THE FISHES OF BANFFSHIRE. 131 



The River Lamprey. (P.Jluviatilis.) Considered rare. A very fine speci- 

 men was taken in the Doveran, near Kirkside, in 1852, but was destroyed 

 by a dog belonging to the individual who made the capture. 



Planer's Lamprey, or Lampern (P. Planeri) has also occurred^ These 

 fish are generally termed ' Nine-eed Eels,' and are by no means held in very 

 high estimation by the boys. 



The Myxine, or Glutinous Hag. (Gastrobranchus cceeus) This very curious 

 and singular animal, whether you call it a fish or a worm, is of frequent 

 occcurrence ; and with it I now conclude my long and, it may be, uninter- 

 esting list of the Fishes of Bantfshire. 



This list, however must not be considered as anything like complete. 

 Time and attentive observation, will doubtless greatly enlarge it. Could our 

 fishermen be induced to pay more attention to these matters, we should 

 soon have a record of many other species which have as yet, perhaps, never 

 been publicly noticed. 



THE REDBREAST. {ERYTHACA RUBECULA.) 



BY J. MC. INTOSH, ESQ. 



In confirmation of the many interesting accounts of the manners and 

 habits of Mr. Bob, given in the pages of The Natukalist and other works, 

 by our old friend, Mr. Kidd, of Hammersmith, I beg of you and your readers 

 to accept of the following interesting note, gleaned from " The Chronicles of 

 the Season." The writer, after alluding to the severity of the weather, says, 

 " an adventurous robin, however, resolving to escape, if possible, the miseries 

 of cold and hunger, established himself, during the day, beneath the shelter 

 of our roof. At first, with his peculiarly rapid but interrupted hop, he 

 ventured into the kitchens, where the warmth and the abundance of food 

 attracted him. Here the bustle and the hasty movements to fro, somewhat 

 daunted his resolution, so that he could only contrive to secure a few 

 crumbs before he made his retreat. A second attempt, made \t a more 

 auspicious moment, was so well received by the inmates, and so encoui-aging 

 to the bird, that he now fearlessly ranged every part of the room in search 

 of food, and, perched on a holly branch which adorned the wall, he sang a 

 few little notes of gratitude before his departure. From this time, the Robin 

 was a constant guest. Early in the morning, as soon as the door was opened, 

 he left his roosting place, in a neighbouring out-house, to enjoy the friendlj- 

 shelter of his new home. He became particularly attached to a goodly row 

 of hams, &c., as they hung in their paper cases from the ceiling, and he took 

 occasion to steal bits of suet from the cook, Avhcnever he found her chopping 

 any for family use. His visits, which Averc at first confined to the kitchen. 



