272 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Hawk, a great killer of mice, is another bird which merits protection, and 

 it is much to be desired that game-preservers would give their keepers 

 stringent orders not to molest it. It is greatly to be wished that some 

 steps could be taken by those who have the control of the rivers and water- 

 ways of Norfolk to check the cruel and dangerous practice of shooting 

 Swallows and Martins, which has of late become so frequent in this county, 

 more especially in the neighbourhood of Norwich. To such an extent is 

 the destruction of our native birds carried on, that it is not improbable 

 further legislation in the matter will be called for, and it is to be hoped the 

 Board of Agriculture will continue to prosecute their inquiries into the 

 pecuniary loss accruing from such destruction. My committee earnestly 

 trust that all lovers of Nature will, by their own example and influence 

 with others, not only extend their protection to these our feathered friends, 

 but will also do their best (in accordance with one of the fundamental 

 objects of this Society) to aid in " the circulation of information which 

 may dispel prejudices leading to their destruction." — W. A. Nicholson, 

 Hon. Sec. Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. 



REPTILES. 



Palmated Newt in Anglesea. — When shell-collecting last May 

 I found this species in ditches, near the coast, in two places, about three 

 miles apart, between Ty-croes and Valley. I got two males in each ditch, 

 but failed to bring up a single female in my dredge. — Chas. Oldham 

 (Ashton-on-Mersey). 



The Black Viper of Markwick. — I send you an extract from one of 

 Markwick's MSS. (p. 195), which are in the possession of Mrs. Eversfield, 

 of Denne Park, Horsham, and to which reference has been already made in 

 'The Zoologist' (1S90, pp. 335, 379). It relates to a so-called "Black 

 Viper" killed by him at Catsfield, near Battle, Sussex. I can find no 

 mention anywhere of the additional poison-fangs in the Viper as described 

 by him, and his remarks may perhaps lead some modern herpetologist to 

 investigate the matter and report the result. My own viper-catching days 

 are long past, I am sorry to say : — 



" Catsfield, Oct. 10, 1780. 

 "The Black Viper, Coluber pr ester. 



Synonyma. — Coluber prester, scutis abdominalibus 153, squamis 

 caudalibus 32. Linn. Faun. Suec. p. 104, n. 287 ; Syst. Nat. ii. t. 377, 

 n. 185. English Black Adder, Vipera Anglica nigricans, Pet. Mus. p. 17, 

 n. 104. Coluber prester, Black Viper, Berk. Nat. Hist. i. p. p. 57, n. 2. 



Description. — On the 19th of August, 1770, I killed a large female 

 Viper with young ones in her that were alive; she was all over black 

 except the extremity of the tail, which was of a yellowish colour under- 

 neath, and the blotches, or large spots (as in other Vipers) were of 



