386 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Starling had to make repeated jumps, exerting just enough force to 

 reach and neatly take off its prey without touching the sensitive skin 

 surrounding those organs. This was accomplished apparently with 

 such dexterity and precision that the animal seemed to have no 

 objection whatever, neither flinching nor showing any other sign of 

 annoyance or inconvenience. — G. T. Eope (Blaxhall, Suffolk). 



Nutcracker in Bucks. — It is probably worthy of record that on 

 October 7th last I had a male Nutcracker [Nucifraga caryocatactes) 

 brought to me in the flesh. It was killed in a horse-chestnut tree at 

 the village of Whitechurch, about four miles from here. It was in 

 good condition (quite fat). I fancy this is the first recorded instance 

 of its occurrence in Bucks. It will be mounted for this museum. 

 I may also state that on October 1st I received a young female 

 Grouse from Dunkeld, Perthshire, which is white, with the exception 

 of two or three dozen feathers. — Edwin Hollis (The Museum, 

 Church Street, Aylesbury). 



The Variety of the Gannet at the Bass Rock. — Mr. J. H. Gurney's 

 surmises and deductions with respect to this bird {ante, p. 348) are 

 interesting, but nevertheless, I consider, quite wrong. I am not pre- 

 pared to say what was the cause of the markings, or whether the 

 bird has moulted out to a normal type, but I say most distinctly and 

 emphatically that it was not a painted bird. It passes my compre- 

 hension how anyone who has carefully examined the photograph can 

 imagine for one moment that it is. The birds on the Bass Eock marked 

 for identification purposes were merely daubed with red oxide. The 

 colour on this particular bird was even and delicate, and the markings 

 symmetrical. Eed oxide, no matter how worn or washed by the sea- 

 water, never assumes the shade of colour worn by this Gannet. 

 Atkinson and I paid a visit to the Bass Eock last August, and made a 

 careful search for the bird ; we did not see it, but we did see some 

 with the remains of red oxide upon them, and if any further con- 

 firmation was needed to convince us that we had not made a mistake, 

 we obtained it. Mr. Campbell admitted to us in the fullest manner 

 that our bird was not one marked by him. We have also found two 

 other gentlemen, fellow members of the Zoological Photo Club, 

 Messrs. Stewart and Ferguson, who have seen the bird. Mr. Stewart 

 writes me as follows : — " My friend Ferguson and myself were staying 

 on the Eock last year from the 14th to the 18th July. The day we 

 arrived we did not see the bird, but the next morning we both saw it 

 on the West Cliff. It was standing with its mate beside a young 

 one. The head was much browner than usual, and this colour 



