518 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



about the same hour, viz. 6 a.m. I again heard the song on the 18th, but 

 in this case it was about 8 a.m., and I also heard it some seven miles from 

 my home on the 20th, also about 8 a.m. ; so that this occurrence has not 

 been confined to one bird or to one place. The weather was very mild, and 

 this may have occasioned the song. I do not recollect hearing the Lark 

 sing at the same time of year before. In the last instance there were 

 several Larks in a flock, but only one was singing. In the other cases 

 there were also several in the vicinity, but one only sang. The songs were 

 of fair duration ; but I have not again heard more up to the time of 

 writing (Oct. 27th).— Wm. Wilson (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.) 



Green Woodpecker near London. — I have had brought to me a male 

 Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis), which had been shot here on the 19th 

 October. It was only about half through its moult, and had been seen 

 about for some time, evidently coming from Dulwich Wood. I am sorry 

 it could not have been spared, as this bird is rarely seen so near London. 

 — Frank Slade (Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, S.E.) 



Birds of Cheshire. — We have for some years been engaged in pre- 

 paring a book on the ■ Birds of Cheshire,' which will be published early in 

 the ensuing year ; and we shall be grateful for assistance in the shape of 

 notes of the occurrence or capture of rare species, lists of local bird names, 

 or other matters relating to the avifauna of the county. — T. A. Coward 

 (Tryfan, Peel Causeway, Bowdon); Chas. Oldham (Alderley Edge). 



REPTILIA. 

 A Viper feeding in Confinement.— During a holiday spent in the 

 Land's End district of Cornwall, in August of last year, I obtained several 

 Vipers (Vipera verus), two of which I kept alive in a large case — a fine 

 male and small female — the latter giving birth to seven young about 

 a fortnight later. Up to this period she had refused to eat (I might men- 

 tion that the male refused all food during the three months it lived), but, 

 on putting a live Mouse into the case, I was fortunate enough to observe 

 the perfectly natural action of both animals. The Viper, on seeing the 

 Mouse, followed it cautiously, striking a hind limb, which appeared to 

 cause very little inconvenience to the Mouse ; the Viper, however, still 

 following up, struck again, this time fairly across the loins, and then 

 retired to the further part of the case, seemingly to await results. In less 

 than two minutes the Mouse was dead. Soon the Viper came slowly 

 towards the body, with head lowered, prodding the earth as if smelling the 

 track of its prey, and, although the body was completely hidden by grassy 

 turf, went straight to it. After several unsuccessful attempts to swallow it 

 by means of the legs, the head was seized, and the body disappeared in 



