NOTES AND QUERIES. 425 



folded, so that the large nails of the fourth and fifth digits only are visible in 

 the natural position of the limbs. The hind limbs are also short, with the 

 soles turned outwards. The tail 2 cm. long and 5 mm. wide at the 

 insertion tapers to 3 mm. and terminates in a knob-like tip. About 15 mm. 

 in front of the vent, there is a pouch in the integument about 4 mm. wide, 

 with the opening directed backwards and having a depth in a forward 

 direction of from 4 — 5 mm. The surface of this pouch is devoid of hair, 

 but the bare area is surrounded by thick fawn-coloured fur, with a slightly 

 reddish tint; it is possible, however, that this reddish tint is due wholly or 

 in part to some ferruginous-looking sand, which is much mixed up with the 

 fur. The body generally, with the exception of the lower two-thirds of the 

 tail, which is bare, is covered with fur of a rather lighter tint. The intestines 

 had unfortunately been removed, but in a small part of the lower bowel 

 which was left, the remains of ants were found. With regard to the lower 

 jaw and the general characters of the teeth, Mr. Stirling was struck with 

 their resemblance to these parts (as figured in various osteological works) of 

 Amphitherium. 



BIRDS. 



Pallas's Sand Grouse in Norway.— An example of Pallas's Sand 

 Grouse was obtained at Roraas, Norway (in lat. 62° 36' N.), in April of this 

 year. It is now preserved in one of the stations on the Throndhjem-Hamar 

 Railway. The station-master expressed himself as sure of the month, but 

 his answer to my further question, as to whether there had been more than 

 this one individual, was lost in the noise of the train as it moved out of the 

 station. I could easily write and ask for further particulars, if this should 

 chance to be the most northerly record of this species in this year's 

 visitation, or if it is of special interest on any other account. — Alfred H. 

 Cocks (Great Mario w, Bucks). 



Tree Sparrow breeding in Middlesex. — In 'The Zoologist' for 

 September last (p. 355), Mr. Barrett-Hamilton pointed out the omission 

 of Middlesex from the counties in which, according to Yarrell, it has been 

 found breeding, and after expressing his doubt whether it has since been 

 recorded from Middlesex, concluded by stating that it breeds annually near 

 Harrow. An editorial note appended to this communication was intended 

 to refer to a previous volume (Zool. 1877, p. 24), in which the Editor had 

 commented upon the same passage in " Yarrell," and recorded the nesting 

 of the Tree Sparrow at Hampstead. By an unfortunate printer's error, 

 however, the reference was given as "Zoologist, 1887, p. 24" (instead of 

 ten years earlier), and so the whole point was lost. Mr. Barrett-Hamilton, 

 and perhaps others, may be glad to have the correct reference. 



Pied Flycatcher in Ireland.— The rarity of Muscicapa atricapilla in 

 Ireland has already been noticed (pp. 267, 391). On October 4th I received 



