ie. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 23 
at Markfield, within the last fortnight; the latter at Cropston, in the 
spring of the present year.—J. EH, WEATHERHEAD, in the Leicester Journal, 
October 18th, 1878. 
’ OrnitHoLoaicaL Notzes.—Our Stoke swallows took their departure at 
the end of September, but for nearly a fortnight afterwards I observed a 
good many stragglers flying about their usual haunts. On the 9th 
October I saw a great flock, consisting of many hundreds, congregated 
about the lower part of Whitley Common. It seemed to be the final 
muster of the last division of the district, assembled preparatory to their 
long flight. The day was mild, but very rough and stormy. ‘They were 
flying high and low, and the surface of the river by Whitley Bridge was quite 
crowded with them. [I still observed a few stragglers on the 10th and 
11th, but Isaw none after that date. Mr. Phillips, however, tells me 
that he saw four at Stoke Green on the 26th, and two on the 28th. My 
old friend Anthony Hunt, now residing at Hastcote, Northamptonshire, 
was much interested in observing a colony of swallows, who had built 
their nests under the warm thatch of his house. At the usual time of 
emigration they all took their departure excepting one pair whose brood 
were unusually late, and the young birds still unfledged at the time 
departure. The old birds remained behind in the evident hope of 
their being able to follow. On the 16th October they were still 
observed diligently hawking for flies, and feeding their young. The 
morning of the 17th, however, was raw and foggy. The old birds could 
stay no longer, and leaving their young in the nest, they disappeared and 
were seen no more. There are numerous flocks of starlings about the 
neighbourhood; their numbers decrease when the weather becomes 
severe, as many of the flocks retreat to the southern countries for a 
milder climate. A good many of the winter migratory birds have 
returned to us. I noticed the redwing on the 20th, and the fieldfares 
appeared about ten days later. In severe seasons the berries of the 
holly are greedily devoured by these birds. At present, however, many 
of the hollies in this neighbourhood are still quite bright with the scarlet 
berries with which they were adorned last Christmas, looking as if they 
would remain until that season again comes round. On Friday last a fine 
specimen of the ‘‘Glaucous Gull” was hanging at Messrs. Blythe’s. It 
was shot near Flamborough Head. Its colour was whitish grey, not 
having acquired the pure white on the breast of an old bird. The stretch 
across the wings was upwards of five feet. It is now in the hands of 
David Smith to be stuffed and set up, who has also a Tern and a Gull, 
which were driven inland by stormy weather, and shot in this neighbour- 
hood, and a specimen of the Water Ousel, killed near Coventry. This 
pretty little bird is common about rapid mountain streams, but not often 
seen hereabouts.—Joun Guxuson, Coventry, Noy. 5th, 1878. 
THE Common ViPER, (Vipera hornis.)—The viper is very common in 
Devonshire among the gorse bushes, in stony places having a southern 
aspect; also on the southern slopes of the Cotswold Hills. It appears 
early in the spring, and is then ina rather torpid state, and can be easily 
taken or killed. Almost all the vipers that appear early are males, and 
there appear to be more male vipers than females. The male can 
readily be distinguished from the female by the darker marks and spots 
upon its body, and by the gradual tapering of the body from the head 
to the horny apex of the tail. The marks upon the female are lighter, 
inclining to a brown colour, and the tail appears as if affixed to the body, 
which abruptly terminates at the commencement of the tail. In the 
Summer months the viper is not so readily seen, being then more active 
than the common snake, and escapes or conceals itself in the longgrass, 
bushes, or stones, being a timid animal except when attacked. The 
favourite food of the viper is the short-tailed field mouse, although frogs 
