Reptiles. 3989 



lions go, it is a shy and solitary bird, more than one seldom being seen except in 

 August, and then six is the largest number that are usually seen together. They re- 

 sort to small streams more than to large rivers and stagnant pieces of water ; and if 

 they are in an open place, it is almost impossible to obtain a shot, as they fly up when 

 you are within about a hundred yards, and settle again a little further away from the 

 spot they are disturbed from. They appear to be much more common than they are 

 usually supposed to be, being more frequent in August and May than at any other 

 time ; but yet are often seen in the winter months. As "the habits of this bird appear 

 to be but imperfectly understood," I thought the above observations might be worth 

 recording, as each fact that is observed tends to elucidate the subject. — L. H. Irby ; 

 Saham, July 9, 1853. 



Note on the late appearance of the Common Scoter (Anas nigra) in Norfolk. — A few 

 days since I had the opportunity of examining in the flesh a male specimen of the 

 common scoter, shot at Hickling on the 20th of June. The bird was in good condi- 

 tion, and exhibited no symptoms of having been previously wounded, to account for 

 its unusually late appearance. By reference to my note-book, I find that one was 

 killed at Burlingham on the 11th, and another at Scottow on the 22nd of May, last 

 year ; but the present is the latest instance of its occurrence that has come under my 

 notice. — H. Stevenson ; Norwich. June 27, 1853. 



Note on the Reproduction of the Frog (Rana temporaria). — Mr. Lowe's paper in 

 the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural History ' (see Zool. 3871) having attracted con- 

 siderable attention, as the startling novelty of the positions laid down by him would 

 naturally lead one to expect, I have waited patiently for some person more competent 

 than myself, either to refute or satisfactorily corroborate such statements. With the 

 exception however of Mr. Alfred Merle Norman, who has come forward in support of 

 the fifth position, and Mr. Newman's very prudent and properly cautious observation 

 at the end of Mr. Norman's statement (Zool. 3913), I see no remarks in reference to 

 the matter. I therefore think I am bound to state that I can in many respects corro- 

 borate Mr. Lowe's and Mr. Norman's statements as to the reproduction of frogs with- 

 out the presence of water; which I do, not giving any opinion on the doubts suggested 

 thereby, but merely to aid the inquiry, in accordance with Mr. Newman's permission 

 granted in the observation above mentioned. I had a wine-cellar, about 10 feet by 8, 

 at the end and leading out of a back kitchen, below the level of a small garden, situ- 

 ate in the High Street in the midst of this town. There was only one door to the cel- 

 lar, and one small window, opening on a little square space with a railing over it upon 

 the level of the garden, the path of which was flagged with large paving-stones. I had 

 a wooden shutter fixed on the inside of my cellar, to increase the facility of obtaining 

 an equable temperature for the wine, and which was constantly kept up and fastened. 

 I found some large frogs in it the first year I went to the house ; these I had taken out 

 and the cellar thoroughly cleaned. I am quite sure no others could have obtained 

 access thereto through the window, and, of course, they could not through the two 

 kitchens ; yet, to my great surprise, the next year I found frogs in considerable num- 

 bers and of different degrees of size, some very small. They were again got rid of in 

 like manner, and the cellar cleaned ; but the same occurrence happened the next year. 

 There was no saw-dust kept, the wine being packed on laths. I never could account 



