June 1, 1870.] 



HARDWICKE'S SC 1ENCE-GOS SIP. 



137 



ZOOLOGY. 



Sea-Cucumbers.— The Holotkuria), or Sea-Cu- 

 cumbers, may be regarded in one light as soft sea- 

 urchins, and in another as approximating to the 

 annelides or worms. Their suckers are similar to 

 those of the true star-fishes and sea-urchins. Besides 

 progression by means of these organs, they move, 

 like annelides, by the extension and contraction of 

 their bodies. The mouth is surrounded by plumose 

 tentacula, the number of which, when they are com- 

 plete, is always a multiple of five. They all have 

 the power of changing their shapes in the strangest 

 manner, sometimes elongating themselves like 

 worms, sometimes contracting the middle of their 

 bodies, so as to give themselves- the shape of an 

 hour-glass, and then again blowing themselves up 

 with water, so as to be perfectly globular. The 

 great Sea-Cucumber is the largest of all the known 

 European species, and probably one of the largest 

 Cucumerife in the world, measuring when at rest 

 fully one foot, and capable of extending itself to the 

 length of three. Under the influence of terror, it 

 dismembers itself in the strangest manner. Having 

 no arms or legs to throw off, like its relations the 

 luidia and the brittle-star, it simply disgorges its 

 viscera, and manages to live without a stomach ; no 

 doubt a much greater feat than if it contrived to live 

 without a head. According to the late Sir James 

 Dalyell, the lost parts are capable of regeneration, 

 even if the process of disgorgement went so far as 

 to leave but an empty sac behind. Considering the 

 facility with which the Sea-Cucumber separates 

 itself from its digestive organs, it is the more to be 

 wondered how it tolerates the presence of a very 

 remarkable parasite, a fish belonging to the genus 

 Fierasfer, and about six inches long. This most im- 

 pudent and intrusive comrade enters the mouth of 

 the Cucumber, and, as the stomach is too small for 

 his reception, tears its sides, quartering himself 

 without ceremony between the viscera and the outer 

 skin. The reason for choosing this strange abode 

 is yet an enigma. — Dr. Harhcig's "Sea audits Living 

 Wonders." 



Bittern in Norfolk.— I have to record the 

 death of a fine female specimen of the Bittern (Ardea 

 stellar is), which was shot at Barton Turf, Norfolk, on 

 April 2nd. This is the second instance, within the 

 last six months, in which this bird, which is becoming 

 gradually so rare in England, has been shot at this 

 place. Although no ornithologist myself, I am in- 

 clined to think that this bird, if it had not been shot, 

 would probably have nested somewhere in the neigh- 

 bourhood. I have to make one further remark, which 

 is, that the present Government would provide better 

 for the preservation of rare birds, if they imposed the 

 ordinary game license on every one who carried a gun 

 instead of a tax of £1.— R. I. 



Otters.— I copy the following from the West 

 Briton, of April 14th. Otters are frequently found 

 swimming in and around Penberth Cove, near the 

 Logan Rock, Cornwall, and when nets are placed 

 across the cove, the cunning otter visits the meshes, 

 and helps himself to whatever is entangled. This 

 is deemed poaching and punished accordingly. The 

 other day the remains of a fine salmon were found 

 on a rock which abuts on the cove, so a watch was 

 kept, and the next otter that robbed the nets and 

 made for land with a fish in his mouth was shot.— 

 H. Budge. 



Couch's British Eishes.— The author of this 

 excellent work, Mr. Jonathan Couch, E.L.S., 

 E.Z.S., has lately died at Polperro. His loss will 

 be much regretted by all British naturalists, and 

 especially those addicted to fish-lore. 



List of British Insects.— We are glad to see 

 that the Entomological Society of London purpose 

 to publish a general catalogue of the insects of the 

 British isles. In pursuance of this purpose a cata- 

 logue of Neuroptera has just appeared. It is enough 

 to state that it is edited by R. McLachlan, E.L.S., 

 to ensure confidence in its accuracy, that gentleman 

 having a reputation in this branch of Entomology 

 throughout Europe, and wherever English books 

 are read. The synonymy is copious, and we hope 

 that other portions, including other orders, will 

 soon follow. Meanwhile we commend this portion 

 to our readers, in the hope that they will encourage 

 the Entomological Society to proceed, by spending 

 a shilling for the good of British Entomology, 

 whether interested in this special branch or not. 



Limnea peregra.. — In a small spring that breaks 

 out on the road-side, on one of our hills here, and 

 forms a puddle, with perhaps two or three gallons of 

 water in it, I found about half a dozen fine full-grown 

 L. peregra. This puddle froze solid in the hard frost 

 this winter, and it is a good illustration of the har- 

 diness of this species, which, curiously enough, is 

 not found in several much more favourable situations 

 in the same neighbourhood.— Harry C. Leslie, Erith. 



Stickleback.— I have had a fresh-water Stickle- 

 back (Gaslerosteus aculeatus) living for several 

 weeks in a marine aquarium, in company with a few 

 small anemones and mussels. He appears very com- 

 fortable. — Henry Ullyett. 



Smew {Mergus albellus).—! may state that, in 

 answer to the query of "J. R." as to the occurrence 

 of Mergus albeit us in^the south of England, I have 

 seen many specimens shot by myself and others, all 

 of them young males and females, the time of 

 arrival being about the month of January, on the 

 river Isis. It is rather difficult to determine the sex 

 of the above up to the second year, as the plumage 

 in both is very much alike. — W. C. 



