436 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



September 4 th. — One young one only now roosts in nest. 



8th. — A sixth nest constructed along hrook side near where the 

 nest was formed in top of alder stub. This nest also I cannot ever 

 find occupied. 



25th. — Both young first seen to take to the wing. It is now 

 fifteen weeks since they were hatched. 



30th. — The two young seen roosting on the brood nest for the 

 last time. The old birds have only visited the pond during the 

 day for some time past. — J. Steele Elliott (Dowles Manor, 

 Shropshire). 



Ring-necked Parrakeets (Palseornis torquatus) at large in London. — 

 Two of these birds haunt the neighbourhood of Clissold Park, N. ; 

 whether they are a pair or not I cannot say, but regularly every 

 morning, at 8.15 or thereabouts, one can see them; they attract one's 

 attention by their screaming. At first I could not locate them, owing 

 to their quick flight, but can now detect them immediately ; they 

 always seem to fly in the same direction, due north, at the above 

 time. I have never seen them at any other time than in the 

 morning ; whether they go away and return later I cannot say.* — 

 G. T. Newmaech. 



Grey-breasted Variation in Robin. — On September 19th, and 

 again on the 22nd, and on two occasions since, I observed in the Zoo, 

 among the bushes at the back of the Diving-birds' House, a Kobin 

 which had the red confined to the face and throat, the rest of the 

 area which is commonly red being slate-grey. The rest of the 

 plumage was normal, and the bird was adult. — F. Finn. 



Yellow Bill in Female and Young Blackbirds. — For some years past 

 I have noticed the common occurrence of a yellow bill in hen Black- 

 birds in our London Parks ; it is now, I think, the rule for the hen 

 to have a yellow bill, though not quite so bright as the cock's, and I 

 have noted this during the present year in localities as far apart as 

 Eegent's Park and Kew. About mid-summer I saw at the back of 

 the Zoo library a newly-fledged young bird with a yellow beak, so 

 this local variation looks like extending further. — F. Finn. 



* A male Parrakeet of this species was seen by us on more than one 

 occasion in a recent summer at the south end of Regent's Park, apparently 

 quite at home ; there has been also a bird of this genus in Hyde Park for a 

 year or two, which we have seen at a distance, but we are not sure if it is 

 the common Ring-neck, or one of the races of the large and distinct 

 "Alexandrine" Parrakeet (P. eupatrius group).— Ed. 



