464 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



AVES. 



A British example of the White-spotted Bluethroat. — At the 

 meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club, held on Oct. 22nd, I had 

 the pleasure of exhibiting the first authentic British-killed "White- 

 spotted Bluethroat (Cyanecula wolfi). This example — a fine adult 

 male — was picked up dead close to the lighthouse at Dungeness, Kent, 

 by a man named Gasson, on Oct. 6th of this year, and sent by him to 

 Mr. Bristow on Oct. 8th, who on that date brought it up to me for 

 examination in the flesh. My best thanks are due to Mr. Bristow for 

 bringing it to me, and for lending it to me for exhibition. — M. J. Nicoll 

 (10, Charles Koad, St. Leonards). 



The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) on the Somerset Coast. — Mr. 

 William Eagle Clarke, who deserves the gratitude of all ornithologists 

 for the trouble he has taken in working out the migratory movements 

 of some of our British birds, considers that the White Wagtail visits 

 our islands chiefly as a bird of passage, en route to and from some 

 northern breeding grounds, and that the west coasts of Britain form 

 the main route followed by the migrants (see Third Interim Beport of 

 Committee appointed by the British Association to work out details of 

 Bird Migration). As any evidence in support of a theory is useful, I 

 may say that according to my experience this species is by no means 

 uncommon on the coast of Somerset at the time of the spring migration. 

 I have frequently noticed White Wagtails during the month of April 

 on the sands near Weston-super-Mare, usually singly or in small 

 parties consisting of two or three birds. The following dates of 

 occurrences are taken from my note-books : — 1898, April 12th and 

 18th ; 1900, April 20th, 21st, and 27th ; 1902, April 13th. During a 

 ramble along the coast on April 23rd, 1902, I saw several of these 

 birds between Blue Anchor and Watchet, and an observer at Minehead 

 has informed me that they occur on the shore there in spring in good 

 numbers, but only remain a short time. The species has also been 

 noticed near Bristol, so it seems to be well distributed along the 

 Somerset coast at the time of the spring passage, and if looked for at 

 that time, when it may easily be distinguished from the Pied Wagtail 



