190 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



fir-branch, are very pretty, and it is curious to see how he can extract 

 the kernel of a hemp -seed without crushing the husk. His perches are 

 changed occasionally for a fresh branch of pine or larch, and, though 

 he bites the bark from these, he does not attempt to injure the wood or 

 wirework of his cage. Early in the year he began to warble a pleasant 

 but not powerful song, rather like that of a Bullfinch. Having had in 

 the winter an offer of Crossbills of both sexes, I was rather inclined to 

 get a hen-bird as a mate for him, but we rather feared that after so 

 many months of bachelor life he might maltreat her ; so he is still in 

 sole possession of his cage. Mr. Patterson, in his ' Nature in Eastern 

 Norfolk' (p. 139), mentions a Crossbill which lived in a cage for more 

 than six years, so we hope that " Gyp" may, with care, be retained as 

 a member of the household for some time to come. — Julian G. Tuck 

 (Tostock Eectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 



Varieties of Yellow Bunting and Chaffinch. — Early in January I 

 saw a variety of the Yellow Bunting in which the whole plumage was 

 very much lighter than usual, except two or three of the middle tail- 

 feathers, which appeared in consequence to be very dark. The usual 

 yellow markings were more or less white, the larger quill-feathers of the 

 wings being much bleached, the " secondaries " alternately white and 

 dusky, which must have made it very conspicuous when the bird was 

 flying. The other variety of which I made a note was that of a cock 

 Chaffinch, shot in December last, and very much mutilated. The head 

 and neck were pale primrose colour, shading to deeper yellow about 

 ear-coverts and lower neck ; but the brightness of the tints faded con- 

 siderably in a few days after death. Under parts paler vinous than 

 usual, dappled with yellow ; bars across wings conspicuous, the larger 

 quills white ; back shading from the yellow of neck to pale green 

 towards the tail, the feathers of which had much white about them. 

 One at least of these varieties, I understand, was used for the cruel and 

 foolish fashion of decorating a lady's hat. — G. B. Cobbin (Bingwood). 



Notes from Eingwood. — Last winter was very unprolific in the 

 records of any rarity amongst the wildfowl frequenting the valley of 

 the Avon ; a considerable number of Wigeon and Teal were constantly 

 upon the river (on one " shooting" ninety-eight Wigeon and one hun- 

 dred and thirty Teal were accounted for in one day by, I believe, five 

 guns), and the usual number of Wild Duck, with a few Pochard and 

 Shoveler, and an occasional immature Pintail and Golden-eye, with 

 Coot and Moorhen, especially the former, scarcely up to the average 

 number ; but I heard of few Woodcock, and no Bittern, Gadwall, or 

 Goosander. Wood-Pigeon and Bramblings were not so abundant here 



