3412 The Zoologist— February, 1873. 



birds and animals. Hence the eggs, when shown to some metropolitan egg- 

 authorities, were pronounced to be not redwing's, but ring ouzel's, eggs. 

 However, during the past spring a redwing's nest and eggs, together with 

 the parent bird herself, have been obtained in Glaisdale, another district 

 (originally) of the same parish to which the Commondale mentioned above 

 belongs ; the person meeting with them being a very competent ornithologist 

 and experienced egg-collector. The fact that the redwing does occasionally 

 breed in North Yorkshire, and I think not so very unfrequeutly, is an inte- 

 resting one, and therefore not unworthy of record here." — H. W. Feilden. 



Varieties of the Sliy Lark. — For a series of years I have examined our 

 bird-dealers' shops, &c., for varieties of the sky lark, but up to 1871 I never 

 met with any in this district. In July, 1871 , 1 bought a living sky lark having 

 white primaries and secondaries, and soon after got another, also alive, some- 

 what like it, from the same birdcatcher. Later in the year I procured an 

 almost white one ; and, later still, I observed a splendid rich deep brown 

 bird with white wings being handed about in our bird-market, amongst a 

 crowd of bird-fanciers, and, some wrangling going on about its price, I called 

 out, "I'll take it," and on its being brought nearer I saw it was a sky lark, 

 almost black, with all the flight-feathers and tail pure white. Early in 1872 

 I secured another, somewhat like it, but with less white upon it, and the 

 dark colour more pronounced— almost black ; since then I have 'obtained 

 another very light drab specimen, and yesterday I bought the finest of the 

 lot : it is almost black, but some of the feathers have a fringe of brownish 

 ochrey; it is a male, is very plump, and sings a little. All these seven 

 varieties are caught-specimens. The last light specimen I took out of the 

 "pantil" myself, and all the others except one were obtained from bird- 

 catchers I am acquainted with. To me it does seem strange that for a series 

 of years I should so carefully examine such immense numbers of larks (in 

 one house I went over seventy score dozens in one day) without seeing an 

 abnormal feather, and yet in these last two years, when larks have been 

 comparatively scarce, I should have secured seven good varieties and one or 

 two of less note. — C. S. Gregson ; Base Bank, Fletcher Grove, Liverpool, 

 December 15, 1872. 



Siskins in East Yorkshire.- On the 24th of December, I saw a pair of 

 these active little birds feeding on the seeds of the nettle and close to the 

 town. I have not heard of any occurring in the neighbourhood for some 

 years. — F. Boyes; Beverley, January, 1873. 



lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Taunton. — On the 4th of January a lesser 

 spotted woodpecker was shot at Taunton, and sent to Mr. Wilson, the 

 Pimlico taxidermist, to be preserved. — W. T. Oyilvy ; British Museum, 

 January 16, 1873. 



Pinkfootcd Goose.— In reference to the pinkfooted goose breeding ia 

 confinement, mentioned by me in the ' Zoologist' for 1872 (3. S. 3243) it 



