3954 The Zoologist — April, 1874, 



destination; nor do tliey remain here on their return northward in the 

 spring to their breeding haunts, a few at distant periods, but with no cer- 

 tainty, alighting in our pools and wet marshes. — Edward Hcarle Eodd ; 

 Penzance, March 14, 1874. 



I^otc on the Changes of Plumage in (luilleniots and Razorhills. — In 

 Baron von Hiigel's interesting paper on birds observed in Torbay (Zool. 

 S. S. 3906), a suggestion is made that the changes of plumage in the razor- 

 bill and foolish guillemot are not due to season, but to age. Having given 

 in previous years some attention to this subject, I venture to state my belief 

 that these changes are seasonal, but that they are more irregular, and, for 

 the most part, commence much earlier than in other birds. A similar 

 phenomenon occurs in the divers, and in the case of the great northern 

 diver, it may, I think, be proved to be seasonal, as the lower mandible of 

 this species becomes more gibbous when the bird is old than when it is 

 young, and specimens are to be seen which, from this form of the bill, are 

 evidently quite old birds in full winter dress. Some misapprehension also 

 occasionally arises from the common use of the term "summer plumage" 

 for that which is essentially the breeding dress, and would therefore be more 

 appropriately termed the " spring plumage." I may add that I observe, by 

 a mistake of the printer, Baron von lliigers note on the scoter, in the paper 

 above alluded to, has been eri'oneously divided into two paragraphs, the 

 one headed " black ducks," the other headed " scoters." — J. H. Gurneij ; 

 March 2, 1874. 



Pairing of Birds. — It is well known that birds of some species pair for 

 life ; the raven, we know, is constant, and the rook, too, I have little doubt, 

 having frequently observed them, even in mid- winter, flying in pairs and 

 sitting side by side in their nesting-trees and about the old nests ; but it is 

 not generally supposed that many species do so, and it is a difficult point to 

 decide, though I have been long of opinion that with several of our common 

 birds the partnership is not invariably dissolved, of which I have had proof 

 this winter, having seen many in pairs ; for instance, the starling, blackbird, 

 missel thrush, hedgesparrow, stonechat, wren, robin, &c. The cheering 

 notes of many of our songsters were heard throughout the winter. January 

 was quite spring-like ; thermometer seldom below 50°, and on the 15th was 

 up to 56° in the shade.— Henrij Hadfield. 



Economic Value of Alligsilors. — Perhaps many of your readers may not 

 be aware that those large animals, the alligators, which infest every tropical 

 river in America are now being applied to man's use. Bales of their skins 

 are imported into France and Hamburg for the manufacture of large over-all 

 Ijoots.— J". G. Mitchell; Southampton, February 23, 1873. 



