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NOTES AND QUEKIES. 



AVES. 



The Hawfinch in Epping Forest. — On May 14th we found a dead 

 male Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris) in the Bury Wood, near 

 Chingford. It appeared to have been killed by some sort of missile 

 only a few hours previously, the clot of blood upon the wound being 

 quite fresh. We took the specimen home, and had it stuffed and 

 mounted. Mr. Howard Saunders (' Illustrated Manual of British 

 Birds') describes the bill of the adult male Hawfinch in summer as 

 " dull black at tip, leaden blue at base." This description applies to 

 our specimen when the bill is viewed from above or from the side, but 

 the under surface of the mandible is, to quote Mr. Howard Saunders 

 again, " pale horn-colour," the colour noted for the bill in both sexes 

 in winter. We should add that prior to the finding of our bird we had 

 already observed the Hawfinch in the forest upon a few occasions. — 

 F. W. & H. Campion (33, Maude Terrace, Walthamstow). 



Albinic Form of Starling. — I have an immature specimen of Stumus 

 vulgaris in my possession, which was shot at Leeswood, Flintshire, on 

 the 2nd ult. It is absolutely cream-white in colour, and I thought it 

 worthy of record. Judging from the condition of its plumage, &c, it 

 could not have left the nest more than a day or so. — A. Newstead 

 (Grosvenor Museum, Chester). 



Notes on the Tawny Owl (Syrnium aluco). — Last April a pair of 

 Tawny Owls nested in one of the holes in our church-tower, and laid 

 three eggs. One of these was infertile, having apparently been 

 damaged by the claws of the sitting bird, but the other two were 

 hatched. On one occasion I found a half-eaten Eat in the nest, and 

 on another visit I found three Rats (all half-consumed), and a Field- 

 Mouse. Two at least of these Rats were old ones, and I believe that 

 the superior size and weight of the Tawny Owl enables him to kill 

 these vermin when a White Owl could not do so. Much to my regret 

 I found the cock bird huddled up in a corner of the belfry one day, and 

 found he had been dead some time. The misfortunes of the family 

 did not end here, as about a week after one of the owlets was lving 



