236 MISCELI-AXEOUS NOTICES. 



etc., during the winter, which they crack with their powerful bills; I have 

 myself startled them from under a Holly tree in the spring when so engaged. 

 — (?. B.C. 



Instinct in Fish. — We were seated on the banks of the Ure, near Eipon, 

 on a very close sultry day, killing time by examining a few of the many 

 prettily-coloured pebbles scattered at our feet, when a violent commotion in 

 the river, a few yards above us, suddenly attracted our attention. Feeling 

 curious to learn the cause, we stealthily approached the scene of action, in 

 sufficient time to discern the outline of two fine Pike, and on proceedino- a 

 little further, where the river becomes shallower, a very large shoal of Trout 

 darted off into deep water. We were at no loss to form our own opinion 

 on the circumstance witnessed, but at once set it down as a curious trait of 

 instinct, feeling satisfied the shoal had retreated to shallow water for safety, 

 as their ravenous admirers were of too bulky a build to keep up the pursuit 

 with advantage. — J. Dixon, 7, Copenhagen-Street, Leeds, October Wih., 1851. 



Voracity of the Pike. — While out trolling for Pike, on the the 4th. of 

 March, 1851, in a backwater connected with the Till Eiver, a fish of six 

 pounds seized the bait, (a small Trout,) and after roving with it for about ten 

 minutes, gorged it; but owing to the hook being rather too small for the size 

 of the bait, it buried its points in the body of the Trout, in place of the 

 Pike's stomach; nevertheless he continued to struggle violently for possession 

 of his meal, and after nearly fifteen minutes run, only disgorged it when 

 drawn so nearly ashore that I was about to lay hold of him with my hand. 

 The bait being not much injured, I replaced the hook with a larger one, and 

 commenced again to troll in the same standing, when on the first cast, to 

 my surprise, the very identical fish, which I recognised by his wanting the 

 upper half of the caudal fin, immediately seized the bait, and after pouching 

 it a second time, and a fine run, was at length gaffed and creeled. — A. S. 

 Moffat, Beicich Folly, October 21st., 1851. 



Capture of the Tench, (Tinea vulgaris.) — The Rev. W. Marsden, of Louth, 

 while spinning for Perch with a "miller's thumb," was surprised to strike and 

 land a Tench weighing about a pound with the above bait. I was not aware, 

 until this circumstance took place, that Tench would ever feed upon fish. 

 Have any of your correspondents heard of a similar case? — B. P. AUngton, 

 Swinhope Bectory, Lincolnshire, August, 1851. 



Lottia testudinalis on the coast of Kincardineshire. — In a note at the bottom 

 of page 127 of ^^The Naturalist," it is stated that Lottia testudinalis is not 

 found on the east coast of Scotland. I am sure it will give pleasure to every 

 lover of Malacology to know that there is a locality for this beautiful shell 

 on the coast of Kincirdlneshire, The place where it is found is in a small bay, 

 immediately south of the Girdleness, known by the name of the Bay of Nigg. 

 It was discovered there some years ago, and in some seasons it seems to be 

 plentiful, and in others rather scarce. The rocks at the place named are 



