190 THE QUERIST. 



Occurrence of the Sandsucker, or Lang Fluke, (Platessa limandoidos,) in the Moray Frith. — 

 A female specimen of this rare Platessa was caught a short time since by Mr. Andrew AVest, 

 of M'Duff. In several works on Ichthyology to which I have access, I do not find this species 

 mentioned in any, as having been found on this part of the British coast. Neither doe.s the 

 Rev. G. Gordon, of Birnie, include it in his List of the Pishes of the Iforay Frith, published 

 in the "Zoologist" for May and June, 1852.— ThoM.vs Edward, High-Street, Banft', February 

 11th., 1854. 



Occurrence of YarreWs Blenny, (Blennius Yarrellil,) at Gainrie.— One of my girls, Maggy 

 by name, having been down lately at Gardenstown, zoologizing there for me, and passing 

 from hence one day on a professijnal ramble to a neighbouring village— that of Crovic, along 

 with a friend of mine — Mr. R. Gordon, of the former place— and just as they had rounded 

 a particular rock, called the "Snoak," they observed a small fish being washed ashore, which 

 Mr. G. kicked with his foot, thinking that it was of no use; and remarked that "it was a 

 young Sea-cat." ''Na," replied his companion, at the same time picking it up, "it's nae a 

 Sea-cat, it's ower thin (ribbon-like,) for that; I dinna ken fat it is, but I'll tak it an' sen' 

 it hame to my father, for he bade me nae miss naething o' this and o' native kine." Accord- 

 ingly 'hame' in due time it did come, and proved to be, not a Sea-cat, but a very fine 

 specimen of the above Blenny. I am not aware of its previous occurrence in this district. 

 — Idem. • 



Occurrence of the Black Goby or Rock-fish, (Gobius nigcr,) also at Gamrie. — A specimen of 

 this rare fish was likewise sent me from Gardenstown, along with the Blenny. It was taken 

 from the stomach of a friendly Cod-fish, by Maggy, my young zoologist. The stomach, I 

 understand, was picked up by her from a midden in Crovie. I am not aware of this species 

 being cited on any work on this subject as having been previously detected in the Moray 

 Frith. It is not mentioned in Mr. Gordon's list, already alluded to, although he notices the 

 Freckled and the Lesser-spotted species as having been found. — Idem. 



Occurrence of Anomia pattelliformis and Lima minuta at Banff. — It is to the zoologizing 

 propensities of my little friend Maggy that I am indebted for the discovery of these two 

 species, she having picked them up where the fishermen clean their lines. I believe that 

 although these shells are not unfi-equent in other parts of Britain, they have not been before 

 found on the shores of the Moray Frith. — Idem. 



Vanessa Antiopa at Blackheath. — In "The Naturalist," for January, I observe an article on 

 the capture of Vanessa Antiopa at Blackheath, it seems that it is not of very rare occurrence, 

 as a young friend of mine caught one, last year, in a garden, at the back of Montpelier Row, 

 of that place. I think it worth while to mention that I caught on the 12th. inst., a Peacock 

 Butterfly, {Vanessa lo,) in a garden with a southern slope. This seems as if it had wintered 

 in the perfect state, as it was rather rubbed when I caught it. In the same garden also were 

 seen some of the Common "Whites, and a Tortoise-shell Butterfly, but which were not caught. 

 —II. D. Drury, Jun., Grote's Buildings, Blackheath, March 28th., 1854. 



The Hj'bemation of specimens of the various species of the genus Vanessa is not uncommon ; 

 ■we are not aware that the Whites hybernate, but the 12th. of March is extremely early for 

 their appearance. — B. R. M. 



Early in May, I gathered a "Wild Hyacinth, ( Ilyacinthus nonscriptus^ 

 being the only one I could meet with during five hours ramble through woods^covered with 

 thousands of the blue species; so that I imagine it is but of rare occurrence, at least in the 

 neighbourhood of Southampton. Perhaps some of your botanical readers will kindly inform 

 me if I am right in my conjecture. — Sidney Hyle, Southampton, May 9th., 1854. 



Is there any Natural History of the Channel Islands? Are there any naturalists living 

 there.' Can any of your correspondents tell me the names of such.' — F. 0. Morris, Nun- 

 bumholme Rectory, July Ist. 1854. 



