bringing together the normal Jay-population of the district.—O. Pickard-Cambridge (Bloxworth Rectory, Dorset).
Glossy Ibis in Ireland.—Two specimens of this bird (Plegadis falcinellus) have been shot and sent to us for mounting—a male in fine plumage, shot at Lauwick, Co. Clare; female, shot near Wexford. Both birds are in immature plumage.—Williams & Son (Dame Street, Dublin).
A curious Water-Rail.—A Water-Rail (Rallus aquaticus) was shot close to this city on Nov. 13th, and brought to us for identification. The bird is entirely black, with the exception of the barred feathers on the sides, and the under tail-coverts, which are dull white; beak and feet black; eyes dark brown. We have seen white and cream-coloured varieties of this species, but this is the first instance of melanism we have met with during thirty years' experience.—Williams & Son (Dame Street, Dublin).
Knot inland in Cheshire.—A disabled Knot (Tringa canutus) was picked up at Bowdon, Cheshire, on the morning of Oct. 24th. The bird, which I saw in the flesh, had evidently been injured by striking the telephone-wires during the night. For three or four days previously the winds, S.W. or N.W., had been light, and on the night of the 23rd there was a slight breeze from the south-west, the greatest velocity of which was but twelve miles per hour, as recorded at a meteorological observatory eight miles away. From this we may reasonably conclude that the bird was a passing migrant, and not a storm-blown wanderer. To the best of my knowledge the Knot has never before been observed inland in Cheshire.—T.A. Coward (Bowdon, Cheshire).
Notes from Suffolk.—Varieties of Fieldfare and Yellow Bunting.—On Nov. 20th I obtained in the flesh a very pretty variety of Turdus pilaris, recently shot at Thurston. It has the head, back, and wing-coverts spotted with white, and a single white primary in the left wing. Mr. Travis, the Bury birdstuffer, has lately set up a striking variety of the Yellow Bunting (Emberiza citrinella), apparently an adult male, which is practically entirely yellow, and looks at the first glance exactly like a pale Canary.
Peregrines in West Suffolk.—Two immature females of this species (Falco peregrinus), both of which I saw in the flesh, were sent to Bury for preservation during November. The first, an example of the pale type, was killed near Mildenhall about Nov. 3rd; the second, a much darker bird, was taken near Bury about the 16th.—Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk).
