850 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



indeed until within the last few years I had never seen the Marsh Tit 

 within a considerable radius of Dumfries. In one or two spots of Upper 

 Nithsdale, and in parts of Annandale, a pair or two were usually located. 

 The species seems to be gradually spreading again, and I have observed 

 three pairs in different places in the Stewartry side of the Nith. — Robekt 

 Service (Maxwelltown, Dumfries, N.B.). 



BATRACHIA. 



Natterjack Toad in Dumfriesshire.— Few people are aware that, so 

 far as Scotland is concerned, we in this district have a monopoly of the 

 Natterjack, Bufo calamita. Some time ago I was applied to by a friend at a 

 distance to procure for him a few Natterjacks. For this purpose I repaired 

 to the shore below Kirkconnell Lea, and searched for over three hours, but 

 for some reason or other failed to turn up a single specimen. They are 

 usually found under stones just above high- water mark. Failing here, 

 I thought of Southerness, the other locality where these curious little 

 Toads are sometimes got ; and there I found them at once in the usual 

 situation, and procured the required number. They are found all round 

 the shore from the Lighthouse to the head of Gillfoot Bay. They are 

 curious little fellows, smart and lively, singularly flattened in aspect, and 

 with more " life " about them than the Common Toad appears to have. 

 The yellow stripe down the back, and brown warts, give them quite an 

 ornamental look. It has never been explained why they should be found 

 nowhere else in Scotland than at these two localities. In England also it 

 shows a similar sporadic distribution. — Robert Service (Maxwelltown, 

 Dumfries, N.B.). 



[This confirms an observation made more than fifty years ago by 

 Sir William Jardine, and communicated by him to Bell for his ' History 

 of British Reptiles.' It is interesting to note that Southerness was then 

 as now a recognized haunt of this somewhat local species. — Ed.] 



MOLLUSC A. 



Helix rotundata, M. (sinistrorsum, Taylor).— While searching in a 

 garden here on Aug. 24th I found a reversed specimen of Helix rotundata, 

 Miiller. The shell measures about 5 m. across. The colouring is normal, 

 the embryonic whorl being dull grey and without striae, as usual ; the 

 intermediate whorls dark brown and the body whorl horn-colour, blotched 

 with reddish brown. As the animal is alive I hope to be able to rear it to 

 its full size. — Alfred Sich (Chiswick). 



Errata. — P. 305, line 19 from top, for "Carmarthenshire" read 

 " Carnarvonshire ;" line 3 from bottom, for " Dobbre " read " Dobbie." 



