162



Mr. A. R. Williams,



bands across the breast of the Zebra-finch have originated from

the crescentic borders of an ancestral form, for when crossed with

Bicheno’s Finch you recover the crescentic character in the hybrid.

Once more, if the border is continued round the margin of the

feather, the spots characteristic of the Spice-birds and the genera

Amadina, Bathilda, Steganopleura, and many others are produced.


Expansion either of the shaft-streak or the border would

eventually result in a uniformly coloured feather, and it is likely

enough that small and overlapping feathers might attain to this

condition more quickly than larger ones, which may, I think, to

some extent explain why the heads of birds are so frequently

different in colouring from the rest of their bodies. Still, as other

parts, such as the breast, throat, chin, and rump, are also frequently

each of a uniform tint, and we have no evidence that their present

condition took longer to produce than that of the head, we can only

guess at the reason.


(To be continued.)



WINTER BIRDS IN MID-DORSET.


By A. R. Williams.


(Continued from p. ISO).


The Green Plover or Lapwing might be called the character¬

istic bird of this district. The word “ pee-wit ” is totally inadequate

as an imitation of its cry, which has a shrill, penetrating, piercing,

yet melancholy and drawn-out half-whistling quality, difficult to

describe and almost impossible to imitate. When Plovers sleep is a

problem, for their cries may be heard at all times of the day and

night. They are not at all shy birds here ; one can get quite close

to them, near enough to examine the details of form and colouring.

They give beauty and liveliness to the countryside which would be

much missed were they to depart. As regards habitat they are

almost everywhere. The water-meadows are never without Lap¬

wings. They resort to the ploughed fields, to sheep-walks, to

pastures, to manured land, to the deeply rutted cart-tracks, and to

the banks of pools and streams. They never enter gardens or farm¬

yards, and keep away from the copses. They are most fascinating



