approach these rodents. Mice it would swallow at once, and at any time of the day. This specimen was captured one evening in the heart of Pretoria, where it had flown against the telegraph-wires, and had fallen to the ground. When disturbed it uttered the clacking noise well described above by Mr. Haagner. I shot many specimens by daylight. They are artful, cowardly birds, running, or rather slinking, among the herbage before taking flight, and have to be followed down. In the pursuit of this bird, I felt like running down a thief who always tried to hide.—Ed.]
REPTILIA.
The Cape Monitor: Correction.—With reference to the remarks of the Editor of this magazine at the foot of my note on this animal (ante, p. 226), and to those of Mr. Charles Tanner (ante, p. 272), I find I was guilty of an error. The fact is, I wrote albigularis by mistake, and only after perusing the first mentioned remarks did I become aware of my error. Carefully examining the reptiles, I found that they belonged to the species V. niloticus. This is a certainty, as, in addition to the other points of distinction, the nostril is situated midway between the tip of the snout and eye, rather nearer the eye. With reference to my other remarks concerning the creature's habits in captivity, I can only repeat what I have said, having carefully verified my statements.—Alwin C. Haagner (Modderfontein, Transvaal).
PISCES.
Pelamid in Cornwall.—On Aug. 17th I captured, in Helford River, a Pelamid, or Belted Bonito, Pelamys sarda (Day). This specimen (a male) measures 19¼ in. long, and weighed 3½ lb. It has only five broad vertical bars on the back, not thirteen, as figured by Day. The narrow oblique stripes, however, correspond with Day's figure, and are ten in number. The stomach was empty, except for a few pieces of vertebral column of some small fish, apparently Pilchard. My specimen is being preserved by the Marine Biological Society at Plymouth. Day says of this fish that "it is abundantly spread throughout the Mediterranean to the Black Sea, and also through the Atlantic Ocean"; so it seems curious that it should not occur more frequently on our coasts.—H. Leyborne Popham (R. Western Yacht Club, Plymouth).
INSECTA.
Great Wood-boring Wasp (Sirex gigas) in Ireland.—It may interest Mr. Pentland (cf. ante, p. 184) and others to know that a gamekeeper obtained two Great Wood-boring Wasps (Sirex gigas) last summer in Co. Down, and that I was given another specimen from the same county.
