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NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Mus flavicollis in Suffolk. — Having given out that " mice and rats 

 and such small deer " would be acceptable for a young Tawny Owl, 

 which I thought would be safer in our keeping here than in the hands 

 of the boy who possessed it, a bag containing three Mice was brought 

 to me on June 19th. Two were common House-mice, but the third 

 was the finest Mus flavicollis I have ever seen — nine inches in total 

 length, and very richly coloured. Unfortunately it had been kept too 

 long even to be made into a skin. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, 

 Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk). 



AVES. 



The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) near Aberdeen. — The Cuckoo, in 

 1907, was heard here on May 7th, but there were not so many as usual, 

 though there was a considerable amount of calling, which continued 

 generally until near the middle of July, one being heard as late as the 

 19th. The great feature of the year, however, is that there has been but 

 one young Cuckoo seen in this neighbourhood, and it seemed to be an 

 average bird, and of the average colour. This is one of the most remark- 

 able events which has come under my notice. Regarding the wide 

 area which these birds occupy during the year, it is impossible to say 

 how and why the tide has thus turned in 1907. Did the cold May of 

 1906 have much effect, or is it because the season became so unpro- 

 pitious here at the end of May and in June ? According to my observa- 

 tions there has been a fair nesting season among other birds, though, 

 of course, I cannot vouch for all ; so that this incident of the Cuckoo 

 becomes very phenomenal. So far as the foster-parent, the Meadow- 

 Pipit (Anthus pratensis), is concerned, they were nesting early and 

 successfully, so that they must have been relieved of a considerable 

 strain upon their resources. — Wm. Wilson (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.). 



White Variety of Nightjar. — I have just received a perfectly white 

 variety of the Nightjar, shot here on Aug. 9th. It is in good condition, 

 and has neither spot nor stain of colour or markings anywhere. Num- 

 bers of birds are, of course, well known to furnish colourless variation, 



