106 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



its way accidentally to this country. At the same time it should be borne 

 in mind that so many ornamental water-birds are now-a-days imported by 

 dealers that the chance of some of these making their escape and being 

 found at liberty in perfect plumage is being daily increased. Considerable 

 caution should therefore be exercised before regarding any .New World 

 species as a genuine immigrant unaided by man's intervention. We have 

 yet to learn whereabouts in Cornwall, and under what circumstances, the 

 specimen above referred to was taken. — Ed.] 



Hybrid Finches. — At the late Crystal Palace show of Canaries and 

 other cage-birds, an interesting series of hybrid finches was exhibited. 

 Altogether fourteen different cases of hybridism were shown, exclusive of 

 Canary-mules. These were : — An interesting specimen of the uncommon 

 cross between Brambling and Chaffinch, exhibiting the general appearance 

 of the latter, but wanting the white coverts on the wings, which more closely 

 resembled those of the male parent; a Goldfinch and Greenfinch hybrid, 

 stated in the catalogue to have been caught wild three years ago, exhibited 

 by Mr. A. Waterman, from whom I hope to get further particulars ; Gold- 

 finch and Bullfinch ; Goldfinch and Siskin ; Goldfinch and Linnet ; Siskin 

 and Bullfinch — great disparity between sizes of the parents ; Siskin and 

 Goldfinch; Greenfinch and Goldfinch; Greenfinch and Linnet ; Green- 

 finch and Redpoll ; Redpoll and Linnet ; Linnet and Bullfinch ; Bullfinch 

 and Linnet; and Bullfinch and Goldfinch. The exhibits numbered 1260 

 to 1412 inclusive were all Canary-mules, the alliances being with Goldfinch, 

 Siskin, Linnet, Greenfinch, Redpoll, Bullfinch and Alario Finch. — Arthur 

 H. Macpherson (51, Gloucester Place, Hyde Park, W.). 



Pied Variety of the Jay. — A curiously coloured Jay has been about 

 my woods for a month, but the keepers have never been able to secure it. 

 To-day (Feb. 20th) I suggested a decoy Jay, if one could be got, and I was 

 about to write to a bird-dealer to see if he could supply me, when, about 

 two hours later, the keeper came in with the bird, having shot him. The 

 head, neck, breast, back, and scapulars are white, except that the black 

 moustache is perfect, which is very telling. The crest has a few black-tipped 

 feathers, and there are some chocolate feathers here and there on the back. 

 The lesser wing coverts are pure white, the greater are barred blue and 

 black, but are white at their tips about a third of their length. The 

 primaries have white outer webs, black inner ; the secondaries and tertials 

 are white at the base for about half their length, the remainder black with 

 white tips. The rump white ; tail black, with white tips ; legs and toes 

 flesh-colour; bill black. — W. Oxenden Hammond (St. Alban's Court, 

 Wingham, Kent). 



Great Grey Shrike and Teregrine Falcon in Lincolnshire.— A 

 Great Grey Shrike was shot at, Grainthorpe Feu on the 15th November 



