THE ZooLoGist—NovEMBER, 1875. 4695 
Lapland Bunting at Brighton.—A young male Lapland bunting (Plec- 
trophanes lapponica) was caught in a pair of clap-nets in the first week of 
October, and was purchased by Mr. Swaysland.—G@. Swaysland, jun. 
American Whitewinged Crossbill in the North Sea—An account of an 
American whitewinged crossbill (Lowxia leucoptera) of mine, which flew on 
board the vessel ‘ Beecher Stowe’ in the North Sea, appears in the ‘ Norfolk 
and Norwich Naturalists’ Transactions for 1873’ (p. 117). I placed it in 
the aviary of Mr. Stevenson, but it died while I was in Egypt, after living 
nearly five years in confinement. As it is such a rare bird I thing it worth 
sending a note to you about it. Mr. Fitton’s specimen, which was washed 
ashore at Exmouth, is now in Mr. Van Voorst’s possession.—J. H. 
Gurney, jun. 
The Whitebacked Woodpecker (Picus leuconotus, Bechst.) a British Bird.— 
In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1861 (Zool. 7754) the late Dr. Saxby records a couple 
of greater spotted woodpeckers at Halligarth,—the first ever killed in Shet- 
land,—and the forerunners of a movement which extended from Norfolk to 
the Feeroe Islands. In 1868 a portion of that naturalist’s collection passed 
into my possession, including one of the woodpeckers. My father at once 
judged it to be something more than a variety, and soon after, Messrs. 
Sharpe and Dresser being engaged in writing the history of this species for 
the ‘ Birds of Europe,’ I submitted my specimen to them; and, as they give 
a lengthened description of it, I will only say that the chief points in which 
it differs from the young of P. major, L., are the very distinct streaks of 
brownish black down the sides of the breast and belly, the ash-gray wing- 
coverts and nape, and the pale vermilion vent. They were unable to say 
anything positive about the bird; but Mr. Gould asked for the loan of it, 
and made it out to be the young of the whitewinged woodpecker (Picus 
leuconotus), and before concluding his work on the ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ 
he worthily installed it as a new British bird. —Td. 
Tichodroma phenicoptera in Norfolk.—With reference to the extremely 
interesting note in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4664) as to the occurrence of a 
British specimen of the “ wall-creeper,” allow me to add that Stratton 
Strawless Hall, where the bird was obtained, is situate in Norfolk, about 
seven miles north of Norwich. It was an ancient mansion, which subse- 
quently to 1792 has been entirely rebuilt—J. H. Gurney. 
Hoopoe near Ipswich.—A hoopoe, recently shot in the neighbourhood 
of Ipswich is now in the hands of Mr. Podd, birdstuffer, of that town, for 
preservation. Is it not a very rare bird? and have you any record of others 
being shot in England ?—Correspondent of ‘ Field’ Newspaper. 
Young Cuckoo and Robin: a Case of Adoption.—About the 28rd of 
May last I discovered a titlark’s nest, upon the heaths near here, containing 
five young ones in a very juvenile condition. As I passed the same 
situation almost daily, I viewed the tiny inmates of the nest with some 
