182 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



tured to the south-east of the Isle of May, and within a comparatively 

 short distance of each other. I am unable to give the exact locality 

 where the first specimen was obtained, but the second was taken 

 1 7 miles north by east from Dunbar, with the South Ness of May 

 Island bearing N.W. by W., f W., distance 16 miles. Neither 

 of the specimens were full grown. I am indebted to Mr. W. Eagle 

 Clarke, F.L.S., of the Museum of Science and Art, Edinburgh, for 

 the identification of the species, as I had not previously seen this 

 fish. Those who wish to see a figure, description, and history of 

 this species will find them in Mr. Eagle Clarke's excellent paper in 

 the Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh for 

 1893. THOMAS SCOTT, Leith. 



Common Wrasse in the Solway Firth. I have to record 

 my indebtedness to Mr. Wm. Wright, Annan, for a very beautiful 

 specimen of above species (Lalmis tinea, Linn.), which is a fish 

 abundant enough off some parts of the British coasts where there is 

 deep water with a rough, rocky bottom. I have not seen it hitherto 

 from the shallow and turbid waters of the Solway, where a fish of 

 its brilliant appearance is altogether out of its usual habitat. I 

 understand it was captured near Newbie. ROBERT SERVICE, Max- 

 welltown. 



Six-gilled Shark (Notidanus griseus) on the West Coast of 

 Scotland. The Six-gilled Shark is one of the rarest of those found 

 in British waters, and yet it cannot be so uncommon as is generally 

 believed ; and if all those captured were reported, we do not doubt 

 our list would be greatly extended. Dr. Day records five captures 

 in all, but we have ourselves had the opportunity of examining as 

 many from various parts of the West Coast of Scotland ; and as one 

 of these was a young one, but 2 feet 9 inches in length, it is pro- 

 bable that it had been bred in our home waters. This is a some- 

 what sluggish ground Shark, and the four we saw in the Lewis during 

 two winters' fishing were captured on the long lines to the west, 

 where they showed little spirit compared with the blue or white 

 sharks submitting patiently to their fate. The eye, a very large 

 one, of this fish is of especial beauty and iridescent brilliance, re- 

 taining its effect for some days after death. As the only Scottish 

 specimen recorded by Day is that in the Banff Museum, it may be 

 well to put on more permanent record the capture of four large 

 specimens off Carloway, Lewis, in 1870-71, and the further capture 

 of a young specimen off Lochbuie, Mull, in 1887. The central 

 dentition of this specimen differs from the six-foot specimen figured 

 by Day, while the shape of the tail is also distinct. At the same 

 time, the arrow-shaped spines are a peculiarity that may be con- 

 sidered important for purposes of differentiation. Caught amongst 

 a lot of Dog-fish, this Lochbuie specimen was only separated and 



