The Zoologist — February, 1873. 3413 



seems worth while to notice the fact that one of the three young ones, 

 though exactly resembhng the other two in his earlier days, even up to the 

 date of my note, has now developed bright orange legs and feet, and what 

 ought to be the pink part of the biU is also bright orange. This peculiarity 

 has been apparent for some months ; but the orange, instead of gradually 

 changing to pink, as I at first expected, has persisted in retaining its 

 colour, and is now as decidedly orange as the legs and bill of the bean 

 goose ; in all other respects he resembles his brothers or sisters (whichever 

 they may be) and his parents. — Cecil Smith; Bishop's Lydeard, near 

 Taunton, December 26, 1872. 



Bravery of a Muscovy. — Some friends of mine have swans on a piece 

 of ornamental water : they had cygnets, one of which survived : the old birds 

 have recently hatched again, and the male swan immediately persecuted 

 the poor cygnet, beating it and so thoroughly distressing it, that its owners 

 were fain to remove it. On the same water were some Muscovy ducks, 

 and the swan next fell foul of the drake, and began serving him in the 

 same manner ; but the Muscovy suddenly leaped on the back of his giant 

 persecutor, and, safely ensconced between his wings, fell to pecking fiercely 

 at the back of his neck. In vain the swan flapped his wings, rushed 

 frantically about, and made every effort to dislodge the Muscovy : he 

 remained immovable, and ceased not to peck away until it was necessary to 

 take him off his perch. — L. Brightwell. [Kindly communicated by Dr. 

 Gray.] 



Eared and Rednecked Grebes in East Yorkshire. — A very fine old female 

 eared grebe, in full winter plumage, was shot near Spurn about the 20th of 

 December last ; and on the 2 1 st an adult female rednecked grebe was shot 

 a few miles above Beverley. The latter was seen diving in a field in the 

 " Carrs," which are now inundated for many miles. — F. Boyes ; Jan. 1873. 



Little Ank and Manx Shearwater near Birmingham. — I have just seen 

 a specimen, in the flesh, of the little auk [Mergulus alle) : it was captured 

 near this town while in a very exhausted condition, so much so that it died 

 in a few minutes after its capture : it only weighed three ounces and three 

 quarters. Last September a specimen of the Manx shearwater [Puffinus 

 anglorum) was also caught in this neighbourhood, which I had the good 

 fortune to see ahve. — W. S. P. Winter; Birmingham. 



Glaucous Gull at Sonthwold^ Suffolk. — An immature specimen of the 

 glaucous gull was shot at Southwold on the 19th of December, and is now 

 in my possession. — H. Durnford; 1, Stanley Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, 

 January 13, 1873. 



Blackthroated Diver in Suffolk. — On the 29th of December last a black- 

 throated diver, a bird of the year, was procured about two miles north of 

 Southwold, Suffolk. — Id. ; January 25, 1873. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VIII. 



