HEPATIC PLUMAGE OF THE CUCKOO. 257 



Smew, Mergus albellus. A few occurrences, chiefly of females 

 or immature birds, have been noted. There is an adult male in 

 full plumage at Nanteos. 



Goosander, M. merganser. A few are seen most winters, 

 chiefly upon the Dovey. Mr. F. T. Fielden has once met with 

 the adult drake. 



Red -breasted Merganser, M. serrator. Visits the Dovey 

 in small flocks. Several are obtained every winter. 



It will be seen that, omitting introduced species, the foregoing 

 list enumerates 209 Cardiganshire birds. Of these the Lesser 

 Whitethroat and Tree Sparrow must be regarded as doubtful. 

 Mr. Mathew is able to include 229 authenticated species in his 

 Pembrokeshire list, the presence of the greater number being 

 explained by the more favourable position of that county as 

 regards stragglers from the south. 



I am indebted to Mr. Hutchings, of Aberystwyth, for much 

 information as to the birds which have passed through his hands 

 during the thirty years in which he has been in business as a 

 taxidermist. 



ON THE "HEPATIC" PLUMAGE OF THE CUCKOO, 



CUCULUS HEPATIC US, Sparrman. 



By the Editor. 



In the month of April last a hen Cuckoo in the rufous stage 

 of plumage characteristic of immaturity was shot by a game- 

 keeper in the grounds of Beech-hill Park, Waltham Abbey, and 

 the following morning it was placed in my hands for inspection 

 by Mr. Eowland Ward, of 166, Piccadilly, to whom it had been 

 forwarded for preservation. I had thus an opportunity of 

 examining it carefully before it was skinned, and of noting the 

 following description of it. 



In general appearance it resembled a female Kestrel (Tinnuu- 

 cuius), for which it seems to have been at first mistaken by the 

 person who shot it. The dorsal plumage (including the entire 

 head from base of bill, and nape) was of a cinnamon colour, 

 each feather with three or more bars of brownish black ; rump 

 uniform cinnamon colour without any barring. Tail-feathers 

 ten, graduating from the centre pair, which are the longest, 



ZOOLOGIST, THIRD SERIES, VOL. XIX. JULY, 1895. X 



