8554 



Quadrupeds. — Birds. 



But now a word on toads. It may be supposed that wherever noc- 

 turnal insects abound there are toads to devour them on the ground, 

 and goatsuckers in the air : both these tribes abound in the valley of 

 the Amazons. As soon as night comes on swarms of goatsuckers make 

 their appearance, and on every track through the forest toads are 

 squatted wailing in stolid patience for the movement of their insect 

 prey. "A great number of toads," says Mr. Bates, "are seen on the 

 bare sandy pathways soon after sunset. One of them was quite a 

 Colossus, seven inches in length and three in height. This big fellow 

 would never move out of our way until we were close to him. If we 

 jerked him out of the path with a stick he would slowly recover him- 

 self, and then turn round and have a good impudent stare. I have 

 counted as many as thirty of these monsters within half a mile." — 

 (Vol. II. p. 59). 



I lay down these volumes with the utmost reluctance, and without 

 any present intention of again returning to them ; but I can truly say 

 that it has never been my fortune to meet with such a mine of Natural- 

 History wealth. A kindly spirit, an entire truthfulness, a power of 

 exact observation, and a plain and unornamented yet easy and eloquent 

 style, are the characteristics of every page ; and I cannot resist the 

 temptation this passing notice affords me of offering a tribute of thanks 

 to Mr. Darwin, without whose strenuous recommendation we might 

 possibly have lost for ever an invaluable contribution to the Natural 

 History of the Great Father of Waters. 



Edwakd Newman. 



Occurrence of the Bank Vole, or Campagnole (Arvicola pratensis), in Derbyshire. — 

 On the 13th of February, when staying with my relative, Sir T. Harpur Crewe, 

 at Calke Abbey, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, I was fortunate enough, with the assistance 

 of two cousins, to capture six fine specimens of this very distinct but little-known 

 species. We found them all in a large heap of rotten straw, stalks of Angelica syl- 

 vestris, twitch, &c, which had been lying for nearly two years undisturbed in a wet 

 plantation. I am not aware that this species has previously been noticed as occurring 

 in Derbyshire; but this is probably owing to its not having been looked for. — 

 H. Harpur Crewe ; The Rectory, Dray ton- Beauchamp, Tring, April 14, 1863. 



On the Breeding of the Nutcracker.— About six months ago I expressed a hope of 

 being able before long to give the Society some more certain information with respect 

 to the breeding of the nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) . In that hope I have not 

 been altogether disappointed. The nest and young bird now exhibited, the latter 



