APRIL. 



83 



17th. -Examined Sparrow's crop; it contained nothing but 

 Barley. It is quite time an insectivorous diet was commenced. Pied 

 Wagtails on newly-sown Barley field. Greenfinch singing. Dull, 

 warm, rainy day. Hen Chaffinch "weeping," and Song Thrushes 

 singing beautifully. Jay's nest in Fir, composed of Fir twigs and 

 Moss; no eggs. Two Stoats hung up in the woods; how delicate 

 the yellowish belly! Green Woodpecker laughing loudly, forecasting 

 rainy weather. 



Song Thrush singing at 7.30 p.m. Mistle Thrush has ceased 

 singing. 



18th Lovely day. Plum blossom almost bursted. Cherry blos- 

 som well out. Flower of Gooseberry well open. Violets going off. 

 Cowslips in flower. 



Mr. Bertram Bryan, Longton, Staffs., kindly sends me the following 

 interesting notes on the four species of Newts mentioned in my Diary 

 under date of February 4th. 



"These interesting creatures are despised by the majority of 

 people simply because of the rooted superstition that prevails in the 

 public mind. It is still believed in spite of so much having already- 

 been said by various writers that Newts, or, as they are called in 

 Staffordshire, "Askers," are capable of inflicting a severe sting, and 

 even of spitting fire, both ideas being utterly absurd. 



" My own observations on the Newt are by no means exhaustive, 

 yet I have ventured to think they may not be entirely devoid of 

 interest to at least a few of your numerous readers. Of the four 

 species which inhabit our ponds., I have, up to the present, only made 

 the acquaintance of two, viz., the Great Crested and the Common 

 Smooth Newt, both of which are very common in our neighbourhood. 

 I will attempt to give a slight description, by means of which they 

 may be identified. The Great Crested Newt, when mature, is about 

 five or six inches in length. Its skin is covered with protuberances, 

 which give it a warty appearance. The colour below is a bright 

 golden orange, with large black spots ; above, it is of an olive brown, 

 with a few black spots. The male at this season of the year (which 

 is the breeding season) is very conspicuous, for in addition to his 

 bright colours he is decorated with a beautiful crest, which commences 

 on the head, and continues down the back and tail, the former portion 

 being notched, the latter broad and even. There is also a silvery 

 streak running horizontally along the centre of the tail. The female 



