190 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the 22nd I saw another bird at the Reservoir; and lastly, Mr. W. W. Fowler 
wrote me word that he had seen two in the Evenlode, near Kingham, on 
December 24th.—O iver V. Apuin (Great Bourton, near Banbury). 
Note on the Snow Bunting. — Mr. Henry Williams, principal light- 
keeper on Aranmore Island, off N.W. Donegal, has sent me two Snow 
Buntings in plumage which are worth noting. They were shot in the 
first week in May, 1883, and are almost in full summer attire. I for- 
warded the most advanced specimen to Prof. Newton, and he observes 
that the bill is not absolutely black; and that some feathers on the 
rump have not shed their fringes, and that therefore it cannot be said 
to be in full summer attire; but he adds, ‘‘I am sure I have seen 
Snow Buntings breeding in a far less advanced condition.” Mr. Williams 
is well acquainted with the species in its ordinary winter dress, but did 
not recognise these as Snow Buntings at all; and entered them in his 
schedule as ‘‘ Lapland Buntings,” adding that the oldest person on Aran- 
more had never seen the species before. At the time I was not aware the 
skins had been preserved; and the Lapland Bunting not being known as 
an Irish species, Mr. More and I added a note to the effect that it was 
probably some state of plumage of the Snow Bunting (see ‘ Report on 
Migration of Birds,’ 1883, p. 101). On April 27th, 1883, another Snow 
Bunting shot, but Mr. Williams observes that it was “‘one of the common 
birds” which remained on the island during the winter. The so-called 
‘Lapland Buntings” arrived after these had departed. The first week in 
May is the latest date recorded in Ireland for this species, and it is early 
for the summer plumage to be so far advanced (but see Newton's ‘ Yarrell,’ 
vol. ii., p. 12, footnote). Prof. Newton remarks in his letter to me that if 
the birds have been * wintering well,” the summer plumage is likely to 
appear early. This is entirely borne out by the condition of the best 
specimen from Aranmore—a large quantity of fat still adheres to the skin, 
and our best taxidermist states that it will be impossible to mount it for 
this reason. Mr. Williams has entered a Snow Bunting on August 18th, 
1883, which he states was in winter plumage, and appeared wounded.— 
Ricuarp M. Barrineton (Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow). 
The Glaucous Gull in Skye. — When rowing across Dunvegan Loch, 
on April 10th, I was pleased to detect a single example of Larus glaucus 
in a mob of L. argentatus gathered round the ‘ Assistance.’ I attempted to 
stalk it in shore on the 11th, but unsuccessfully, though my keeper shot it 
later in the day. To the naked eye it appeared to be altogether of a creamy 
white, but my glasses showed clearly the mottled wing-coverts. Judging 
from Saxby’s observations, the date is a late one; but the weather had 
been cold, and the wind easterly. I may add that the iris of this bird, 
which J believe to be approaching adult plumage (i. e., in the following 
