430 Miscellaneous. 



monopoly of School-books, to be produced at the public expense, ia. 

 reprehensible, not merely as regards the just principles of trade, but 

 as being entirely hostile to tlie interests of science, whether we con- 

 sider the means of its advancement and diffusion, or the benefit of 

 those who are engaged in their promotion. 



The production of elementary works of the best kind, adapted to 

 the continually progressive state of the sciences, must ever be an 

 object of great importance, and should freely be left in the hands of 

 those men of science who are best able to supply them, and of whose 

 competence the scientific public are the best judges. 



The measure complained of tends directly to the establishment of 

 a monopoly, fostered by the irresponsible favoritism of some Board 

 or Commission (probably, as in many instances of late, under the in- 

 fluence of forward quacks and pretenders who easily impose them- 

 selves on members of the Government), and such favoritism and ad- 

 ventitious aid must evidently tend to the discouragement and eventual 

 prohibition of works, however superior, which cannot contend against 

 such unfair advantages. 



Nor must it be overlooked that the public money thus to be ex- 

 pended is in part levied upon those who come unaided into the field 

 of competition, with a heavy duty on paper and other imposts to con- 

 tend with. 



As might be expected, some of the participators of this government 

 patronage have had no scruple in appropriating the labours of others ; 

 and Government has actvially had to pay 566OO of public money to 

 compromise a case of piracy perpetrated under its sanction. — R. T. 



CENTROLOPHUS POMPILUS OR BLACK-FISH. 



A specimen of this rare fish was caught last autumn at Culler- 

 coats, and happening to be there at the time, I fortunately secured 

 it for our (Newcastle) Museum. The only British locahty hitherto 

 recorded for this fish is the coast of Cornwall, on which a few indivi- 

 duals have been obtained at rare intervals, amounting, I beUeve, to 

 no more than five since its first discovery in the time of Borlase, nearly 

 a century ago. Its occurrence on this coast (Northumberland), so 

 far beyond its supposed geographical range, is therefore interesting. — 

 From the Address of the President {Mr. Alder) to the Tyneside 

 Naturalists' Field Club in 1850. 



Description of a new Crustacean. By W. Baird, M.D., F.L.S. &c. 



CVPRIDINA ZeALANDICA. 



The valves of the carapace are of an oval form, somewhat flattened, 

 but convex in the centre, and concentrically striated. The striae are 

 numerous, close-set, and of a waved appearance. The surface of the 

 valves is covered with minute punctations, which probably give origin 

 in the fresh state to short hairs, though they are not visible m the 

 dried specimens. The anterior extremity is slightly narrower than 

 the posterior. The whole carapace is of a uniform white colour. 



