NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 219 
the sisters regretted to think Bobby might get into trouble, and perhaps be killed, 
being a stranger in that quarter. But looking up when on the passage, they saw, 
to their surprise, Bobby perched on the mast of the boat. He accompanied them 
all the way to Clifton, and next morning he was pecking as usual at their window, 
lie took up his abode in the neighbourhood, and continued, till he died, attending 
upon them in their walks. 
Barlestree, Hereford. Peter Lewis. 
Tomtits. — A pair of tomtits this summer built their nest on a lamp-post in 
one of the principal roads in Hartford, Kent, and were allowed, unmolested, to 
bring off their large brood of little ones. The nest was afterwards destroyed, but 
appeared to be protected as public property during the process of incubation and 
rearing the brood. Robert Si.mpson. 
The Viper {Vipera bcms). — Will any readers kindly give me what informa- 
tion they may possess respecting the distribution of this reptile in Cornwall ? 
The loan of spirit examples showing any characteristic departure from the typical 
form in colour or arrangement of scales from any British locality is solicited. 
203, Ebury Street, Eaton Square, S. IV. Geo. E. Masox. 
Tortoises (p. 177). — I kept the usual European land tortoises for years, and 
fed them on cabbage leaves, lettuce, marrows and all sorts of succulent plants. 
I kept mine in a cool-green house, and they used to get into the earth (I had a 
border for plants inside the house), about November, and hide themselves, never 
putting in an appearance before April. They are very long lived. A relative of 
mine had one which disappeared once upon a time for a great many years, and 
was afterwards found by a labourer in the park, who informed the old squire he 
had discovered a “ creature with a stone back.” The tortoise was brought back 
to the gardens, and lived on one of the terraces quite fifty years. It was really 
quite tame ; knew' my cousin’s voice, and would come to him when called. 
Berry Grove, Lies. Helen Watney. 
Swallows and Martins. — May I ask space for a question and a statement 
respecting these birds? My question, I fear, will seem to some to be founded 
on a delusion ; if so let it be exposed, for here it is. In watching swallows (not 
martins) late in the year, it has more than once appeared to me that the latest 
stayers are short-tailed birds. A few years ago I saw several in this parish in 
October flying over a small park when snow was lying on the ground — an early 
fall. These appeared to me to be short-tailed, as do those that I have seen of 
late. On this I wish to found my question, assuming that my eyes have not 
deceived me; are these (supposed) short-tailed birds females, or (as I used to 
think, and am still inclined lo believe) young birds? In either case it would 
be a fact worth notice. On the latter hypothesis it would seem to show that 
young swallows, born in England, find their way over the sea, if we may not 
say by instinct, yet without the help of their elders. 
It was thought not long ago that house martins were diminishing in number, 
and I think many persons could point to houses which they once frequented, and 
have now deserted. Here is a consoling fact on the other side. In a village not 
far from Norwich, a house was built not many years ago, with a frontage of, as 
I believe, just thirty feet. The martins’ nests on that new house have been a 
sight. Last year I counted, I think, between twenty and thirty, and this year 
forty, including one half finished. Burglarious sparrows had, I fear, invaded 
one, judging by a long untidy straw hanging out. All these were on the front 
of the house, which has a south aspect, and no doubt convenient eaves. But I 
think I remember one or more nests not attached to the wall, but stuck on to an 
earlier nest. 
Otham Parsonage, Maidstone. F. M. JMii.lard. 
Wasps’ Nests. — We have received a number of letters on this subject, and 
are sorry that we have no space to insert them. Those of our readers who 
are interested in the matter would do well to consult Dr. Ormerod’s British 
Social IVasps (Longmans, 1868), in which the various species and their nests 
are discussed in much detail. It may be worth while to mention that we have 
seven species of true social wasps in England ; three of which ( Vespa vulgaris, 
germamca and rufa) generally build their nests in the ground, and the remaining 
