Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/420

392 April 1st.—Python entered his bath, and remained until the 12th, when he cast the slough in the water in two pieces.

June 13th.—Python entered bath upon this date, and remained continuously in the water until the 28th, when he shed the slough in the water. It was in two pieces, with many rents in it.

This Python has therefore shed sixteen sloughs in four years.

A small Boa Constrictor, six feet in length, which I obtained on July 3rd, 1901, entered his bath upon the 8th, and remained there continuously, but not always completely submerged, until the 14th, when it left the water, but did not shed the slough until the 16th. The actual operation of shedding occupied only twenty minutes. The slough was in one piece, and almost perfect. This Boa entered its bath again on Aug. 15th, without showing any signs of sloughing, and remained there continuously until Aug. 26th, when it left the water, having exhibited the first signs of sloughing upon Aug. 20th. The slough was cast, quite perfect and all in one piece, upon Sept. 1st.

Upon July 18th I purchased two young Boa Constrictors which had been born in captivity on July 10th, 1901. They were each about fourteen inches long. They both showed signs of sloughing when they arrived, and spent most of their time curled up in the water-tank. One of them left the water on July 27th, and cast its skin immediately after. The slough was in one piece and quite perfect, but the head was torn off. The other young Boa shed its slough on July 31st, also in one piece, but minus the head. It left the water three days previously. The one which cast its slough first constricted and swallowed a young mouse on Aug. 27th—its first meal. The other has not fed up to the time of writing (Sept. 2nd). Both of them are now about eighteen inches long, and much more lively and active than the larger snakes.— (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).

The Sand-Lizard in Berkshire.—I notice (ante, p. 355) that the Sand-Lizard (Lacerta agilis) is spoken of as being restricted in Britain to the southern half of England. Is it known to occur in Berkshire? The country people here have assured me of the occurrence of large Lizards (presumably Sand-Lizards) in the neighbourhood, but I have never met with any individuals myself, though the locality appears to be fairly suitable for them. I fear there is little dependence to be placed on what is said by ordinary country people in natural history matters. Here the great Green Grasshopper and the larva of the Death's-head Hawk-moth are both known as "Locusts," and a Lizard of large size, said to have been captured in a neighbouring parish some ten years ago, was pronounced by a villager to be a Viper. If