procuring a specimen shot in the county of Dublin." Nevertheless the bird is certainly not so rare as is supposed ; I have been familiar with its song for seven or eight years, and I have often watched it and wondered what the bird was when unable to procure a specimen. I have known several pairs for three separate summers in the oak woods of Derrybawn at Glendalough, County Wicklow, and in different parts of that beautiful place. I have also recognised the song and watched the birds amongst oaks near Powerscourt Waterfall, and in the Devil's Glen, in the same county ; and it was a great delight to me to be able to solve a difficulty of so many years standing at last, in spite of the pity it was to shoot so beautiful a little bird. From the range which the above localities give the bird in Ireland, it has no doubt escaped observation in intermediate districts. I would suggest, for instance, that it most probably visits the wooded glens in the County Antrim, which are admirably suited for it. When I obtained the bird I had no difficulty in identifying it, as I was fortunately possessed of ' Our Summer Migrants.' I think Charles Kingsley's description, from which I have quoted, hits off the idea of the song to perfection. Perhaps I ought to mention that the other Wood Wrens left for good after the death of their messmate.— H. Chichester Hart (Glenalla Bay, Co. Donegal).
Partridge swimming.—On July 15th, whilst taking a walk by the side of the River Rye, in a grass-field called the Mickle-holme, a dachshund that I had with me " set" two Partridges underneath a thorn-bush growing a short distance from the river. Immediately after I heard a splash in the stream, and on going to the side, I saw in the middle one of the Partridges. It did not seem to be in the slightest degree frightened, but calmly paddled, apparently with as much ease as a common Moorhen underneath a bush on the farther side, and I saw no more of it. The bird could easily land from the bush. I looked about the bush out of which the birds flew, but could not discover any nest. The fact of a Partridge being able to swim was to me a great surprise, and I shall be glad to know whether any of the readers of ' The Zoologist' have ever witnessed a similar action on the part of this bird.- Walter Stamper (Highfield, Oswaldkirk, York).
[We have known more than one instance of Pheasants swimming, and a Landrail will take the water well and fearlessly. — Ed.]
Hybrid Black Grouse and Capercaillie.—Mr. Edward Jackson, of the Poultry Market, Smithfield, was recently good enough to send for my inspection a well-preserved specimen of a hybrid between the Black Grouse and Capercaillie. It was received in a large consignment of blackgame from Norway in the month of March last, and was the first of the kind Mr. Jackson had seen. With the crest and beard of the Capercaillie, it has the glossy neck-feathers of the Blackcock, and tertials like those of the Capercaillie. The shape of the tail is exactly intermediate between those
