372 Fidd Notes. 



Rolleston. The old type of Museum, with its curiosities and 

 other objects intended to excite wonder, horror or disgust, 

 survived even in Manchester, until the beginning of the 

 'seventies, and still survives elsewhere in small country towns. 

 It was this obsolete type that the House of Commons had in 

 mind, in 19 15, when they closed the British Museum, and other 

 institutions in London for the duration of the war as being 

 of little interest and of little or no value to the general public 

 or to the large influx of visitors from our Colonies and America. 

 Here, in strong contrast to this retrograde measure, both 

 Museums and Art Galleries are not only kept open as before,, 

 but are being utilised for systematic instruction in the elemen- 

 tary^ and secondary schools. In this new development as in 

 other fields of action, Manchester has taken the lead.' 



White Song Thrush. — A perfectly white specimen of the 

 Song Thrush (J", musicus) with the pink eyes of the true albino, 

 is at present to be seen in a certain part of Harrogate. It is 

 in a beautiful condition and not imdul^^ shy. — R. Fortune, 

 Harrogate, nth November, 1918. 



Kestrel and its prey. — On October 19th, 1918, a second 

 case occurred, very similar to that recorded on p. 301, the 

 pace of the Kestrel confirming the words ' considerably faster ' 

 (line 14 of note). In this second case, the Kestrel first made 

 a downward dash or stoop, but missed its prey ; then followed 

 it up, and flew it down in about 25 yards. Probably the first 

 part of the case on p. 301 was similar. — F. D. Welch. 



Late nesting of Wood Pigeon. — Whilst out shooting at 

 Hooton Pagnall, near Doncaster, on October 26th, we put a 

 'W^ood Pigeon off its nest containing two young birds about 

 ten days old. The nest was in a young larch about six feet 

 from the ground. A feature in bird life this 3'ear is the great 

 preponderance of Jays which seem to have arrived from the 

 continent in most unusua^l numbers. — W. A. Durnford. 



Rare Wildfowl in Upper Nidderdale. — The extensive 

 reservoir at Gouthwaite has a wonderful attraction for migra- 

 tory wildfowl, as owing to the great area of water, they can 

 rest there in peaceful security. All the year round it is fre- 

 quented by a number of Mallards and other ducks ; and during 

 the autumn and winter many interesting wanderers Jind 

 there, for a time, perfect sanctuary. During the first week 

 of January of this year, two male Red-breasted Mergansers 

 and a Goosander were to be seen, and at the time of writing 

 (November 4th) a Great Northern Diver has taken up his 

 temporary abode, having l)een there for more than a week.^ — 

 R. Fortune. 



Naturalist,. 



