The Zoologist— August, 18G7. 875 



Cuckoos have been much more abundant than for years past.— Stephen Clogg ; Looe, 

 July 5, 1867. 



Varieties of Birds* Eggs. — The following varieties of eggs were taken in Suther- 

 land in May and June, 1867:— 



Merlin. One egg, of the usual size, but containing no- yelk, of a dark sepia colour, 

 almost approaching to black. 



Reclthroated Diver. One egg of a pale green ground colour, with one or two large 

 blotches of reddish brown. Bird shot. Another egg was similarly marked. 



Hen Harrier. Five eggs, three of which were much spotted with minute red 

 specks. Mr. Wolley's old correspondent in Sutherland assured me that he had often 

 seen ihem even more spotted than in this nest. 



Blackheaded Gull. One pale blue egg — a common variety. 



Dunlin. Four eggs, which were so exactly similar to those of lire common sand- 

 piper that had not both my friend Mr. Jesse and myself, as well as the gillie, seen the 

 bird fly off the nest and be joined by the male bird, I should at once have pronounced 

 them eggs of the common sandpiper. Another gentleman took a nest of four eggs 

 precisely similar. My eggs were larger than the type dunlin's eggs, and the large end 

 bad the spots and markings very minute, aud not circled round it as is usually the 

 case. One egg had a thin shell, and was almost without markings. 



Puffin. One egg, much more spotted than I ever saw before: a very handsome 

 variety.— John A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, Falkirk, July 3, 1867. 



Pied Wagtail wintering in North Yorksk ire.— This beautiful and useful little bird 

 Las always been described as migratory, leaving us (in North Yorkshire) at the latter 

 end of September and returning again at the latter end of February or beginning of 

 March, when bean-sowing commences ; and so regular was their return as to give rise 

 to a proverb, "Sow beans when the wagtail returns." In 1862 I was told by Mr. B. 

 Barton, a gentleman farmer living in this village, that there was a flock of wagtails 

 amongst his sheep. I thought he was mistaken, and said so, for it was in December: 

 on going to the field— a turnip-field eaten on with sheep— I found a flock of fifteen 

 wagtails busy amongst the sheep, hunting among their feet and about their heads as 

 they grazed. The shepherd told us that they also picked up the grubs from the 

 turnip-roots which were exposed when the turnips were pulltd up. They looked as 

 lively as in the spring months, and my friend, a gentleman of great experience in such 

 matters, assured me it was the first time that he had ever known them stay beyond 

 September. In 1863 and three following years, and all through the severe snow- 

 storm and hard frosts of 1867, they have continued with us. During the late storm of 

 frost and snow they visited the village, and were seen hunting in the streets, fold-yards, 

 back-yards and gardens; but they left for the fields upon the breaking up of the frost, 

 returning to their old haunts at the usual lime. I am at a loss to account for this 

 sudden change in their usual habits, for il does not admit of a doubt that they were, 

 before the time mentioned, so far as this place is concerned, migratory, leaving us in 

 September and returning so regularly as to give rise to the country saying already" 

 quoted. I called attention lo the fact at the lime, in the ' Zoologist,' and I see that it 

 has again been referred to (S. S. 634 and 704), and I have during the last three years 

 received several communications from my naturalist friends upon the same subject, so 

 that it is evident this alteration in their habits is not local. — John Ranson; Linlon- 

 on-Ouse, near York. 



