Birds — Reptiles, 9457 



Correction of an Error. — In my notice of tbe creamcoloured courser (Zool. 9418) 

 there is a mistake in the dale, which should stand October 1862, instead of 1864. — 

 T. H. Allis; York, January 3, 1864. 



Little Bittern near Weslon-super-Mare. — I have just seen in the possession of 

 Mr. Stone, birdsluffer, of this town, a specimen of the little bittern, which was shot at 

 Bleadon, a village four miles distant, a few days since. Its plumage corresponds with 

 the description given in Morris's 'British Birds' of a young bird of the year. — 

 Murray A. Mathews; Weslon-super-Mare, October 17, 1864. 



Adders in Lauderdale. — " These venomous reptiles, which are to be found in most 

 of the moors in this district, have been unusually numerous during the past season, and 

 shepherds and farm-servants have frequently come upon them basking in the sun on 

 some knowe near a dyke or a juniper or heather bush. As an instance of their plenti- 

 fulness, it may be stated that on one farm no fewer than seven were killed in the course 

 of the summer, some of which were of a large size, measuring fully three feet in length. 

 Although they have been so common, we have not heard of any serious effects resulting 

 from their bites." The foregoing paragraph, from 'The Scotsman' of the 29th of 

 October, is one of many that have of late years appeared in the public prints, indica- 

 tive, it is presumed, of an increase of vipers (Pelias Berus, Merr.), in Scotland gene- 

 rally, and particularly in its broad sheep-walks and its subalpiue shooting-grounds. 

 If this increase be admitted, as I suspect it must be, then arises the question, to what 

 cause or causes is it owing? Is " the vandalism of trappers" to be held as an element 

 in the response? The fell and foul destruction that has befallen our birds of prey has, 

 in the struggle of life, cleared the way for unwonted multitudes of the blackbird, the 

 missel thrush, and many other lesser birds that are the accustomed food of the pere- 

 grine, the sparrowhawk and the merlin ; and it is probable th:tt the diminished — the 

 almost extirpated — ranks of the Accipitres in Scotland will be found to account, in no 

 small degree, for the present superabundance of the only poisonous British reptile. It 

 were indeed far from sound philosophy to reply to this question in the affirmative from 

 one or two facts. But perhaps other instances may now be given, through the pages 

 of the ' Ziiologist,' in addition to the following well-authenticated one, all tending to 

 prove that the viper was used as a dainty bit iu the fare provided for their callow 

 young: — Upwards of some thirty years ago, when falcons and buzzards were more 

 numerous, and when serpents were less heard of in Scotland than they now are, a 

 gentleman living on the banks of the Spey had watched tbe nest of oue of our buzzards 

 or larger falcons, in order at the due time to secure the young birds. At length, when 

 the .day arrived, a windy one, on which the nest was to be harried, he ascended the 

 tree, which was tall and flexible. The gale and the consequent "swaying of the tree 

 from side to side precluded ocular inspection of the interior of the nest. It required a 

 stretch of the hand to secure its contents. I never dreamed," he adds, " of such an 

 addition to the family circle" as a snake, which was about a fool long, and about the 

 thickness of an ordinary man's finger. " Its venomous character, if any, was destroyed, 

 as the parent birds had decapitated the reptile before depositing it in the nest. This 

 must have happened recently, for the snake writhed and twisted, headless though it 

 was, round my hand, thus not only establishing vitality but affording consistent 

 evidence of the old birds capturing the snake as food for their young." If birds of 



VOL. XXIII. L 



