Reptiles, %c. 2433 



sometimes at a considerable elevation, during the fine warm nights of 

 summer. For a long time we attributed this note to the nightjar, un- 

 til one fine evening we suddenly heard the familiar cry just above our 

 heads, and, stooping down to obtain a clearer sight of our visitor, soon 

 discovered him to be a moorhen. After flying once or twice round, 

 he very opportunely alighted in a pond close at hand, where, in the 

 clear moonlight, we had a full view of him for some minutes. 



Little Grebe {Podiceps minor). The voracity of this bird seems to 

 bear no proportion whatever to his powers, for many times we have 

 found them choked by attempting to swallow fish, generally bull- 

 heads, which have proved much too large for their throats. In all 

 these instances they had forced the fish into their gullets beyond the 

 gills, which in the above-named species terminate in a sharp point, 

 and were from that cause unable to eject them. The little grebe is a 

 very spirited bird : if caught alive, and placed in a tub of water, it 

 will attack any object within its reach, raising itself on its toes, and 

 inflicting very vigorous and rapid blows with its bill. 



A. & H. Matthews. 

 (To be continued). 



On sewing up the Mouths of Snakes in India. — Mr. W. Atkinson inquires (Zool. 

 2395), whether it is a common practice for the natives in India to sew up the mouths 

 of venomous snakes? In January, 1840, I bought of a native, in Calcutta, a small 

 beautiful pale green snake : it lived about a month. I offered it both vegetable and 

 animal food, but it could not eat : it drank occasionally a little water. After death I 

 found its mouth was closely sewed up. — W. F. Foottit ; Newark, Notts, March 3, 

 1849. 



A strange Marine Animal, of great size and strength, was captured on the 26th of 

 March, off Cullercoats, near Newcastle. By the enclosed handbill, which has been 

 forwarded to me, it appears to be quite unknown to the neighbouring savans. The 

 honest fishermen who drew the struggling monster to land are not, however, over- 

 scrupulous about the name, provided it be attractive enough to extract from the 

 pockets of " ladies and gentlemen, 6d. ; working people 3d. each : " they therefore 

 boldly announce him as " the great sea-serpent caught at last." My correspondent 

 very judiciously observes, that, whatever the animal may be, it adds another to the 

 many evidences constantly occurring that there are more things in heaven and earth 

 than are dreamt of by the most experienced practical observers. Some thirty-five 

 years since, the distinguished anatomist, Dr. Barclay, was fain to reproach his 



