108 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUEBIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Melanism in the Bank Vole (Microtus glareolus). — On Feb. 23rd 

 I received for identification from Mr. A. A. Thompson, Ellesmere, 

 Salop, a "Mouse" that had been taken when opening a potato-tump 

 in his garden the previous day. It proved to be a Bank Vole, but of 

 a most unusual colour, the entire animal being of a dull brownish 

 black. It is being mounted for Shrewsbury Museum, and another 

 similar one taken at the same time and place is to be placed in 

 Ellesmere Museum. I have not heard of any previous case of 

 melanism in this species, but the colour of the fur varies considerably, 

 especially the under parts. Examples received from Bala are clear 

 yellowish white ; others from Bangor dirty grey. — H. E. Forrest 

 (Hillside, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury). 



Mus flavicollis in Suffolk. — In our church here we found recently 

 that some marauder had bitten the blossoms from the chrysanthemums 

 in the vases, nibbled the hangings, and been " mischieful " (as we say 

 in East Anglia) in divers ways. A trap was set, and the culprit 

 proved to be Mus flavicollis. This specimen, which was sent in the 

 flesh to York Museum, is the seventh which has come into my hands, 

 including that described at length by Mr. Southwell in ' The Zoologist ' 

 for 1903 (p. 150). Noue of these could be called intermediate between 

 the common Mus sylvaticus and the true Mus flavicollis, for the latter 

 really looks, as was remarked of this example, "like a little Bat." — 

 Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 



AVES. 



Mimical Song of the Blackcap. — During a fortnight of July last 

 year I was much entertained by a Blackcap (Sylvia atrlcapilla), which 

 used to start singing just outside my bedroom window at about 6.30 

 every morning. I have always been a great admirer of the Blackcap's 

 song, but this one was much finer than any I had ever heard before, 

 the notes being so loud and clear. The chief interest, however, in the 



