46 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES, 



Tlui Turnstone, (Strepsilas interpres,) at Bridlington, in May. — Last June, 

 Mr. Ixraham shewed nie a pair of Turnstones, shot at Bridlington on the 80th. 

 of May. In the female were four eggs, as large as a pea, which would seem 

 to indicate that they had remained in this country to breed. — B. R. M., York, 

 January 7th., 1851. 



Variety of the Common Bunting, (Emberiza miliaria.) — A specimen of a very 

 pale straw-colour, with a few small brown spots, was shot at Pickering, 

 about the 10th. of March, last year. I do not remember to have before seen 

 a similar variety of this bird. — B. R. M. 



The NigJdingale, (Sylvia luscinia.) — Some years ago I noticed the capture 

 of this bird near Beverley. I am not aware that the occurrence of another 

 specimen at Killingbeck, near Leeds^ early in May, 1849, has been yet put 

 on record. It was at that time in the possession of Mr. Thomas Russell, of 

 York Road, Leeds. — B. R. M. 



The Opah, or King Fish, (Lampris luna,) tahen at Redcar. — This remark- 

 ably rare fish was taken At Redcar, by Mr. S. Wrightson, November 17th., 

 1850; by whom it has been preserved, and is now in the collection of 0. C 

 Oxley, Esq., of that place; though by no means so large as that placed in the 

 British Museum, yet every naturalist must hail with delight the captm*e of a 

 fish so beautiful, and of such rare occurrence. The colours of this fish are of 

 the most rich and gorgeous description; and on being taken out of the water, 

 it might be compared to a large ball of fire. The length was three feet six 

 inches; depth, two feet six inches; weight, seventy-three pounds. It may be 

 interesting to state, that this fish is a native of the Japanese seas, and held 

 sacred by the inhabitants of that coast, who look upon it as an emblem of 

 happiness. Yarrell records eight. — Daniel Ferguson, Redcar, January 13th., 1851, 



A Crab, loith three Oysters attached to its Carapace. — A Crab, apparently full 

 groAvn, was taken with a hook on East Carr, at Redcar, in July last, having 

 three good-sized Oysters attached to its shell. It afibrds a very important 

 inquiry as to the age of the Oyster, or rather, as to the rapidity of its 

 growth; then again, the Crab is considered by some naturalists to change its 

 shell annually. If the Crab does change its shell, then of necessity is 

 the Oyster of very quick- growth. The attention of naturalists, residing near 

 the habitats of this Bivalve, is invited to the consideration of this subject. — 

 Jdem. 



Plumidaria Falcata. — A beautiful specimen of this Zoophyte was taken at 

 Redcar, on the 29th. of May, 1849, and then deposited in a bottle of sea- 

 water; it has since grown two inches, and during that time the water has 

 not been changed, and only a very little added, on one occasion, to supply 

 the deficiency caused by evaporation: it required about half a drachm to fill 

 up the bottle, — Idem. 



