NOTES AND QUERIES. 485 
Great Skua in Notts.—A Great Skua was flying over lake at Lamb 
Close for some time on Aug. 22nd. It made several dashes at Green 
Plovers, and also at a Heron. After a time it flew away north.—J. 
WHITAKER (Rainworth Lodge, Mausfield, Notts). 
Late Nesting of the Corn Bunting.—This bird is notably a late 
breeder. Personally I never found eggs till the middle of June; but this 
year, when shooting down in Holderness, I was shown two nests that had 
been mown over in the corn-fields—one on Sept. 2nd, containing eggs which 
were slightly incubated, and the other on Sept. 5th, containing perfectly 
fresh eggs.— OXLEY GRARHAM. 
Late Stay of Swift.—A Swift (Cypselus apus) was observed by me this 
afternoon (Oct. 12th) flying round this house for some time. I see by the 
‘Field’ that Swifts are staying late this season, but perhaps you may con- 
sider my observation of sufficient interest to chronicle-—H. MarMaDUKE 
LANGDALE (Royal Cliff, Sandown, Isle of Wight). 
RHP PLEA, 
Adder Swallowing its Young.—lI have had the pleasure of meeting 
here to-day (Aug. ]5th, 1898) Mr. J. W. Kimber, of Tracey, Torquay, and 
formerly of Tracey Farm, Great Tew, Oxfordshire. He tells me that just 
about the date of the Crimean War, he, with his woodman, Richard Kcles, 
were walking down a woodland path in Minoten Woods, near Witney, on a 
warm morning about the end of May, when an Adder struck at the wood- 
man’s gaiter. ‘The woodman called out to stop Mr. Kimber, saying, ‘‘ She 
would not have done that unless she had got young ones.” After waiting 
a short time, he called out again, “‘ Now, sir, come on, and you will see 
something worth your notice.” Mr. Kimber and the woodman then 
watched, and saw the young ones (four in number) crawl into the old 
Adder’s mouth, she lying at full length with her mouth open to receive 
them. The woodman then struck the Adder with his stick, and killed 
her. Ina few minutes the young ones crawled out through the wounded 
mouth of the mother, and of course met the same fate. At the time 
Mr. Kimber was not aware that the fact he and the woodman had together 
witnessed was a disputed one, or steps would at the time have been taken 
to inform naturalists of so well-authenticated an instance. Mrs. Kimber, 
who is here also with her husband, well remembers his relating the fact to 
her on his return home on the day on which it occurred. Mr. Kimber, 
being seventy-five years of age, is desirous that the above statement should 
be recorded, in the interests of natural history, while opportunity remains. 
The writer and Mr. and Mrs. Kimber append below their signatures to this 
Zool, 4th ser. vol. II., November, 1898. 2L 
