1903 Answers to Correspondents 359 



of a malformed child, the neighbours set to work to try and account for 

 it, and, of course, soon discover that the mother saw something or other 

 at some time or another, which is quite sufficient. All experiments 

 which have been made to endeavour to influence the offspring through 

 the maternal impression at the time of conception have utterly failed. 

 The idea that a mental impression on the part of the mother can be 

 transformed into a physical deformity in the offspring is unthinkable, 

 and has no scientific basis. 



G. BLUNDELL, Wellington College. 



The sand lizard (Laccrta agilis) is distinguished from the common 

 viviparous lizard [L. vivipard) by the following characteristics : — The 

 sand lizard is oviparous, it has two small posterior nasal scales 

 bounding the nostril behind, and teeth on the palate. The common 

 lizard is viviparous, it has only one posterior nasal scale, and no palatine 

 teeth. The colouring is also somewhat characteristic. The green lizard 

 (L. viridis) is often green or bluish green, lighter beneath, more or less 

 marbled with black, sometimes having white spots, or one or two white 

 streaks on the sides. The sand lizard is brown above, with black spots, 

 green on the sides, whitish underneath. The viviparous lizard is olive 

 above, with a white-edged blackish streak on each side and a central 

 black streak ; the ventral surface is orange and blue (in summer), spotted 

 with black. (F. J. Parker's Zootomy, p. 156.) See illustrations in last 



F. N. Q. 



C. W. G. Bromley, Kent. 



Many thanks for your record of the ring-snake (T. natrix) having 

 been captured and a mole found in the gullet. The observation is of 

 interest, inasmuch as this species has been supposed by high authorities 

 never to feed upon birds or mammals. Several cases are now on record, 

 however, of both birds and mammals being swallowed by this snake. 



G. A. H., Westmoreland. 



The harvest mouse (Mus minutus), the smallest of the family, is 

 widely distributed over the southern counties, rarer in the Midlands, 

 and practically absent from the lake country. In Scotland it is very 

 rare, and in Ireland all but unknown, though it has been reported from 

 time to time. {British Vertebrates, p. 74. Aflalo.) 



F. P. T., Monmouth. 



The hawfinch breeds in the counties round London, less frequently 

 farther north, and never, so it is said, in Wales, Scotland, or Ireland, in 

 all of which it occurs in winter only. It is, however, not uncommon in 

 North Monmouthshire in spring and summer, and may breed there. 

 Eggs, five, greenish, with black spots and lines. 



R. H., Sussex. 



The grey mullet has been held by some authorities to spawn twice in 

 the year. It wanders up some of our rivers, e.g. the Arun in Sussex. 

 It has no teeth. {British Vertebrates, p. 373. Aflalo.) 



VOL. II. — NO. 8. 2 A 



