Reptiles — Fish es. 8495 



WEIGHT. 



The eighteenth, on February 25, before 3| p. m. . . l fb. 6| oz. 

 „ nineteenth, „ 28, about 4 „ . . 1 „ 6f „ 



„ twentieth, on March 3, at 4f „ . . I 1 „ 7 „ 



My emeu began laying this season on the second day of the year, and continued, 

 the next three being laid at intervals of four days, and then one every third day, with 

 the utmost regularity, even as to the time of day, which never varied more than an 

 hour on either side of four o'clock in the afternoon. The batch has been much larger, 

 and the average heavier than the two preceding seasons. The male bird did not take 

 to the nest this time till after the laying of the twentieth egg, which occurred on the 

 3rd of the present month. On the 5th the bird was finally settled on thirteen of the 

 eggs. Four other eggs were laid in the nest after the bird began sitting. As usual, 

 the sitting is very close. The first view obtained of the contents of the nest was on 

 the 9th, when two more eggs were found to be added. The bird at large was seen to 

 deposit another on the 12th. No further view was obtained of the nest till the 21st, 

 when there were found to be seventeen eggs in it. Three of these were removed, under 

 the idea that the number was greater than the bird could do justice to. It was 

 intended to take away four, but the male bird was too rapid in resuming possession of 

 them, the female being all the time in a state of considerable excitement. — William 

 Bennett ; Brockham Lodge, March 23, 1863. 



Adder in February. On Saturday, the 21st of February, as I was opening an 

 ancient tumulus or grave-hill on the Skelton Moors, my spade came in contact, at 

 some six or seven inches below the ling on the surface, with a viper of moderate dimen- 

 sions. The blow of the spade had practically disabled the poor creature, by an injury 

 inflicted at a point about one-third of its whole length from the head. It was still, 

 however, quite lively or wide-awake, and I should not have liked to trust my finger to 

 its forbearance. — /. C. Atkinson ; Danby -in- Cleveland, March 8, 1863. 



Occurrence of Drummond's Echiodon (E. Drummondii) at Banff. — No fewer than 

 six specimens of the above curious fish, varying from four to five inches in length, were 

 procured here on Monday last. The teeth, from which the genus derives its name, 

 are most formidable-looking weapons, even in these small specimens. The spine, too, 

 at the back of the head, on the dorsal ridge, is very conspicuous. These two character- 

 istics are sufficient of themselves to distinguish the species. Although my specimens 

 were all fresh, in fact I took most of them alive, still I could discover no scales. If 

 any reader of the 'Zoologist' may wish to see a specimen I shall be very happy to 

 gratify him, but all postal expenses must be paid by him. — Thomas Edward ; Banff, 

 March.19, 1863. 



