Notes — Diptera and Reptiles. 303 



to occur. I have just received Mr. Robinson's report, and he 

 tells me that, erring- on the side of accuracy rather than 

 exaggeration, at least one hundred pairs of the young- Terns 

 have been hatched off. They were gathering- in one big- flock, 

 along with the old birds, ready to take their departure at the end 

 of August. Of course some of the eggs laid have been taken, 

 as, in spite of the assistance of the local policeman, the light- 

 house keepers, and some of the inhabitants, there is a wide 

 stretch to look after, but knowing- the conditions and the locality 

 most thoroughly I consider the result eminently satisfactory. 

 Several Arctic Terns {Sterna macrurd) have been about, but I was 

 not able to satisfy myself that these were breeding- in the district. 

 Two pairs of Sheld-Ducks {Tadorna cornuta) hatched off their 

 broods in safety, and a g-oodly number of Ringed Plovers 

 {JEgialitis hiaticnla), and I am very glad to say that a pair of 

 Oystercatchers (Hcematopus ostralegus), birds which have not 

 nested in the district for some years, did so this season, and laid 

 five eggs, a most unusual number for this bird to lay. I have 

 found many of their nests in various parts of the kingdom, but 

 personally never found more than three eg-gs in a nest. 



NOTE— DIPTERA. 



Diptera taken at Ashby, Lincolnshire.— The following species were 

 taken by me during- the season of 1899 in the parish of Ashby, Div. 2 of 

 North Lincolnshire, and kindly named by the Rev. Alfred Thornley, M.A 

 F.L.S. :— 



Simulium repians. Stovioxys calcitrans. 



Dilophus febrilis. Calliphora erythrocephala. 



Bibio marci. Chrysops ccecntiens. 



Scatophagy, slcrcoraria. Chrysomyia polifa. 



Mesernbrina meridiana. Trichocera hiemalis. 



Pollenia rudis. Hcernatopota pluvialis. 



— R. T. Cassal, Ashby, Doncaster, 3rd September 1900. 



NOTES— REPTILES. 



Adder in South Durham.— At the monthly meeting- of the Darling-ton 

 and Teesdale Naturalists' Field Club, held on the 2jst Aug-ust iqoo, a fine 

 .specimen of the Adder ( Vipera bents), 22 inches in length, was shown bv 

 Mr. Thompson, who had obtained this reptile near Egglostone. It was 

 handed to the Curator (Mr. Geldart) to be preserved. — J. W. F.wycett, 

 Batley, Darlington, 3rd September 1900. 



Natterjack in Westmorland. Now ami then I sec records of the 

 Natterjack toad {Bitfo cala/11 i/a) from different districts. .May I add that it 

 is much the commoner toad in this district? Many years since — over thirty 

 — I secured several, and, packing them in my vasculum, took them to the 

 carrier to be taken to Kendal next morning for my old friend the late 

 Dr. T. Cough. He wanted them for a friend to put into his greenhouse. 

 The carrier did not know what the contents of the vasculum were. Inn was 

 :Somewhat alarmed when, during- the night, a loud croaking commenced. — 

 C. STABLE R, Levens, Milnthorpe, 2nd August 1900. 

 iqoo October i. 



