6^ REPORT — 1844. 



minion of civilization, as well as from their being expressly adapted for naturalization 

 in Europe ; many of the species are sufficiently hardy to brave the severity of our 

 winters, and are, therefore, likely to thrive in situations suitable to the partridge and 

 quail. All the members of the group are strictly American, and by far the greater 

 number of the species natives of that portion of the country lying between the 30th 

 degree of north latitude and the equator. Four species are included in the Fauna of 

 North America, and it is these in particular that Mr. Gould considers most likely to 

 thrive in Europe. Thirty species of this group are now known to Mr. Gould, two 

 only of which were included in the works of Linnaeus, and nine in the ' General Hi- 

 story of Birds,' published by Latham in 1823. And even in the late revision of the 

 subject by Messrs. Jardine and Selby in their ' Illustrations of Ornithology,' the 

 number of species was only increased to eleven. Vieillot was the first who conceived 

 the propriety of separating one of the members of the present group from the old 

 genera Tetrao and Perdix, proposing the term Odontophorus for the Tetrao Guian- 

 ensis of Gmelin ; subsequently Stephens and Wagler proposed a further subdivision 

 of the group, the former proposing the term Ortyx for the well-known Virginian par- 

 tridge, Perdix Virginianus, and the latter that of Callipepla, the type of which is the 

 Ortyx squanata of Vigors. If it be admitted that the American partridges constitute 

 more than one genus, the genera must not be confined to three or four, but must 

 extend at least to six. Mr. Gould further remarks that the partridges of America 

 form a well-defined family, distinguishable from the grouse and partridges of the Old 

 World in many particulars, among which may be intimated the total absence of any 

 spur or spur-like appendage on the tarsi, and by the possession of teeth-like pro- 

 cesses on the edges of the under mandible. The subject was fully illustrated with 

 drawings of most of the species. 



On the Fishes of Yorkshire. By T. Meynell, F.L.S, 



The total number of species which have been detected as inhabiting the shores, or 

 frequenting the freshwaters of Great Britain, is stated by Mr. Yarrell to be about 

 250, of which number Mr. Meynell mentioned 140 species as frequenting the waters 

 of Yorkshire. Amongst these 140 species, the following appear to be most worthy 

 of note : — The Greater Weever (Trachinus Draco), the Sapphirine Gurnard (Trigla 

 Jiirtmdo), the Piper {Trigla Lyra), the Norway Haddock {Seboites Norvegicus), the 

 Sea Bream (.Pagellus centrodontus) , and the four-toothed Sparus {fientex vulgaris), 

 are all rare upon our coast. 



Ray's Bream {Brama Rail) is found plentifully in some years at Redcar, generally 

 left upon the shore by the receding tide, as many as twelve having been found in a 

 morning : it only, however, occurs between October and December. One specimen 

 only was found last year, and none the year before. A specimen of the Sword Fish 

 (Xiphias gladius) was caught in Filey Bay in 1808, measuring eleven feet in length 

 and weighing twenty-three stones. It pierced the bottom of the boat before it was 

 secured. It has likewise occurred I believe at Scarborough and Whitby. A speci- 

 men of the Tunny {Thynnus vulgaris), seven or eight feet long, was stranded at Bur- 

 lington a few years ago. Two examples of the Dory {Zeus Faber) were found on the 

 beach at Redcar in 1839. The Opah (Lampris guttatus) is occasionally taken on the 

 coast. One taken at Burlington two years since weighed four stones one pound, and 

 was two feet ten inches long and one foot seven inches broad. The beautiful red 

 scales of this species are extremely delicate and easily rubbed off, leaving the surface 

 of a dull bluish slate colour. 



The two species of gray Mullet {Mugil Capita and Chelo) are occasionally taken, 

 as are most of the Gobioidae. Of these, the One-spotted Goby (G. unipunctatus of 

 Yarrell's Supplement) is abundant in the salt marshes at Redcar. The Ballan Wrasse 

 {Labrus maculaius) appears occasionally in immense shoals off Filey, the largest 

 weighing about five pounds. Four specimens only of Jago's Goldsinny {Crenilabrus 

 rupestris) have been taken at Redcar. The Crucian Carp (Cyprinus gibelio) and the 

 Gold Carp (C. auratus) are both plentiful in the reservoirs of some of our manufac- 

 tories, the water being slightly heated by the admission of the waste steam from the 

 engines. The former species is likewise common in some other ponds in the county. 

 The Smelt {Osmerus eperlanus) is taken in various rivers, and was so abundant at 

 Cawood on the Ouse in December 1834 as to be sold in the Leeds market at two 



