NOTES AND QUERIES. 267 



p. 332) ; and a black and white one was found near Harrogate, July 21st, 

 ] 886 (Zool. 1886, p. 485). There may be very likely other varieties which 

 have escaped our notice. — Ed.] 



birds. 



Plumage of White's Thrush. — The question whether the accidental 

 visitors to Europe are mostly old or young birds is of so much interest 

 that, without wishing to prolong the discussion, I should like to correct an 

 error in Mr. Gatke's interesting communication (p. 164). White's Thrush 

 is so specially interesting, both to British and Heligoland ornithologists, that 

 any facts connected with its history are worthy of record. To determine 

 whether the nine examples which have been obtained in Heligoland are 

 immature or adult it is necessary to ascertain how the two plumages differ. 

 Had there been any material difference in the plumage of these nine 

 examples, it is scarcely likely that it would have escaped the keen eye of 

 the veteran ornithologist who has so long kept watch on the lonely island. 

 Amongst the hundreds of skins that I have examined I find no variation in 

 the white and black markings on the axillaries and under wing-coverts, 

 which Mr. Gatke erroneously imagines that I suppose to indicate the adult 

 bird. It is the peculiar Geocichline markings on the inner webs of the 

 primaries which vary. In some examples, which I imagine to be adult, 

 they are pure white; in others which I suppose to be immature, they are 

 buff. Unfortunately the description of White's Thrush in Mr. Gatke's book 

 does not mention the colour of these markings which are so characteristic 

 of all the species which I include in the genus Geocichla ; but I venture to 

 say that they will be found on examination to be buff, and, according to my 

 hypothesis, to indicate that the nine examples are immature. — Henry 

 Seebohm. 



Richard's Pipit in Somersetshire. — On the 30th of May last I saw 

 a pair of Richard's Pipits, Anthus richardi, near Lady's Bay, Clevedon. 

 They were in a large field interspersed with patches of fern which slopes 

 down to the Bristol Channel, and first attracted my attention from the 

 strut and high carriage of the head which is characteristic of the male. 

 They allowed of a near approach and close observation. It struck me as 

 probable that they might have a nest near, but I failed to find one ; nor, 

 though I returned to the spot soon afterwards, and for several subsequent 

 days in succession, did I see anything more of them. — Marcus S. C. 

 Rickaei>s (Twigworth Vicarage, Gloucester). 



Sheldrake and other Birds at Exmouth.— On the 27th of May I set 

 out with the intention of discovering, if possible, whether a pair of Shelduck, 

 which had for some time been seen in the locality, were breeding on the 

 Warren. It was about noon when I crossed over from Exmouth, and, after 



