30 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
showed no desire to leave the garden; but shortly before I saw them they 
were frightened by a cat, and since that time they have flown out to roost, 
returning at daylight to receive their breakfast.—T. H. Netson (Redcar). 
Variety of the Wild Duck.—When shooting near Adderbury, Oxon, 
on October 4th, we bagged a curious light-coloured variety of the Wild 
Duck (Anas boschas, female). The ordinary brown is everywhere replaced 
by various shades of buff, and the light-coloured markings are much paler 
than usual. The white of the wing-lining is strongly tinged with yellow, 
and the same tint is noticeable on many of the light-coloured feathers. 
Primaries stone-coloured, with the inside webs, except the tip, nearly 
white ; legs and beak perhaps a little lighter and brighter than usual. 
The bird rose from the swere with a normally coloured one, which afforded 
us the means of at once noting the stranger’s peculiarities by comparison. 
—O.iver V. Apuin (Great Bourton, Oxon). 
Late nesting of the Yellowhammer.— On September 10th, while 
Partridge shooting, and looking for a wounded bird, I found a Yellow- 
hammer’s nest, in a gorse-bush, containing three eggs and two young 
birds.—T. N. Posrteruwalrte (Hallthwaites, Millom, Cumberland). 
Spotted Redshank in Co. Sligo.—On the 8th October last, when 
passing along the Scurmore shore in my gunning punt, I observed a Spotted 
Redshank, Totanus fuscus, in the company of two Greenshanks. I passed 
within about twenty yards, but not having my small gun with me I was 
unable to secure it. When paddling past the same place, on the 14th, 
I met with the bird again, in company with two Greenshanks, probably the 
same pair. I followed them for nearly a mile along the shore, and although 
I several times got within range I was unable to fire, the punt being too 
unsteady in the rough water. However, at last I got, as I thought, a fair 
shot, and fired, but missed the bird, which after all got off uninjured. 
Ropert WaRREN (Moyview, Ballina). 
Wildfowl Decoys.—May I ask your readers, through you, if any 
interested in the subject will supply me with the names and positions 
of past and present wildfowl decoys in our Islands. Though I have a large 
amount of plans and sketches, and many hundred letters, about Decoys, 
still there may be much information I have not yet received. I think 
that Decoys deserve a standard work, and this want I hope to supply.— 
Ratpg P. Gatiwey (Cowling Hall, Bedale). 
Breeding Habits of the Hooded Crow.— Hooded Crows breed in this 
neighbourhood in considerable numbers. Several pairs this season fre- 
quented some low-lying meadows called the Coolfin bogs. They are by 
no means gregarious in the breeding season, and hardly so at other 
times about here; although I once saw eight of them feeding together in 
