456 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



and so forth ; names not always so descriptive as one could 

 wish. I shall therefore give the genus and species when I have 

 to mention any snake ; and since every one has even a greater 

 number of disguises in Latin than in the vernacular, I will 

 quote the authority for the nomenclature in each case, so that 

 the reader may consult that authority for a picture or description 

 of the snake, if he wishes, but I shall endeavour to select the 

 classification under which it will most likely be found in mena- 

 geries, museums, and the catalogues of dealers. 



I am glad to know that many lovers of the Ophidia are 

 pursuing their studies in the Tropics, where they will have grand 

 opportunities of rendering important service to Science. Having 

 lived much in tropical countries myself, I may premise that all 

 the advice here tendered is addressed equally to them, except 

 the items which relate to the application of artificial heat. 



(To be continued.) 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 



By John Gatcombe. 



In continuation of the series already contributed to ' The 

 Zoologist,' I send the following notes, which I have jotted down 

 during the present year, in the hope that they may prove of 

 interest to ornithologists. 



On January 12th an immense flock of Lapwings crossed 

 Plymouth Sound from the direction of the harbour, and I 

 counted more than a hundred of these birds in one of our 

 markets. Indeed, I never knew them to be so plentiful. Many 

 Grey Plovers were also to be seen. By the 20th Herring Gulls 

 hcd assumed their full breeding plumage ; and I saw a Waterhen 

 in perfect nuptial dress, with its rich yellow and deep crimson 

 bill and forehead as finely developed as in the height of summer. 



On February 1st I examined a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 

 shot by a gentleman at Bickleigh, near Plymouth, and found its 

 stomach filled with a quantity of small white thread-like worms. 

 Another Great Spotted Woodpecker had the stomach filled with 

 kernels of some kind and the skins of a wood-boring caterpillar. 

 On the same day a specimen of Larus ridibwndw was brought in, 

 having nearly two-thirds of its head already black. On February 



