338 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



used to fall dead down the chimneys of St. Katherine's Kectory 

 here" (A. B.). In all probability the supply of Starlings will be 

 much reduced after the severe winter of 1890-91 in England. 



*Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus, Linn. — Common in the Rosses, 

 Aranmore, about Burton Port, at Bunbeg, and generally round 

 the coast from Horn Head westwards. Choughs used to breed 

 regularly in the mouth of a cave at Carrablagh below the house, 

 but they were expelled by Grey Crows some fifteen years ago, 

 and I have never seen them since in Fanet. I have seen Choughs, 

 however, at Dunree and at the Gap of Mamore, in Innishowen, 

 in 1880, at Horn Head in 1881, and at Malin Head in 1882. 

 They breed also in many other places along the west coast of 

 Donegal from Aranmore southwards. " Very common along the 

 coast of S.W. Donegal, where they breed for the most part in 

 inaccessible places in the sea-cliffs, though I have eggs taken 

 from nests in inland cliffs. Some of these were taken from the 

 same nest two years in succession, so that it is evident they are 

 constant to their breeding-places. I have been told by Arsh- 

 deacon Cox that they used to breed in numbers along the rocks 

 by the Gweedore river [probably about Bunbeg] " (A. B.). The 

 light-keeper at Fanet Point informs me that he sees a few Choughs 

 every summer between the lighthouse and the Bin : he saw only 



one in 1890. 



(To be continued.) 



ON THE HERPETOLOGY OF THE GRAND DUCHY 



OF BADEN. 



By G. Nokman Douglass. 



(Continued from p. 260.) 



II. Fam. CoLUBRiDiE. 



1. Tropidonotus natrix, L. — In this species the tendency to 

 uniformity of colouring is more marked than in many colubrine 

 snakes. Some Baden specimens have scarcely any traces left of 

 the original darker markings, and become, with increasing age, 

 either dark grey or brownish ; a process which is carried still 

 further by some southern forms. 



To produce this effect, the conspicuous collar-mark, which 

 has played part in so many fables, must also be effaced, and this 

 is brought about by an interesting method. The original white 



