kOTES AND QUEttlES. 67 



rkynchus) ; some Eiders (Somateria mollissima), immature ; several Smews 

 (Mergus albellus), females ; and numerous other more common species of 

 ducks and geese, a few Shore Larks (Otocorys alpestris) and Snow Buntings 

 (Plectrophenax nivalis). I saw all these birds in the flesh, and satisfied 

 myself that they were all local captures. — Henry Laver (Colchester). 



King Duck at Hunstanton. — On Nov. 13th T received from Dr. Whitty 

 a second specimen of the King Duck, which had been killed off Hunstan- 

 ton, St. Edmonds, a day or two previously. In this bird the rufous edgings 

 to the feathers indicated maturity, and upon dissection it proved to be an 

 old female ; its stomach contained remains of a species of Starfish (I be- 

 lieve Ophiura albida, Forbes) found abundantly on the mussel-scaups over 

 which it was feeding. The measurements were so nearly the same as those 

 of the young male that it is not worth repeating them. Like the previous 

 specimen, it was in company with Scoters when killed, and Dr. Whitty 

 tells me that it is not unusual for Eiders to associate with these birds : 

 probably the mussel-scaups, which teem with marine forms equally accept- 

 able to both species, formed the bond of union. Last year, when shooting 

 off Hunstanton, Dr. Whitty killed a Scoter, and his boatman a female 

 common Eider from the same flock. — T. Southwell (Norwich). 



The Ring Ouzel in Ireland in Winter. — A male Ring Ouzel, in 

 winter plumage, was brought to me alive, on Jan 21st, by Master Richard 

 Crofton. It was captured on Jan. 19th, at his grandfather's residence, 

 Edmundstown Park, Rathfaruham, Co, Dublin. I thought at first that it 

 was a young bird of last year, but on showing it to my friend Mr. A. G. 

 More he pronounced it to be an adult male in winter plumage. Is not 

 the occurrence of this bird in winter very unusual ? — Charles W. Benson 

 (Rathmines School, Dublin). 



[Not so uncommon as was at one time supposed. See * The Zoologist,' 

 1879, p. 203, and Trans. Norfolk Nat. Soc. 1889, vol. iv. pp. 627-8.— Ed.] 



Melanism of the Water Rail. — The Rev. J. E. Kelsall, in his 

 annotated 'Birds of Hampshire,' p. 23, mentions a hairy variety of the 

 Water Rail, taken at Blackwater : it really was a Moorhen. A list of hairy 

 Moorhens is given in the Proceedings of the Norwich Naturalists' Society. 

 But a lady at Christchurch has, what is quite as curious, a black Water 

 Rail, and I am indebted to Mr. Edward Hart for obtaining the loan of it; 

 he informs me that it was seen to strike against a bridge, in October, 1869, 

 and then was picked up dead or disabled by a namesake of mine, who 

 flushed it. It may be described as a real melanism, being black all over, 

 and its own natural colours indistinguishable.. — J. H. Gurney (Keswick, 

 Norwich). 



Eared Grebe, Smew, and Bittern in North Devon.— On Thursday, 

 Jan. 15th, a Iriend of mine, whilst skating near South Molton, — a town 



