396 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Wren {Troglodytes borealis) ; but we must here have a parting 

 grumble, for when Mr. Slater remarks of a specimen which 

 slipped down a crevasse, and " appeared to go straight down to 

 New Zealand, or somewhere even warmer," he is infringing on 

 our privileges. These jokes cannot be used by the Rector, but 

 belong undeniably to we of the laity. This is one of those little 

 books that will eventually be found on most shelves, and be 

 frequently consulted. , 



The Life-History of British Serpents, and their Local Distribution 

 in the British Isles. By Gerald E. Leighton, M.D. 

 William Blackwood & Sons. 



Some of the contents of this volume have already been pub- 

 lished in these pages, and the book is devoted to our three British 

 snakes — Tropidonotus natrix, the King-Snake ; Coronella austri- 

 aca, the Smooth Snake ; and Vipera berus, the Adder. Dr. 

 Leighton has diligently collected all the available information 

 procurable by him relating to these reptiles, and has thus pro- 

 duced an excellent contribution to a complete knowledge of the 

 subject. A very large part of the book is devoted to the Adder, 

 and much useful information is given as to its variation in 

 colouration, which does not appear to be of a local or environ- 

 mental character. Then we come to that ever recurrent question 

 — does the female Adder swallow her young ? Dr. Leighton has, 

 in stating the case for both sides, evidently incurred misrepre- 

 sentation as an advocate for the swallowing theory ; but this 

 cannot be maintained. He certainly does not deny it, but holds 

 the agnostic position, which is one that is generally misunder- 

 stood on any subject. However, a reward has been offered for 

 any single authenticated record of this much reported occur- 

 rence, and that reward has never yet been claimed. The posi- 

 tion of " doubting Thomas " is therefore a very wise one on this 

 question. 



The section relating to the distribution of these three species 

 in Britain is a piece of good work, well done, and an appendix 

 affords the reader an excellent opportunity to fill in his own 

 observational log-book respecting the three species. The illus- 

 trations are ample, and a portrait of that sylvan celebrity who 

 rejoices in the appellation of *' Brusher Mills" is also given. 



