and to-day (April 19th) one Chaffinch. Why? Surely, surely the awful climatic conditions. The climatic conditions, I consider, may be easily imagined by those who live in more favoured climes by the simple statement, "No birds singing"; to which I append the rider: Trout are not in condition when birds are not in song, in late seasons like this spring of 1899.—J.A. Harvie Brown (Drachlaw, Turriff, Aberdeen).
REPTILIA.
Notes on the Cape Monitor (Varanus albigularis).—The Cape Monitor seems to be fairly plentiful in the Transvaal, judging from this district. I have often come upon them basking in the hot sunshine on the bank of a "spruit" (rivulet). When disturbed by a human intruder they will leap into the water with a "flop." On Aug. 1st, 1898, I found in a female twenty-four eggs of a dull white colour, not unlike snake's eggs, and oval in form, about the same thickness as a fowl's egg, but considerably longer. I have seen a couple in confinement for some time now. One was an old one (the largest I have seen here), and was quite ugly (presumably with age), the skin being rough, the colour very dirty-looking and faded. It has been like that ever since it has been in captivity, now some nine months. This one measured about four feet in length. It was very sluggish in its movements, and, when teased or even approached, would emit a sort of hissing sound, and lash out with its tail. I had a younger one also, not more than eighteen inches long. This little reptile was very "slippery" and shy. When come upon suddenly in its favourite occupation of lying in the hot sun, it would dart in among the stones which formed its home like a "flash of lightning," figuratively speaking. These specimens lived on raw beef, also Crabs and Frogs. Though they had a tank of water, they were found more often out of, than in it.—Alwin C. Haagner (Dynamite Factory, Modderfontein, Transvaal).
[All the Monitors which I found around Pretoria belonged to the species V. niloticus. I am glad to learn that Mr. Haagner's experience in keeping V. albigularis in captivity was more satisfactory than mine in reference to the first named species.—Ed.]
