Birds, 



8091 



This bird, singularly enough, like all the preceding ones, proved to be a male. The 

 plumage, as might be supposed from the time of year, was well advanced towards the 

 full nuptial dress, the gorget on the throat and the patches on the cheeks being large 

 and pure black, and the yellow portions very bright. The band across the upper part 

 of the head was, however, still incomplete, the tips of the feathers being edged with 

 brownish white; the rest of the plumage very perfect. It is not improbable that this 

 bird was a remnant of the ill-fated little flock which passed, on their way southward, 

 down our eastern coast, and possibly reached Brighton, where two are recorded to 

 have been taken alive during the last winter. — H. Stevenson ; Norivich, May 22, 

 1862. 



Curious Variety? of the Chaffinch's Egg. — Can any of the readers of the 

 * Zoologist,' give me any information respecting a rather curious circumstance which 

 has come under my observation. Whilst rambling in a sequestered wood in the 

 neighbourhood of Bolton Hall, I happened to observe a chaffinch sitting on her nest. 

 On my approach the bird flew off. Having looked into the nest, my attention was 

 immediately attracted by the appearance of the eggs, five in number, which were 

 exactly like those of the redstart, being of the same shape, size and colour, and bearing 

 not the slightest resemblance to any varieties of the chaffinch which I have ever seen. 

 The nest was that of a chaffinch, placed about ten feet up a plane tree, and during the 

 time I was there both the male and female birds manifested great anxiety. I should 

 be glad to know whether such varieties of the chaffinch are of common occurrence. — 

 C. Danford ; Harmby House, May 20, 1862. 



Note on the Great Black Woodpecker breeding in the New Forest. — I was 

 wandering about the forest last Monday evening (June 9th), picking up whatever 

 came across my path in the way of insects, when, on passing an old (though rather 

 small) oak tree, flash went a large black bird from out of a hole in the trunk, about 

 nine feet up the tree. I thought I perceived some red about its head ; and there was 

 no doubt of its being a Picus, their flight is so peculiar to them. Visions of the great 

 black woodpecker stole over me ; but no, I must be mistaken, one is so apt to fancy 

 every bird or insect one sees to be something very rare, or even a nondescript. How- 

 ever, it made such an impression on me that I thought I would just wait awhile and 

 see if the bird came back again. So down I sat a few yards from the tree, under 

 cover of a friendly bush, and waited — dear me, it seemed an age. An hour gone and 

 no bird. I suppose I must be mistaken, and will see if there are any eggs in the hole. 

 I make a movement to get up, when plump pitches the bird about a yard below the 

 hole; and there, before my eyes, and within ten yards of me, was the first black wood- 

 pecker I had ever seen alive, — a fine fellow indeed, and his head, didn't it shine ! 

 There was no mistake this time. But what should I do ? I must have the bird : if 

 there are eggs, and I do not get the bird too, there are many who will doubt it ; but 

 why, said I to myself? " Oh," I thought a voice in my ear said, " you are a collector, 

 a dealer. They won't believe a dealer ! You must be a great rogue if you collect for 

 sale ; every collector is. Have there not been some one or two or more found out to 

 be rogues ? and don't you remember the fable of the robin and sparrow ?" But while 

 I sat and stared, and thought how best I could catch my black friend, he had con- 

 cluded all was right, and had stole into his hole in the tree again, as though he rather 

 thought I was lurking somewhere near. Now for you, thought I. I had my insect 

 net with me (and have done service with it in the way of catching birds in their nests), 

 so, after waiting sufficient time (as I thought) to quiet all fears on the part of my 



