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a meal only once in three or four months; Dr. Stevens saw a large Rattlesnake, 
plump, active, and venomous, which was said not to have tasted food for nine 
months.— Human Physiology, by John Elliotson, M.D., Part /., p. 242. 
White Moles. — David Grant, Mole-catcher, residing at the Bridge of Moniack, 
lately caught three Moles of a pure white colour in a trap in the garden at 
Relig. Can the severe frost have changed the coat of these “ miners of the earth,” 
as it transforms the plumage of the fowls of the air ? Grant has got two of the 
Moles stuffed, to preserve as curiosities.— Inverness Courier , as quoted in the 
Morning Chronicle, March 12, 1838, communicated by Peter Rylands, Esq. 
The first Swallow seen near Worcester in 1838.—On Monday last, the 
16th, I saw the first and only Swallow that has met my view this bleak season. 
At about four, p. m., there was a most violent storm of snow from the N.W., 
lasting nearly an hour, and as I was watching its conclusion from my window, 
to my pleasure and surprise a lone Swallow appeared struggling with the storm, 
and making head as it best could against the driving snow-flakes. It remained 
long enough to enable me to be certain of it, and then disappeared, still progress¬ 
ing northward.— Edwin Lees, Dryadville Cottage , near Worcester, April 20, 
1838, in a letter to Neville Wood, Esq. 
Birds, etc., noticed in April, 1838.—We have lost all our Thrushes from 
the late hard winter.—The Nightingale and Redstart visited us on the 13th of 
this month; and a single Swallow is seen flying about. The 13th was very 
cold, with a strong wind, but the Nightingale was in full song, having secured to 
himself a sheltered situation.—On the same day I saw from twenty to thirty 
Porpoises [ ‘Delphinus phoccena. —Ed.] in the Medway as high as Hailing, about 
five miles above Rochester-bridge. They were exceedingly active, and in full 
pursuit of their prey, which, no doubt, had led them so far from the sea.—W. H. 
Bensted, Maidstone, Kent, April 23, 1838. 
Harmless Nature of the Slow-worm. —I was not aware, until I had seen 
Mr. Bell’s beautiful number of the British Reptiles , that the Slow-worm was so 
inoffensive. I have since met with several, and had no hesitation in handling 
them. I find them perfectly harmless, not showing the least disposition to resent 
your liberties. What a groundless prejudice exists against this poor innoxious 
being ! Fortunately, its colour tends much to its preservation, for when coiled up 
upon a sunny bank it has considerable resemblance to a Hazel-root grown above 
the surface of the ground, and would by most persons be passed unobserved. I 
find that when placed on a dry foot-path free from Grass, it experiences great 
difficulty in progressing forward.-—J. D. Salmon, Godaiming, Surrey, April 16, 
1838. 
White Crow. —We have seen an extraordinary specimen of the Crow tribe', 
which was shot at Rossie (Fifeshire) on the 9th instant. The wings and tail 
vol. hi.—no. xxi. 2 x 
