526 Short Communications : — 



at Bury St. Edmunds, by Mr. Hodson (see p. 1 40.) and by others 

 there. I twice sent thence eggs of this variety, in the one in- 

 stance packed in bran, in the other in sawdust, closely secured 

 in a box, by stage coach, to Waterbeach, near Cambridge. The 

 hens in reserve for sitting on them sat upon them to the 

 hazarding of their lives, and in neither case was one egg 

 hatched. The eggs, when sent, were fresh ; and we attributed 

 their abortion to injury possibly occasioned to their contents 

 by the shaking incident to the mode of conveying them. 

 Subsequently a male and female were transported thither in 

 a basket, and thus the object desired was effected. — J. D. 



Reptiles. — Of. the Chameleon ("Lacerta Chameleon L.) 

 (Vol. II. p. 469., Vol. III. p. 188. 232.) a painting or 

 coloured drawing (perhaps not well executed) is placed, as a 

 sign, in the window of Franklyn, silk dyer, 46. Spital Square, 

 Spitalfields : it is a significant symbol of the changes which a 

 dyer can effect in the colour of the objects of his art. — J. D. 



Of the Natterjack Toad (Bufo Rubeta Flem.) (p. 185. 457.) I 

 have found several specimens on Tooting Common, Surrey. 

 — Edward Blyth. Tooting, Surrey, Sept. 23. 1833. 



Natterjack. — Sir, In reply to an enquiry which I saw in 

 your Magazine, some months back, about the natterjack, I may 

 observe, that it is the common toad of this neighbourhood, 

 being found in our gardens, by roadsides, in Greenwich 

 Park, on Blackheath, &c. : in the last locality it is very abun- 

 dant. Your correspondent may catch a dozen in an hour in 

 any of the gravel pits with which the heath abounds. It breeds 

 every year, in a shallow pond, just opposite the Blackheath 

 entrance to Greenwich Park. I am, Sir, yours, &c.-£ E. N D. 

 Sept. 1833. i sdt ban t m'd nsa-qaab sdt Sim <Ji3a is 



There is but one Species of Viper or Poisonous Reptile in 

 England. It is the Coluber JSerus Lin., or more properly the 

 Fipera 2?erus. The red viper of Mr. Strickland (p. 399.) is 

 the young of it. I have just received a specimen from the 

 Rev. Mr. Bird, agreeing in every respect with Mr. Strick* 

 land's. Mr. Bell, who is by far our best reptilist, has been 

 good enough to examine it, and confirms this statement. If 

 Mr. Strickland intends to describe any of the ophidians, he 

 will, perhaps, be obliged to me for the information that the 

 number of scuta varies with age, sex, and every casualty; the 

 Linnaean species, therefore, unless clearly defined by other 

 characters, are valueless. — E. N. D. Sept. 1833. 



What are the Colour and Appearance of the Young of the 

 Common Viper (Vipera vulgaris Flem.)? — - 1 have been endea- 

 vouring all this summer (2 833) to procure one, and in July 

 succeeded, as I had thought. It now appears to me that it was 



