Reptiles — Fishes. 



8199 



met with latterly in this county. Three or four years ago a fine specimen of the pied 

 fhcatcher was killed at Ombersley, and also a beautiful gray phalarope was shot upon 

 a pond near Martley, in this county, both of which fell to my lot and were added to 

 my collection. During the last winter upwards of a dozen hawfinches were shot near 

 and about this city, — a very unusual circumstance: one was killed in the garden of 

 Sir Charles Hastings, a very central part of the city. Two years ago three tippet 

 grebes were shot upon the lake at Westwood Park, the seat of the Right Hon. 

 Sir John Pakington, Bart. Several large spotted woodpeckers have been killed in 

 Worcestershire during the last three years, two of which came into my possession: 

 I saw one that was a very beautiful and remarkable variety, having the scapular 

 feathers and a portion of the back feathers of an intensely rich brown colour: I am 

 sorry to say that my endeavours to obtain it were quite unsuccessful.— Abraham 

 Edmunds ; The Tything, Worcester, September 15, 1862. 



The Lizard Snake in the Zoological Gardens. —In the last number of the ' Field,' 

 under date of September 13, 1862, is a notice by Mr. F. T. Bucklaud of the capture 

 of a specimen of the lizard snake (Corouella austriaca) in Hampshire, by Mr. Fenton, 

 of the Royal Military College, at Sandhurst. The specimen was presented to the 

 Zoological Society, and is to be seen, enjoying life and health, in the reptile-house in 

 Regent's Park, where it occupies the fourth division from the end on the right side of 

 the house. The most interesting part of Mr. Buckland's communication is the fol- 

 lowing letter from Dr. Gunther, confirming so entirely as it does what has been so 

 repeatedly stated of the food of this reptile: — " A large male specimen of Corontdla 

 lasvis, which I kept for a long time on account of its tameness, fed exclusively on 

 lizards, never on mice or frogs. After having fed it for some time with ordinary- 

 sized lizards proportionate to the size of the snake, I brought a very large specimen of 

 Lacerta agilis to its cage, in order to try the strength of the snake. The lizard was 

 immediately seized, but after a long fight, during which the lizard several times 

 appeared to be entangled in the writhings of the snake, always managing, however, 

 to free its head, which had been seized by the snake, the latter changed the point of 

 attack, and got hold of the tail of the lizard. This of course broke off, and was de- 

 voured by the snake. From this time the snake always seized the tails of the lizards 

 given him for food, without further attacking them, nor, if tailless lizards were put to 

 him, would he attempt to devour them." Dr. Gunther adds that the lizard snake is a 

 local species all over Germany and France, and in some places is by no means scarce ; 

 it frequents only dry places where lizards are found : it abhors marshy ground : it is a 

 ferocious brute, but easily tamed." Mr. Bucklaud introduces his notice by announcing 

 that " a new kind of British snake has been discovered," and repeats that it is " an 

 entirely new British snake:" this is a manifest mistake : for the last three years the 

 snake has been universally admitted as British, the earliest notices of its occurring in 

 Britain being by Dr. Gray (Zool. 6730) and Mr. Bond (Zool. 6787).— Edward 

 Newman. 



Variety of the Turbot.—l saw in Truro fish-market, on Saturday last, a curious 

 variety of the turbot, as to colour : the whole surface of the upper and lower parts 



