Field Notes. 



359 



THE SIZE OF THE MA:MM0TH. 



In a note in ' Nature ' on the size of the Mammoth, Mr. 

 F. A. Lucas gives the result of several years' observations and 

 measurements. The ordinary mammoth [Elephas primigenius) 

 attains a height of 9 ft. or 9 ft. 6 in. ; the Colombian mammoth 

 E.colomhi) reached a height of 1 1 ft. ; and the Imperial mammoth 

 {E. imperator) from 13 feet to 13 feet 6 inches, this being the 

 tallest species of elephant on record. The American mastodon 

 rarely reached 9 feet 6 inches, and was generally about 9 feet. 

 The mastodon, however, is a much more heavily built animal. 

 Mr. Lucas adds, "Referring to the mammoth in the Chicago 

 Academy of Science, it should be said that this specimen has 

 been restored, all the long bones being lengthened, and that the 

 specimen stands nearly two feet higher than it should. It has 

 been painted over, so that it is very difficult to tell where the 

 original bones leave off and the restoration commences. The 

 animal is probably the Colombian mammoth, and it is said 

 that the skull is that of a recent Indian elephant.' 







FLOWERING PLANTS, 



White variety of Vicia sepium. — I have had sent to me 

 l)y Mr. G. Parkin, of Wakefield, a white flowering variety of 

 this vetch. Mr. Parkin informs me that a large patch bearing 

 white flowers only has occurred for two years at Cold 

 Hiendley. — W. E. L. Wattam, Newsome. 



— : o : — 

 BIRDS. 



Golden Oriole at Gainsborough. — One of these beautiful 

 "birds has recently been met with at Gainsborough. It flew 

 against the railway telegraph wires near the town, and was 

 picked up by a workman on the line, who saw it fall, and 

 put in the hands of a local bird-stuff"er, from whom I 

 obtained it. I believe the Golden Oriole is not so rare a bird, 

 in these parts at all events, as is generally supposed ; for in 

 addition to the one that stayed in my garden for some weeks, 

 f in August 1901, and was recorded by me in the ' Naturalist ' for 

 that year, p. 292, I have on several other occasions heard of its 

 being seen in this neighbourhood and in other parts of North 

 Lincolnshire ; and though these occurrences were not properly 

 authenticated, some of them, in all probability, were correct. 

 The bird I am now recording is a male in perfect plumage, and 

 is in the Lincoln Museum. — F. M. Burton, Highfield, 

 Gainsborough, loth August, 1908. . • 



.1908 October i. 



