HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



tooth is exhibited in situ) and several parts of the 

 body illustratiug the form and structure of the fish ; 

 amongst which are remains of two or three fin- 

 rays. The scales and liead-plates are beautifully 

 ornamented and covered with a fine enamel, the 

 former being rhomboidal in form and profusely 

 sculptured, having a number of distinct waving 

 ridges and furrows traversing them in the du-ection 

 of their longest axis, varying in number according 

 to the position they occupied on the body of the 

 fish, the ridges having a strong tendency to bifur- 

 cate, and not unfrequently to further subdivide into 

 two or three branches ; these often again converging 

 and becoming again reunited. The genus Acrolepis 

 has been figured by Professors Agassiz, M. Coy, 

 and King, the specimens having been obtained from 

 the magnesian limestone of this country and Ger- 

 many. The specimens, however, under consider- 

 ation have much larger scales, and differ in the 

 style of ornamentation, as well as in many other 

 essential particulars, from any of the figures re- 

 ferred to, leaving no doubt as to their constituting 

 a new species of this rare fish. The discovery also 

 carries this genus into a new horizon, which lias 

 previously been considered as almost barren ground. 

 It is now known to be co-extensive with the car- 

 boniferous system, ranging from the mountain lime- 

 stone througli the millstone grit and coal-measures 

 into the Permian formation, where it appears to 

 have attained its maximum development, its re- 

 mains having been found there more plentifully 

 both in our own country and on the Continent than 

 in any of the older members of the system. It is 

 intended shortly to have the specimens described 

 and figured, so that palaeontologists may have an 

 opportunity of judging of the value of the discovery- 

 In addition to the specimens above referred to, Mr. 

 Aitkin also exhibited remains of four or five other 

 genera of fish, viz., Acanthodes, Cladoclus,Rhizochs (?) 

 Ctenocantkus, and Paleeoniscus, together with a 

 considerable variety of other fossils, all from the 

 same locality. 



NOTES AND aUESIES. 



The Barbastelle Bat.— On the 15th of Decem- 

 ber last, a specimen of the Bat tribe was brought 

 to me by some children, having been found behind 

 a tradesman's sign-board in this village. Handling 

 the queer little creature rather cautiously, I placed 

 it on the window-seat, and then proceeded to "take 

 stock" of its appearance. It seemed almost torpid, 

 but after a time it revived a little, and on being 

 touched raised itself half-upright, and opening its 

 mouth to its fullest extent, uttered a spitting hiss 

 like an angry cat. While watching these evidences 

 of " bat temper," it occurred to me that 1 had 

 never seen such a queer little specimen of the 

 Cheiro-pterci before, so, after taking as minute a 

 description of his tiny person as his ill-temper 

 and my fears would allow, I popped a wire meat- 



cover over him, and then fell to consulting my 

 books, &c. The result of these inquiries satis- 

 factorily proved my bat to be a specimen of the 

 Barbastelle {Barhastellus communis), a decidedly 

 uncommon species. With additional respect I ap- 

 proached the captive once more and raised the 

 cover, when, behold ! after turning up his queer 

 little nose as if in derision, he took to flight with 

 the greatest ease, and was flying in smootli circles 

 round the room before I could say "Jack Robinson;" 

 thus negativing the general opinion that bats cannot 

 rise into the \air from a flat surface. Adroitness 

 and tact, however, soon consigned him to the cover 

 again, and when in it, he ascended to the top, and 

 began to traverse tlie roof with great rapidity, 

 putting himself into all sorts of queer positions, and 

 proving himself to be a decidedly impatient and ill- 

 tempered little fellow. I have reason to believe 

 that this bat was not hybernating where it was 

 found, but had merely chosen the sign-board as a 

 temporary resting-place.— /r. H. Warner, Mngsion, 

 Abingdon. 



Local Names (p. 22).— The name "Peather- 

 poke" signifiesthe Chifl'-chad' {Sylvia hinpola'is). The 

 word "poke" means a sack, and therefore the name 

 is, literally, a sack of feathers. The nest of the 

 Cliiff-chafl^ is found completely lined with feathers, 

 and hence the local name has arisen. " Ground- 

 lark " is a name which has been applied both to the 

 Pipit {Anthus), and the Bunting [Emheriza). — 

 Udward Fentone Mwin, Cuius Coll., Camb. 



H. A'ELLEDA (NoRTIIERJi SwIFt).— In " NotCS 



on the Entomological Season of 1S73," p. 1, No. 109, 

 there is the following paragraph :—"i?. velleda 

 (Northern Swift) has been extending its southward 

 range : it has been reported from Somerset, Polke- 

 stoue, and Norfolk." It may be interesting to the 

 wi'iter and other entomologists to know that, in 

 June last, I took the insect in this neighbourhood, 

 which is almost to the extreme south. Tiie mark- 

 ings closely resemble the northern specimens,_but 

 are of a much fainter colour. — Joseph Anderson,jun., 

 Alresford, Hants. 



The Postal Micro-Cabinet Club.— The above 

 club, of which a notice appeared in Sciexce-Gossip 

 for December last, togetlier with a copy of rules, is 

 now working well, and is likely to prove quite a 

 success. The "Notes and Queries" department, 

 to which every member is invited (and mostly ac- 

 cepts the invitation) to contribute, being by no 

 means the least attractive part of the scheme. We 

 shall be glad to increase our number of members, 

 now nunrbering thirty-six, divided into three circuits 

 of twelve members each. Any microscopist who 

 would like to join us, will please write to Alfred 

 Allen, Hon. Sec, Pelstead, Essex. 



Local Names of Birds. — In answer to Arthur 

 Smyth's inquiry as to the h)cal names of birds, I 

 beg to say that " Feather-poke " is that by which 

 the Longtailed Titmouse {Parus caudatus) is ordi- 

 narily known to the rural population of Notting- 

 hamshire and the adjacent Midland counties ; as a 

 boy, I knew it only by that designation.^ The name 

 originates from the interior of its beautiful globular 

 nest being a mass of feathers of the softest kind. 

 The term' " ground-lark " is also commonly used in 

 Notts for the Meadow Pipit {Alauda pratensis). 

 The egg of the Feather-poke is not nearly the size 

 of the house-sparrow, nor at all resemljles it in 

 appearance, so that Mr. Smyth's friend has misiu- 



