Grey Plover and Wood Sandpiper the young birds have their dorsal plumage very often spotted with yellow, which becomes white in adult, birds.—E.H. Rodd (Penzance).
Marten-cat in Wastdale, Cumberland.—A curious fact in connection with Marten-cats has lately come under my notice. During a hunt in Wastdale (the wildest part of the Cumberland hills), an old "Mart," as this species is locally termed, was observed to rush up the face of a precipice with a young one about a quarter grown banging on firmly to her tail. I think that no one will be sorry to bear that on this occasion both mother and young one escaped.—W.A. Durnford (Barrow-in-Furness).
Rat seizing a Snake.—A friend of mine was walking on the highroad, in the autumn of last year, accompanied by a sheep dog which is a good ratter, when he saw at some distance what he supposed to be a rat jumping and tumbling about in a peculiar manner. He "hied" on the dog, which to his surprise kept jumping around and barking, instead of seizing it as he expected. On a nearer approach, however, he discovered that the rat had fastened, about midway, on a large snake, the snake using its utmost endeavours to get to the hedge, and the rat doing all it could to keep it on the road. This state of things went on for some time, neither rat nor snake taking any heed of him or his dog, until at last, thinking that the snake would make its escape, he struck at and killed them both.—H. Nicholls (Kingsbridge, South Devon).
Orange Variety of the Mole.—On March 11th an orange-coloured variety of the Mole was caught on this farm, in the parish of Waldron, near Hailsham, by a mole-catcher. He brought it to me, and I have sent it to Messrs. Pratt, of Brighton, to be preserved. A similar variety was caught on this farm about two years ago. The man also tells me he has taken several lately with orange spots, but threw them away. I am told that an orange-coloured Mole is frequently caught on an adjoiuing farm. My father says that on his farm in Northamptonshire a white Mole was caught some years ago.—E. Langley (Horeham Manor, Hawkhurst).
[See ' Zoologist,' 1877, pp. 225, 226.—Ed.]
Common Dolphin at Plymouth.—On February 20th a fine Dolphin, Delphinus delphis,—measuriug 5 feet 6 inches in length, $ feet 4 inches in girth, and weighing 2 cwt. 2 qrs. 27 lbs.,— was captured in a net off Plymouth. The beak, or snout, of this animal was most curiously maimed or malformed, a portion of the tip of the upper jaw being abruptly bent or doubled inwards, and its whole length turned somewhat aside as if from a tremendous blow. Thus shortened, the projecting end of the lower jaw has curved upwards in the form of a hook, giving the whole snout a remarkable appearance, which, together with its numerous small teeth, strongly reminds
