LETTERS TO DR. GUNTHER 205 



infirmity and my Lady's constant and untiring 

 devotion to my comfort and requirements, which 

 prevents our entertaining guests as we could wish 

 to do. Fazakerley was here for a long time, and 

 fished constantly with patience, and much long- 

 suffering from flies, gnats, and bad tackle. His 

 principal exploit in the fishing way was the 

 capture of four chub weighing twelve pounds.' 



To the same. 



' Bournemouth : October 31, 1886. 



' I find a bird-stuffer here with two healthy 

 specimens of Coronella Icevis. 1 He tells me that 

 they took small lizards freely throughout the 

 summer, but they have now given up feeding. 

 He talks as though there were no difficulty in 

 keeping them alive, in a state of torpor, through 

 the winter. Possibly you might like to have 

 them, and, if so, I should be most happy to send 

 them to you. I believe that there are some 

 Firecrests in our garden here ; I have not actually 

 seen any, but have heard a note that I cannot 

 attribute to any other species.' 



1 European Smooth Snake. 



