OCCASIONAL NOTES.
Variety of the Weasel.—A short time since a curious variety of the common Weasel, Mustela vulgaris, was brought by a gamekeeper to one of our animal preservers here. In colour it was a very light buff, altogether different from the usual tint of the animal. Its large size was also remarkable, being eleven inches and a half long, including the tail, which measured two inches and a half. There can be no doubt of its being a Weasel, from the uniform colour of its tail, which in any variety of the Stoat, M. erminea, would show some signs of the dark tip. — John Gatcombe (Lower Durnford Street, Stouehouse, Devon).
Black Hare in Ireland.—We have received for preservation a variety of the Common Hare, which is perfectly black in colour. It was shot in the neighbourhood of Belturbet; but was unfortunately too much injured for preservation.—Williams & Son (Dame Street, Dublin).
[In November, 1853, a black Hare was coursed and killed at Enville, the seat of Lord Stamford.—Ed.]
Ornithological Notus from Aldeburgh, Suffolk.—The waders which visit our eastern coast in their southward migration appeared earlier than usual this year. On July 27th two Curlew Sandpipers, or Pigmy Curlews, in summer plumage, which had been shot close to the Haven at Thorpe, were brought to me. Curlews and Whimbrels have been plentiful about the river, and several Wood Saudpipers have frequented the first mere. The "flighting" in the neighbourhood of Aldeburgh has been almost entirely spoiled this year, owing to the cruel (and certainly illegal) pinioning of a large number of young wildfowl, with a view to prevent their straying from the place where they were bred. A fine male Eared Grebe, in perfect dress, was shot in the river near the Martello Tower on the 3rd August ; this is the first time it has been obtained here in full plumage. Walking along shore from Dunwich to Aldeburgh, on August 8th, I met with an immense flock of Terns off Sizewell: the Common and Lesser species seemed to be about equal hi uumbers, and among them I observed a single Black Tern. As they rose from the beach, uttering their peculiar cry in chorus, and wheeled to and fro over the dark blue sea iu the bright sunshine, continually crossing and re-crossing one another, they presented a scene as exquisitely pretty as any lover of birds could desire to behold. I was at once reminded of that most interesting sight which the Eastern
