Tuer ZooLoGist—J ung, 1872. 3113 
pinkish tinge. The horns lasted the whole of the spring and summer, the 
pinkish colour gradually becoming more and more faint, and finally dis- 
appearing about July. This winter I noticed them again, but they were 
not so distinct or persistent. I can find no mention of horns occurring in 
the swan in either Yarrell or Morris. Can any of your readers give an 
explanation of these markings, and if so, whether they are of frequent 
occurrence ?—A. H. Smee; May 13, 1872. 
Coluber Austriacus in Dorsetshire.—In the course of a heath ramble this 
afternoon I captured a fine and well-marked example of Coluber austriacus : 
the rarity of this snake seems to make its occurrence here worth mentioning. 
The present example is only the second that I have ever seen on our 
extensive tract of heath, although I have had an open eye for it in all my 
heath “ collecting ” expeditions ever since it was first recorded as a British 
species, and more especially so inasmuch as I have always felt interested in 
it, having been in company with Mr. Frederick Bond when, on the 22nd of 
June, 1854, he captured the first authenticated (though not then recorded) 
British example on the old “ Eulepia cribrum” ground, near Ringwood. 
In the “ Collected Observations on British Reptiles ” (Zool. 1869, p. 1656) 
it is stated that “many other specimens” were captured, and recorded in 
the ‘ Zoologist,’ besides those specially noted in the ‘“ Observations” 
(viz., the one taken by the Hon. Arthur Russell at Bournemouth, that one 
alluded to above taken by Mr. Bond, and two examples recorded by Dr. 
H. P. Blackmore, also found at Bournemouth), but I have been unable to 
find the records of the “many other specimens mentioned.” I can only 
find (through the index) one recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 8928). I 
allude to this merely to raise the question as to the rarity, in England, of 
this snake. The heath district here is continuous with that of Bourne- 
mouth, which is fourteen miles distant; Ringwood is about the same 
distance from hence, but further inland, and also continuous with the heaths 
of Bournemouth: unless it were an exceedingly rare species I should hardly 
have met with it so seldom as twice only during many years’ frequent ento- 
mological rambles. About the year 1862, a friend of mine was residing at 
Bournemouth, and being curious in respect to reptiles,—especially snakes 
and adders—he searched the heaths there continually for them; the results 
were a collection, preserved in spirits of wine, of upwards of sixty adders 
and some snakes, but not the Coluber Austriacus that I heard of. The 
length of the example now recorded is twenty-one anda half inches. It 
was lying extended at full length on a bare hillock in a very heathy spot: 
directly it became aware of my presence it came quickly towards me, head 
erect and tongue rapidly moving in and out, and altogether looking very 
defiant, but I heard no hissing. If it had not been for an unconquerable 
