28 THE ZOOLOGIST 



observed the usual number. The behaviour of these birds differed 

 somewhat from that generally observable in the species ; they were 

 mostly single birds, not so easily alarmed, and frequented trees in open 

 situations to an extent not usual with the Jay. — Robeet Mokeis 

 ("Fernhurst," Uckfield, Sussex). 



With reference to the note on this subject (Zool. 1902, p. 434), 

 Mr. Corbin may be interested to know that we have had more Jays than 

 usnal about here last autumn. Very few breed in this immediate 

 neighbourhood, but more visit us every autumn. Last year I noted in 

 my diary that there were a good many about on the 8th October, and 

 on the 29th, that there were Jays all about, and " clearly a migration." 

 On the 4th November I saw several on the side of the parish where I 

 only occasionally see Jays, and they were about there and very noisy 

 on the 2nd December. We have not many acorns this year. — 0. V. 

 Aplin (Bloxham, Oxon). 



Variety in Domestic Geese.— The tenant of my Rectory Farm has 

 lately sublet some of his fields to a poulterer, who turned down more 

 than a thousand Geese on them, Though Goose-farming on a large 

 scale is an ancient industry in East Anglia, it is a novelty here ; so I 

 went down to see the birds, and was surprised to notice that many of 

 them were clearly of Bean-Goose descent, having the brown plumage 

 of that species, with the black and yellow beak ending with a black 

 nail. The Geese, I was told, were not bred in England, but brought 

 over when young from Holland ; and it seems pretty clear that in that 

 country Beau-Geese, either captured in nets or winged birds, must 

 have bred freely in confinement with ordinary Geese. I am not aware 

 that any similar instance has been recorded. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock 

 Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 



Wild Swans at Rainworth. — On Nov. 29th I was standing at the 

 front door, when I heard notes of birds, and on looking up I saw, at a 

 great height, a flight of what I thought were Wild Geese. I at once saw 

 they meant to settle on the lake below the house, which is a beautiful 

 piece of water in sight of a river, and covering about twenty-five acres. 

 After two or three flights round they came against a hill covered with 

 firs, and I at once saw they were Swans. There were twenty-one of 

 them, six cygnets, and the rest pure white. After a great deal of flying 

 round in great circles they settled, and, as I wanted a Notts-killed speci- 

 men, my son, after a talk, decided to take his rifle. He had an easy 

 stalk behind banks of rhododendrons, and got within fifty yards of seven, 

 when, picking out the largest, he sent a ball through him. The rest rose 

 with great flappings, and two more were missed. They now were well 



