Correspondence. 
7 * 
birds, and should be grateful for any first-hand observations, giving, 
where possible, the species of both butterfly and bird, the date and 
locality, whether taken at rest or on the wing, how gripped (by wings or 
body), whether killed by being rubbed against an object, whether con- 
sumed by adult or young, whether the wings were swallowed, whether 
unsuccessful attempts at catching were noticed, and other details of 
interest. Wings detached by the bird are of value, both as evidence of 
identity, and also by reason of the imprint of the bird’s beak which is 
sometimes shown. 
Published records up to and including the year 1908 have been sum- 
marised in the admirable paper by Sir Guy Marshall, C.M.G., F.R.S., 
Birds as a Factor in the Production of Mimetic Resemblances among 
Butterflies ” {Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1909, pp. 329-383). I am making 
a search in both entomological and ornithological literature for British 
records published since this date, but as such are frequently not indexed 
and are easily missed; I should also be most grateful for any references 
which may be known to your readers, especially in the less well-known 
publications. 
Communications can be sent to me c/o the Entomological Department, 
British Museum (Natural Plistory), South Kensington, London, S.W.7. 
C. L. COLLENETTE. 
Dear Sirs, 
Some years ago, finding that records of the weights of birds in the 
flesh were scattered over a number of periodicals and ornithological 
works, I began to collect them systematically as they are often extremely 
useful. At the present time I have over 3,000 of such records from many 
sources, British and foreign, but there are still a good many gaps which 
I should be glad to fill up, and possibly some of your readers may be 
able to help. 
Weights should, if possible, be given in grammes, but if avoirdupois 
or apothecaries’ weight is used, the corresponding weight in grammes 
can easily be added. Of the following British birds I have no weight 
records : — 
Thin-billed Nutcracker. 
Chough. 
Shetland Starling. 
British Goldfinch. 
Siskin. 
Twite. 
Mealy Redpoll. 
Lesser Redpoll. 
British Bullfinch. 
Scottish Crossbill. 
Cirl Bunting. 
Red -throated Pipit. 
Grey Wagtail. 
British Tree Creeper. 
,, Nuthatch. 
, , Great T it . 
,, Blue Tit. 
Irish Coal Tit. 
Scottish Crested Tit. 
British Marsh Tit. 
,, Willow Tit. 
,, Long-tailed Tit. 
Grasshopper Warbler. 
Marsh Warbler. 
Dartford Warbler. 
Hebridean Song Thrush. 
British Stonechat. 
,, Robin. 
St. Kilda Wren. 
Hebridean Wren. 
Irish Dipper. 
Sand Martin. 
Sabines Gull. 
British Lesser Black -back Gull. 
Great Skua. 
Buffins Skua. 
I need hardly say that there are many other species of which material 
is very scanty and all weights are likely to be useful if accurately taken 
and preferably from sexed birds. 
If the bird has been dead for some days or is in very poor condition, 
the fact should be stated. 
Hoping that some of the gaps in the list may be filled up by your 
readers. — F. C. R. Jourdain, Whitekirk, Southbourne, Bournemouth. 
1933 March 1 
