n 4 



Various Short Notes. 



the Gibside estate. Four different nests were known to have 

 been reared in 1887 in the Derwent Valley, three in 1888, four 

 in 1889, and five in 1890. Since then they have bred regularly 

 in that district. It also bred in Upper Teesdale in 1892. 



» »» 



NOTES ORNITHOLOGY. 



Pied Varieties of Common Bunting and Missel-Thrush near Horn- 

 castle. — Among- the regrettable slaughters of birds which have occurred of 

 late, although in the case of a Lusus Naturae, whose perpetuation may not 

 be desirable, the destruction is of less importance, are the following- : — 



Mr. W. S. Gaunt, of Stixwould, near Woodhall Spa, shot a few weeks 

 ago a bird which attracted his attention as being uncommon. It proved to 

 be a pied specimen of the Common Bunting (Emberiza miliaria). Its neck 

 was canary yellow, head a still lighter yellow, breast rather darker, wings 

 and tail more like a Chaffinch, brown and grey. 



Mr. Hubert Walter, of Horncastle, recently shot on the Glebe Farm, 

 Thimbleby, a fine specimen of the Missel-Thrush or Storm-cock (Tardus 

 viscivorus), with unusual markings. The breast was light brown above, 

 silver-grey below ; the wings buff, with silver-grey tips ; the head and back 

 a blended mixture of white, buff, and fawn colour. — J. Conway Walter, 

 Langton Rectory, Horncastle, 24th March 1900. 



The Cuckoo : Additional Notes. — Since the lecture printed at pp. 99- 

 108 of this number was prepared for the press the following notes have 

 come to hand : — In North Lincolnshire 54 the Cuckoo's egg has been found 

 in the nests of the Pied and Grey Wagtails, Robin, Hedge Sparrow, and 

 Linnet. In South Lincolnshire 53 in the nests of the Meadow Pipit, Yellow 

 Bunting, Pied Wagtail, Sedge and Reed Warblers. Further notes are 

 wanted. A monograph by Alexander H. Japp, LL.D., F.R.S.E.. entitled, 

 ' Our Common Cuckoo and other Cuckoos and Parasitical Birds,' 1899, 

 must be obtained by all students of this bird ; and would be invaluable if 

 it were half the length, better arranged, and less controversial. It is 

 illustrated by photographs of the newly-hatched bird ejecting- eggs and 

 young from the nest ; but further and finer examples should be obtained, if 

 possible. I have watched this in two cases, both in Northamptonshire, 

 and my experience is that the young Cuckoos were not active till the fourth 

 day, and that the instinct had passed away on the ninth day. It seems that 

 frequently the instinct shows much earlier and lasts even longer. Notes 

 on this point are of value. — E. A. W. Peacock, Cadney, 28th March 1900. 



NOTE— MAMMALIA. 

 Natterer's Bat near Barnsley. — The enclosed specimen of Vespertilio 

 nattereri was taken along with another of the same species and three 

 Plecotus auritns by my friend, A. Whitaker, and myself on 3rd March 1900. 

 They were suspended in holes in the roof of a short disused tunnel in 

 Broomroyd Wood, Stainborough, near Barnsley, and this one was in the 

 same hole as one of the Long-eared Bats. — Joseph Armitage, 129, Park 

 Road, Barnsley, 12th March 1900. 



NOTE— FUNGI. 



Peziza coccinea in Forge Valley. — As I was walking in Forge Valley 

 one afternoon early in March, my attention was arrested by a fine display 

 of colour. I found it was produced by a number of vivid scarlec cups, 

 somewhat smaller than egg cups, resting upon a cushion of shining green 

 moss. I sent a specimen of the fungus to Mr. Roebuck, who was good 

 enough to get it named for me by Mr. Charles Crossland, F.L.S. It proves 

 to be Geopyxis coccinea (Jacq.) = Peziza coccinea (Jacq. ). The effect pro- 

 duced was as brilliant as that of Scarlet Pelargoniums. — W. C. Hey, 

 Derwent House, West Ayton, Yorkshire, 28th March 1900. 



Naturalist, 



