THE FAUNA OF A COAL-PIT AT GREAT DEPTHS 181 



than they appear on the wing. A great deal of white shows 

 above the water on the sides, and of course the breast, throat, 

 and chin are white. 



The Shearwater is rather a heavy and almost duck-like 

 bird on the water, exclusive of the head, as the wings, which 

 appear so long and pointed in flight, do not reach beyond 

 the tail. 



Though hardly coming within the range of Scottish 

 Naturalist, I may mention that on 2nd June I saw two 

 Common Rorquals, just north of Spurn Point, on my home- 

 ward voyage. They were very close to the yacht at first, 

 and I had a good view of the length and small dorsal fin 

 as they rolled over. After the roll they appeared to skim 

 just beneath the surface for a time, and we saw them blow 

 several times before they disappeared in the distance. 



'LI! 



THE FAUNA OF A COAL-PIT AT GREAT 



DEPTHS. 



By James Ritchie, M.A., D.Sc, The Royal Scottish Museum. 

 (Continued from page 161.) 



Notes on the Pit Animals. 

 VERTEBRATES. 



i. The Common Mouse (Mus musculus, Linn.) is frequently 

 found in certain parts of the mine. Introduced with the horse 

 fodder, it has become well established underground. Less abundant 

 but still moderately common is (2) the Brown Rat. 



3. On a single occasion a Sparrow was found in No. 1 2 pit. It 

 had entered the hutch at the surface, and being too frightened to 

 fly out when the cage moved away, was taken to the bottom, where 

 it escaped into the galleries. It stands as an illustration of an 

 introduction, quite unsuited for the peculiar conditions, which must 

 rapidly have been weeded out. 



