392 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



April 1st. — Python entered his bath, and remained until the 12th, 

 when he cast the slough in the water in two pieces. 



June 13th. — Python entered bath upon this date, and remained 

 continuously in the water until the 28th, when he shed the slough in 

 the water. It was in two pieces, with many rents in it. 



This Python has therefore shed sixteen sloughs in four years. 



A small Boa Constrictdr, six feet in length, which I obtained on 

 July 3rd, 1901, entered his bath upon the 8th, and remained there 

 continuously, but not always completely submerged, until the 14th, 

 when it left the water, but did not shed the slough until the 16th. 

 The actual operation of shedding occupied only twenty minutes. The 

 slough was in one piece, and almost perfect. This Boa entered its 

 bath again on Aug. 15th, without showing any signs of sloughing, and 

 remained there continuously until Aug. 26th, when it left the water, 

 having exhibited the first signs of sloughing upon Aug. 20th. The 

 slough was cast, quite perfect and all in one piece, upon Sept. 1st. 



Upon July 18th I purchased two young Boa Constrictors which 

 had been born in captivity on July 10th, 1901. They were each about 

 fourteen inches long. They both showed signs of sloughing when they 

 arrived, and spent most of their time curled up in the water-tank. 

 One of them left the water on July 27th, and cast its skin immediately 

 after. The slough was in one piece and quite perfect, but the head 

 was torn off. The other young Boa shed its slough on July 31st, also 

 in one piece, but minus the head. It left the water three days 

 previously. The one which cast its slough first constricted and swal- 

 lowed a young mouse on Aug. 27th — its first meal. The other has 

 not fed up to the time of writing (Sept. 2nd). Both of them are now 

 about eighteen inches long, and much more lively and active than the 

 larger snakes. — W. J. Clabke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 



The Sand-Lizard in Berkshire. — I notice {ante, p. 355) that the 

 Sand-Lizard [Lacerta ayiUs] is spoken of as being restricted in Britain 

 to the southern half of England. Is it known to occur in Berkshire ? 

 The country people here have assured me of the occurrence of large 

 Lizards (presumably Sand-Lizards) in the neighbourhood, but I have 

 never met with any individuals myself, though the locality appears to 

 be fairly suitable for them. I fear there is little dependence to be 

 placed on what is said by ordinary country people in natural history 

 matters. Here the great Green Grasshopper and the larva of the 

 Death's-head Hawk-moth are both known as " Locusts," and a Lizard 

 of large size, said to have been captured in a neighbouring parish 

 some ten years ago, was pronounced by a villager to be a Viper. If 



