LETTERS TO IRBY AND GUNTHER— SNAKES 111 



out of some 20 seen. I was to have shot there 

 Friday, but was stopped by rheumatism. We 

 have snow a foot deep, and more coming.' 



To the same. 



' February 3, 1876. 



' Ay de mi el buitre ! I don't know why 

 it should be an escaped bird. I have often 

 wondered that we do not see vultures now and 

 then in this country ; there are no end of 

 Griffons in the Pyrenees about Irun and San 

 Sebastian, and a strong slant of wind from 

 E.S.E. or thereaway ought to bring us an 

 occasional straggler.' 



To Albert Gilnther. 



' Lilford : October 4, 1876. 



' . . . I suspect that my snake is a variety 

 of T. natrix — as he has the yellow mark behind 

 the head ; but I only had a cursory look at him, 

 and could see nothing like T. viperinus about 

 him. As soon as I can sit up again comfortably 

 and handle my snakes I will send you a good 

 specimen of Z. carbonarias and G. leopardinus. 

 In the meantime I shall be very much obliged 

 if you will ask Holland whether he could keep 



