Birds. 2699 



Change of Plumage in the Robin (Sylvia rubecula). — On the 3rd of this month I 

 met with what may be called a rarity among the feathered tribe of this country. The 

 bird was a robin, of a kind of pinky white colour. I met with him on the road side 

 while riding, and pulled up to look at him : it was a very cold day, with snow on the 

 ground, and he was very tame, allowing me to come close to him : with a pistol I 

 could easily have shot him. I believe ornithologists cannot as yet fully account for 

 this singular change in the plumage of a bird on the approach of winter : for why 

 should a single bird, usually of a dark brown plumage, change that colour and be- 

 come nearly white, while at the same time, and in the same field he always frequents, 

 perhaps a dozen of his congeners retain their accustomed colour? I have in my 

 collection a blackbird of a pure cream colour, shot among the hills near this place, 

 one hard winter, some thirteen or fourteen years ago ; and another specimen of the 

 same bird, shot in Derbyshire, of a beautifully mottled plumage, black aud white. 

 Now the robin before mentioned could scarcely, one would think, have had his white 

 coat on in September last, nor if he lives do I think he will be the same colour in 

 May next : will he in this case moult, or merely change the colour of his feathers ? 

 — J. M. Jones ; Montgomery, January, 1850. 



Perfectly White Specimen of the Redstart (Sylvia phoenicurus). — I have in my pos- 

 session a milk-white variety of the redstart, killed by myself last June. — Martin 

 Curtler ; Bevere House, Worcester, December 12, 1849. 



Occurrence of Three Specimens of the Black Redstart (Sylvia Tithys) in Sussex. 



A specimen of this scarce bird was procured at Worthing not long since : this is a 

 rather early appearance in this district. A pair were also procured at Hollington not 

 long since. — J. B. Ellman; Lewes, December 10, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart at Falmouth. — Mr. Gardener, of Oxford Street, 

 has just shown me a female specimen of the black redstart in the flesh : he received 

 it for preservation from Falmouth, where it had lately been killed. Mr. Gardener 

 thinks the occurrence of this species in the winter a deviation from its usual habits ; 

 but my experience rather tends to prove this bird a winter straggler on our southern 

 coasts. — Edward Newman ; January 8, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus (Kegulus ignicapillus) near Knaresborough. 

 — I have much pleasure in being able to record the capture of a fire-crested Regulus. 

 On the 3rd instant a specimen of this bird was caught by some boys in a lane near 

 Whixley. When first seen it was in company with some titmice. It was sent to me 

 the same day by my father-in-law, who had purchased it, supposing it a very fine 

 specimen of the common species ; but the markings at the side of the head, as well 

 as the feathers forming the crest (which in the present example are of an intense 

 flame colour), sufficiently distinguish the species. — James C. Garth ; Knaresborough, 

 December 20, 1849. 



Occurrence of an Exotic Grosbeak at Ilford, near Lewes. — A specimen of a species 

 of grosbeak was shot at the above place, about six weeks ago. It was in beautiful 

 plumage, and did not exhibit any marks of confinement. Mr. Yarrell, to whom I 

 wrote on the subject, pronounced it to be the Malacca grosbeak ; but, as my descrip- 

 tion was very imperfect, this name must not be relied on. It is a very small bird, 

 not exceeding 4 inches in length : head and neck black ; back, wings and tail red- 

 brown ; belly white ; legs black ; bill horn-colour ; black feathers under the vent. — 

 J. B. Ellman; Lewes, December 11, 1849. 



