THE RETROSPECT. 9S 



considerable doubt on such an assertion, for we can hardly fancy that the little fish, like the 

 moth around the candle, is fascinated thus to play around the Medusae to its own destruction. 

 I feel quite certain in these instances it believed it to be its preserver. 



The Gijanea aiirita is called at Peterhead "Loch Lobberton" or "Loch Robertson," the other, 

 "The Doctor;" I record the provincial names for local reference, having found such names 

 frequently useful to me in my reseai-ches. 



The subject is so interesting, I cannot resist making one extract more. 



2nd. August. — About six p. m. to-day I observed one of the little fish (Whiting) gliding round 

 a small weak Ci/anea aurita; a single "Baddock" (young Pollack) about five inches in length 

 saw it and attacked it; the little fellow easily evaded all its movements by dodging round its 

 friend; the chase was soon joined by another, and both set to work; for some time it baffled 

 the pursuers; one unlucky move drove it from its poor shelter, and then a severe chase took 

 place; several more joined like a pack of hounds, the little creature rushed fearfully on the top 

 of the water, for a time the fight was doubtful, — had "the Doctor" with its long appendages 

 been near, it would have escaped; at length it became exhausted, and lay as if dead; the 

 hunters, however, bit and dashed it about for some time, but not being able to swallow it, 

 they left it to all appearance dead, and the tide gently drifted it along with the Cyanea, 

 After a time it recovered, and took refuge as at first; this movement was soon seen by the 

 fiendish pack, they allowed it a very short respite, and soon drove it into open water, and after 

 a much shorter chase, this time they killed it, and, as before, not being able to bag their 

 game, left it, exulting no doubt in their noble deed of daring. I felt greatly excited, and 

 much sympathy for the poor thing, and although I threw stones, and did all I could to drive 

 off the pack, so intent and determined were they on their murderous cruize, that they dashed on 

 unheedingly; at any other time the least stone would have turned them aside and alarmed them. 



We here see that the young of one species of fish, although much like those of another, will 

 not allow such "to come between the wind and their nobility," carrying out "war to the knife" 

 to the member of any other clan presuming to poke his nose into their territory. 



I ought to have said, I have never seen a fish in the stomach of these Medusae, — all could 

 liberate themselves when they pleased." 



Thinking this worthy of notice, I have forwarded it for the purpose of being read at your 

 next meeting, so as to preserve a record, and set others observing in other localities. 



Dr. Lyle was admitted a resident member. 



Business being finished, the society adjourned till the first Tuesday in March. 



€llB EctrnsiiEt. 



In Vol. i., page 189, we read of a Hen Chaflinch having been "frozen to death on her nest." 

 I do not question the fact that this bird was found dead on her nest, but that she was "frozen 

 to death" in that situation, admits, I think, of grave doubts. If this bird was "actually frozen 

 to death" in so warm and comfortable a nest as that of the Cliafflnch, I should like to know 

 how the rest of the Chaffinches in that district came olF, which pass the night on the bare 

 twigs or sprays; or is it the writer's opinion that these may occasionally resort to gymnastic 

 exercises during severe nights, in order to keep their blood in circulation, and that the maternal 

 feelings of the bird in question being too strong to permit her to indulge in this kind of exercise, 

 which would have involved the destruction of her eggs and her hopes togetlier; she thus, not- 

 withstanding the protection from cold the warmth of the nest must have afforded her, miserably 

 perished. Plausible as such an opinion may be, I must confess that I cannot view the matter 

 exactly in this light, and inasmuch as it does not appear that the Rev. R. Barras, to whom the 

 nest was brought, made, or caused to be made, a post-mortem examination of the body, so as 

 to be quite sure that the cause of death was as stated, I feel vastly inclined to attribute its 

 death to some other cause than the one assigned ; and I am convinced that had such post-mortem 

 examination been made, and had a coroner's inquest been held, the surgeon's evidence, and that 

 of other intelligent witnesses, would have caused the jury to bring in some other verdict than 

 that of "Found Frozen to Death," or "Died from exposure to the Cold." If there was an 

 intense degree of cold in the atmosphere at the time the bird was found, the body might have 



