NOTES AND QUERIES. 217 



and sex. (vu.) Exceptional appearances, (vm.) What guides the birds 

 during their migrations ? (ix.) What leads to the setting out for migration ? 

 In Section n. we have a chapter on the change of plumage in birds by the 

 renewal of colour without a moult. The remainder of the volume is 

 occupied by a list and descriptive text of 396 species which have been 

 observed and noted at Heligoland up to date. The book is charmingly 

 written, and the author's descriptions of bird-life, as seen on passage on 

 the island, are full of life and vigour, and expressed in a graphic and 

 picturesque manner. Of the great scientific value of the work, at last 

 accomplished, I need not now speak ; containing, as it does, the carefully 

 recorded experiences of more than forty years at the best station in the 

 world for watching the migration of birds, this volume must be invaluable 

 to ornithologists, and it seems highly desirable that an English translation 

 should be prepared and published with as little delay as possible. — John 

 Cordeaux (Great Cotes, Ulceby). 



Variety of the Wild Duck. — Mr. Foljambe sent me, during the frost, 

 a very pretty variety of the Mallard. Breast greyish white ; neck rosy 

 grey ; back pale slate-colour, speculum two shades darker ; curled feathers 

 in tail slate-colour, and rump the same colour.— J. Whitaker (Rain worth, 

 Notts). 



Lapland Bunting in Lincolnshire. — On Nov. 18th last I shot a 

 specimen of the Lapland Bunting, Calcareus lupponicus, among the sand- 

 hills at North Cotes, on the Lincolnshire coast. It proved to be a male in 

 winter plumage, and was alone, feeding on the ground among the long 

 bents, and in its movements, &c, resembled a Snow Bunting. It had 

 probably just come in, as, though late in the day, its stomach contained 

 only a few seeds and husks of two species of grass growing on the sand- 

 hills. On the same afternoon I saw the first large flock of Snow Buntings 

 coming in from the sea; and among the sandhills were a few Yellow- 

 hammers and many Reed Buntings, all probably fresh arrivals. The 

 weather was fine and warm, with a light W. wind. — G. W. Caton Haigh. 



Wildfowl in Devon during the Winter of 1890— 91.— The winter of 

 1890 — 91 will ever be remembered as being one of exceptional severity, 

 and one which has driven to this county immense flocks of wildfowl ; never 

 have so many been seen and obtained before. I have myself been very 

 fortunate in obtaining a few good specimens for ray collection. Wild Duck 

 and Wigeon have been shot by the hundred, and Teal in less numbers. 

 The Smew, a rare winter visitant, has been obtained on three or four 

 occasions this winter, one of which I examined was a male in full dress : 

 birds in this plumage are seldom met with, as they keep farther out at sea, 

 and rarely approach the shore. I also examined, at the same time, a male 

 ZOOLOGIST. — JUNE, 1891. S 



