2588 Quadrupeds — Birds. 



of the empty shells of the freshwater mussel, which had all been opened by a portion 

 of the shell having been eaten out from both valves, either immediately or nearly op- 

 posite to the hinge. The marshman, who was with me, assured me that this was the 

 work of the water vole, which procured these muscles by diving, and then opened them 

 in this manner, and afterwards devoured their contents. I am inclined to believe that 

 this is correct, as I observed a young water vole lying dead on the island, and as it was 

 full of what appeared to be the burrows of these animals. The locality did not appear 

 to be one likely to be frequented by the Norway rat. — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norwich, 

 September 6, 1849. 



The Yellow-breasted Marten (Mustela foina) Breeding near Bishop's Auckland. — 

 On the 14th of August, the nest of a yellow-breasted marten, containing three young 

 ones, was found in North Carr wood, on the banks of the Weir ; all efforts to take the 

 parents failed, and the young ones died the day after they were found. About fourteen 

 years ago an adult specimen of the yellow-breasted marten was trapped in Stanley 

 wood, but with us it is of very rare occurrence. — Joseph Duff; Bishop's Auckland, 

 September 11, 1849. 



[Mr. Duff will oblige me very much, and I conceive many readers of the 

 'Zoologist' will also value the information, by stating in .what particulars the yellow- 

 breasted marten differs from the commoner species. I shall be much pleased to have 

 an opportunity of publishing the admeasurements of the two species for comparison ; 

 also the differences of habit, and all other particulars : the discrepancy in the colour 

 of the breast, attributed by various writers to age, sex, or season, need not be no- 

 ticed. — Edward Newman]. 



Occurrence of Sylvia Orphea in Yorkshire. — I could not send you a description of 

 Sylvia Orphea in time for insertion in the September number of the ' Zoologist.' My 

 bird is evidently a female, and was observed in company with its mate for a consider- 

 able time before it was shot. The other bird had a black head, and the descrip- 

 tion I received, left no doubt on my mind that it was a male bird of Sylvia Orphea. 

 The bird, of which I send you a description, was shot in a small plantation near the 

 town of Wetherby, on the 6th of July, 1848, and was, unfortunately, very ill set-up by 

 the man who obtained it : it had the appearance of having been engaged in incuba- 

 tion from the state of its plumage. Mr. Graham, my bird-stuffer, at York, hearing 

 that a very uncommon bird had been shot, went over to Wetherby, and, fortunately, 

 obtained the specimen for my collection. It has the beak black and very strong, 

 eight lines in length, the upper mandible very much grooved. The whole upper part 

 of the plumage dark ash-coloured brown. The outer feather of the tail white ; the se- 

 cond on each side edged with dirty white, the rest of a brownish black. Chin dirty 

 white ; throat and belly brownish white ; under surface of the wings and vent light 

 brown. Legs very strong; toes and claws black. Total length 6 inches 3 lines. 

 Since procuring this specimen, I have received a male bird from France, with four 

 eggs, and send you a description, in case any other specimen may fall into the hands 

 of your readers. The head and cheeks to behind the eyes black, on the top of the 

 head the black blends itself into ash-coloured gray, and so continues over the upper 

 parts of the plumage. Wings almost black, edged with ash-coloured brown ; the ex- 

 ternal feathers on each side of the tail white, the inside edges light brown ; the second 



