230 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the first albino of this species I have heard of, although I have a cream- 
coloured one which was obtained last year (1884) in Leicestershire.— 
J. Wuiraker (Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield). 
[Donovan has figured an albino of this species in his ‘ British Quadru- 
peds,’ pl. 48; and another caught alive at East Bergholt, near Colchester, 
in November, 1872, is recorded in ‘The Field’ of November 30th, 1872. 
Mr. Borrer, of Cowfold, near Horsham, has in his collection a very pretty 
variety, procured some years ago in his neighbourhood. It is of a uniform 
clear buffy white.—Eb. | 
BIRDS. 
Common and Honey Buzzards in Lancashire and Staffordshire.— 
A male and female Common Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris, were taken in traps, 
in February last, on Bleasdale, in North Lancashire ; and a female Honey 
Buzzard, Pernis apivorus, was shot by a keeper at Swynnerton, in Stafford- 
shire, on September 17th last—W. FirzuerBert BrockHo es (Claughton- 
on-Brock, Garstang). 
The Species of British-killed Spotted Eagles determined.—In his 
article on the Spotted Eagle (Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. i., p. 107) Mr. Seebohm 
says—* In ‘ The Ibis’ for 1877 Mr. Gurney refers the two Spotted Eagles 
killed in Cornwall, and recorded in ‘The Zoologist’ for 1861 to Aquila 
clanga, the Larger Spotted Eagle. In Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ this 
decision is quoted and endorsed. I believe, however, that I am in a 
position to prove that this is an erroneous one, and that it is the Lesser 
Spotted Eagle (to which species Dresser gives the name of Aquila 
pomarina, but which the great majority of ornithologists have called, and 
doubtless will still continue to call, Aquila nevia) which has occurred in 
Britain.” Mr. Seebohm then proceeds to argue from the measurements 
given by Mr. Gurney that the Cornish birds must be referable to Aquila 
pomarina, but he has never taken the trouble to examine either of the two 
specimens which have been obtained to test the question by a critical 
examination, as Mr. Gurney did before hazarding an opinion; and the 
consequence is that Mr. Seebohm has jumped to a wrong conclusion, 
When in Cornwall, last November, I visited Trebartha Hall, where the late 
Mr. Roda’s collection is now placed, purposely to see the specimen of the 
Spotted Eagle in that collection. There had recently been a fire at the 
Hall, and the collection had been taken out of the museum-room; but Mr. 
T. Rashleigh Rodd (the late Mr. E. H. Rodd’s nephew), the present owner 
of the place, most courteously gave me full access to it, and afforded me 
every facility for examining the birds. The glass of the case containing the 
Spotted Eagle had been broken in the hurry and confusion of removal at 
the outbreak of the fire, so that I could thoroughly examine the bird; and 
can now state without hesitation that it is referable to Aquila elanga, and 
not Aquila pomarina. It is a very dark boldly-spotted bird, not having the 
