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NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MA MM ALIA. 

 The Water-Shrew (Neomys fodiens bicolor) in Worcestershire. — 



Whether this melanistic form of the Water Shrew is proportionately 

 distributed in Great Britain or more or less local is not as yet known. 

 In this neighbourhood it is certainly rare, and only in one instance, 

 at Wribbenhall on December 25th last, have I been able to obtain a 

 specimen. — J. Steele Elliott (Dowles Manor, Shropshire). 



A VE S. 

 The Thrush's Song. — The facility with which some birds incor- 

 porate the notes of other species in their song is well known, and our 

 common Song-Thrush (Turdus musicus) is as apt an imitator in this 

 way as most of them. A rather curious, and I think unusual, instance of 

 the kind may at present (March) be heard here, and it suggests enquiry 

 as to how the habit may be acquired. We have in this neighbourhood, 

 at 1000 ft. about the sea, comparatively few small birds resident during 

 winter, not more than an odd pair or two of Thrushes remaining ; the 

 significance of this becomes apparent below. The male of the only 

 pair of Thrushes resident in our garden started singing on February 

 4th — an ordinary song. Since that date several others have 

 appeared and sung every fine morning. One of these constantly 

 makes use of the triple call of a Eedshank (a by no means singular 

 occurrence), occasionally one reproduces a note or two borrowed 

 from the Curlew. Just a week ago, one began giving such a perfect 

 imitation of a Wood-Lark's song that, though it was practically 

 impossible for the latter bird to be here, I was obliged to go into the 

 plantation before I could really convince myself on the point. On 

 most fine days the song is frequently repeated at intervals, in the 

 ordinary Thrush's song, but it is gradually losing its perfection. 

 Now, the curious thing is that we never have any Wood-Larks in this 

 part of the country (rare accidental visitors, of course, excepted), and 

 one wonders how the Thrush has picked the song up, and where ? 

 It is pretty certain that it is not a resident Thrush, and quite certain 

 that it has never heard the Wood-Lark's song here. Can it have 



