232 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



singing, which was shot, and placed in Mr. Eaton's hands (p. 3807). 

 "Apparently Redpolls are not uncommon in that part of Wiide Bay. Our 

 men saw five or six on the uplands in the same neighbourhood. They also 

 found a nest," which was probably of this species. 



Ringed Plover, JEgialitis hiaticula, L. — " Lieut. Chermside saw a 

 Ringed Plover in Wiide Bay, which attempted to entice him away by 

 shamming lameness, as if its nest was close at hand " (3809). 



Pomatorhine Skua, Stercurarius jiomatorhimis, Temm. — Six obtained in 

 Hinlopen Straits in August. Numerous off Low Land (south coast of 

 North-East Land). A few seen at Hope Island in September. 



Buffon's Skua, S. longicaudus, Vieillot. — Seen at Wiide Bay ; Diana 

 Island, entrance to East Fjord ; and in various localities between the main- 

 land of Spitzbergen and North-East Laud. Several examples were shot. 



Bernicle Goose, Anser leucopsis, Beclist. — A party seen, out of which 

 seven were obtained, on the hills opposite Diana Island, on July 22nd 

 (p. 3815). — Alfrkd Heneaqe Cocks (Great Marlow, Bucks). 



Song of the Tree Sparrow. — The other day, when standing by the 

 pond-side here, 1 heard a song which I never remember to have heard 

 before ; it came from a small bird on the top of a tall larch. I could not 

 quite make out the bird amongst the thick branches, so I shot it, and was 

 surprised to find it was a Tree Sparrow. The notes were very sweet, and 

 six or sevezi in number, which when gone through were repeated, something 

 like a Bullfinch, but softer and much more sweet — a song of some pre- 

 tensions, and exceedingly pleasant to the ear. — J. Wuitakeu (Raiuwortb 

 Lodge, Mansfield). 



Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail in Confinement. — The following 

 account of forty-eight hours' acquaintance with Motacilla fiava may 

 perhaps be interesting as showing an extraordinary degree of tameness. 

 At this time of the year (end of April and beginning of May) M.flava is 

 caught at Malta in considerable numbers and sold alive to act as flycatchers. 

 Their wings are clipped, and they are allowed to run about in the kitchens 

 and houses in order to keep down the supply of flies ; they arc never fed, 

 but live by their own exertions. One morning I noticed one in our mess- 

 kitchen which had oulybeen obtained four days back from the bird-catcher. 

 This bird I took to my own room (this was at 9 a.m. on the 19th April). 

 To catch it we chased it up and down the kitchen sufficient to frighten any 

 ordinary bird almost to death, but when I released it from my hand in my 

 room it simply ruffled its feathers and ran about as if nothing had happened. 

 I caught a few flies and tried to induce it to eat from my fingers, but it 

 would not do so, but took them readily from tlie ground about an inch 

 rom my hand. I will now quote from my notes : — " Now, '4 p.m., it will 

 eat out of my hand. When I conic into the room, after a short absence, it 

 runs to meet me, apparently expecting rcady-caugbt flies. During the 



