4896 Reptiles. 



in our marsh. I believe this bird has occurred a few times before in this neighbour- 

 hood. On the 6th inst. a specimen of the avocet (Recurvirostra Avocelta) was killed on 

 the mud-banks opposite the town of Topsham, on the Exe, by a man named Hall, who 

 says he saw it feeding before he shot it, and that it worked its bill from side to side 

 under water in a very curious manner : it was almost entirely white, having very little 

 black on it, except the crown of the head and back of the neck. It is a rare bird on 

 this river, and has seldom occurred here before. It has been well preserved by 

 Mr. Truscott, taxidermist, Exeter. — W. S. M. D 'Urban; Newport, near Exeter, 

 October II, 1855. 



The Great American Snake caught. — The ' Buffalo Daily Republic,' of the 13th of 

 August, announces the capture of the great American water-snake on that day in the 

 Silver Lake, near Perry village, New York. On Sunday, the 12th, the snake came to 

 the surface, displaying 30 feet length of his body. On Monday morning all were on the 

 alert. At nine o'clock the snake appeared between the whaleman's boat and the shore: 

 he lay quiescent on the surface, and the whaleman's boat moved slowly towards him, 

 Mr. Smith, of Covington, pointing his patent harpoon. On reaching within ten feet 

 of the snake, the iron whistled in the air, and went deep into his body. Instantly the 

 whole length of the snake lashed the air, and he darted off towards the upper part of 

 the lake, almost dragging the boat under water by his movement. Line was given him, 

 and in half an hour his strength seemed much exhausted. The whalemen then went 

 ashore, and gradually hauled the line in. When within fifty feet of the shore, the 

 snake showed renewed life, and with one dart nearly carried off the whole line; but 

 he was dragged slowly ashore amid excitement unexampled in the district. Four or 

 five ladies fainted on seeing the snake, who, although ashore, lashed his body into 

 tremendous folds, and then straightened himself out in agony with a noise that made the 

 earth tremble. The harpoon had penetrated a thick muscular part, eight feet from his 

 head. He is 59 feet 8 inches in length, and has a most disgusting look. A slime a 

 quarter of an inch thick covers his body, and if removed is instantly replaced by 

 exudation. The body is variable in size. The head is the size of a full-grown calf. 

 Within eight feet of the head the neck gradually swells to the thickness of a foot in 

 diameter; it then tapers down, and again gradually swells to a diameter of two feet 

 in the centre, giving about six feet girth ; it then tapers off towards the tail, and ends 

 in a fin, which cau expand in fan-shape three feet across or close in a sheath. Double 

 rows of fins are alternately placed along the belly. The head is most singular. The 

 eyes are large, staring and terrific, with a transparent membrane attached to the lids, 

 protecting the eye without impeding the vision. No gills appear. The mouth is like 

 that of the fish called a sucker ; it can stretch so as to swallow a body a foot and a half 

 in diameter: there are no teeth; a bony substance, extending in two parallel lines, 

 covered the upper and lower part of the head. The sides and back are dusky brown ; 

 the belly is dirty white. Although sinuous like a snake, there are hard knot-like sub- 

 stances along the back. The harpoon is still in him. He lies in the water, confined 

 with ropes, which keep his body in a curve, so that he cannot get away. He can use 

 his head and tail, with which he stirs the water all around. When he rears his head 

 (which he generally keeps under water) he presents a fearful aspect. In expanding 

 his mouth he exhibits a blood-red cavity, horrible to look at, and the air rushes forth 

 with a heavy short puff. — Times, October 1, 1855. 



