442 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Putting aside the manner of the book, and coming to the 

 matter, it is evident that Gloucesterhire has many attractions for 

 a naturalist. The surface of the county may be divided into four 

 regions : — 



•' First, we have in the west of the Severn a forest region, including the 

 Forest of Dean coal-field and the old Silurian rocks of May Hill. The 

 second region resembles this, but lies on the other side of the Severn : it 

 includes the Bristol coal-field, with the Silurian rocks of Tortworth. The 

 flat lands round the Severn form the well-known Severn Valley, and con- 

 stitute the third region ; while the fourth consists of the oolite rocks which 

 at the east of the county form a well-marked escarpment, with an old table- 

 land on the top, sloping gently to the east." 



It is obvious, therefore, that such varied physical aspects 

 favour the growth and development of a varied flora and fauna. 



With the flora we have no concern, since it comes not within 

 the scope of a Journal devoted to zoology ; but of the fauna we 

 might have a good deal to say did space permit. The divisions 

 of the subject are nine in number, viz., Mammalia, Aves, Eeptilia 

 and Amphibia, Pisces, Crustacea, Aquatic and Terrestrial 

 Mollusca, Heterogyna, Aculeate Hymenoptera, and Macro-Lepi- 

 doptera. 



Amongst the Mammalia the most interesting are the Whis- 

 kered Bat (V. mystacinus), stated to be very common atKeynsham 

 and towards Bath, and the Greater Horse-shoe Bat (R. ferrum- 

 equinum), reported as fairly abundant in the Bristol district, and 

 more so on the Somersetshire side of the Avon. 



In quoting, apparently from Gilbert White, the statement 

 (pp. 4, 5) that the Hedgehog is fond of the plantain, the root of 

 which it bites off without injury to the leaves, Mr. Witchell is 

 apparently not aware that this charge has been disproved, and 

 that the defaulter is not the Hedgehog, but a night-feeding 

 caterpillar. 



The paragraphs which affirm both the inability and the ability 

 of the Hedgehog to climb (pp. 3 and 5) should have been fused 

 so as to remove the apparent inconsistency of the two statements. 



It is remarked (p. 10) that the list of enemies of the Common 

 Shrew " probably includes Mice and the Mole." This has been 

 said before (c/. Bell, 2nd ed., p. 144), but we are not aware that 

 there is any evidence on record to support the charge. 



It is satisfactory to learn that both the Badger and the Otte 



