10 



The Scottish Naturalist. 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FROM ABERDEEN.— A specimen of Leach's 

 Petrel, Thalassidtoma Leachii Audubon, was caught at Girdleness lighthouse 

 on the night of August 19th. This is by no means a common species on the 

 east coast of Scotland. In a letter from Mr. John A. Harvie Brown relative to 

 this species of bird, he says that it was found "by Mr. Swinburne in North 

 Rona in the summer of 1883, and breeding there abundantly. Previous to 

 that St. Kilda was the only locality known." In the latter locality it was first 

 discovered by Mr. Bullock in 1818. I am not aware of its previous occurrence 

 in the neighbourhood of Aberdeen. Its stomach contained an oily matter. 



The Bergylt, Sebastes Norvegicus, Cuv. Four examples of this fish were 

 caught by a steam trawler on August 16th, 1884, three of which came into my 

 hands. This is not a common species in this district ; it has however occurred 

 at various places along the east coast from Berwick to Lossiemouth. Although 

 this species has been observed at various places around the British Isles little 

 seems to be known of its habits, hence we find such statements as the following. 

 Couch says " The young are produced in June. . . . It is even supposed 

 on good evidence that they proceed from the mother alive." The statement is 

 repeated by Day in his recently published work on British Fishes. From the 

 examinations of the specimens now referred to, I am able to state that the 

 young do not " proceed from the mother alive," two of my specimens having 

 roe and the other milt, as in other oviparous fishes, and all about two-thirds 

 developed. This would point to about the months of October or November 

 as the period when the spawn is deposited. 



The Thrasher. Alopias vulpes. Bonap. An example of this species was 

 caught at Fraserburgh on August 30th 1884. It measured 14 feet 8 inches in 

 length : this is the only occurrence of the species on the Aberdeenshire coast 

 that I know of. 



Crested Blenny, Garetophus Ascanii, Walbaum. On September 13th, 

 1884. I found a small specimen of this interesting little fish on board a steam 

 trawl vessel. It is of very rare occurrence here. It is recorded by the late Dr.. 

 Dyce as having been taken at Muchalls, Kincardineshire, in 1862, and on his 

 authority it appears in my printed list of the fishes of the district. 



The Rainbow Wrasse, Con's julis, Giinther. One of this species was 

 caught at Fraserburgh on September 17th, 1884, and was sent to Dr. Nichol- 

 son, Professor of Natural History in Aberdeen University, in whose keeping 

 the fish now is. Unfortunately the specimen had been disembowelled before 

 being sent to him, thereby preventing its being ascertained what its food may 

 have been. This is the first instance of its occurrence in Aberdeenshire waters. 

 According to Day it ranges " From the south coast of England to the Azores 

 and Canary Islands, likewise extending through the Mediterranean, where it is 

 very common." 



Angel Fish, Rhina squatina. A specimen was brought to land on Nov- 

 ember 1 6th, by one of our local trawlers. This is the second specimen I have 

 seen in these parts. The stomach contained the remains offish. 



Geo. Sim, Aberdeen. 



