The Zoologist — August, 1868. 1343 



could possibly be found. It is hard to believe that this can be the same bird with 

 that found so commonly on the bants of the Thames, three hundred yards distant, 

 and not in any intermediate spot, and yet the notes are identical to the ear, whether 

 coming from the reed-bed in the water or from the scorched lilac under the south 

 wall. It may be that some of your readers can answer two questions which arise from 

 the foregoing observation, viz. Is there more than one species concerned? and if there 

 is not, What kiud of food equally attractive does the sedge warbler find among the 

 reeds and on the lilacs?— Clermont ; Ealington Park, July 23, 1868. 



Scarcity of the House Martin. — I may here mention that I have observed a 

 decided scarcity of the house martin this summer in various parts of the country, and 

 have heard the same fact remarked upon by several persons in Sussex, especially near 

 Uek field, and in Warwickshire.— Id. 



An Albino Humming Bird. — During the last summer a white humming bird 

 visited many limes a stand of plants on my piazza. I had several opportunities of 

 observing it closely. It seemed a trifle larger than the ruby-throat. The neck and 

 head were of a glossy gold-colour. Eyes large, black and brilliant. After dipping its 

 bill into all the fuschias, it did what I never saw other humming birds do, alighted on 

 a dwarf apple-tree within a few feet of me, and ate the aphides, or plant-lice, just as 

 the sparrows and golden wrens do. After a hearty meal of insects it dressed its 

 feathers, spread its wings one by one, and thrust out a very long tongue. — L. A. 

 Millington, in the ' American Naturalist' for April, 1868. 



Tivo Serpents and a Cat; a Singular Case. — The ' Messenger Algerien' relates 

 the following curious story: — "A very singular occurrence took place in the ware- 

 house of the Messageries Impeiiales at Stora. A large case containing two serpents, 

 directed from Batna to the superintendent of the Zoological Gardens in Marseilles, 

 was deposited in the warehouse for shipment. Whilst there a cat, ignorant of what 

 the case contained, got into it. No sooner had it done so than the reptiles sprang at 

 it with the rapidity of an arrow, and squeezed it to death in their immense coils. 

 They then relaxed their hold, and commenced the process of swallowing. The male 

 serpent seized the dead cat by the head end, the female swallowing the tail end. It 

 is well known that when serpents take into their mouth a substance of a certain size, 

 the conformation of the teeth and jaws is such that they cannot let go their hold. In 

 the present case both snakes were thus brought face to face, the process of deglutition 

 was arrested, and it became doubtful how the matter would end. At length the 

 female snake made a desperate effort to swallow the other, and in doing so was 

 choked." In corroboration of the above facts the animals have been preserved in 

 spirits of wine. The directors of the Zoological Garden of Marseilles are going to 

 bring an action against the Messageries Company for the loss of the serpents, whilst 

 the owner of the cat demands that its skin at least should be given up to him as a 

 matter of curiosity. 



Parturition of Hippocampi. — To-day near noon I observed three young sea-horses 

 swimming about. They had just made their dibut. Very minute creatures they 

 were ; but to my great joy, nearly perfect. From that hour the Pacermater kept busy 



