2306 The Zoologist— September, Lb70. 



a distinct species, under the name of Circus aler (Diet. Hist. Nat. iv., p. 459) ; but in 

 the Revue deZool. for 1850, p. 82, is a note by Dr. Pucheran, intended to show that 

 ii is only a variety of C. cineraceus. Prince Buonaparte also confirms this view ia 

 p. 492 of the same volume; and I have no doubt that it is merely a variety, though I 

 suspect it may be an hereditary one from so many instances of it occurring.'" — 

 Edward Newman.} 



The Black Variety of Circus cineraceus. — Some few weeks back I sent an account 

 to the ' Field' of a hawk which I received, supposed to be a black variety of Montagu's 

 harrier. About a fortnight ago, in the same wood, its male the female was seen, with 

 three young ones. One was shot on the 28lh, and I shot one myself on the 29th of 

 last monih. The breasts are of a most beautiful red-bri>wn, the back and head almost 

 black, the feathers edged with the same colour, brown. They are both of them 

 females. I have sent you this, thinking that some of your readers may know from the 

 young whether they are the common Montagu's harrier, or whether they are a distinct 

 black harrier. — B. Bales; Eastbourne. — From the '■Field.' 



White Eggs of a Rubin. — Obtained this season a nest of the robin, containing five 

 perfectly pure white eggs. — E. Charles Moor; Great Beatings, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 

 August 4, 1870. 



Grayheaded Wagtail near Clifton. — On the 16lh of June last I obtained a pair of 

 grayheaded wagtails in a field near Clifton. As in the previous instance of the capture 

 of this species recorded by me, they were associating with specimens of the yellow 

 wagtail. — Marcus S. C. Richards; Clifton, Attgwt 12, 1870. 



Noisy Gatherings of the House Sparrow. — The occasional noisy meetings of the 

 house sparrow, usually about six or seven in number, and frequently held in a low 

 hedge, will be familiar to all your readers. On these occasions their attention is so 

 entirely engaged by the business in hand, that they may often be approached within a 

 few feet and I once saw a cat dash iuto a parly of this kind and make one of them an 

 easy prey, from their total disregard of their usual caution : but I have never yet met 

 with what seemed to me a satisfactory explanation of the cause of these meetings. I 

 have always noticed that these little parties consist of one female bird only and several 

 males who flutter round her with drooping wings, keeping up an incessant chattering 

 all the lime, while she responds to their attentions in a coquettish way, occasionally 

 making a coy peck at one or another, and I believe that these meetings are always 

 convened for purposes of flirtation, ending probably in one of the male aspirants being 

 selected as the lady's mate. A little bit of genuine love-making is always carried on 

 in a very quiet way between the sexes of these birds, and is very different to the 

 hubbub that always characterizes the assemblages to which I have referred. — Gerard 

 Barton; Fundenhall Grange, Wymondhain, July 28, 1870. 



While Egg of a Linnet. — Took this season a pure.white egg of the common gray 

 linnet. — E. Charles Moor. 



Immense Flock of Starlings. — Late in the evening of the 19th of March an 

 immense flock of starlings was uoiiced flying E. by N.E. Tiiey seemed to extend as 

 far as one could see both ways, flying in close company and about one hundred and 

 filty yards high. I mention this, us they are seldom seen in such numbers in this 

 neifihbourhood. — Id. 



Reparation of a maimed Beak in the Chough. — In the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 1015) 

 my laiher mentions that a tame chough, which had beeu seut to me from Cornwall, 



