Birds — Reptiles . 3147 



As I wished to be satisfied about the ownership of the nest, I tried hard to get a look 

 at the remaining 1 egg; but so curiously contrived is this tiny thing's habitation, that I 

 did not succeed without breaking it, and at the moment my doubts were satisfied, the 

 owner, as if in reproach, gave roe an appealing strain just above my head. One word 

 as to the fact frequently noticed by naturalists, of nests being finished a week or ten 

 days before the eggs are laid. Mr. Jenyns, in his interesting ' Observations,' which I 

 would advise all students of nature to read, suggests that this is owing to some cause 

 interrupting the development of the ova. I feel satisfied that this is true, and that the 

 cause is the sudden occurrence of cold weather after the genial warmth of a perhaps 

 premature spring has called forth the architectural necessity. Such a season is the 

 present ; and I have had several opportunities of observing the above fact. — C. R. 

 Bree ; Stoivmarket. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Torquay. — A specimen of this bird was shot in Dr. 

 Sutherland's garden, at Torquay, about the middle of April ; and another bird, a fe- 

 male (the one procured being the male), was seen about there at the same time. For 

 this information I am indebted to Mr. Burt, of the Torquay Museum. — Alfred New- 

 ton ; Magdalene College, Cambridge, May 9, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe in the Isle of Wight. — It may interest some of your 

 readers, if a more circumstantial account has not reached you, to learn that two spe- 

 cimens of the hoopoe were shot in this island during the last month. — George Guyon ; 

 Venlnor, Isle of Wight, May 13, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe near Weymouth. — On Friday the 19th instant, three spe- 

 cimens of the hoopoe were shot near here, and have been preserved by Mr. Rolls, 

 naturalist, of this place. One specimen was shot in a piece of land called the Park, 

 situate in the town, and nearly surrounded by houses; the second was killed at Radi- 

 pole, the parish adjoining this town ; and the third was shot in the Isle of Portland. 

 One specimen was much smaller than the others, and was moulting ; the tail-feathers 

 in this bird were destitute of the white patch. I noticed the swallow on April 13th, 

 with the wind from the North-east; the house-martin and bank-martin on the 15th. — 

 William Thompson ; Weymouth, April 29, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe at Yarmouth. — A fine specimen of the hoopoe was shot 

 near Yarmouth on the 25th of April, 1851, and is now in the possession of J. Green, 

 Naturalist; 1, East Road, City Road. 



Nest of the Kingfisher. — I have inclosed you part of a kingfisher's nest, which I 

 found yesterday near this place. It contained seven eggs, but they were so nearly 

 hatched that it was impossible to extract the young ones. It weighed two ounces and 

 a half, and was full of maggots. — Walter W. Reeves ; Tonbridge Wells, May 9, 1851. 



[This nest consists entirely of small fish-bones, a very usual circumstance, and 

 principally those of roach and dace. — E. N.~] 



On the Hissing of Snakes. — In these days of curious inquiry into everything con- 

 nected with Natural History, it may be interesting to record some observations on the 

 hissing of snakes. Little is to be learned on the subject from writers on Natural His- 

 tory, who seem to have given it hardly any attention. Like others, I used to suppose 

 these reptiles opened their mouths when they hissed, but on closely observing them, I 

 found the mouth closed. This led me to think that the sound came through the small 



