110 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



that is without black heads, and many of thera immature, as might be 

 seen by their mottled backs and the broad dark bar across the extremity 

 of the tail. But in addition to these were many Kittiwakes, a few Common 

 Gulls, Herring Gulls, and now and then an immature Black-backed Gull. 

 On one occasion (Feb. 15th) I had a close view of a Little Gull, Larus 

 minutus, as it passed along the Thames Embankment at Charing Cross, 

 within a yard or two of where I stood feeding some of the Black-headed 

 species. Londoners are accustomed to see a few Gulls on the river from 

 time to time, as well as on the water in the parks during the period of 

 migration in spring and autumn, but the unusual numbers of these birds 

 which made their appearance in the middle of January was so extraordinary 

 as to attract universal attention. — J. E. Harting. 



Hybrid Finches at the Crystal Palace Bird Show.— The most 

 interesting hybrid exhibited at the late Crystal Palace Bird Show was a 

 cross between the Greenfinch and Bullfinch — a large handsome bird with a 

 greyish back and dull reddish yellow breast and upper tail coverts. In the 

 same class was a Siskin and Redpoll hybrid, and several examples of the 

 commoner crosses betweeu the Goldfinch and Linnet and the Bullfinch and 

 Goldfinch; one variety with a white head, which was undescribed in the 

 catalogue, was evidently an example of the latter. Altogether eleven birds 

 were exhibited in this class, exclusive of a Reed Bunting, which for some 

 unknown reason was allowed a place in it. Two very nice Redstarts and 

 some beautiful Bearded Tits were on view, and the variety class included a 

 Goldfinch with a black instead of a crimson face. — A. Holte Macpheiison. 



Two-barred Crossbill in the West of England and Ireland.— A letter 

 from Mr. Maxwell, of Keynsham, Somerset, announces the fact of his having 

 shot a red Crossbill with two white bars across the wing, one of a little 

 flock that visited a wood in his neighbourhood during the last week of 

 February. Another is reported from the Co. Fermanagh, by Mr. Charles 

 Langham, of Tempo Manor, Enniskillen, who writes on Feb. 23rd : — " I 

 have had a stroke of luck since I last wrote to you. Wishing to obtain 

 some Crossbills for my collection, I shot a few, one of which is Loxia 

 bifasciata. My bird-stuffer, who has had over sixty years' experience, is 

 posiiive that it is the European Two-barred Crossbill, and not the American 

 white-winged species." We have no reason to doubt the correctness of the 

 identification, and those of our correspondents who are being visited by 

 Crossbills this winter would do well to keep a look-out for the rarer two- 

 barred species that may be in their company. — Ed. 



Shearwaters in Carnarvonshire.— It is not at all unlikely that the dead 

 Shearwaters found in Carnarvonshire by Mr. T. A. Coward (p. 72) may 

 have been dashed by the force of the wind against the cliffs, on misty 

 nights, and killed. When at the Scilly Islands, I found a good many of 





