# The Zoologist/4th series, vol 6 (1902)/Issue 732/Notes and Queries

Published in The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6, issue 732, p. 232–233
NOTES AND QUERIES.
MAMMALIA.
Black Variety of Water-Vole.—On May 16th I saw in this neighbourhood a specimen of the black variety of the Water-Vole (Arvicola amphibius). It was swimming a short way off when I first saw it, and dived on catching sight of me. The water was clear, and I was able to follow its course until it came to the surface. After swimming a yard or two it dived again, and I saw it no more. I have seen the animal in Scotland, and do not think I could possibly have been mistaken in the identity.—T. Vaughan Roberts (Nutfield, Watford).
AVES.
Motacilla beema in Sussex.—In this Journal for 1901, p. 389, I recorded an instance of the breeding of the Blue-headed Wagtail near Winchelsea, in this county, and stated, on the authority of Mr. H.E. Dresser, that the birds came nearest to the form described by Sykes as Motacilla beema. Shortly afterwards Mr. Ernst Hartert informed me that there was a Wagtail in the Tring Museum which from the first he had assigned to Sykes's subspecies. I have had the privilege of examining this specimen (a male, shot near Rottingdean, April 20th, 1898), and after carefully comparing it with the original description, and with skins of allied forms, I fully agree with Mr. Hartert's identification.—W. Ruskin Butterfield (St. Leonards-on-Sea).
White Rook at Aberdeen.—A White Rook (Corvus frugilegus) was shot in the Whitehaugh Woods, Alford, Aberdeenshire, on May 21st. This occurred during a raid among the Rooks, which was made in order to keep them within what is believed to be suitable numbers for the district. It is reported that they were not so numerous as in former years, so that it may be assumed that the severe onslaughts which have been made upon them for the last few years have resulted in diminishing their number. It would be well that this were so, and that the annual raids upon them were curtailed, because when the latter were continued for some days and nights in continuation the Rooks took to the surrounding moors, and were eating the eggs of Grouse. Referring to the subject of White Crows, I once saw one which I imagine to have been a Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix), as it came from a plantation during a hunt, where in some years these ​birds resort in this district, and where there is neither rookery nor Rooks.—W. Wilson (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.).
Migrants at Aberdeen.—Swallows arrived here on May 15th; Warblers from May 12th to 15th. Cuckoos are few in numbers, and very little heard of them on account of the bad weather; so that the increase of former years has not been maintained. First one heard May 4th, the only one on to May 9th.—W. Wilson (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.).
The Spring Migration of Swallows.—On Thursday, May 8th of this year, I arrived at Spiez, on the Lake of Thun, Switzerland. Swallows were seen flying over the lake: on the following day they were in greater numbers, busily hawking for food over the surface of the water, and frequently resting on stones at its edge. On Saturday they were in immense numbers all the way between Interlaken and Spiez, at the former place in the evening the steamboat seemed almost to have to cut a passage through their ranks. On Sunday morning, May 11th, no sign of a Swallow was to be seen. Weather all the time was rainy, wind S.E., moderate in force, temperature about 45 degrees Fahr.: tops of the near mountains generally hidden in cloud, and the distant mountains invisible.—T.P. Newman (Hazelhurst, Haslemere, Surrey).
INSECTA.
Mole-Cricket in Surrey.—It may interest entomologists to know that on the night of June 3rd I caught a very fine specimen of the Mole-Cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris). These insects, I believe, are very rare, or else extremely local. I have only one other in my collection, caught at Churt, in the neighbourhood here, some time ago. These are the only two I have ever seen. I have questioned several people about them, and showed them my specimens, and no one seems to have met with the species, and to country people it is quite unknown.—Gordon Dalgliesh (Inglefield, Milford, near Godalming).
[This insect, often known as Curtilla gryllotalpa and Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, is stated by Mr. Burr, in his 'British Orthoptera,' to be local in distribution, and found chiefly in the south. Stephens gives Devon, Cornwall, and Bipley. It is to be found in the New Forest, near the Chichester Canal, and at Besselsleigh, in Berkshire. It lives in holes in damp and sandy places, and is also found in potato-fields. Mr. W.F. Kirby informs me that he has heard, or read, that a good way of entrapping males of this species is to throw down water on a gravel path over night, and to lay boards over the place, when the insects may be found under the boards in the morning. The insect is seldom met with, and but few entomologists come across it in the country.—Ed.]