4104 The Zoologist — Apgust, 1874. 



sparrow at a birdstnffer's, in which a part of the head and nearly 

 the whole of the breast was pure white ; the other parts were of 

 the usual colour. Varieties of the hedgesparrow are, I think, not 

 common, but I have observed that it is very subject to a kind of 

 wart or excrescence on the eyelids and feet. 



April, 1874. 



6th. Remarked some gray wagtails with fine black throats. 

 Lesser blackbacked gulls still very numerous in our harbour, and 

 to-day I observed among them one blackheaded gull which had 

 not yet left for its breeding-station : I have never known any 

 of this species to remain in the neighbourhood during the 

 summer. 



8th. A wryneck was killed in the vicinity of Plymouth : this bird 

 is very uncommon in our western counties. Several ring ouzels 

 were also seen on Dartmoor. 



10th. Heard and saw both the willow wren and blackcap on the 

 Cornish side of the river Taraar. 



14th. Up to this time a dealer in live birds living in Plymouth 

 has had no less than nineteen young ravens brought to him from 

 nests taken chiefly on the Cornish coast. 



15th. ChiffchafTs very plentiful and in full song, though the 

 weather was very cold, but saw no willow wrens or blackcaps. 



17th. Observed, in Bickleigh Vale, longtailed tits singly, and in 

 pairs, but none in flocks; also many pairs of gray wagtails by the 

 river-side. Missel thrushes were very numerous, and singing in all 

 directions: this species is certainly much on the increase. Common 

 wren particularly plentiful in the woods. Heard no blackcaps 

 to-day. Examined a ring ouzel, which had been brought to the 

 birdstuffer's for preservation ; its stomach contained nothing but 

 vegetable fibres. 



21st. Again visited Bickleigh Vale, where I found jays very 

 numerous ; also green woodpeckers, many of which latter had been 

 excavating fresh holes in the trees. Saw many dippers and king- 

 fishers by the river. 



25th. Visited Ivybridge, where I saw the common sandpiper by 

 the river, and found wood larks very numerous. I also observed a 

 jackdaw which had a large spot of jnire white on each bastard wing. 

 Noticed a dipper, when flying up the stream, to drop suddenly in 

 the water, going completely under, and allowing the current to carry 



