NOTES FEOM DEVON AND COENWALL. 375 



lady living at Rugby, who, in 1885, kept three Swifts for a little 

 more than three months. These were kept in a middling- sized 

 cage with no perches, and were fed almost entirely on lean beef 

 given in small fragments. They were at length killed because 

 they absolutely refused to fly away, and their mistress was obliged 

 to go away from home. They were strong and well, and afforded 

 the greatest amusement. 



Here, then, are three instances of the successful domestication 

 of our British Hirundiiies. Probably it has been often done ; and 

 I am only surprised that they are not more frequently kept. 

 I hope any bird-lover who has made the experiment will give us 

 the result of his experience ; and if these few jottings only induce 

 those who have not, to do so — they will not, I am sure, have been 

 penned in vain. 



I have purposely refrained from prolix directions. A few 

 hints, however : — (1) A bath frequently ; covered perches ; as 

 much exercise as possible ; a moderate temperature — no sudden 

 changes. (2) Feed on flies at first ; when you cannot get live ones 

 supply a few dead and dry ones with the lean meat (these cleanse 

 the maw, and are almost indispensable) ; as little food should be 

 given as possible. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 



By the i,ate John Gatcombe. 



[The following notes, made during the year ]886, by the late Mr. 

 Gatcombe, whose death we were sorry to announce in a previous number 

 (p. 233), reached us only a short time before his decease, and have stood 

 over until now for want of space. They conclude a series of observations 

 communicated by him annually to this Journal since the year 1872. — Ed.] 



In the month of January several Long-eared Owls were 

 obtained and sent up from Cornwall (three of them by one 

 person), one of which was an unusually light-coloured variety. 

 On the 21st Mr. Clogg, of Looe, kindly forwarded for my 

 inspection a beautiful variety of the Redwing. The general 

 colour of this bird was a delicate light buff", with the usual 

 markings thereon of a darker tint. I have seen somewhat similar 

 varieties of the common Song Thrush, but none so striking in 

 colour as this, and consider such variation in the Redwing to be 



