836 The Zoologist — July, 1867. 



note referring to me for a passage from Shakespeare on the subject. It has been 

 remarked that so universal was the genus of this great poet, that no subject can be 

 mentioned to which he has not in some way alluded. The present case is no exception 

 to this. The exiled duke, in 'As You Like It,' Act ii. Scene 1, says: — 



" Sweet are the uses of adversity, 

 Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 

 Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." 



This probably refers to the toad-stone described by Mr. Roberts, which was said to bv 

 fraught with great virtues, medical and magical. But it may possibly have reference 

 only to the brilliant eye of the toad, which sparkles like a jewel, and to which Shake- 

 speare has elsewhere alluded : — 



" Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Scene 5. 



For the lark has very ugly eyes and the toad very fine ones.— J. Edmund Ii 'at ling ; 

 Kingibury, Middlesex, April, 1867. 



Vipers and Toads. — The following curious circumstance came under my notice one 

 day last week: — I was searching for ledidopterous insects in a wood here, when I came 

 U|)on two vipers lying together basking in the sun. Oue of them got away for the 

 moment by crawling into some moss and leaves close to where the two were lying; 

 the other 1 struck at and disabled at once. I then removed the moss in order to find 

 the viper which had escaped, and, in doing so, disturbed two full-grown toads, which 

 must have beeu silting within a few inches of the vipers. I want to know whether 

 any explanation can be given of the loads and vipers being in such close proximity, 

 or if it might be merely accidental ? The second viper I managed to dislodge from 

 its retreat, and killed. Both vipers were apparently females, oue quite full grown aud 

 the other nearly so.— James Murton; Silverdale, near Lancas'*r t June 3> 1867. 



Large Sturgeon in the Sewrn.— There was a sturgeon caught in tne Severn, near 

 here, on Friday last, weighing about 130 lbs.: these fish are not unfrequently caught 

 in this neighbourhood during the summer season, and are sold for a mere nothing. I 

 had a round off the one mentioned, and found it most delicious eating. — Edward 

 Sweclapple; Cone Mill, Lydney, May 13, 1867. 



Lampreys in the Thames near Windsor. — A few days ago a boatman told me that 

 he had placed several eel-pois in the River Thames, just below Surley Hall. On 

 taking one of the eel-puts up from the water (where it had been the whole winter) he 

 was surpiised to see live or six lampreys in it, together with a very large eel. The eel 

 was dead, l>ul all the lampreys were alive. The boatman says that he does not 

 remember seeing any of these fish in the Thames for ten years, — that is, so far up the 

 river. They wen, I believe, eaien by some people in this neighbourhood: the local 

 name for them is '• nine-holes." — A. Clai k- Kennedy ; Eton, April 2, 1867. 



Mr. Kirby's Fish. — The garden at Barham Parsonage had many associations 

 pleasing to his mind. The large poud in the centre was filled with fish, including 

 some very fine gold fish, which came every morniDg in fine weather to be fed. At tbe 



