348 The Scottish Naturalist. 



Cryptopleurum. 



Broad ; much contr. behind. E. strongly p. -s. ; inst. 

 elev. and strongly punc. H, and th. pit. Pal. and 

 an. pit. b. or pit. r. E. pit. or r. ; ap. always r. 

 I 1. B. ! . . . . . atomarium 



Velvet Scoters in Scotland in summer.— On the 16th June, when 

 driving from Bunessan to Salen in Mull, Mr. J. J. Dalgleish and I saw 

 two Velvet Scoters swimming on Loch Scriedan close to shore. They were 

 male and female, and evidently paired birds. A large flock of Scoters has 

 also frequented St. Andrews Bay all summer ; I saw them there at the end 

 end of April, and I have just been informed that they are still in the Bay, 

 and may be seen almost every day from the back of the Club House or from 

 Gillespie Terrace. Are these barren birds, immature birds not breeding, 

 or what? In July, immense flocks of Scoters are to be seen in the White 

 Sea, and also in the Petchora Gulf in Northern Russia, strong on wing, and 

 apparently mostly, if not entirely, adult birds. Mr. Robert Gray has also 

 lately informed me that he has seen a large flock of Scoters frequenting the 

 Firth of Forth in the same way. Perhaps Mr. Walker may have observed 

 these ducks in St. Andrews Bay, and will be willing to give us his ideas 

 upon the subject. I am not aware whether or not they appear in St. 

 Andrews Bay regularly in this manner, but I do not remember having seen 

 records anywhere, and I think their presence somewhat unaccountable. 

 — J. A. Harvie Brown, Dunipace House, Larbert. 



The Tunny {Scomber thynnus Linn. ) — A specimen of the above was taken 

 off Newtonhill, Kincardineshire, on 17th August last. It weighed six pounds, 

 was two feet two inches long ; its greatest depth was five inches, and 

 greatest thickness three inches. The colour above the lateral line was a 

 dark blue, through which ran convoluted stripes of shining silvery white ; 

 below the lateral line, silvery white. The colouring matter of this fish is 

 differently placed from that of any other species with which I am acquainted, 

 it being in the dermal covering, which passes over the scales, being thus 

 outside the true skin, whereas other fishes have the colouring pigment within 

 the true skin. The flesh of this species is of a dark red colour, and when 

 cooked, of a gross, tough consistancy, reminding one of an old grouse 

 cock — dry, and of little taste. It is interesting to note the differences in 

 the figures of this fish as given by various authors. As an instance, take 

 those of Yarrell and Couch. Judging of the two from the specimen now 

 noted, the figure-given by Yarrell is in every way superior to that of Couch, 

 a superiority all the more to be wondered at, considering the difference in 

 time of publication of the two works. In Couch's figure the first dorsal 

 fin differs in form completely from my specimen, so much so, that one 

 would at first be inclined to doubt its being intended to represent the 

 species named above. On the other hand, Yarrell's figure is an exact 

 representation of it. Again, the markings above and below the lateral 

 line, caused by the disposition of the scales on these parts, are clearly and 

 correctly represented in Yarrell's figure, but have received no notice in 

 that of Couch. As above indicated, the specimen referred to is now in my 

 possession, and may be seen by those interested in matters icthyological. — 

 George Sim, Aberdeen, September 1876. 



