i88 ±HE ZOOtOGISt. 



Photographs of Sand Grouse.— We have received from Mr. Culling- 

 ford, of the University Museum, Durham, two photographs (cabinet size) 

 of some interest to ornithologists. One represents a downy chick of 

 Syrrhaptes paradoxus, taken in Moray on August 8th, 1889, and preserved 

 by him ; the other shows a flock of sixteen old birds of this species, on 

 the ground, in various attitudes. The yellow throats of the adult birds 

 unfortunately come out black, as always happens in photography ; but in 

 other respects the species is unmistakable, and the photograph gives a good 

 idea of the appearance of a flock in a state of nature. The chick would 

 have looked more natural if, instead of being perched on a large stone 

 (intended no doubt to show it off to advantage), it had been represented 

 crouching beside it; and if its wonderfully harmonious coloration helped, 

 in such a position, to render its outline indistinct, so much the truer would 

 it have been to nature. For a really satisfactory portrait of a nestling 

 Sand Grouse, one must turn, of course, to the coloured figure given by 

 Prof. Newton in ' The Ibis ' for 1890, pi. vii. where also will be found 

 (pp. 207— 214) an interesting account of its discovery. — Ed. 



The Landrail in Hampshire in Winter. — Between the 9th and 24th 

 of December last I saw no less than three specimens of this summer bird, 

 all killed within a radius of two or three miles of Kingwood. None of 

 them were in the meagre condition one would have expected to find them 

 during the unusually severe weather which then prevailed. Indeed this 

 bird is seldom plump and fat even when food is plentiful, and these were 

 in comparatively good condition. I am well aware that the occurrence 

 of Landrails here in winter is not particularly rare, but the question is, 

 how do they manage to live, for certainly very little, if any, insect food is 

 to be obtained at such a season ? On dissecting the stomachs of those 

 lately obtained, I found a scanty supply of vegetable remains, and in one 

 the elytron of a small black ground-beetle; so I suppose the bird is able, 

 in a measure, to adapt itself to circumstances in the matter of food, — for 

 surely if it could exist during the past severe winter, it would have no 

 difficulty in finding sustenance in an ordinary season. — G. B. Cokbin 

 (Ringwood, Hants). 



Hybrid Finches at the Crystal Palace Bird-Show. — At the recent 

 Crystal Palace Bird-show eight cases of hybrid British Finches were repre- 

 sented ; the most uncommon being a cross between Bullfinch and Redpoll, 

 exhibited by Mr. S. D. Hunt, of King's Lynn, which took first prize, 

 The following hybrids were also exhibited : — One Chaffinch and Brambling; 

 lour Linnet and Bullfinch ; one Linnet and Greenfinch ; one Goldfinch 

 and Linnet; three Bullfinch and Goldfinch; two Bullfinch and Linnet; 

 and one Greenfinch and Linnet. Canary mules were particularly numerous, 

 being numbered from 1290 to 1446 inclusive, and comprising crosses with 

 the Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Redpoll, and Siskin. It is a 



