4716 THE ZooLoGiIsT—DECEMEBER, 1875. 
in his work on ‘British Birds, says that he does so with con- 
siderable reluctance. I must apologise for taking up so much 
space; but, though the subject has been mooted before by Lord 
Clermont, Mr. Mitford, and others (see ‘ Zoologist’ for 1864 and 
1865), I do not find that any particular notice was taken or 
explanation given of the distinctions of the species, but having 
gone through a series of fifteen skins I find the difference of colour 
above mentioned constant at various ages and various stages of 
plumage. 
I must add that it is due to Mr. Saunders to say that he first 
detected the birds in Dr. Woodforde’s collection and called my 
attention to them. , 
CEcIL SMITH. 
Lydeard House, November, 1875. 
Ornithological Noles from Somersetshire and Devonshire. 
By JoHN GarcomBe, Esq. 
(Continued from 8. 8, 4672). 
OcToBER, 1875. 
Ist. The sedge warblers have not yet left us: I saw some to-day 
in the neighbourhood of Moorland. 
5th. The variety of missel thrush mentioned in my last notes 
was, I am sorry to say, killed this morning by a young farmer. 
On examination, I found it to be indeed a beautiful specimen, 
having the whole plumage of a delicate buff, with the exception of 
the exposed parts of the quill-feathers in the wings and tail being 
of a grayish white. The spots of the breast and lower parts are 
plainly visible, and a shade darker than the rest of the plumage ; 
bill, legs, feet and claws yellowish; eyes hazel. I bought the bird 
to prevent its being destroyed or lost, and have it now preserved 
in my possession. 
8th. Observed several small straggling parties of swallows during 
the day, flying in a south-westerly direction.. I may here remark 
that in September I often saw swallows and martins alight on the 
sandy mud-banks of the River Parret, moving about, pecking at, 
and apparently picking up something, but whether insects or the 
fine gritty substance of the bank itself 1 could never quite make 
out, even with a good glass. I believe swallows are not generally 
supposed to require sand or fine gravel to aid digestion. 
