240 Zoological Collections. Vertebrata. 



in Norwich ; the second I have not been able to trace. Excellent figures 

 of this bird in its summer plumage occur in the works of Meyer and Stor, 

 and a representation of the egg is given by Dr Schintz, plate 13, fig. 6. 



Descrii)tions of the plumage of these four birds will be found in the 

 different works to which I have referred ; and repetition is therefore avoided 

 here as unnecessary Loudon's Mag. of Nat. Hist. March, 1831. 



A neio Species of Marten The following is a description of a short- 

 tailed marten, which I believe has not before been noticed in any zoological 

 work: — Marten, Apus. Length, 4f inches; breadth, 14 inches; bill, 

 dusky ; iris, dark brown ; chin, white ; forehead and fore part of the eye- 

 brow, light brown mixed with white ; rump, and corresponding parts of the 

 sides, white ; all the rest of the plumage blackish mouse colour, with an 

 obscure greenish gloss ; the primary and secondary quills, except the three 

 outer, having narrow light tips ; the wing curves considerably, and measures 

 5^ inches from the bend to the tip, reaching 1 inch beyond the tail, which 

 is even when expanded, and very short, being scarcely more than half an 

 inch in length ; feet, black ; tarsi, short and feathered ; fore toes directed 

 forward; claws, black, strong, and much hooked ; the feathers of the spurious 

 wing are remarkably large, the outer one being more than 1^ inches in length ; 

 the imder tail-coverts are of a bluish mouse colour. This marten is a 

 common bird in Southern India, and does not at all differ in its habits from 

 the black marten or swift of Europe. It is not described in Griffith's 

 Animal Kingdom ; and has not the forked tail w^hich is assigned to the family 

 by Cuvier's remark in the text, that " the martens {Apus) have the tail 

 forked," and that of the Avriter in the Supplement, who says the same thing. 

 — Correspondent in Mag. of Nat. Hist. March, 1831. 



Clupea Leachii, a new Species of Herring. — At a recent meeting of the 

 Zoological Society, several specimens were laid on the table of a Clupea, 

 taken in the mouth of the Thames, which Mr Yarrell regarded as distinct 

 from the common herring of our coasts, the Clupea Harengus, Linn. Mr 

 Yarrell has dedicated this species to Dr Leach, who, he had understood, has 

 often stated that the British coast possesses a second species of herring. 

 The Clupea Leachii is much deeper in proportion than the common her- 

 ring ; an adult fish, 8 inches long, being \^ inch deep, while a common 

 herring of the same depth measures 10^ inches in length. The dorsal and 

 abdominal lines of the new species are much more convex : the latter is 

 keeled, but has no serration. The under jaw has three or four prominent 

 teeth placed just within the angle formed by the symphysis ; the upper 

 maxillae have their edges slightly crenated. The eye is large. The scales 

 are smaller than in the other species, and there is no distinct lateral line. 

 The back and sides are deep blue, with green reflections, passing into silvery 

 white beneath. The dorsal fin is placed behind the centre of gravity ; but 

 not so far behind it as in the common herring. The number of the fin-rays, 

 and of the vertebrae, differs in the two species as follows : — 



The new species differs also from the common herring in flavour, being 

 much more mild. It is at this season (beginning of February) full of roe, 

 while the adult common herrings ceased spawning in November, and having 

 retired subsequently to the deep waters, are not at present to be met with 

 on the southern coast. 



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