G13 
presented by Mr. Gurney. It was then exchanged for other birds 
with Mr. W. E. Gator, at tliat time an undergraduate at Cambridge, 
from whom it passed to Mr. A. F. Scaly, at the sale of whoso 
collection it was purchased by the L’ev. C. J. Lucas, of Burgh, in 
whoso collection it still remains. Mr. Stevenson was at great 
pains to trace the history of this bird, and from the manner in 
which one leg had been mended, as well as other peculiarities, both 
he and Mr. Knight (for many years st uAer to the Norwich 
Museum) were perfectly satisfied with its identity (see ‘Birds of 
Norfolk,’ vol. ii., pp. 35, 36). — T. S.] 
Stockdove ( Culumba (mas). I have not met with any recorded 
instance of this bird showing the same powers of simulation 
which arc so well known in the plover and partridge. It may, 
therefore, bo worth while to give an example which came under 
my own observation. In 1869, 1 found in Hampshire a nest with 
two eggs, on which the parent bird was sitting. The nest was in a 
hazel bush, and about 5 feet from the ground, so that I could not 
only see the bird well, but even attempted to catch it on the nest. 
It escaped, and to my surprise fell to the ground almost at my feet. 
Quite deceived by this unexpected ruse, I was going to pick it up 
supposing it to be injured, when it fluttered along the ground in 
apparently the most helpless way. After following it for somo 
distance it rose and flew away vigorously. — John Lowe, M.D. 
Vipers. J. Galley, gamekeeper, Northrcpps, who is an excellent 
observer, tells me that when he lived at Cossey, and was employed 
as an underkeeper at Easton and Eingland, where vipers were very 
numerous, he went in the year 1850 to look for vipers on East 
Eingland Hills. The weather had been very dry for some weeks, 
but one afternoon a tempest came up and a good shower of rain 
fell. It was directly after this shower that he started in quest of 
vipers, and on arriving at the spot where he had previously often 
killed some, he saw several (some quite out from the surrounding 
bushes and others partly so) engaged in licking up the rain water 
from tho fallen leaves which had been blown off the neighbouring 
oak trees. On another occasion lie set a domestic hen on a clutch 
of pheasants’ eggs in a furze bush, and on going to look at her, he 
found by tho side of the bush a freshly killed viper, with its head 
picked to pieces. The hen was quietly seated on her nest, having, 
x x 
