Birds. 1137 



Plumage of the Brambling. The variety of plumage in the brambling on its arri- 

 val, mentioned by Mr. Vivian Walmesley (Zool. 1024), is explained by the males being 

 then in process of divesting themselves of their brilliant summer garb, and assimi- 

 lating their colours to those of their partners. When in full nuptial dress, the male 

 Bergfink, as it is called in Sweden, where it is common, is one of the most beautiful 

 of the European birds. The velvet black of the head and back, contrasting with the 

 rufous orange of the lower parts, and the variegated wings, have less the aspect of a 

 native of these northern climes, than of a miniature of one of the Cassiques which 

 adorn the American forests. The only representation I know of this plumage, is in 

 Von Wright's 'Svenska Foglar' (Birds of Sweden), published in 1828, at Stockholm. — 

 F. Holme; C. C. C. Oxford. 



Do Swallows eat the Honey-bee ? On the 16th of this month, I observed several 

 swallows mobbed by hive-bees, as hawks and owls occasionally are by smaller birds : 

 they amused themselves by flying close to a range of hives, but I could not see that 

 they devoured any of the bees who appeared to be the assailants. I may add that 

 the same day the swallows appeared to be congregating, as if for migration. — Charles 

 Home ; Clapham Common, August 27, 1845. 



Remarkable locality for a Woodpigeon's Nest. A woodpigeon's nest has been built 

 two following seasons, close under the library-window, by a frequented gravel walk. 

 On both occasions the cat has killed and eaten the young birds, almost immediately 

 they had left the shell, the old birds surviving. — Id. 



A young Woodcock shot on Cairn Monairn. On the 19th of this month (August) 

 my companion shot a young woodcock on the top of Cairn Monairn. This we consi- 

 dered an extraordinary occurrence ; however, at the distance of some miles from the 

 hills, in a glen under the house, a pair of woodcocks has bred annually. — Id. 



Ringdoves devouring Gooseberries. I understand that about a fortnight ago a ring- 

 dove was shot by the keeper of Lord Torphichen's policies, at Calder House, in the 

 crop of which were found twenty-two full-grown gooseberries. Is this a singular case? 

 I do not recollect hearing of a similar one. The gardens at Calder-house are delight- 

 fully situated amongst woods, in which ringdoves abound. Perhaps this may in some 

 measure account for the fact. — R. D.Duncan ; Broughty-ferry Road, August 23, 1845. 



Description of a supposed new Duck. A variety of cluck, intermediate in size be- 

 tween the common pochard and the Nyroca, or white- eyed pochard, and apparently a 

 hybrid between those two species, was killed on Rollesby-broad, near Yarmouth, on 

 the 27th of February last. It was observed to be much tamer than some wigeon with 

 which it was in company, and to swim very low in the water. The beak, legs and 

 feet bear a close resemblance in form and size to those of the common pochard. The 

 back and wing-coverts are freckled, and the tips of the feathers on the belly are chan- 

 ging from their original yellowish brown colour, and also assuming a freckled appear- 

 ance. The eyes are yellowish white, and it is remarkable, that although the bird is 

 decidedly smaller than the common pochard, the eyes, when removed from the head, 

 were found to be much larger than those of the latter bird. The head and neck are 

 of a rich chesnut, which at the lower part of the neck (where the common pochard be- 

 comes black) changes to a much darker tint, which extends over the breast and shoul- 

 ders. The wings nearly resemble those of the white-eyed pochard in colour and 

 markings, but are considerably larger. A feather from the axillary plume has the 

 form of the corresponding feather in the common pochard, but resembles that in the 

 white-eyed pochard in being freckled at the end. The bird is in the possession of Mr. 



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