Miscellaneous. 235, 



that the littoral and lamiuarian forms are peculiarly arctic, whilst the 

 deeper species are boreal or Celtic, may be explained also by the in- 

 fluence of warm currents flowing northwards and diffusing the germs 

 of species of more southern regions in the coralline and deep-sea-coral 

 zones ; for in the arctic seas the temperature of the water is higher 

 at some depth than near the surface. On the other hand, we find in 

 a region farther to the south than Britain, an outlier of the Celtic 

 fauna preserved in the bays of Asturias, where it was discovered in 

 1849 by Mr. MacAndrew ; a very remarkable fact, and one appealed 

 to by the lecturer as confirmatory of his theory of an ancient coast- 

 extension between Ireland and Spain. 



There is still much to be done in the investigation of the natural 

 history of our seas, and many districts remain for more minute explo- 

 ration. It is chiefly among articulate animals, and especially among 

 worms, that fresh discoveries may be looked for. Yet even now, new 

 and remarkable forms of mollnsca may occasionally be procured, and 

 during the autumn of last year, in a cruise with Mr. MacAndrew, 

 no fewer than twenty additional mollusca and radiata were discovered 

 in the Hebrides, and have just been described by the lecturer in con- 

 junction with Professor Goodsir. Among these is one of the largest, 

 if not the largest, compound Ascidians ever discovered. In our 

 southernmost province fresh and valuable researches have been con- 

 ducted during the past year by Professor Acland and Dr. Carus, who, 

 selecting the Scilly Isles as a field for exploration, have filled up a 

 blank in our fauna. 



The lecturer concluded by an expression of gratification at the 

 spread and progress of natural-history studies in Great Britain among 

 all ranks, and at the love of science manifested in the systematic 

 manner in which our fauna and flora have been explored, and the 

 beautiful works which have been produced in illustration of them. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



LARUS TRIDACTYLXJS. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, The Willows, Swansea, Feb. 16, 1851. 



On the 28th ult. I picked up on the sand-hills in Swansea Bay, far 

 above high-water mark, " Larus tridactylus ; condition good ; no shot 

 marks ; position natural ; dead, but not rigid." 



Upwards of a dozen were found within two miles, some still living, 

 and others a considerable distance inland. 



In addition to these, many were washed up by the tide. 



I believe that all these birds were of the same species ; certainly all 

 that came under my own observation were ; and I would therefore 

 wish to ask, through the medium of your widely circulated Journal, 

 whether a similar fact has been noticed at that time elsewhere ? for it 

 appears strange that death should have overtaken this one species 



