Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/502

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472
THE ZOOLOGIST.

NOTES AND QUERIES.


MAMMALIA.

Variety of Vesperugo pipistrellus.—On Sept. 17th my friend Mr. James Fowler, of Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, noticed a Bat flying about in a lane near Winterbourne Church, which appeared to have perfectly white wings. It was shot a few evenings later, and I had the opportunity of making the following notes thereon:—Adult Pipistrelle (Vesperugo pipistrellus), female, measuring 8½ inches in expanse; the wings and interfemoral membranes, as well as the ears, were white, like a piece of white tissue-paper; the legs, arms, digits, nose, and lips pinkish white; the fur of head and body very slightly paler brown than in a normal specimen. I have never seen a whitewinged variety of any of our Bats, and should be glad if any of your readers could inform me of any other occurrences.—H.J. Charbonnier (Redland, Bristol).

Autumnal Litter of Dormice.—In reference to Mr. Forrest's note under the above heading (ante, p. 423), I may mention that, having seen it stated in 'The Zoologist' that Dormice were very common in nut-rows on Buckland Common, near Tring, I went there in April, 1893. I had been told of an old man named Butcher who collected young Squirrels and Dormice for the London shops, and whom I interviewed. Both he and a labourer told me that they had never found the nest of the Dormouse in spring, but always in autumn, when the nuts were beginning to appear. Butcher showed me a number of young Squirrels that he had just caught or acquired. I had, like Mr. Forrest, been previously under the impression that the Dormouse bred in the spring.—T. Vaughan Roberts (Nutfield, Watford).

AVES.

Regulus cristatus near Reading.—On May 25th I found a Goldcrest's nest in a furze-bush, about twelve inches from the ground, on Bucklebury Common, near Reading. The first young one was just out.—G.W. Bradshaw (54, London Street, Reading).

Nesting of the Marsh-Warbler in Somersetshire.—While examining a small collection of eggs this month, belonging to a friend, I observed