250 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
there was a heavy downfall of snow, the hills in Weardale being covered to 
a depth of several inches. Asa consequence of this severe weather the 
summer migrants, and especially the Swallow tribe, have suffered greatly 
At Flatts Farm, near Bishop Auckland, twelve Swallows and two Sand 
Martins were picked up dead on May 14th; several others were found in 
a half-starved state, and were taken into the house, but died in the course 
of the day. All these birds were in plump condition, so that it is evident 
they had succumbed to the severe cold. In the streets of Durham many 
Swallows were found dead on May 14th, and in other parts of the north- 
country, and particularly in the Lake District, hundreds of Swallows have 
been found lying dead in the fields and on the roads.—T. H. NExson 
(Bishop Auckland). 
Black Game in Herefordshire.—It may perhaps be worth mentioning 
that Black Game have lately settled down in Crasswall (on the Brecknock- 
shire side of this county), where for the last year or two they have been 
met with in small numbers. They probably came from Radnor Forest, 
which would be about fifteen miles off—H. H. Woop (White House, 
Vowchurch, Hereford). 
[Is it not more likely that they came over the Brecknockshire border ? 
In this county, according to Mr. Cambridge Phillips (‘ Zoologist,’ 1882, 
p- 188), Black Grouse are to be found on the Marquis of Camden’s 
property near Trecastle; Mr. D. Llewellyn also has a few; and on Lord 
Tredegar’s, Sir Joseph Bailey’s, and Mr. William Vaughan’s hills there is 
a fair stock of breeding birds.—Ep.] 
REPTILES. 
Palmated Newt in Epping Forest.—I have the pleasure of recording 
a new locality for this Newt in the immediate vicinity of the Metropolis— 
asmall pit near Chingford Station. It is quite abundant there, and occurs in 
company with Molge cristata and M. vulgaris.—G. A. BouLenGcEr (British 
Museum, Nat. Hist.). 
Palmated Newt in Lancashire.—As I am working this summer on 
the life-history of our British Newts, I have asked several friends in various 
districts to procure specimens for me. Mr. A. Jackson, of Garstang, near 
Preston, brought to me, on April 19th, some Common Newts (as he 
supposed), captured on the 17th; but on examining them | found that they 
were the Palmated Newt (Molge palmata), which, so far as I know, has not 
been found before in Lancashire. I have put them in a tank, and they 
have already laid several eggs, whose development I am carefully observing. 
The tail filaments and the palmated feet of the males are not yet fully 
developed, owing perhaps to the lateness of the season. — Linnazus 
GreEenine (Beechwood, Warrington). 
