NOTES AND QUERIES. 237 



REPTILES. 



Varieties of the Viper.— -I have just seen four Vipers, Pelias herus, 

 which were killed on the hills in the neighbourhood of Reigate. In three 

 of them the dorsal line was of a brickdust colour, but in one of them it was 

 very nearly black. In all the specimens the ground colour was brownish 

 yellow. The country folks here — and I daresay elsewhere — regard these 

 varieties as distinct species, and call them them the " red" and the " black" 

 adder respectively. The " red adder " is credited with red eyes, and a 

 greater fierceness of disposition and a deadlier poison-fang than the black 

 variety. The difference of colour is also sometimes regarded as indicating 

 a difference of sex, the "black adder" being the male. Is there any ground 

 for this supposition ? In the case I have mentioned the " black" specimen 

 was undoubtedly smaller than any of the red ones. A full-grown mouse, 

 perfectly undigested, was found inside the former." These snakes were 

 killed on account of their fat, for which chemists give — or used to give — 

 five shillings an ounce. The fat is supposed to be a specific not only for 

 adder-bites, but for all wounds and sores. — E. P. Larken (Gatton Tower, 

 Reigate). 



[If our correspondent would kindly procure some of these varieties, and 

 forward them in " pickle-bottles " filled with spirit, they would be very 

 acceptable for the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. — Ed.] 



CRUSTACEA. 



Axius Btirhynchus in Cornwall. — Mr. Fortescue Millett in March 

 last obtained on Marazion beach, from under a stone just above low- water 

 mark, a specimen of Axius stirhynchus (a female, in berry), which was 

 placed alive in his aquarium. The occurrence (or rather the observation) 

 of this crustacean on our coast is exceedingly rare. — Thomas Cobxish 

 (Penzance). 



INSECTS. 



Practical Entomology at South Kensington.— The Natural History 

 branch of the British Museum in Cromwell Road has just received a most 

 important donation from Lord Walsingham, consisting of a collection of 

 Lepidoptera with their larvae, mainly British butterflies {Bhopalocera) and 

 certain families of moths (Heterocera), including SpJiiiu/idcB, Bonihijces, 

 Pseudohomhyces, NoctucB, OeometridcB, and Fyrcdida. There is also a fine 

 series of Indian species, collected and preserved at Dharmsala, in the 

 Punjab, by the Rev. John H. Hocking, and specimens of Exotic silk- 

 producing Bombyces, in various stages of their development, obtained mostly 

 from Mons. Wailly. With very few exceptions, the British larvae, which 

 retain a most life-like appearance, and are placed upon models of the plants 

 upon which tbey feed, have been prepared and mounted by Lord Walsingham 



