42 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



Eared Seals, alias Sea Lions. — On looking 

 over the back numbers of Science-Gossip, I have 

 just noticed the very interesting article on the Eared 

 Seals, by Mr. Thomas Southwell, F.Z.S., page 79 

 of the volume for 1877. Ii'^ this article, Mr. South- 

 well, after describing Steller's sea lion, refers to 

 the pair at Brighton Aquarium as specimens of this 

 species. At the time this article was written, it was 

 generally allowed that this was correct ; but many 

 naturalists M'cre doubtful about it. One very strong 

 point against it was the very small size of these 

 lions compared with all the descriptions published, 

 and yet these were adult specimens, as proved by the 

 birth of several young ones. The point was cleared 

 up some time since, but I believe has not been cor- 

 rected in Science-Gossip. Though their size threw 

 some doubt on the question, it is by itself a very un- 

 certain character in "almost any aquatic form of life ; 

 the only positive means of identifying these creatures 

 being the dentition, and formation of the skull. At 

 the time the article was written, there were living in 

 the Southport Aquarium a pair of the same species, 

 caught at the same place from the same herd. The 

 accidental death of the female, and subsequent pining 

 to death of the male, enabled the point to be clearly 

 proved. I had the pleasure of comparing the skulls 

 with those of other species in the Hunterian Museum 

 at the Royal College of Surgeons, in company with 

 Professor Flower. Mr. Flower, who is allowed to 

 be one of the first authorities on these creatures, 

 had no difficulty in assigning them to the much 

 smaller species O. Gillespie, or in satisfying me that 

 he was right in doing so. The skeleton of the male 

 is now in his collection, and can be examined by any 

 one interested in the matter. Some day, if you have 

 room for it, I may say something about the very 

 curious habits of 0. Gillespie as observed at South- 

 port, I believe, however, Mr. Flower is preparing 

 a paper for the Zoological Society on this subject, 

 and until that appears, I do not want to rush into print 

 further than I have done now. — C. L. Jackson, F.L.S., 

 &~-c.. Naturalist Director oj Soiit/iport Aqnariiini. 



The Basking Shakk [Sdache maxima). — This 

 shark takes its name from its habit of floating on the 

 surface of the sea, and basking in the sun. It is one 

 of the largest of the sharks, sometimes measuring as 

 much as 36 feet in length, and between 20 and 30 feet 

 in circumference, the weight being from 8 to 10 tons. 

 During the second half of the year, it appears in 

 large numbers^ on the coast of Donegal and the 

 west coast of Scotland, and as many as 500 of them 

 have been captured in a single season. They are 

 killed in the same manner as the whale, with the 

 harpoon. Although yielding a large profit to the 

 fishermen, from 35/. to 50/. each, yet the carcase is 

 generally converted into manure, the principal profit 

 being derived from the liver, which sometimes weighs 

 as much as two tons, and contains a vast quantity of 



oil, generally from 6 to 8 barrels. The liver of one 

 27 feet long yielded 165 gallons of oil, and was sold 

 for 16/. lOi-. Two were caught at Broadhaven, 

 30 feet long each, and yielded nineteen barrels of oil, 

 eight of which go to the ton. This shark has more 

 than once been taken for that mythical creature, the 

 sea serpent. They generally swim in pairs, one 

 behind the other, the dorsal fin rising 3 or 4 feet high, 

 and as they would in this position give a length of 

 70 or 80 feet or more, a very fair specimen of the sea 

 serpent would thus be represented. — Dipton Burn. 



The late Professor Rymer Jones, F.R.S. — 

 The death of this veteran naturalist took place just 

 befoi^e Christmas. Many of his works will be well 

 remembered, for there can be little doubt some' of 

 these were naturalist-making books, such as his 

 "Aquarian Naturalist," "General Outhne of the 

 Animal Kingdom," &c. 



The late Mr. Frank Buckland.— There are 

 few naturalists who will not hear with regret of the 

 death of Mr. Frank Buckland, at the comparatively 

 early age of 54 years. INIr. Buckland died at his 

 residence on December 19th, His genial manner 

 endeared him to all his fellow-naturalists, whilst his 

 pleasant style of writing has possibly attracted 

 many young people to the study of natural history. 

 His best and widest known books were the " Curi- 

 osities of Natural History," although he was author 

 of many other volumes, dealing chiefly with Ichthyo- 

 logy. He was also well and widely known as 

 editor of " Land and Water." 



Naturalist's and Sportsman's Pocket-Book. 

 A strong, useful, and charmingly got up pocket-book 

 for 1S81 has just been issued at the " Bazaar" office, 

 170 Strand, under the name of "The Country 

 Pocket-Book." It is a capital work of reference on 

 most things connected with sporting matters, 



"The Fishes of Great Britain and Ire- 

 land."— We have received part i. of a work on this 

 subject, to be completed in nine parts, published by 

 Williams & Norgate. No zoological work is more 

 needed than one on British fishes, marine and fresh- 

 water, for Yarrell's book is sadly antiquated. The 

 pi'csent undertaking is in the very best of hands, those 

 of Mr. Francis Day, F.L.S., whose splendid work on 

 the fishes of India is well known to all naturalists. 

 It will comprehend a scientific desciiption of every 

 species of fish known to inhabit the seas and fresh 

 waters of the British Islands, and will include remarks 

 on their economic uses and various modes of cajDture. 

 We like the first part much ; it will please both 

 naturalists and sportsmen alike. The figures are 

 excellently drawn, more attention being very properly 

 paid to accurate and scientific detail than to artistic 

 picturesqueness. Tlie part contains 64 pp. of letter- 

 press, and 27 really beautiful jDlates. 



