378 DR. D. walker's NATURAL-HISTORY NOTES, [NoV. 10, 



scream, a gobbling Turkey-like noise accompanied by a peculiar bow- 

 ing of the head, a hollow rumbling noise in its inside when enraged. 

 Another peculiarity of the species is the cellular membrane between 

 the skin and the flesh being capable of distention, this accounting 

 doubtless for the rumbling sound emanating from its inside. It has 

 two spurs on each wing; when attacked, it throws back its head, brings 

 forward its wings, and stands on the principle of ' defence, not de- 

 fiance,' It will kill snakes, and, though very wild in its natural 

 element, becomes very docile when associated with other fowl," 



Reptilia, 

 1. Tropidonotus ferox, Gunther, Ann. N, H, ser, 3. xii, p,355. 



This species of Snake has lately been described by Dr. Gunther 

 from a specimen in the British Museum, said to have been obtained 

 from Fernando Po. 



On the 16th of July last I purchased for the Society a fine living 

 example of the same species from Mr. Jamrach, said to have been 

 brought home by the West-African mail, and probably also from 

 Fernando Po. Dr. Giinther, speaking of this Snake, says : — 



" It is very fierce, and when driven into a corner of its cage will 

 raise the anterior portion of its body and open its mouth, ready to 

 strike. It is very nimble, and I never succeeded in catching it with- 

 out being bitten," 



This Snake is of much interest, as the genus Tropidonotus was 

 not previously known to extend into Western Africa. Our specimen, 

 having died, has been deposited in the British Museum. 



2. Natural-History Notes made during a passage from 

 Liverpool to Vancouver Island (Dec. 1862 to June 

 1863). By Dr. D. Walker, Corr. Mem. 



During the passage to the equator the towing-net was as frequently 

 used as the weather would permit. Among the captures were speci- 

 mens of lanthina communis and ^quorea cyanea in the latitude of 

 the Straits of Gibraltar ; off Madeira Physalia pelagica was very 

 abundant, and some specimens of Cymba sagittata and Pyramis te- 

 tragona, also Hyalea tridentata ; near Palma some Pteropods, inclu- 

 ding species of Creseis, Cuvieria, and Cleodora, were obtained. A few 

 Bonito {Thynnus pelamys) and Albicore were occasionally met with 

 during the north-east trade ; and on the line, quantities of Coryphcena 

 surrounded the ship, and one species of Centrolophus was noticed. 

 No birds of particular interest were seen until we were off the coast 

 of Patagonia, when a flock of Martins {liirundo purpurea) came off 

 from the land, and, alighting on the ship, were caught ; two species 

 of Albatros {Diomedea chlororhyncha and D. fuliginosa, Gm.) were 

 very common. In the Straits of Le Maire we had visits from Procel- 

 laria yiyantea and P. cEcpniioctiulis ; and P. gluciaiis was abundant. 



