270 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



through which she got out ! She found herself not absolutely at liberty, but 

 iuside a large cage, from which, however, she could have escaped almost 

 anywhere. It would seem as if an inspection brought her to the conclusion 

 that it would be very difficult, perhaps hopeless, to get the young away in 

 safety, so she actually squeezed her way again through the 1£ in. opening 

 back into the box, where she still remains. Sundry scraps of iron aud zinc 

 wedged in prevent her again using this hole, but, as before, I did not 

 venture to drive nails, or otherwise make a noise. An unusual display on 

 April 29th of the cub's vocal powers, followed, to the moment of writing 

 (May 3rd), by unwonted silence, may mark the opening of its eyes ; for 

 young Martens are blind for a little over four weeks. One of my other 

 Irish Martens (a male) is remarkable for having only scattered flecks of 

 white in place of the normal yellowish-white " shirt-front." — Alfred 

 Heneage Cocks (Thames Bank, Great Marlow, Bucks). 



UNGULATA. 



Polydactylism in the Horse. — A colt was produced from a cart-horse 

 early this month at a farm near here. Three of its feet have each two quite 

 divided toes. The left hind foot is normal, and it can walk on the hoof of 

 the right one. The two front feet are rather distorted. Otherwise it is a 

 perfect animal. As this peculiarity seems to poiut to more than ordinary 

 monstrosity, it may interest some readers of ' The Zoologist.' It appears 

 to be rather improbable that it is a high-bred animal. — H. L. Sich (c/o Rev. 

 J. P. Smith, Whixley Vicarage, York). 



[With reference to the above interesting record, it may be remembered, 

 as Bateson observes, " Variation in the number of digits iu the Horse has 

 been repeatedly observed from the earliest times." The whole subject is 

 treated in that author's ' Materials for the Study of Variation ' (pp. 360-73), 

 and many instances given which are grouped and analysed. — Ed.] 



AVES. 



Swallow-tailed Kite in Suffolk. — Through the kindness of Dr. Otho 

 Travers, of this town, I was lately afforded an opportunity of examiuing an 

 example of Elanoides furcatus. It passed into the possession of this gentle- 

 man from his father, the late Mr. 0. W. Travers, by whom it was shot in 

 Suffolk. I am afraid it is now impossible to state either the exact locality 

 in that county or the year, but, so far as Mr. Travers is able to judge, it 

 was shot by his father near the village of Mildenhall between the years 

 1830-1840; there can, however, be no doubt as to the county. The speci- 

 men in question is iu excellent preservation, and is the only one killed in 

 Britain known to be in existence. I have carefully sought for indications 

 that the bird had been in confinement, and of this I cannot entertain the 



