A HYBRID ?
[To THE EDITOR OF THE `' SPECTATOR."] Sta,—Here is another instance of a pied blackbird—or two! Three years ago a blackbird frequented a, small plantation near this house. This bird had three white feathers in its wings—" two and one," as heraldry would pa it. I often saw it quite close; it had a particularly fink-like note; a cock bird. The following year while walking in a lane about a quarter of a mile from the plantation I came upon another blackbird which also had some white feathers and a narrow white rim round the neck. In 1919 I was riding down the same lane and at almost the same spot a blackbird flew across the road just in front of my horse. I did not notice any white in its wings, but its head and neck were quite white except just under 1 he beak. It lit on a railing about fifteen yards away, so I had a capital view- of it. It was very handsome, with a gorgeous orange bill. • I frequently saw it after that, but it has now disappeared. I am not enough of an ornithologist to know if the three birds could be one bird! Or perhaps the second and third were lineal descendants of the first " pied piper! " I may add that recently in the same plantation I StILV a white weasel, or small stoat. Except for a patch of russet on the head and ears, it was pure white with a beautiful black tip to its tail, like an ermine: exceedingly pretty and showed up well against the dark moss of the pathway as it darted across— Probably on the trail of some unfortunate rabbit—only about ten yards in front of me.—I am, Sir, &c., MILDRED A. BOYNTON.
Cherry Burton House, Beverley, E. Forks.
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