The young bird at 

 birth was rather smaller than the ducklings hatched with it, and had their general 

 appearance: on examination, however, there were evident differences in the feet, legs 

 and head; it was, moreover, nearly voiceless. Carefully tended, it began at once to 

 flourish, and at seventeen days old it was as large as a fine gosling of that age, being 

 about four times the size of the ducks. It is still growing fast and feeding voraciously, 

 evidently full of vitality, and biddiug fair to develope into a large and powerful bird. 

 The young ones being removed from the duck, she is again " keeping company" with 



