NOTES AND QUERIES. 349 
male and female, last year in a collection at Warwick. A Quail frequented 
a clover-field near this house in May; I heard it calling on several evenings, 
but do not know that any nest was found when the field was mown. From 
its curious note, this bird takes in Oxfordshire the name of ‘‘ Twit-me-dick,” 
but perhaps “ Twit-middick ” would express the sound better. ‘The fact of 
their having a local name shows that Quails must at one time have been 
tolerably common in this county, but they are now very rarely met with. 
I have seen no eggs taken in the north of the county within the last ten 
years, and Mr, Wyatt has not stuffed a specimen for some years past. A 
Black-headed Gull in immature dress was shot in the Cherwell meadows, 
near King’s Sutton, on July 11th. On the 19th a Green Sandpiper had 
put in an appearance at the Reservoir; this is the earliest date in autumn 
at which I have met with it—O.iver V. Arxin (Great Bourton, Oxon). 
Varieties of the Carrion Crow.—Mr. W. K. Petherick, of Taunton, 
has recently shown me a curious variety of the Crow, shot by Gen. Kepple 
Taylor, of Staplegrove. It may be described as of a rich umber-brown: 
the back of the head and nape-feathers are of a somewhat paler tint, 
inclining to ashy brown; the breast is almost entirely ashy brown, the 
feathers getting richer in colour towards the vent. The wings area pale 
brown, the flights being a rich umber-brown. The beak and legs approach 
the normal colour, but are slightly brown. Altogether the bird is of a very 
_ warm umber-brown colour. A white specimen of the Carrion Crow was 
shot the last week in June at Hawkridge, near Dulverton, by Mr. James 
Bawden, of East Hollowcombe. This also has been preserved by Mr. W. K. 
Petherick, and Mr. Bawden has kindly allowed me to add it to my collection. 
—Joun Marsuatt (Belmont, Taunton). 
Little Owl in Yorkshire.—In November of last year (1884) one of 
‘these pretty little Owls was taken on board a fishing boat just off Scar- 
borough, and brought alive to a birdstuffer in the town, Mr. A. Roberts, 
who preserved it for my collection. About six weeks later another of these 
birds was taken in a trap at Leamore, about four miles from Scarborough, 
inland. This also was brought alive to Mr. Roberts. Probably both birds 
came over together from the Continent, and one was fortunate enough to 
escape capture for a few weeks longer than the other.—J. WuitaKer 
(Rainworth Lodge, Notts). 
Variety of the Magpie.—I have recently examined a curious variety of 
the Magpie. It is a young bird just out of the nest, fully feathered, but 
with the tail-quills only four or five inches long. ‘The head, neck, and 
upper breast are of a smoky dun-colour; the back wings and tail silver- 
grey, the colour being particularly silvery on the tertials; primaries marked 
with white, as usual; the white of the scapulars strongly tinged with buff, 
aud that of the under parts with the same tint in a less degree. Bill and 
