NOTES AND QUERIES. 437 
A new Work on European Birds.—We understand that Mr. James 
Backhouse, jun., of West Bank, York, has in the press a ‘ Handbook of 
European Birds, for the use of Field Naturalists and Collectors,’ which 
will be published in a few months by Messrs. Gurney and Jackson. It is 
to be a crown octavo of about 800 pages, and will contain descriptions of 
the various plumages of each species, with brief notes upon the distribution 
and habitat. The moderate cost to subscribers (7s. 6d.) should place it 
within the reach of every ornithologist. 
Thrush nesting on the Ground.—Early in April last a lady informed 
me of a Thrush’s nest, containing four eggs, placed on the ground. This 
I at first hardly believed, but on visiting the wood myself for the purpose 
of seeing it, and upon getting near the spot, up flew the Thrush from its 
nest, actually placed upon the bare ground. I consider this a curious 
place for a Thrush’s nest, for the wood contained several trees, upon which 
other thrushes were building.—E. C. Moor (Great Bealings, Woodbridge). 
[This is by no means an exceptional case. See ‘The Zoologist,’ 1878, 
p- 350, and 1887, p. 12.—Ep.]} 
Rose tint on Neck of Albatross.—In a Report on the Birds of 
Kerguelen Island, by Dr. Kidder, published at Washington in 1875, the 
writer says (p. 20):—‘ All the nesting Albatrosses that I saw, without 
exception, showed a slight pinkish discoloration of the neck, as if a blood- 
stain had been washed out; usually on the left side, and extending 
downward from the region of the ear.” Dr. Bennett, in his ‘ Gatherings 
of a Naturalist in Australia,’ alludes to “a streak of delicate rose-tint” on 
each side of the neck, which fades after death. Perhaps this appearance 
is due to the rose-coloured powder on the adult Diomedea exulans during 
December, which Mr. Sanford describes in the last number of ‘The 
Zoologist’ (p. 388). Both the authors quoted refer, however, only to the 
neck as being coloured, not to the whole of the white parts of the bird; and 
Dr. Bennett adds that he only noticed this rose-colour in those birds with 
black pencillings on the back,—i.e., in individuals which Herr Reischek 
considers (antea, p. 339) to be birds of the fourth year,—which is curious. It 
is noteworthy that Dr. Bennett’s specimens were procured on June 8th, while 
Dr. Kidder visited the colony at Kerguelen Island on January 2nd. It 
would appear therefore that the colour is not peculiar to the breeding 
season.— ARTHUR H. Macruerson (51, Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, W.). 
REPTILES. 
Snake swimming.—On the afternoon of the 6th inst. I saw a Ringed 
Snake swim across a pool of water twelve yards wide. The snake swam 
with its head just showing above the water, its body forming a series of 
