8822 Birds. 



brown, each feather centred with darker. Cheeks, ear-coverts, back 

 and scapulars rather paler than top of head ; upon the lore a few 

 small, scattered, black feathers. Tail-feathers light brown, with still 

 paler edges. The whole of the wing-feathers, including both sets of 

 coverts, dingy brown, edged with soiled white. Chin and throat 

 white ; breast and front of neck white, tinged with brown, each 

 feather darker in the centre. Abdomen white : under tail-coverts 

 white, mottled with several shades of light brown. Tarsi and feet 

 light reddish brown, paler and more slender in form than those of the 

 starling. Head without any appearance of a crest. 



The specimen killed upon the 10th of August (a month earlier) is 

 black and salmon-colour, like an adult, only the tints are less pure, 

 the crest is not so conspicuous, and some brown feathers among the 

 scapulars seem to be the remains of the old dress, the bird not having 

 completed moulting. From the above facts we may calculate that 

 the moult takes place about the end of July or the beginning of Au- 

 gust, and also gain ample evidence, if it were yet wanting, that the 

 perfect plumage of the adult is not attained before the third autumn. 

 The measurements of both of the above specimens are precisely 

 similar, and also agree with those of an adult. 



Henry L. Saxby. 



Baltasound, Shetland, 



September 12, 1863. 



A Note on Pipits. — I have noted with much interest how birds will take advantage 

 of any circumstance which may conduce to their comfort in the way of procuring food 

 or shelter: as examples of this, during the herring-fishing season in Loch Fyne, in 

 the morning, after the nets have been " baled,'* pipits alight in many of the boats, and 

 commence searching the nets for any marine animalculae which may be adhering 

 thereto, not being interfered with in their pursuit by the fishermen, who have face- 

 tiously dubbed them with the respectful title of" skipper.'' These pipits are generally 

 the shore pipit (Anthus obscurus), with an occasional meadow pipit (A. pralensis). 

 Along the west coast of Scotland are many wooden wharves for the accommodation of 

 steamboats; these are largely taken advantage of by numerous pipits, wagtails, &c, 

 for nightly shelter, the birds evidently considering them admirably adapted for the 

 purpose of dormitories. — John Kerr ; Greenock,* — ' Field.' 



Notes and Queries on the Cuckoo. — Naturalists or " un naturalists," we have all 

 been bred in the belief that this favourite visitant invariably deposits a single egg in 

 the nest of some other bird ; and I note that our most recent ornithological authorities 

 retain the dogma, for which I presume the notorious voracity of the young bird is 

 thought to offer abundant reason. My observations during the late season, limited as 

 they have been, have yet aroused suspicion as to the uniformity mentioned, and they 



