THE ZooLocist—DEcEMBER, 1875. 4723 
to obtain specimens in October and November; but I think enough has 
been said to show that it would be very interesting if some of your other 
correspondents, who have wintered in the same countries as the blackeap, 
would let us know their experience as to the retention or mot of the black 
head.—C. Bygrave Wharton; Kingsley, Staffordshire, October 80, 1875. 
Waxwings without Wax.—I have a waxwing with no wax tips. I always 
considered this a curious bird, and I have only just now noticed the record 
of a similar one having been killed in Norfolk (Zool. 3560). The authors of 
‘ North American Birds’ say (vol. i., p. 396) that it is « very common” to find 
such individuals in the cedar-bird and waxwing. It may be so in America, 
but it most assuredly is not the case with the waxwing in England.— 
J. H. Gurney, jun. 
Whitebacked Woodpecker.—In consequence of Mr. Gurney’s interesting 
communication to the ‘ Zoologist’ for November respecting this bird, I have 
searched my brother's journal for the year in question (1861), and find reason 
to believe that almost all the birds in the flight which visited Shetland in 
the autumn of that year were of the species now determined by Mr. Gould 
to be P. leuconotus, and new to the British list. The first specimen obtained 
was certainly P. major, as shown by the minutely detailed cabinet description. 
All the others seen or shot appear to have markedly differed from it. M y 
impression is that my brother was thrown off his guard by getting the 
P. major first, and assumed that the birds in company were of the same 
Species in immature plumage. There is evidence of considerable per- 
plexity, however, the abraded condition of beak and claws, so unusual in 
young birds, attracting repeated attention. It was explained by the sup- 
position that the stones, amongst which the food had to be sought, in the 
almost entire absence of trees, had caused more than usual wear and tear. 
There is an incidental note in the journal, at this place, with regard to the 
anatomy of the Picidz, which I may as well transcribe on the chance of 
your caring to print it. We read, “In both of these birds, and indeed in all 
other woodpeckers which I have had an opportunity of examining, I have 
observed the unusual size of the cutaneous nerves, and the closeness with 
which the skin adheres to the body. This circumstance may perhaps be 
worthy of consideration in connection with the bird’s well-known suscepti- 
bility to atmospheric influences.” Of the two specimens thus remarked 
upon, one was undoubtedly P. major, so there is nothing of specific value 
here.— Stephen H. Saxby ; East Clevedon, Somerset. 
A Turtle Dove’s Nest utilised by a Wood Pigeon.—Towards the end of 
the vacation (I cannot say the date) I took two turtle dove's eggs from a nest 
that I had found: they were rather hard sat upon. Happening to pass by 
the place a few days after, I noticed that somehow the nest had increasod 
considerably in size, and on the 10th of August I heard that an egg of the 
ring dove or common wood pigeon had been taken from it. Is this of 
