92 
BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
threw it away as of no value ! ” This, the latter gentleman has since written me, 
is a mistake. A snuff-coloured variety, purchased by Mr. J. W. Whitaker in 1882, 
was said by the man who sold it to have been taken at Stoughton. 
]\Ir. Davenport writes: — “A pure white Magpie frequented the neighbourhood 
of Shearsby for along time in the wdnter of 1881-2, and was noticed by many 
people hunting with Sir Bache Cunard’s Hounds.” 
In Rutland. — Resident, and generally distributed. — Mr. Horn writes : — “ On 
the 29th April, 1885, we took three nests containing seven, six, and six eggs 
respectively, six being the usual number. I have seen as many as fifteen Magpies 
together.” 
JACKDAW. Corvus monedula, Linmeus. 
Resident and common, breeding in old steeples, etc., in the town of Leicester. 
I have especially noticed them at S. Margaret’s Church, where, the sexton 
informed me, they deposited their sticks in such numbers upon the upper steps 
of the belfry, as to completely block up the passage, and necessitate their being 
carted away. Harley remarked that the Jackdaw built year after year in the 
ancient stables near the ruins at Bradgate Park, and he once observed a pair 
nesting in the chimney of a small cottage standing beside the lane leading from 
Newtown Linford to L^lverscroft. According to Mr. Ingram, the Jackdaw harries 
Blackbirds’ nests, and has no scruple in taking the callow young. IMr. Davenport 
reports a variety of the eggs taken by him in Launde Wood in 1881. 
Mr. IMacaulay brought me a curious variety shot by the keeper at Bradgate 
Park, on 25th May, 1888. The low'er parts of the primaries of each wing were 
umber-brown, becoming lighter, or more drab-like, towards the tips. The lower 
parts of the secondaries were similar, as also that part which corresponds with 
the alar bar in most birds. Five, possibly six, feathers — one being shot away — 
in the tail were deep umber-brown. The outer edges of each feather were, in 
every case, the lightest, the remainder being of the normal type. The scheme 
was, however, by no means regular in either wings or tail, although the pattern 
of each wing was almost exactly like its fellow, and it was rather oddly, than 
well, or regularly, marked. The gradual fading off from the glossy greenish-blue 
tint to brown was curious, and gave to the brown somewhat of a purple hue. 
In Rutland. — Resident and common, breeding, so Mr. Horn informs me, in 
Uppingham Church-steeple. 
CARRION-CROW.* Cowus corone, Linnaeus. 
Resident, generally distributed, but not so common as formerly. — Harley 
stated that, on the large grass-lands in the southern division of the county, 
where game was much less cared for than in other districts, the Carrion-Crow 
was certainly more abundant. Mr. S. Shackelford wrote me : — “ I was driving 
* See Note on next page. 
