OCCASIONAL NOTES. 145 
and Pochards are not uncommon, but the other birds are rarities here.— 
Ricrarp J. Ussuer (Cappagh, Cappoquin). 
RREEDING RANGE OF THE Snow BuntTinc.— After reading Professor 
Newton’s and Mr. Cordeaux’s comments (pp. 103, 104) on my note on the 
nesting of the Snow Bunting, I cannot doubt that I mistook the Snow 
Finch for the Snow Bunting. I am perfectly well acquainted with the 
Snow Bunting, having not only shot them in hard winters on this coast, 
but having had abundant opportunity of observing both sexes in confine- 
ment. Assuming, however, that there is a general resemblance between 
this species and Montifringilla nivalis, as Mr. Cordeaux says, and sufli- 
ciently so to invite comparison between the bill and hind claws, I have no 
doubt I mistook a species tolerably familiar to me for another, the existence 
of which I did not even know of. One of the birds that I saw appeared 
very much whiter than the other, and this I took to be the male.—W. 
OxenpeN Hammonp (St. Alban’s Court, near Wingham). 
* Sapine’s SNIPE 1N Hampsuire.—So many specimens of the so-called 
Sabine’s Snipe have been procured of late years that it has ceased to be the 
rarity it was at one time supposed to be. Moreover, it is now generally 
regarded by ornithologists as merely a dark variety, tending towards 
melanism, of the Common Snipe. I have lately seen a specimen which 
was shot on the last day of July, 1880, by the Hon. W. Palmer, a son of 
Lord Selborne, at Wolmer Pond, Hants. This was a young bird, and less 
dark than usual in its coloration.—J. E. Harrine. 
Aw atpino Wuite-ratteD Eacts.—I have procured a specimen of 
the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaétus albicilla), in accidental or albino plumage, 
bluish white, similar to the Herring Gull. A pair of them were seen, and 
this one shot. I sent it to the naturalist for the Edinburgh Museum for 
preservation, and it is now in my possession. While in Edinburgh it was 
exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Physical Society on the 9th November, 
and a note was sent me to the effect that only one other bird in this 
plumage is in Scotland. This is in the Dunrobin Museum, and was shot 
in Sutherland.—J. T. Garrrock (Prospect House, Lerwick). 
Ewer Duck in Sussex.—Referring to Mr. Langton’s note in ‘ The 
Zoologist’ for February (page 63), I may state that three specimens of the 
Bider Duck, killed on the Sussex coast since the publication of ‘ Ornitho- 
logical Rambles,’ have come under my notice. One in my own collection 
was obtained at Selsey in December, 1858. On December 18th, 1867, 
I saw one which had just been killed at Wittering. The third was killed 
by a Bosham gunver in the harbour on December 11th, 1872: he called 
it a “black duck,” which is a name usually applied in this part to the 
Scoters.— W1nLiaM JeFFERY (Ratham, Chichester). 
U 
