[195]

Dec 5 /67/ Mr Gould doubts whether male Black-bird sits much on eggs.

(Oidema perspicillata a British Duck male jet black with large white spots on head with very bright colours about beak, female brownish-black, & so throughout the genus. Hen black usual in colour - A surf-ducks, do)

P. hyperboreus much ornamented

Phaloropus fulicarius winter dress white & black & both sexes alike; summer-dress, red & female has black cap to head & blackish wing-feathers, & is more conspicuous than male & larger - but whether enough to account for by not being so visible on nest I rather doubt. Part X Goulds Birds of Great Britain -I have looked again male is certainly brighter red on back, but the difference cannot be called conspicuous

[195v]

Charadrius morinellus - dotterel - female redder & blacker below, with white crescent on breast the white stripe more conspicuous over eye & larger than male; yet I greatly doubt whether can be explained by nidification. [illeg] of vital force, yet colour case common but little.

(Mergus castor, or goosaslen during breeding - season the male changes from its head being red with glossy green & body becomes buff with upper part of wings black - great changes, very doubtful whether any relation to nesting - perhaps so if in finches