NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 55 



Devonport, and my friend Col. Marcon killed a young male 

 assuming the adult plumage, on the river Yealm, near Plymouth ; 

 its stomach was distended with small spiral mollusks, mixed 

 with the claws and remains of minute crabs. 



On November 12th I observed three or four immature Black 

 Redstarts near the Plymouth Citadel, but a pugnacious Robin 

 having quarters in the same localitj^ to my great annoyance, 

 constantly' trying to drive them off, which he effectually did on 

 their attempting to approach his domain. The following day 

 I saw Redstarts at the Devil's Point, Stonehouse, and an old 

 male with the others near the Citadel, the Robins again allowing 

 them no peace. 



On November 14th I saw another adult male Redstart near 

 the Point. At the birdstuffer's there were some Owls, both 

 brown and white, with one Short-eared Owl, the first and only 

 specimen the stuffer had received for the season. The stomach 

 of the Barn Owl contained three whole shrews with the remains 

 of others. A great many Woodcocks were brought to the markets 

 about this date, and I examined a nice male Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker and Water Ouzel, both obtained in the neighbourhood 

 of Plymouth. 



The following albino varieties were observed or procured : — 

 A white Swallow seen near Dartmouth ; a white Bullfinch killed 

 at St. Germans; and a white Linnet shot out of a flock of birds 

 of the ordinary colour, in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, by my 

 friend Mr. C. Clark, of St. James Place. This specimen, the 

 prettiest variety of Linnet I ever saw, was of a delicate pure 

 white, with just a brownish feather on either side of the tail. 



Kingfishers were very plentiful last autumn, and many, I am 

 sorry to say, found their way to the local birdstufi'ers. 



During the first week in December many Black Redstarts 

 were observed on the coast; one was killed on the Laira embank- 

 ment near Plymouth, and others observed in difl'erent localities. 

 On the 10th a Long-eared and a Short-eared Owl were brought 

 to the Stonehouse birdstuffer from Cornwall, the latter being 

 only the second recorded during the season. White and Brown 

 Owls, I am sorry to say, are almost daily brought in, and the 

 stomachs of all I have examined were invariably filled with the 

 remains of rats and mice. Two specimens of the Cornish Chough 

 were also received, both of which were caught in " gins," and 



