until August, when they again undergo a gradual change towards their own richly-coloured plumage, which is fully re-assumed about the second week in October. The bird in question, therefore, ought to have been in the full plumage of the drake at the date named, and it must accordingly be regarded as an abnormal variety, if our correspondent has satisfied himself that it is not a hybrid, or an escaped wanderer from some poultry yard.—Ed.]
Herons near London.—One morning in December, 1876, a Heron was seen by Mr. F. W. Denny fishing in his piece of water in Hanover Park, Peckham.—Henry F. Bailey.
[The spot indicated is about four miles from Hyde Park Corner. On the 10th February last we saw a solitary Heron at Kingsbury Reservoir, which is about six miles from Hyde Park Corner as the bird flies.—Ed.]
Glaucous Gull on the Exe and Teign.—An immature specimen of the Glaucous Gull (Larus glaucus) was shot on the Exe on the 20th January. It had been seen for a fortnight previously, and had been frequently fired at. Another specimen, also immature, occurred on the Teign about the same time. The legs and feet and base of the bill were light pink in the first-named specimen, which is now in this Museum.—W.S.M. D'Urban (Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter).
Singular Nest of the Blackbird.—On the 13th May, 1875, I came across a Blackbird's nest, on the ground, that must have wasted the time and tested the patience of the builders very considerably. It was in the bottom of an old lime quarry, placed on a sloping bank, with too little solid foundation, and the materials of the nest kept slipping down the side of the bank with their own weight, till a queue nearly two feet long and five inches wide was made. At the head of this it was at length triumphantly completed, and on the 17th May contained three eggs.—F.S. Mitchell (Clitheroe).
Occurrence of the Spinous Shark off Plymouth.—On January 25th a Spinous Shark (Squalus spinosus), seven feet six inches in length, was captured in a trawl-net off Plymouth, and on being opened the stomach was found to contain four Picked Dogfish (Acanthias vulgaris). Although considered a rare fish this is the third obtained off Plymouth within the last eight years.—John Gatcombe (8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth).
Spinous Shark in Mount's Bay.—On the 17th January a Spinous Shark was taken on a hook and line off Mousehole Island, in Mount's Bay, just where I observed the first specimen was captured about eight years ago in a similar way. The present specimen was eight feet long, but I had no time to take details. It was too much hacked about the head and gills for preservation. This makes the fourth Mount's Bay specimen that I have seen in eight years.—Thomas Cornish (Penzance).
