The Zoologist — March, 1869. 1599 



(immature), was shot at RoUesby, on the 27th of January last. I preserved both 

 specimens. — T. E. Gunn. 



Gray Wagtail and Pied Flycatcher in Kent. — Mr. Power, in the 'Zoologist' for 

 January, says that the gray wagtail appeared on Eainham .Marshes on the 8ih of Sep- 

 tember: on that very day I saw one at Cobham, the only one I ever saw there: I did 

 not see it again. On the 17th of September I was attracted by a small bird, looking 

 like a miniature hen chaflSuch, flitting about the branches of an oak : after some obser- 

 vation I perceived that it was a pied flycatcher iu the brown and white plumage. — 

 Clifton. 



Early Nesting of the Thrush — I have to record two instances of the early breeding 

 of the song thrush in Norfolk this season. A little boy named Cooke found a nest of 

 five healthy young ones on the Eccles Hall Estate, on the 13th of January. On the 

 2iid of February a nest of young, fledged, were discovered in the fernery at Egmere 

 House, near Wells. — T. E. Gunn. 



Piebald Variety of the Blackbird. — A well-marked piebald variety (a female) of the 

 blackbird was shot here a short time since. A singular fact connected with this 

 variety has just attracted my notice, i. e. the female of this species is much less subject 

 to variation than the male ; for instance, out of every five pied blackbirds only one is 

 a female — at least such is my experience in this neighbourhood. Perhaps that of 

 observers in other districts may differ. — Id. 



Darlford Warbler at Lyme Regis. — On the ]4th of December, 1868, Mr. 

 Galcombe sent me a Dartford warbler, in the flesh, from Lyme Regis. — J. H. 

 Gurney,jun. 



White Sky Lark in Confinement. — Our local newspapers contained an account of 

 a white sky lark being captured early last year, at Melton, in Suffolk : it was a fine 

 young male bird and promises to make a first-rate songster. It is now (October, 1868) 

 in the possession of Mr. Heffier, of Woodbridge. — T. E. Gvnn. 



Calandra Lark near Exeter. — In Newman's reprint of Montagu's Dictionary I 

 observe the Calandra lark is introduced into the British list for the first time, on the 

 authority of my friend Mr. Gatcombe. It may be of interest to know that Mr. 

 Gatcombe has seen another in the possession of Mr. Byne, which that gentleman had 

 got from Truscott, the Exeter birdstuffer, who said it was "a Lapland bunting," and 

 killed near Exeter. — /. H. Gumey,jun. 



Young Sparrows in December. — Yesterday (December 16), while out walking, I 

 saw a young bird on the ground just before me, and gave chase. I caught it. and 

 found it was a young sparrow just out of the nest, and not yet able to fly well. This 

 seems to me so unusual an occurrence that I thought it would interest you. I noticed, 

 too, another very rare event for this season. Last Sunday, whilst in church, a beauti- 

 fully marked peacock-butterfly was crawling on the window-seat by my pew, fully 

 developed. This I had noticed the Sunday before, near the same place, but not 

 seemingly in so forward and lively a condition. Surely both instances mark the very 

 mild weather we have had. At Southampton a nightingale was heard singing on the 

 7lh of this month, not in a cage, but in a fence by the side of the road. — '■Land and 

 Water.' 



Tree Sparrow and Blackheaded Bunting in Kent. — A large flock of tree sparrows 

 frequented a small wood at Cobham this winter; and on the 6th of January I saw a 

 blackheaded bunting, at some distance from any water. — Clifton. 



