OCCASIONAL NOTES. 177 
frost set in. Both Siskins and Redpolls have been numerous. Mr. J. 8. 
Wright, the taxidermist, at Clifton, in this county, kindly informs me that 
a male example of the Peregrine Falcon was sent to him for preservation. 
It was obtained at Ickwell Bury, by J. Law, gamekeeper, on February 4th. 
A fine male Bittern was shot near Shefford on January 27th. One has not 
been procured here, I believe, for some years. Several Grey Crows have 
been obtained near Bedford this year. This is the more remarkable as a little 
further north they are not met with (of. Yarrell, 4th edit , p. 285, note). 
The Black Crow is very scarce here-—C. Marrnew Prior (Bedford). 
Wuitre’s Turusa in BerwicksHire.—There is no doubt whatever 
that the Thrush shot at Hardacres (p. 183), in the last week of December, 
1878—not September, as misprinted—is the true Turdus varius, Pallas 
(I. Whitei, Eyton). After reading my notice of its occurrence which 
appeared in ‘ Land and Water,’ Professor Newton, through the same paper, 
expressed his desire to see it, which he has now done. He writes:— 
“On comparison with a specimen that has been long mounted, the fresh 
beauty of the colour in yours is very decidedly marked; yet I fear that 
nothing can be done to preserve its tints, and that when as many years 
have elapsed their richness will have disappeared. I have wholly failed to 
find any indication that would enable me to determine the sex or age of 
your bird. . . . There is no question abont its being the true Turdus 
varius of Pallas, though the tail is wanting, an unfortunate thing, as 
therein lies one of the most curious characters of this species—one that is 
possessed, so far as I know, by omy one other species of Thrush—the 
presence of fourteen instead of twelve rectrices.” In the description of the 
wings taken from ‘ Land and Water’ the words “right” and “left” should 
be transposed.—AnpRew Broruerston (Kelso, N. B.). 
Nore on Wutrn’s Tarusu.—As I believe that collectors are occa- 
sionally deceived by Thrushes nearly allied to White’s Thrush being sold 
as that species, it may be interesting to know the whereabouts of some of 
these specimens. There is one at Mr. Swaysland’s, the well-known bird- 
stuffer, at Brighton, and two in the Thurso Museum. One of these latter 
is labelled “‘ Variety of the Redwing from Shetland ;” but there is no good 
reason to believe it was killed there, foreign birds being mixed indis- 
criminately with British in the collection. I fancy that all three birds are 
either Turdus dauma from India or 7’. lunulatus from Australia. They are 
darker in colour than the true T. varius, if my eyes dia not deceive me ; 
but are at once distinguishable as belonging to that section of the genus 
Turdus by their large curved beaks and crescentic markings on back and 
breast. I rather wonder the alleged or mis-labelled Shetland specimen has 
not been recorded as a British-killed White's Thrush, but I suppose the 
Thurso Museum has not often been visited by ornithologists.—-CLirron. 
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