which so much has been written in popular papers of late. The red specimens, of which there are also several in the collection, are females. Of special interest are a number (15) of black specimens, all from the island of Seeland, where they appear to be of common occurrence. Most of them are males, and I have satisfied myself that the melanism is usually obtained, in that sex, by the expansion of the black markings, as is proved beyond a doubt by some intermediate specimens, among which is one having the black of the back, formed by the expansion of the vertebral band, separated from that of the sides, formed by the coalescence of the lateral spots, by a narrow light brown undulous stripe. In females, on the other hand, as well as occasionally in males, the black is produced by gradual darkening of the ground colour; so that in most cases, under certain lights, the typical markings may still be detected. So far as we know at present, the former type of melanism is not found in Great Britain; all the specimens hitherto examined are of the latter type, and females.

These observations confirm those previously made by Geithe in Germany. Fatio had also observed among the Vipera aspis of Switzerland that some are black through darkening of the ground colour, and others through enlargement and confluence of the markings.

In all the black specimens at least a few dots of whitish are visible on the lips, and of yellow under the end of the tail. The belly is black or dark bluish grey, uniform or with small whitish or reddish spots; specimens about to cast their skin may have the ventrals almost white, with the outer ends blackish brown. With few exceptions the end of the tail is bright yellow or orange beneath.

ON THE PROPER SPECIFIC NAMES OF THE COMMON SHREWS OF ENGLAND AND THE CONTINENT.

BY OLDFIELD THOMAS, F.Z.S.

THE extraordinary laxity which prevails in the nomenclature of Mammals is nowhere better illustrated than in the cases of the Common, Pigmy, and White-toothed Shrews, all three of which have constantly been referred to by names which have over and over again been shown to be untenable, and the present note may

be looked upon in the light of an appeal to zoologists in general to use the names that are technically correct. For to go on using names which, however familiar, are known to be wrong is the one certain method of continuing the present confusion, to the annoyance of our successors; while boldly to adopt whatever names are clearly shown to be correct will put a stop to the trouble once for all, even if at the cost of a little temporary inconvenience to ourselves.

The present cases are all quite straightforward, and do not involve any rules for zoological nomenclature about which dispute is possible; and when I recall the fact that Mr. Alston, in his later papers, himself rejected two and clearly knew of the propriety of changing the third of the names now objected to, few will be found to resist the alterations proposed, except those who frankly say they will stick to their familiar names right or wrong, and with such persons there is no arguing.

THE PIGMY SHREW (properly Sorex minutus).

This animal has been commonly called Sorex pygmæus, Pall. (1811), but was named Sorex minutus by Linnæus in 1766, and should consequently be known by the latter name. The identity of the two has been universally admitted, and the late Mr. Alston, who wrote of "Sorex minutus, Linn.," in his 'Fauna of Scotland,'* was clearly right in so doing, and his example ought to be followed by all.

THE COMMON SHREW (properly Sorex araneus) and THE CONTINENTAL WHITE-TOOTHED SHREW (Crocidura russula).

A similar mistake to the well-known one by which our Common Hare (Lepus europeus) became christened with a name (L. timidus) properly appertaining to the Varying Hare, has arisen in regard to these two Shrews, and ought to be corrected.

As in England, so in Scandinavia, the Shrews (apart from Crossopus) are only represented by brown-toothed forms (Sorex as restricted), and Linnæus gave, in both the 10th and 12th editions of his 'Systema Naturæ,' the name of Sorex araneus to the commonest species, the one we know as the Common Shrew. But in France and Germany, where the commonest Shrew is a white. toothed one (Crocidura), the name araneus got misapplied to that,

Mamm. p. 10, 188

and then, in default of araneus, some naturalists took Sorex vulgaris from a technically untenable work,* while others, amongst whom was Alston, knowing vulgaris to be unavailable, and not venturing to try and change the name of the White-toothed Shrew, took the next name having priority for the Brown-toothed Shrew, Sorex tetragonurus, Herm. †

But I venture to think that it was a mistake for these naturalists to be so half-hearted in the matter, and that had they then said, as I do now, that we ought to go back to Linnæus's name Sorex araneus for the Brown-toothed Shrew, and to take the next pertinent name, Sorex russulus, Herm., for the Whitetoothed Shrew, the world would soon have followed their example, and all further confusion and misunderstanding would have been avoided.

I would therefore suggest, as it is never too late to mend, that all British zoologists should now make a point of using the name "Sorex araneus" for our Common Shrew, especially when writing in such publications as The Zoologist,' through the medium of which this correct term will soon gain general currency. And in the same way Crocidura russula should be used for the common continental White-toothed Shrew.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

MAMMALIA.

66

The Names of the Mole. In the interesting communication on this subject by Prof. Strong (p. 11), the Scottish name is given (probably through a misprint) as "moudie-wort." This should be of course warp," being the same as the early English given on the following page, the Lowland Scots being an Anglo-Scandinavian dialect showing a close similarity with the Icelandic. The modern Dano-Norwegian is muldvarpe; but there is another synonym in Danish, which may be compared with Lloyd's Welsh name turch daeor, "earth-hog "; it is marsvin, "pig of the elves," both names, no doubt, arising from the elongated snout of the Mole somewhat resembling that of a pig. The last part, "warp," seems to be the same as "warp," to twist or throw aside, and may arise either from the position of

*Linnæus, Mus. Ad. Frid. p. 10, 1754.

Faun. Scotl., Mamm. p. 9, 1880; see also Proc. Zool. Soc., 1877, 272, footnote 1.

the fore legs of the animal, or more probably from its twisting or throwing aside the earth in its rapid burrowing, as seen from the surface.-HAROLD RAEBURN (31, Clare Road, Halifax).

Lesser Horseshoe Bat in the Washburn Valley, Yorkshire.—On Dec. 8th I was fortunate enough to meet with a good specimen of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros, hybernating in an old coal-mine near to the head of the Washburn. I have the satisfaction of adding this Bat to the fauna of the Washburn Valley, as I had in Nidderdale some years ago.-WM. STOREY (Fewston Lodge, near Otley).

-

Whiskered Bat in Yorkshire. I have taken the Whiskered Bat, Vespertilio mystacinus, several times in the Washburn Valley, as high as 900 ft, above sea-level.-WM. STOREY (Fewston Lodge, near Otley).

Seasonal Changes of Colour in the Fur of Mammals: how brought about. I have given attention to this question for some time, and from my observations I find I must differ from the opinion held by most recent writers, viz., "that there are two moults in the year; so that, in the case of animals which turn white in winter, the change is brought about by moult." I maintain that there is but one moult in the year, and that takes place in the spring, and during the warm months this moult is complete, every hair being shed; so that before the time for taking on the winter dress arrives, the animal has an entirely new coat, which is not shed till the following year. The period over which the moult extends varies according to the necessities and condition of the animal. In some animals part of the old fur remains during the greater part of the summer, and being then old and faded, gives the animal a peculiar summer dress, there being some lapse of time between the main moult and the coming of the new hairs; the new coat growing beneath these old hairs, they gradually fall out. In most instances the new coat is darker or richer in colour than before the moult, being also much shorter and thinner; as autumn comes on gradually lengthening and thickening, and by degrees changing in colour, not by moult, but by change of pigment in the existing hairs to that of the full winter dress, which in northern latitudes is frequently pure white.-W. E. DE WINTON (Graftonbury).

CETACEA.

Grampus on the Norfolk Coast.-The occurrence of two very juvenile examples of Orca gladiator on the coast of Norfolk, on Nov. 13th and 19th, 1894, is a matter of some interest, if only as indicating the season of reproduction of this species, of which I have seen no certain information. These two specimens (one of which I had the opportunity of examining) were evidently very young, and probably had not taken solid food. measured about 7 ft. 5 in. and 7 ft. 6 in. respectively in total length, and

They

the one I saw was very beautifully marked, all the dorsal portion being glossy black and the ventral surface yellowish cream-colour, which during life was probably pure white. There was also a patch of the latter colour commencing over the eye, and continued some distance backward. The line of demarcation between the two colours was sharply defined, and when nearly under the dorsal fin was directed upwards and backwards, and recurved upon itself in a way difficult to describe in words, but very pretty in effect. The saddle-shaped patch frequently noticed in this species was absent in these two individuals. Possibly the two may have been the offspring of one female, but of that I have no further evidence than that they were apparently of the same age.-T. SOUTHWELL (Norwich).

BIRDS.

Grebes in the Washburn Valley, Yorkshire.-I have a specimen of the Great-crested Grebe, which was picked up dead on the margin of Swinsty Reservoir, Nov. 14th, 1894. It is a young bird, and, as far as I can ascertain, this is the only instance of the occurrence of this species in this valley. I have on several occasions observed the Sclavonian Grebe on these reservoirs.-WM. STOREY (Fewston Lodge, near Otley).

Red-necked Grebe on the Solway Firth.-The Red-necked Grebe is an irregular visitant to the north-west of England, but it generally appears on our rivers during the prevalence of hard weather. I never happened to come across a specimen in the pretty first plumage until last September, when a Red-necked Grebe arrived near Silloth on the 22nd of the month. It was a solitary bird, and proved to be in very perfect feather, but rather wanting in condition.-H. A. MACPHERSON (Carlisle).

Eared Grebe in the Hebrides.-The Hebrides appear to lie to the north-west of the usual migrations of the Eared Grebe; hence we rarely meet with this species upon our Highland lochs. The Little Grebe is, in my experience, the commonest Grebe to be found on the north-west coast of Scotland. The Sclavonian Grebe is also to be met with sparingly every winter. On the other hand, the Eared Grebe so seldom wanders to the Hebrides that sometimes years elapse between its known visits. In January, 1895, an Eared Grebe, in winter plumage, was shot in Skye by my keeper. We compared it with a second specimen, killed on Ulleswater Lake about the same time. There was already a fairly good series of Sclavonian Grebes in the Carlisle Museum, but specimens of the Eared Grebe were wanting, so that these two specimens proved very acceptable.H. A. MACPHERSON (Carlisle).

Note on Turdus alpestris.—Whilst on a visit to some friends in Hun. gary last spring, we made an excursion up the mountains, and encamped at an altitude of 5000 ft. We amused ourselves by birdsnesting. We