10 THK ZOOLOGIST. 



a certain degree of freshness, proving the rapid action of the 

 gastric juice. Each fish was nipped across the middle, and the 

 sharp points of the hird's mandibles had penetrated the softer 

 part (abdomen) of the fish. 



Cormorant and Shag. — As several instances of the perching 

 of water-birds have recently been placed on record, it may 

 perhaps be of interest to add that an immature specimen of the 

 Shag, sent me on February '2'2nc\ last, was shot whilst perched 

 on the spire of the parish church of Attleborough, as I was 

 informed by Sir Thomas Beever, Bart., to whose collection the 

 specimen has been added. Four or five young Cormorants were 

 observed in Yarmouth Roads early in September last, and I saw 

 one on the 11th of that month about a hundred yards from the 

 beach. 



UNCOMMON VARIETIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 

 By Oliver V Aplin. 



During a visit to Mr. J. Whitaker, at Eainworth Lodge, near 

 Mansfield, I had an opportunity of inspecting his very unique 

 collection of birds, amongst which are the follhwing singular 

 varieties, a list of which I think will be of interest to your 

 readers : — 



Lanius collurio. — 1, pure white. 



Muscicapa grisola. — 1, pure white. 



Turdus viscivorus. — 1, very pale coloured. 



T. musicus. — 1, white variety ; 2, very pale coloured; 3, ditto. 



T. pilaris. — 1, pied about the head and neck. 



T. iliacus. — 1, curious variety (described Zool. 1882, p. 151), 

 chestnut-coloured, but showing all the markings. 



T. merula. — 1 and 2, white varieties ; 3, roan-coloured ; 5, 

 cream-coloured ; 6, hair-brown ; 7,8,9 and 10, more or less pied 

 with white. 



T. torquatiis. — 1, pied about the head and back. 



Accentor modularis. — 1 and 2, cream-coloured ; 3, sandy ; 4, 

 white, with brown wings. 



Eriihacus rubecida. — 1, white variety ; 2, ash-coloured. 



Pratincola rubicola. — 1, pied on the head, back, and wings. 



P. rubetra. — 1, pale yellow- coloured variety. 



Soxicola cenanthe. — 1, the upper plumage snow-white. 



