OCCASIONAL NOTES. 489 
altogether correct, and that ‘“‘nynmurder” is equivalent to the German 
name ‘neuntodter,” which I believe is applied both to Lanius ewcubitor 
and to L. collwrio,, and was embodied by Boie in, the generic name 
“ Hnneoctonus,” proposed by him for the latter species. The German 
term is founded on the popular idea (still current in Hanover) that the 
Butcher-bird slays and impales nine victims every day.—J. H. Gurney 
(Northrepps Hall, Norwich). 
Axpine, Swirr at Fincatuy, Mippiusux.—L have lately received full 
particulars, relating to, the occurrence of an Alpine Swift, which was killed 
at. Finchley during the first week in August, 1860, by Mr. Bates, farmer, 
of that. place. He tells me that he was looking for a hawk which he had 
previously seen, and was standing with his gun in his hand, when he saw 
the bird coming towards him at a great height. From the great length of 
its wings and its way of soaring, he mistook it for the hawk for which he had 
been waiting, and as soon as it had passed overhead he fired at it. The shot 
took effect, and the bird slowly fell to the ground in the Islington Cemetery, 
in the Finchley Road, about a hundred yards from where it was shot. He 
had the bird set up, and it is still in his possession, but he did not know 
what it was until I told him, on my attention being called to it by a friend 
who ‘had seen the bird, but was equally ignorant of the species.—W. J. 
STERLAND (New Southgate). 
Scorer and SHAG in NorTHaMProNsHIRE.—The female Scoter shot 
in Northamptonshire, on August'20th (p. 427), was doubtless the partner of 
my bird obtained, the day before, at Shefford, in Bedfordshire. A Shag has 
been |recorded. oncé, or twice from the neighbouring county of Oxon, and 
it seems» a ‘curious fact that when these birds and Cormorants: do come 
inlandthey often perch on steeples, no doubt considering them the: best 
substitutes for rocks.—C. Marruew Prior (Bedford). 
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nic 
SHORE Lark IN CorNWALL.—Two very prettily marked specimens of 
this Lark were shot a day or two since in St. Monyn, a parish not far from 
Padstow, on our north coast, and adjoining Trevose Head. The black and 
yellow markings about the head, chin, and sides of the head are well 
shown, and I was surprised to see the yellow tone so developed, as Yar rell, 
I t nink, speaks of this colour fading twenty-four hours after death.— 
Epwanp Hearne Ropp (Penzance). 
“ae cir Conouk oF FraTaErs IN Live Birps.—It is stated, 
in Fletcher and Kidder’s ‘ Brazil,’ that the Indians have a curious art’ by 
which they change the colour of the plumage of many birds, They pluck 
out a certain number of feathers, and in the various vacancies thus occasioned 
infuse,the milky secretion made from the skin of a small frog. When the 
feathers grow, again, they are of a brilliant yellow or orange colour, without 
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