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Revd. L. Jenyns. Brit Assoc. Aug 8 1856. "On the Variation of Species.

p. 7x. According to Temminck only the female of Parus caudatus on continent has black streak over eyes, whereas with us, both sexes have it.

p. 8. note. Blyth in Annal & Mag. Vol 12. p. 170 The Ruff near Calcutta (Machites pugnax) never met with in Breeding plumage — Does it breed there?—

p 8x. The Sylvia Suecica of Latham in the N. is a permanent var. (or species as some call it) differing from the S. form by having pectoral spot, rufous instead of white.— Both kinds are occasionally met with together─ th in parts of France; but it wd seem, that the red-spotted is only a var. of the white-spotted race there & conversely in the N. In both cases, the males when very old are said to lose their spots

Again Saxicola aurita & stapazina, differ only

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according to Temminck in former having white or whitish throat & latter black or blackish.— They sometimes occur mingled, but S. stapazina is common in S. Italy & S. aurita in N. Italy & Appenin

9x L. J. thus thus doubts (so does J remember Macgillivray) on the various white & yellow water-wagtails species — M. Yarrellii differs from M. alba of continent, only because latter never shows deep black colour of back, during the breeding season alone. Mr Knox in Zoologist has shown that the individuals of M. Yarrellii which migrate to continent acquire their breeding plumage earlier than those which remain with us. Then at Calcutta there is a species M. leucopius which is intermediate between the above forms having black back of M. Yarrellii but is unlike both sp. in larger amount of white on wings. Temminck asserts that M. lugubris of Pallas sometimes breeds in France with M. alba, & that their progeny can be distinguished with difficulty from either species.

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(2

The Yellow wagtails offer parallel case: M. flava of Britain has head & back of neck "pale olive green", whereas M. neglecta of continent has same parts "pure blueish ash"— And in several parts of Europe various fine species with analogous differences have been described. viz M. cinereo-capilla of Savi of S. Europe. Also M. melanocephala of Asia & Africa, but occurring occasionally in Europe & Belgium, but in the latter country, the black of head is not so dark — Again M. Feldeggii is intermediate between M. cinereo-capilla & melanocephala — Again in Corfu there is another state see Annal of Nat. Hist Dec 1843 by Mr Drummond.— So that there are 5 supposed species of yellow wagtail more or less local.— (In several of these cases it is secondary sexual characters which vary)

p. 11. gives many facts of difference of size in individuals & of whole flocks.—

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p 11x. There are 2 American Cross-bills — analogous of 2 Europæan ones; & these both differ in same way in their beaks being weaker & finer. & Selys Deslongchamps attributes it to difference in fruits.