Reptiles. 8857 



observed, opened its mouth, and one of the young ones immediately crept down its 

 throat; a second followed, but afier entering for about half its length, wriggled out 

 again, as though unable to accomplish an entrance. Upon this Galley killed and 

 opened the viper, and found in the gullet, immediately behind the jaws, the young 

 one which he had seen enter, and close behind that a recently-swallowed mouse. 

 Galley was of opinion that the first young viper which entered was unable to pass the 

 mouse, and that consequently there was not sufficient room for the second young one, 

 which endeavoured unsuccessfully to follow in the wake of the first. — J. H. Gurney ; 

 Cation Hall, Norwich, September, 1863. 



The Land Tortoise again Breeding in England. — As the tortoise at Tregullow has 

 again become a mother this year, I beg to forward you the particulars, as furnished to 

 me, of the fact, by Mr. William Williams, which I presume you and your readers will 

 be interested in knowing. " The head gardener found an egg on the 7th July last, 

 which is the only one seen this year; he immediately removed it to a pine-pit, on 

 which was placed a little sand, the temperature of which by day was about 70°, and 

 by night 85° to 90°. On the 28th September a fine male specimen was hatched, 

 stronger than those produced last year. After the egg had been deposited in a hole, 

 similar to that mentioned in a former account, the tortoise proceeded to make it stand 

 upright ; having accomplished this she covered it with earth. The young one burst 

 the shell on the side, and walked away, leaving the other half entire, which has been 

 taken care of." — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, October 15, 1863. 



Snake with a red mark on the Head. By T. Digby Pigott, Esq.* 



Pinner Wood House, Watford, 

 May 11, 1863. 

 My dear Sir, — I thank you very much for your kind acknowledg- 

 ment of my letter. I should be very glad to see it in the * Zoologist/ 

 if you think it worth publication. The courtesy with which you 

 received my last communication induces me to bring to your notice 

 a zoological puzzle, which I have never yet been able to solve, and 

 which was recalled forcibly to my memory by your article on " the 

 crested and wattled snake." For some years after my father's death 

 my mother occupied an old house not far from Bungay, just within the 

 borders of Norfolk (Broome Place), and while there one of my favourite 

 haunts was along the banks of a brook which ran through quiet 

 meadows, about a quarter of a mile from home. One summer evening 

 I had taken my seat alone, with a gun, on a broken paling which 

 overhung the water in an out-of-the-way corner, and was watching for 

 the water-rats, which lived in great numbers along the stream. Before 

 long more than one head was cautiously thrust out of the holes, and 



* Addressed to and communicated by P. H. Gosse, Esq. 

 VOL. XXI. 4 A 



