HARDWICKE'S SC lEN CE-GO S S IP. 



11 



was caught, and again escaped, the Newt being 

 unable to retain its hold. At length, however, being 

 seized by the head, it was powerless, and was shortly 

 gulped down its captor's throat. All the time that 

 the Newt was hunting, it snapped viciously at every 

 tadpole that came in its way, but only hunted this 

 one, obviously knowing where the best chance of 

 success lay, as the rest of the tadpoles, not having 

 got their fore legs, were much more active. It was 

 very cautious and deliberate iu its movements, and 

 the pursuit of its prey lasted a considerable time. 

 On subsequent occasions the hunt was repeated, 

 though not always with like results. The last time 

 I observed it, after capturing its prey and gulping 

 it down so far that the toes of the hind feet were 

 just protruding beyond its lips, it disgorged it, pro- 

 bably from its being too big a morsel, its body being 

 almost as large as the head of its cajitor. The Newt 

 appeared considerably crest-fallen, nor was it ever 

 again seen in the same pursuit. 



In concluding these few observations on the 

 Smooth Newt, which I trust may not have been 

 wanting in some interest to the readers of Science- 

 Gossip, and especially to those possessing aquaria, 

 who might, with a little care, have an interesting 

 addition to their aquaria for, at least, a portion of 

 the year in this small Newt, I will give a short 

 description of its appearance at two periods distant 

 from each other over six weeks : — 



As taken on June 4th.— Colour : Whole of upper 

 part, from tip of nose to end of tail, an ashy-grey 

 green ; under part of body greyish-white, with a 

 band of orange along the belly from the breast, and 

 continued along the under side of tail to end of fin ; 

 a light spot on each side of tail, at base, above 

 origin of hind legs ; throat light, with a fleshy 

 tinge ; eyes brilliant, black, with golden-coloured 

 irides ; the fore feet and legs 'slender ; hind legs 

 stronger, and feet broad and flat, with five toes on 

 each foot. The front feet only possess four toes on 

 each. 



As taken on July 20th, having on the day pre- 

 vious cast its skin. — Upper part of body olive- 

 brown, of tail brown ; belly bright orange, more so 

 than when last described ; sides of belly dirty 

 white, with brown spots : a few spots also being 

 underneath. The whole body is, more or less, 

 sprinkled with spots, which, however, are less dis- 

 tinct on the upper parts by reason of the darker 

 colouring of those parts. The spot on each side of 

 the tail, at base, is less distinct. Below the eye, 

 from the hind part, running backward, is a straw- 

 coloured streak. There was, when obtained, a 

 protuberance at the anus, which has entirely dis- 

 appeared. 



In my former paper (page 128, vol. viii.) I omitted 

 to state that the elongated form of the eggs, figure 

 93, h and c, was due to the efl'orts of the inclosed 

 tadpole at liberation. They are as seen just before 



hatching. The upper anterior part of the tadpole, 

 93 c, is slightly imperfectly delineated. 



Erratum. — At page 128, first column, and 

 twelfth line from bottom, instead of June 12, read 

 June 22. C. IIobson. 



NewcAistle-upoH-Tyne, 



THE GARDEN WAEBLER. 



{Sylvia hortensis.) 



OFTEN called Garden Eauvet, Greater Petty- 

 chaps, or Billy "Whitethroat, is five inches 

 and three-quarters in length ; upper parts greyish - 

 brown tinged with olive, the under parts greyish- 

 white, tinged with a rusty brown at the breast and 

 sides. The breast of this bird is whiter after every 

 moult ; the same I have noticed to be the case 

 with the Nightingale and Blackcap Warbler. 



The Garden Warbler is very like the Blackcap in 

 form and size, and inhabits the same districts. It 

 is not confined to the southern counties, as some 

 naturalists have stated. It may be heard every 

 summer in Spindlewood, near Kendal, and in other 

 localities in Westmoreland. It arrives here seldom 

 before May, and prefers groves, orchards, and 

 bushes ; but its song may be heard far more fre- 

 quently than it itself may be seen, as it loves to 

 perch on the top of some tall tree embosomed by 

 leaves, or from the cover of some thickset hedge, 

 whence it sends out its soft and silvery notes, 

 which equal the Blackbird's in melody; and, 

 though not so wild and thrilling as the Blackcap's, 

 exceeds the latter in that ineffable sweetness which 

 is impossible to describe. 



From the exquisite choice the Garden Warbler 

 generally makes of a station for its nest, one is at 

 once reminded of the lines in Keats's " Ode to a 

 Nightingale." 



So charming to the ear is the song of this bird, 

 that I am irresistibly compelled to quote from 

 Wilson's American Ornithology some expressions 

 used respecting a bird of the New World, and 

 which are quite as applicable to the Garden Warbler. 

 "When every object around conveys the sensation 

 of joy, and heaven's abundance is as it were shower- 

 ing around us the grateful heart-beats in unison 

 with the varying elevated strains of this bird ; we 

 listen to its notes iu a kind of ecstasy as a hymn 

 to the great and most adorable Creator of all. 

 Abject must that heart be, and callous those feel- 

 ings, and depraved that taste, which neither the 

 charms of Nature, nor the melody of innocence, 

 nor the voice of gratitude and devotion can reach." 



Mr. Keulemau says this bird in Spain is very 

 tame, and often builds its nest on the window-sill 

 in the suburbs of the towns; but in England its 

 habits are shy and retiring; it is constantly flitting 

 about with great agility. When hopping from twig 



