64
Mr. Gibbs on an Abnormal Form of
Its bill was of a dark brown colour, cere, legs and toes
bright yellow, irides yellowish brown. The head, neck,
back, and breast were of a very light colour, indeed almost
white, with the exception of a streak of brown down the
centre of each feather, and that part of the breast about
and between the legs, which was of a very dark brown.
The outer primaries were also of this latter colour, but the
rest lighter in hue.
All of us will doubtless feel some regret that rare and
interesting birds should be shot down almost as soon as
seen; but it would be hard to dispute the statement that
England is not now in a condition long to support such
large birds as the Bustard in a wild state, and we must
confess that the ornithologist, with gun in hand, would be
sorely tempted to secure such a prize when within reach.
R. M. C.
Chelmsford, February 14th, 1880.
Note on an Abnormal Form of Cardamine pratensis, L.,
observed near Chelmsford.
By JOHN GIBBS.
(Read March 20th, 1880.)
It was in 1859, twenty-one years ago, that I found in a
field in the parish of Widford, within two miles of Chelms-
ford, some plants of Cardamine pratensis, of which the
flowers were peculiar, inasmuch as the pistil protruded
above the stamens, and, after the other parts of the flower
were fallen, was raised upon a lengthening stalk and
swelled into the bud of a second flower, instead of becom-
ing a pod containing seed. A specimen of this curious
variety of a well-known plant I gave to my friend Mr.