156 THE ZOOLOGIST. ■ 



June 11th. — Cuckoo the sole occupant of nest, and fully fledged. 



June 14th. — Cuckoo out of the nest and screeching. 



Tt may be interesting to state that I have a series of excellent photo- 

 graphs illustrating the various stages described above, which will be 

 subsequently pubUshed. — W. Pbrcival Westell (St. Albans, Herts). 



Varieties of the Dunlin (Tringa alpina). — Referring to the communi- 

 cation upon this subject by Mr. J. Backhouse [ante, p. 91), as far as I have 

 been able to ascertain, no Dunlins of the larger variety stay in our part 

 (North Yorkshire district) to breed. In 1899 I found a clutch of four eggs 

 of Tringa alpina on the south bank of the River Tees, this being the only 

 occurrence recorded of the Dunlin breeding there. The parent birds 

 belonging to this nest were, I found, those of the smaller variety. For 

 years I have sought to procure in this district an example of the large 

 variety in good summer plumage, but have hitherto failed to do so. In 

 early August I have shot, on the Humber, the Tees, and the Northumber- 

 land coast, several Dunlins, but invariably found them all of the small 

 form, which is known to breed with us. Towards the latter end of August 

 I have obtained the large form of Dunlin, which had by that time lost most 

 of its summer plumage. A good specimen of the small variety in summer 

 plumage can be readily procured on the coast in spring, but the large 

 forms seem to leave us before they attain their full nuptial dress. I am, of 

 course, aware that a very considerable range exists in the quality of the 

 summer plumage of shore-birds, and also of the exceptions which occa- 

 sionally take place. For instance, I have in ray collection a Golden Plover 

 in perfect summer dress, which was shot Feb. 22nd, 1900 ; and also a Grey 

 Plover in full breeding plumage, shot Sept. 2nd, 1899. Both these birds 

 were procured near the River Tees. The disappearance of the larger variety 

 of the Dunlin during the mouths of June and July seems to lead many 

 people to suppose that with us in Yorkshire they are only migratory. I 

 have found several nests of the Dunlin on the uplands of the North of 

 England, and from close observations always observed them to belong to 

 the smaller race. Out of the individual Dunlins found on the Yorkshire 

 coast during June and July, I have never been able to observe a single 

 representative of the large form. — Stanley Duncan (Redcar, Yorks). 



Wildfowl on the Hampshire Avon during the Winter of 1900-1. — 

 That the number as well as variety of Wildfowl frequenting this neighbour- 

 hood have decreased, when compared with many years ago, is an undoubted 

 fact. The comparative mildness of some winters is perhaps one of the 

 causes for this decrease, but other agencies must considerably help in the 

 diminution. It matters not what the temperature of the season may be, the 

 immense flocks of Wigeon and Teal are never seen as they were formerly, 



