Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/449

Rh to the hock, and being moved alternately. This I ascertained by catching and tying the wings of an adult specimen the other day. I thought the point worthy of investigation, as so few adult birds are plantigrade, though I have found the young of Rollers (Coracias indica), Woodpeckers (Brachypternus aurantius), and Barbets (Cyanops asiatica and Xantholæma hæmatocephala) to be so in the course of my investigations out here. Seebohm, I believe, stated that the Guillemot and Razorbill walked on the tarsus, but this is not, in my experience, invariably the case with the former, at all events.— (Indian Museum, Calcutta).

Curious Variety of the Green Woodpecker.—My brother and I have just seen, in the local birdstuffer's shop, what we consider a most curious and handsome specimen of the Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis). The bird was a pale greenish yellow colour all over the body. There was a scanty amount of red over the head, and the "moustache" was hardly noticeable. It was a female, and was shot this year near Bath. Knowing that Woodpeckers are not generally subject to great variation, I hope this note may prove interesting.— (4, Richmond Hill, Bath).

Demoiselle Crane on the Norfolk Coast.—A female specimen of Grus virgo was shot at Brancaster, on the Norfolk coast, on July 31st, and sent to Mr. Clarke, of Snettisham, for preservation, by whose courtesy I had the pleasure of examining it. It had been feeding on the growing corn, and was shot in a corn-field. Whether it was an escaped bird, or whether it may be allowed to rank as an addition to the Norfolk list, I am content to leave to those of your contributors who have for so many years worked at the avifauna of the county to determine.— (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds).

Grey Plover in Summer Plumage in Yorks.—We have just received (Aug. 19th) a female Grey Plover (Squatarola helvetica) for preservation, which was shot by Mr. J.J.A. Riley on Midgley Moor, Yorks. We think the appearance of this bird in summer plumage in this locality a somewhat rare occurrence.— (166, Piccadilly).

Curlew (Numenius arquata) at Sea.—At 9 a.m. on Aug. 5th, at a distance of about twenty miles from the south-west coast of Ireland, I observed three Curlews flying at a height of about a hundred and fifty feet above the sea. The birds held a south-westerly course, and came close to the ship, which was not moving at the time; they then altered the direction of their flight, and disappeared to the south-east. The morning was very bright and fine. I do not recollect to have seen these birds so far out at sea before.— (H.M.S. 'Repulse,' Channel Squadron).