4262 The Zoologist — December, 1874. 



borders to the dorsal feathers, and underneatli pure white, with the exception 

 of an obloug brocoh-hrowu blotch on the centre of the belly about the size of 

 the palm of your hand. This would give an idea of its being the last remnant 

 of immature plumage, if the dark chocolate-coloured specimens are young 

 birds ; but I hesitate to say that it is so, after the opinion of Mr. Gould that 

 this dark plumage is only indicative of a variety in old aud young birds. — 

 Edward Hearle Rodd. 



Greater Shearwater on the Coasts of Devou aud Cornwall. — After an 

 almost entire disappearance for many years, I am glad to say that the 

 greater shearwater, or " hackbolt," has again visited the coasts of Devon 

 and Cornwall in some numbers, as I had the pleasure of examining three 

 specimens, in the flesh, obtained off Plymouth on the Gth of November, and 

 the next day two more out of four that were captured off Penzance. The 

 five birds that were examined by me appeared rather smaller than usual, 

 and were all in precisely the same state of jjlumage, apparently adult, with 

 the exception of a longish patch of dark brownish gray on the centre of the 

 belly. On former occasions, when the autumnal visits of this species were 

 more frequent, many young birds in their first dark plumage (similar to one 

 of Yarrell's figures) were obtained, but as yet I have not heard of any in 

 that stage having been taken. The birds brought to Plymouth were, on 

 dissection, found to be exceedingly fat aud oily. — J. Gatcomhe ; Nov. 17. 



Au escaped Pelican killed at Favershani.— On the 10th of October a 

 pelican was killed at Faversham by a coast-guardsman : it was in beautiful 

 plumage, and exhibited no signs of confinement. On reading the report, 

 Mr. Arthur Reeve, the manager of the Zoological Gardens at Margate, 

 stated that a pelican flew from its pen in these gardens on Sunday, the 25th 

 September : there can be little doubt that this was the same individual. 



Little Cull near Shrewsbury. — A bird of the year of this species was 

 killed recently near Shrewsbury, and forwarded to me for preservation. — 

 John Shaw ; Shrewshiiri/. — 'Field,' October 31. 



The Peuguiu at the Zoo. — I may truly say it is one of the greatest 

 pleasures of my life to visit any newly-arrived animals at the station where 

 they are exhibited to public inspection for public instruction : whether such 

 station go by the name of " garden," " vivarium," or " aquarium," matters 

 but little. I like to watch them, to observe what they do, how they eat, 

 driuk, make love, aud so forth. Naturalists have different proclivities, 

 aud these proclivities have inaugurated three distinct schools: the first 

 school aims at rectifying the names; the second school brings compasses 

 and a graduated rule to take measurement of the dried skins; while the 

 third, or life school, cares only for what the animal does when allowed 

 as much liberty as is consistent with his safe custody. Each school has 

 its advantages, and the eventual uuiou aud amalgamation of the three 

 may subserve a useful purpose ; at present they are completely distinct. 



