2394 Reptiles. 



Arabic numerals ; on the reverse, amid several illegible letters, the fragmentary words 

 " Arg. Procon. Latia Mo." may be deciphered round two larger letters in the centre, 

 one of which is the Greek " n " with an " K " interwoven with it. We understand 

 that the whole of this curious matter is to be brought before some antiquarian society 

 in the regular mode, with all the necessary testimony as to facts particular of the dis- 

 covery. But while those learned gentlemen are puzzling themselves as to the pro- 

 consulship in which this coin was cast, and calling in the aid of the geologist to 

 account for its locality, our quick-minded readers will instantly jump to the honest 

 conclusion that this crocodile, who found burial amid the sands of New Jersey, had, 

 2000 years ago, half digested some Roman soldier in the rivers of Africa, ere he 

 floated westward for a new meal, with the poor fellow's last coin still preserved in his 

 maw. — ' New York Literary World.' 



Occurrence of the Sand Lizard at Godalming. — I captured several specimens of 

 the green variety of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), in the summer of 1 845, in Mil- 

 den's Wood and on the wooded slope nearer Hurtmore : these I kept for some days, 

 in company with two or three common lizards (Zootoca vivipara, Wagl.), intending to 

 notice their habits in confinement, and to communicate anything that I might observe 

 of sufficient interest for the pages of the ' Zoologist.' Having, however, to leave home 

 for some time, and fearing they might come to harm in my absence, I gave them their 

 liberty, expecting I could get more on any sunny day that I might look for them, for 

 they were then in plenty : other matters, however, occupying my attention afterwards, 

 the lizards were neglected until the following year, when I again searched for them 

 in the old locality ; but they had apparently become more scarce, and although I saw 

 several I was unable — owing to the increased growth of the underwood — to secure 

 one. During the time I kept the specimens mentioned above I noticed nothing new 

 in their habits. Side by side with the common lizard, their superior " weight for 

 inches " was very apparent, particularly about the head and neck. I need hardly 

 remind you that the neighbourhood of Poole is the only other locality actually ascer- 

 tained for Lacerta agilis in England, although, as Professor Bell and Mr. Jenyns 

 have suggested, there is little doubt that the " green Lacerti on the sunny sand-banks 

 near Farnham, in Surrey," seen by Gilbert White, the green lizard alluded to in one 

 of White's letters to Pennant (No. 22), and, as Professor Bell observes, " all the ac- 

 counts we have on record of the occurrence of the green lizard (L. viridis) in Ireland 

 and in England, are to be referred to individuals of the same variety of our present 

 species," — the green variety of L. agilis. I have frequently heard my father speak 

 with admiration of some green lizards he saw many years ago in the Isle of Wight. 

 And in connexion with Pennant's account of a specimen having been procured for 

 him in Devonshire, I cannot help thinking that Mr. Hore, in his hurry to reach the 

 station for Trifolium Bocconi (Phytol. ii. 236), mistook the L. agilis for what he has 

 described as " a beautiful specimen of Zootoca vivipara, of a splendid green colour," 

 that he found on Goonhilly Downs. — Henry Bull ; Portsmouth, November 6, 1 848. 



Note on the Cobra di Capella. — No doubt you have heard that the " Cobra di ca- 

 pella," that was recently in the gardens of the Zoological Society, after its death was 

 found to have had its mouth sewed up. If this be fact, can any of your friends who 

 have been in the East state whether this is known to be a common practice ? Other- 

 wise it seems to throw some light upon the celebrity the Indians have acquired for 

 their art of taming the most venomous snakes. — W. Atkinson ; Gordon Street, Gor- 

 don Square, February 8, 184f). 



Oecational Occurrence of the Blindworm (Anguis i'ragilis) throughout the year, in 



