166 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



not extend into the distal third ; ventrally with 2, less commonly 

 with 1 (Weldon's exceptions are alluded to in a footnote), and with- 

 out chromatophores. 



In 43 newly caught Stirlingshire specimens I found the number 

 of teeth as follows : Dorsal, 1 in 2 cases, 2 in 4, 3 in 1, 4 in 4, 5 

 in 18, 6 in 12, 7 in 1, and 8 in 1 ; ventral, 1 in 1 case, 2 in 25, 3 in 

 15, 4 in 1, and 6 in 1. The dorsal teeth in several instances 

 extended into the distal third. In 20 cases the apex was simple, 

 and in 23 bifid. In every instance, chromatophores were visible on 

 the rostrum a distinct series above and a less pronounced one 

 below the middle. The lengths (tip of rostrum to end of tail) of 

 the nineteen egg-carrying females were as under: 1 measured 

 53 mm., 1 was 50, 2 were 47, 4 were 46, 1 was 45, 4 were 44, 1 

 was 43.5, 1 was 43, 2 were 42, 1 was 41.5, and 1 was 41. Males 

 and immature females were considerably less, the two largest males 

 being 36 mm., and the smallest example (a female) was only 22 mm. 

 The largest Irish specimen measured by Kemp was 42 mm. In life 

 all were clear and transparent, with numerous small dark brown 

 chromatophores, arranged in more or less of a pattern, on the upper 

 parts. In spirit they have turned red and opaque. The absence of 

 any palp on the mandible serves at once to separate Paltzmonefes from 

 the other free-living members (Genus Leander) of the family. 



The salinity of a sample of water from the Higginsneuk pool is, 

 according to a determination - made by my son since the above was 

 written, 1.15, or, roughly, a third of the salinity of the sea at the 

 Isle of May. William Evans, Edinburgh. 



BOOK NOTICES. 



A Dictionary of English and Folk-Names of British Birds, 

 with their History, Meaning, and First Usage : and the Folk-lore, 

 Weather-lore, Legends, etc., of the more familiar Species. By H. 

 Kirke Swan. London : Witherby & Co., 1913. 10s. net. 



In addition to the features indicated by its title, this book affords 

 much interesting information relating to the early history of many of 

 our British birds. Though it is to be commended, yet its usefulness 

 might have been considerably enhanced by a more judicious method of 

 dealing with the numerous local names. To find the local name, or 

 names of any species, one must search for them in the 260 pages which 

 comprise the book, and when found, abstract them for each species. 

 Surely these might have been referred to in small type under the accepted 



