NOTES AND QUERIES. 361 



its abdomen, with its tail at the same time much depressed, what I have 

 every confidence in saying was a young one. The bird flew into the 

 adjoining field, and I marked the spot, and on running up found a young 

 one, perhaps four days old or so. Many years ago I saw a similar incident, 

 and the belief is very general amongst country folks that Lapwings will, 

 when any danger threatens, remove their young to safer spots by carrying 

 them. Still I cannot find any reference to the habit in such ornithological 

 literature as I possess. The carrying of their young must be a rare incident 

 in the life of the Lapwing, otherwise it must have been noticed. But how 

 are we to account for the certainly wide-spread belief of country dwellers 

 that it frequently does so ? — K. Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries). 



Varieties of the Jackdaw. — I have just seen, in the hands of the local 

 birdstuffer (Mr. Reeves, of Keigate), two curiously abnormal Jackdaws. 

 One is almost perfectly white, although in certain lights a pale brownish 

 tinge shows upon the sides. The legs are a light brown ; the eyes 

 normal. The bird is therefore not a true albino. It was shot in Hert- 

 fordshire, after having been seen about the neighbourhood for two years 

 previously. The other was taken recently in this neighbourhood. In 

 this bird, which is otherwise normal, the lower mandible projects, iu an 

 irregular, malformed fashion, quite half-an-inch or more beyond the upper 

 mandible, which is very short. It is difficult to understand how the bird 

 could possibly have obtained food, but it was in good condition and well 

 nourished when it passed into the birdstuffer's hands. — E. P. Larken 

 (Gatton Tower, Reigate). 



Quail in Sussex. — On September 8th a Quail was killed by a reaping- 

 machine in a barley-field of Mr. Tanner's, at Woolbeding, near Midhurst. 

 It was found to weigh four ounces and a half. Quails are not common 

 hereabouts, though Mr. Langdale has noted their occurrence in summer 

 in the neighbourhood of Compton. — H. D. Gordon (Harting Vicarage, 

 Petersfield). 



Black-tailed Godwit in Co. Donegal. — A flock of six was seen at 

 Inch Reclamation Slob on August 18th. Two were shot by Mr. H. A. 

 Leebody on that date, but only one was secured. This bird, in immature 

 plumage, was stuffed by McCourt, of Derry. Prof. Leebody also informs 

 me that the Bar-tailed Godwit is not uncommonly seen at Inch, and that 

 he has one in his collection. — H. C. Hart (Carrablagh, Port Salon, 

 Letterkenny). 



Spotted Crake in S.W. Lancashire. — During the last few years the 

 Spotted Crake, Porzana maruetta, has occurred at irregular intervals 

 throughout this district. From notes, I find that an adult bird was killed 

 by a telegraph-wire) at Prestwich in August, 1891 ; another was picked up 



