NOTES AND QUERIES. 



433 



when the young are hatched, and taking their first lessons in food- 

 finding, swimming, and diving ; certainly at the two latter accomplish- 

 ments they are born expert. During the winter Tufted Duck congre- 

 gate in bunches of seven or eight — probably family parties — on any 

 open fresh waters, and in very hard weather will frequent the coast, 

 rarely leaving fresh water for long, and seldom being seen out in the 

 open sea. — Sydney Smith (20, Park Crescent, York). 



Hybrid Black-game and Pheasant. — Since the publication of my 

 previous paper on this subject [ante, pp. 321-330), I have received 



Tufted Duck at Home (cf. p. 432). 



some additional information from various sources on the subject. Five 

 other occurrences are now clearly established, bringing the total num- 

 ber of recorded specimens up to fifty-five. 



[Shropshire. — The late Mr. W. E. Beckwith, in his work on the 

 ' Birds of Shropshire,' p. 17, says : — " Since then [i. e. the occurrence 

 of the Merrington hybrids in 1834, Nos. 5, 6 in my list] two similar 

 broods have been found near Bridgnorth and Ludlow." Unfortunately, 

 however, no further details are given.] 



Nottinghamshire (51, 52). — Two (cock and hen) were shot on the 

 Zool. 4th ser. vol. X-. November, 1906. 2 L 



