Ornithological Notes. 



245 



feathering of its legs and feet — the S. passerina having 

 merely a few bristle-like feathers on the toes ; hence some 

 naturalists give it the synonyme of Strix nudipes. 



Only one or two instances of the capture of Tengmalm's 

 Owl in England are recorded. I have seen none mentioned 

 as taken in Scotland. 



This bird was captured by a man named Lumley, on Cra- 

 mond Island, during the severe snow storm, with easterly 

 wind, about the end of the year. On entering the stable, 

 Lumley was startled by the bird flying about, and attempt- 

 ing to escape at the opened door : he struck it down with 

 his hand, and captured it. It was then taken to Mr George 

 Hutchison, gardener to Craigie Halket Inglis, of Cramond 

 House, Esq. ; and was sent by Mr George Sanderson, George 

 Street, for exhibition to the Society, and for the determina- 

 tion of its species. 



(2.) Lanius excubitor. The Great Grey Shrike. — A spe- 

 cimen of the Great Grey Shrike was exhibited. It was shot 

 in Peeblesshire about the 10th or 11th of January, and was 

 intended to be added to the museum in the Chambers 

 Institution, Peebles. 



(3.) Turdus musicus. The Song Thrush. — A pure white 

 variety of the Song Thrush ; was shot in a turnip field at 

 Eoslinlee, near Eoslin, in the month of October, by Mr John 

 Dickson, gunmaker, Princes Street, who has sent it, at Dr 

 Smith's desire, to be exhibited. 



(4.) Alcedo ispida. The King Fisher. — Mr David Carfrae 

 sends for exhibition two specimens of our beautiful King 

 Fisher. The one was shot about a fortnight ago on the 

 Water of Leith, near Slateford; the other in the same 

 locality, about a month since. They are ordinary residents, 

 but are now very rare in this neighbourhood. 



(5.) Hybrid Grouse, between Blackcock and Bed Grouse. 

 — The bird now exhibited is probably the offspring of a 

 male Blackcock, Tetrao tetrix, Pen., and a female Eed 

 Grouse, Lagopus scoticus. It bears considerable resemblance 

 to each parent, and is intermediate in size, the length of the 

 stuffed bird being rather more than nineteen inches. 



The general colour of plumage above, is dark brown, 



