278 OBITUARY. 



on the sides and bellj\ The head nearly truncated beneath the upper jaw, and the mouth 

 exceedingly wide, and furnished also with a triangular fold of skin arising from each jaw, 

 and thus affording the capability of a yet wider extension of the gape. Teeth nearly triangular, 

 and in one row in the lower jaw: in a triple range in the upper, and of a more quadrangular 

 form. Nostrils small and each divided by a narrow cartilaginous septum. E3'cs very small 

 with green irides. The first dorsal fin nearer to the caudal extremity than in other Sharks, 

 but less so than in several of the figures and descriptions of this particular species. The liver 

 •weighed twelve stones, and would yield a large quantity of oil. In the stomach a large cod's 

 head and ling were found. 



Yan-ell in the Supplement to his valuable History of British Fishes, when noticing this ad- 

 dition to our Ichthjology, enumerates four examples liaving occurred on our coasts before the 

 publication of that Supplement, of which two were found in the Yorkshire seas; but all very 

 infeiior in size to that now taken. 



The Squalas Spinosiis was first described by Brongsonet in the Memoires de 1' Academic, in 

 1780: and is a fish of very wide geographical range." 



"Another species of Shark, remarkable in form, and very interesting as connecting the genera 

 of Shark and Hay, has also been taken in our bay within the last few months, the Squalus Angelas 

 or Angel Fish, which has been constituted by Dr. Fleming and others into the separate genus 

 of Sqnatina, and like its namesake, favouring our seas with visils few and far between. The 

 body is long and depressed, with the characteristic mouth and teeth of the Shark; and from 

 the singular expansion of the pectoral fins, has obtained the name of Angel, in consequence of 

 a fancied resemblance to wings. Length, five feet; weight, one hundred pounds ; colour, dull ash, 

 with a tinge of brown on the back, the under parts of a dirty white. The flesh dark coloured and 

 said to be exceedingly coarse and rank, insomuch that even the Lazzaroni of Naples, who can 

 eat almost everything, even many of the molluscous animals, refuse this." 



Mr. Leckenby then exhibited a series of fossil plants, recently obtained from the supposed 

 exhausted beds at Gristhorpe; amongst them were examples of Fterophyllum tenin'caulis, Phillips, 

 Fterophgllum angustifolium, Bean's M. S. Tveniopteris major and vtttcita, Lindley. Oyclopterls 

 digitata, Glossopteris Fhillipsii, Brongiiiart; several specimens of the genus Feeopteris, a probably 

 undescribed Sjihenopteris, and a series of specimens shewing the gradations from Tympanophora 

 of Lindley, to Sphenopteris, one specimen exhibiting the two conditions of the barren and fertile 

 leaflets on the same frond, a circumstance which he had detected, in conjunction with his friend 

 Mr. Bean, some years ago. 



A claw of the common Crab was exhibited, presenting a singular malformation in an abortive 

 jointless pair of fingers inserted and projecting from the ordinary upper moveable finger, which 

 was distorted and curved under the lower normal one. 



Some further conversation took place between Mr. Cooke and the chairman, on the subject 

 of a letter which Mr. Cooke had received from a scientific friend at Berwick, applying for in- 

 formation and particulars as to the local Flora and Fauna, recent and fossil, which many of 

 the members expressed their readiness to furnish. 



Several contributions were promised for the next meeting — after which, 

 f On the motion of J. J. P. Moody, Esq., seconded by Mr. Page, the thanks of the meeting 

 were presented to Dr. Murray, for his valuable paper on the Sqtutlus Spinosus. 



(Dbituaq. 



Ix is with sincere regret that we record the death of Hugh E. Strickland, M. A., F. G. S., 

 etc. It took place under peculiarly painful circumstances while on his return home from tlw 

 meeting of the British Association at Hull, on the 14th. of September last. He was anxious 

 to examine the cutting at Clarborough, near Gainsborough, with a view to elucidate some points 

 of geological interest, and to do this he walked from the station to the cutting. While inves- 

 tigatuig the exposed strata, he saw a train coming in one direction, and stepped on to the 

 other line of rails, not having observed another train, which was coming iu the contrary 

 direction. He was struck by the unseen train, and his death must have been instantaneous. 

 His loss will be long felt, not only by his own immediate family, but by the whole of the 

 scientific world. We quote the following just tribute to his memory from the "Athenaeum." 



