Reptiles. 1027 



quently, is not very clear. I have been induced to think that it is in order to prepare 

 for defence when danger approaches, as they are, after a feast, exceedingly sluggish 

 and helpless. Still, the time requisite for disgorging is rather too great to suit this 

 explanation, as the snake might be easily killed before it had succeeded in clearing 

 for action. Certain it is, that if you tease a serpent which has fed, it disgorges in about 

 a minute or a minute and a half; but of all the multitudes I have captured, none 

 ever accomplished this until it had been secured. I will conclude this account with 

 an anecdote that shows the boldness and pertinacity of the serpent in question. A 

 friend of mine, having captured a fine specimen on an excursion to the Konigshain 

 mountains, and being rather short-sighted, held it pretty near his face. The animal, 

 feeling his grasp relaxed, suddenly seized him by the nose, and kept its hold for at 

 least five minutes, to the amusement of the company, and the infinite mortification of 

 the sufferer.—/. W. Slater. 



Congregation of Snakes. A few days ago, whilst walking on the south side of a 

 bank, my attention was drawn to a rustling amongst some ivy leaves ; and seeing it 

 occasioned by the movement of, as J thought, a snake, I fired at it, and great was my 

 surprise on going to the spot, to find I had killed nine, seven of which exceeded two 

 feet in length ; two of them measured two feet six inches, the two smaller ones one 

 foot nine inches. I do not know whether this is any deviation from the common ha- 

 bits of the snake to congregate in this way, but I never met with the circumstance 

 before. — Christopher Parsons ; April 12, 1845. 



Notes on the Reptiles of the Isle of Wight. By The Rev. C. A. Bury. 



I shall follow the systematic arrangement, and adopt the English 

 nomenclature of Professor Bell, in describing the Reptilia and Am- 

 phibia of the Isle of Wight, as I have already done when giving some 

 account of the Mammalia. I maintain that that gentleman, and 

 Messrs. Yarrell and Forbes, are fully entitled, by the works they have 

 respectively published, to be accounted the Doctors of British Zoo- 

 logy ; and that the least compliment we, their disciples, should feel 

 bound to pay them is, to follow in their wake, unless we are quite 

 sure of our competency, and other well qualified judges concur in our 

 good opinion of ourselves, to strike out a better course of our own. 



As I am not aware that either of the British Turtles has honoured 

 our island with a visit, unless perchance in the form of soup, I have 

 to commence with the Viviparous Lizard. These agile little crea- 

 tures abound on our heaths and commons, and may be seen, though 

 not always caught, on the sunny side of most of our hedge-rows. 

 They supply the kestrel with many a dinner. 



The Blind Worm is very abundant along the Undercliff; but not 

 so much so in the interior of the island. The period of reproduction 

 assigned to this creature by Professor Bell, appears to me too limited. 



