114 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



translucent canvas intervenes between the window and the 

 apartment, the latter is not darkened by its presence as much as 

 it would be by an ordinary bed-chamber muslin blind. This 

 window opens upon the road, and though the eyes of passers-by 

 cannot penetrate the white canvas wall (a very important point 

 in boy-infested neighbourhoods !), everything that goes on outside 

 is visible from the interior, while every movement of the reptiles 

 can be observed at leisure from any part of the room. 



If it be intended to introduce hot-water tins into this kind of 

 cage in the winter, a felt or quilted cover, such as was spoken of 

 in the last chapter, must be made to go over it. It is ill adapted 

 for such an arrangement, however ; and I infer that those who 

 make use of it will either remove their snakes to another 

 situation in cold weather, or allow them them to go into a state 

 of hybernation with the appurtenances to be afterwards described. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



The Fauna of Higham, Kent.— In a little volume, entitled "A 

 Handbook of Higham ; or, the Curiosities of a Country Parish "( 1882), 

 for a copy of which we are indebted to the author, the llev. C. H. Fielding, 

 M.A., we find a chapter headed " Natural History," followed by lists of the 

 animals and plants found in the district. Judging by the length of these 

 lists, the author appears to have paid more attention to botany than 

 zoology, although, as he tells us, "considering the great centre of popula- 

 tion in which the parish of Higham is situated (between the Thames and 

 the Medway), and the amount of cleared laud in the parish, the fauna is 

 very extensive." Amongst the few interesting mammals noticed are the 

 Badger, which has been " frequently found," the Harvest Mouse, and the 

 Horseshoe Bat, concerning which we should have been glad to see some- 

 thing more than the bare mention of the name. The Polecat is doubt- 

 fully included in the list, and although the parish lies between two rivers, 

 the Otter is said to be unknown there. In the list of birds, wherein 88 

 species are named without any intimation of their being resident or 

 migratory, rare or common, we observe Montagu's Harrier placed on equal 

 footing with the Barn Owl and Sparrow Hawk, as if it were equally 

 abuudant, and we are left to guess what particular species (out of the half- 

 dozen or so which are found in the British Islands) may be intended by the 

 vague expression " Wild Goose." Amongst the Amphibia the only species 



