THE ZOOLOGIsT—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5085 
of Lord Lilford, have removed any doubts on the subject which might 
previously have remained in my mind, and I think placed it beyond doubt 
that there is a swan differing (as shown by Mr. Yarrell in 1838) from 
Cygnus olor, which produces white or nearly white cygnets, and these not 
albinos. There are on the rivers and broads of Norfolk swanherds of great 
experience, and I have never been able to learn from them of one instance 
of a white cygnet appearing in the many broods of mute swans which they 
have reared. The mixed brood mentioned by Dr. Westerman is the only 
instance I have heard of, and that I believe may readily be accounted for, 
as suggested by Mr. Yarrell, by one of the parents being a mute swan. 
Mr. Gurney, jun., says these mixed broods have occurred “more than 
once,” and gives references to authorities to which I have not access. From 
the fact of more than one Polish swan killed in this neighbourhood having 
been partially pinioned, I am led to believe that—although others have 
been undoubtedly wild specimens—there are birds of this species at large 
on our waters unknown to their owners, and that various degrees of infusion 
of the Olor blood may account for individuals which I have observed 
partaking more or less of the characters of both species. Mr. Gurney, jun., 
mentions such birds on the Serpentine and at Gatton Park; I have noticed 
others, and one on the lake in Battersea Park, so far as I had an oppor- 
tunity of observing it, appeared to me to be almost a pure Polander. Like 
Mr. Gurney, jun., I do not wish to anticipate Mr. Stevenson, who will enter 
at length into the subject in his forthcoming volume of the ‘ Birds of Nor- 
folk,’ and Mr. Gurney will doubtless report upon the pair now rearing their 
young at Northrepps, which I have watched with very great interest.— 
Thomas Southwell; Norwich, August 14, 1876. 
Varieties of the Teal (Zool. S. S. 5047)—I have more than once shot 
very rufous specimens of the teal—i.e. with the under parts suffused with 
rufous or rusty ochre. I have always considered that this was caused by 
the oxide of iron in the water where the birds have been in the habit of 
feeding, aud I have little doubt a chemical examination of the colouring 
matter on the feathers of such specimens will show that the colour is due 
to some staining process. Mr. Sclater (Zool. S.S. 4816) mentions having 
sponged the breast of his bird with hartshorn, but I am doubtful if harts- 
horn would take out a stain caused by oxide of iron, though it might remove 
a superticial stain of blood. I may meution also that I have shot one or 
two specimens of the common wild duck in this neighbourhood with similar 
coloration on the breast, which I have also considered was caused by oxide 
of iron.—J. A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, Larbert, August 1, 1876. 
Food of the Redbreasted Merganser.— December 19, 1866. An old male 
from Ireland skinned by me contained in its esophagus a crab, and a 
fifteen-spined stickleback about five inches long, which may be worth 
recording, as showing the food of this species. —J. H. Gurney, jun. 
SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 22 
