NOTES AND QUERIES. 227 



diately dropped down to the usual position, and shuffled back into the 

 water. These Divers almost always rise and fly if approached by a boat, 

 but take very little notice of a man walking on shore. — G. H. Caton 

 Haigh (Aber-Ia, Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, North Wales). 



Unusual Nesting-place for a Magpie. — Referring to the notes under 

 this heading (Zool. 1891, pp. 309, 351, 353, 430), I would point out that 

 Magpies not infrequently choose sites near the ground for their nests, 

 notwithstanding that tall timber may be abundant all round. I know a 

 spot, within thirty miles of London, where I have seen two nests at not 

 more than six feet from the ground ; both were in hedges on the borders 

 of woods containing oak trees, with Magpies' nests in them. But in 

 North Devon 1 found a nest the bottom of which was not more than 

 eighteen inches from the ground, trees being abundant. I should like to 

 hear any suggestions as to the reasons for this. — J. Young (64, Hereford 

 I Road, Bayswater). 



A White American Red-breasted Thrush. — In the Province of 

 Quebec, Canada, in the spring of 1887, I saw a most interesting sight, 

 viz. a white example of Turdus migratorius. It was in company with 

 others of its own species in the neighbourhood of New Rockland and 

 Kingsbury, Richmond county. Being at the time without a settled home, 



I and having no collection of birds, this rare visitor was allowed to enjoy 

 its freedom with the rest of its companions. But fortunately I had the 



! opportunity of observing its actions for several days, and on two occasions, 

 by making my way as noiselessly as possible through some trees behind a 

 fence, and peering through the branches, I was able to scrutinize it at close 

 quarters. Its feathers, with the exception of a few dark specks on the nape, 

 were as white as the driven snow. The bill was of a dull cream-colour, 

 and the legs and feet were of fainter hues than the usual colour of those of 

 the family. The bird was somewhat wilder than the species usually is, 

 more reserved with its vocal powers, and surveyed its surroundings with 

 greater curiosity, as if it had just arrived from a cheerless region. — John 

 Ridge (Kingsbury, Que., Canada). 



Varieties of the Wild Duck.— I have two varieties of the Mallard, 

 Anas boscas, both females, shot in Walney Fen, Cambs., last winter. In 

 one of them the normal colouring is superseded by a pale buff or fawn-colour. 

 The bill has more yellow than the type ; head and upper part of neck pale 

 buff, crown varied with brown, a triangular patch of white at the base of 

 lower mandible ; the lower part of neck has a broad collar of white ; upper 

 part of back and scapulars buff, most of the feathers, particularly the 

 scapulars, prettily marked down the centre with blackish brown and tipped 

 with white ; the lower part of back white, varied with blackish, getting 

 darker towards the tail, where the upper tail-coverts are almost entirely 



