NOTES AND QUERIES. 339 



that the Flamingo had been blown by this gale to the British shores. 

 Whether he came from North Africa or from the South of France (mouth 

 of the Rhone) it is impossible to tell ; but that the bird was a wild one, 

 and had been blown to England by stress of weather, I have no doubt." — 

 H. J. Scott. 



Unusual Variety of the Snipe. — T have been intending for some 

 time past to send you a note uf a variety of the Common Snipe, inter- 

 mediate in general colouring between the so-called " Sabine's Snipe" and 

 the common species, though approximating more nearly to the latter. It 

 was bought at a poulterer's at Hastings in the winter of 1881-2, and was 

 killed in the vicinity. It was secured by Mr. Sorrell, who showed it to 

 me when at St. Leonards some time afterwards. Having recently seen 

 the collections of Mr. Bond and Mr. Whitaker, I may state from recollection 

 that there is no variety of the Common Snipe in either of these fine 

 collections like the Hastings bird, but, if a comparison could be made, it 

 would probably be found to be like the Irish specimen recorded by you in 

 'The Zoologist' for July (p. 272). — J. H. Gurney, jun. (Hill House, 

 Northrepps, Norwich). 



Rose-coloured Pastor in Sutherlandshire. — A fine male of Pastor 

 roseiis was shot, with another example, at Bordighera, on June 7th, and 

 brought in tlie flesh to my sister, by the owner of the cherry oichard which 

 it had frequented. It seems not improbable tiiat they might have nested 

 in ihe neighbourhood had they escaped molestation. A female of P. roseiis 

 was shot about tlie same time in Sutherlandshire, and sent in the flesh to 

 Macleay, of Inverness, who showed it to me when just set up. — H. A. 

 Macpheiiso.n (Carlisle). 



Curious Site for a Redstart's Nest. — When nesting in the big wood 

 here in April last, I saw a Redstart fly out of some dead leaves, and on 

 looking found a nest with six eggs. The nest was on the ground under 

 the leaves, and a run of about six inches through the leaves led to it. 

 I have seen many nests of this bird, but none in this situation before. — 

 J. Whitaker (Rain worth Lodge, Mansfield). 



Fieldfares and Redwings. — In reference to Mr. Young's note (p. 228) 

 on the scarcity of Fieldfares and Redwings during the past winter, I may 

 say that here both species were very abundant up to the end of November. 

 I noticed Redwings (eight birds) first on October 6th, and Fieldfares (a flock 

 of about fifty) on November 3rd. On the 10th and 11th of that month my 

 diary runs : — " Very large numbers of Fieldfares, more than I have seen 

 for two or three years — several considerable flocks. Many Redwings. 

 Fieldfares in great abundance." I don't think I ever went into the Cherwell 

 meadows all the winter without seeing a few of both species. The last 



