NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
229 
diligent searching yesterday (October 7) I could only discover a single specimen 
of the chimney swallow, which, from its powerful flight, seemed perfectly fit to 
undertake the usual trip across the ocean. Last year a straggler of the same 
species was flying near this house on the morning of November 4. The main 
body this year had taken their departure from the neighbourhood by the end of 
September. The chimney swallow has occurred here in average numbers, but the 
house martin has been decidedly scarce. 
Fyfield, near Abingdon. \V. IT. Warner. 
Late Swallows. — To-day is the King’s birthday and we have two swallows 
flitting about here enjoying this celebrated day. This is later than I have 
recorded the date of last seen before. 
St. Helen s, Jiear Hastings. Walter Fiei.d. 
Novettiber Qj, 1901. 
Skylarks. — Mr. Walter Field’s interesting notes on this, my favourite 
songster, in the November issue, are duly noted. In reply to Mr. Field’s 
enquiry, I have never noticed the skylark mimicking the cry of the ringed plover. 
Of course we have none of the latter birds in Hertfordshire, and thus my oppor- 
tunities for noticing this interesting occurrence have been nil. It is so exception- 
ally interesting, however, that any observations from those Selbornians resident 
in the neighbourhood of ringed plovers and skylarks would be very welcome. I 
have noticed, however, a similarity between the songs of the lark and the gold- 
finch. Has any other observer been struck as to this? One hears with much 
satisfaction of the increase of such a joyous minstrel as the lark, whose minstrelsy 
in all weathers is one of the chief bird delights of the country. 
St. Albans, Herts. W. I’ercival Westell, M.B.O.U. 
Nov. 4, 1901. 
Bird. Superstitions.— In your current issue, Mr. Arthur Harvey, writing 
on the above subject, speaks contemptuously of the belief that the swan sings in 
dying. I was under the impression that the domesticated English swan {Cygtius 
olot), was notoriously mute, but that the wild swan (Cygnus niHsiais) certainly 
sings with a beautiful voice. As regards the belief that it sings whoi about to die, 
Mr. Harvey can hardly have read the affecting comparison of himself by Socrates 
(in the A'nto), to the dying and rejoicing swan, going home to his God, Phoebus. 
It is, at all events, a very ancient and very lovely legend, and I should be thankful 
to any of your readers who would adduce such evidences as may be forthcoming 
for the wild swan’s death song. I write with a little special interest on the 
question, as a member of a family which has borne two swans on its shield for at 
least four centuries, and the motto ''■Mortens cano” in allusion to them. 
Hetigwrt, Dolgelly, N. IVates. F'. P. C. 
November 5, 1901. 
Lizards in Ireland. — I should be obliged to any of your correspondents 
who would give us information respecting lizards in Ireland. I caught (and 
released) one in a park in Co. Dublin some fifty years ago, but on mentioning 
the fact to Charles Darwin, he told me to beware of talking of it to any other man 
of science, as none would believe me. Nevertheless, I read in “ British Reptiles” 
that in Co. Down, about that period, there were a great many. The creature I 
saw and handled, which moved very slowly, was nearly the colour and length of 
my dog-skin glove with its gauntlet. F". P. C. 
Toads. — In reference to the late correspondence on toads, I should like to 
mention that we have had a large foreign toad for eleven years, and have always 
handled it freely and fearlessly, and have never suffered from any poisoning. 
E. G. W. 
Palmate Newt. — Is the palmate newt {Molge palmatus) to be found in 
Berkshire ? So far, this county is one of the many from which it has not yet been 
recorded. As is well known, this is a very local species, but there is little doubt 
that if our observers would pay more attention to this amphibian we should be 
able to add other counties to those already known. 
Blenheim Villa, 61, Clova Road, J. LEONARD Monk. 
Forest Gate, E. 
November 2, 1901. 
