32() Geological Society, 



Food-fishes, Oysters, Mussels and other Molluscs, Shrimps, Lobsters, 

 and Crabs, all receiving due notice from both the Jife-history and 

 economical points of view. Some of these subjects are treated 

 with a profusion of details, much of which is entirely original, 

 which raises Dr. Murie's contribution to a high scientific level. 

 The compilation of a vast amount of scattered information respecting 

 rare occurrences will prove a great boon to workers on the distri- 

 bution of fishes on our coasts — a subject on which much remains 

 to be done. 



The chapter dealing with the Herring family (Clupeidae) is a most 

 important piece of work, and the contribution therein on White- 

 bait adds greatly to our knowledge of a question which has been 

 frequently discussed before and since Dr. Giinther settled the question 

 by ascertaining the Whitebait of the Thames to consist mainly of 

 young herrings. Dr. Murie has taken great pains to ascertain the 

 nature of the mixed series of small fish &c. which are sent collec- 

 tively to the market under this commonly known appellation, and 

 he has added 20 to the 11 species which had already been listed 

 by Frank Buckland in 1879. 



In dealing with the Weavers (Trachhnis), so notoriously dreaded 

 by whitebaiters and shrimpers for their poisonous stings, the author 

 contributes a useful footnote recommending the best treatment in 

 case of accident. 



Among the more remarkable fishes mentioned in the report, 

 Aphia peUucida, the White Goby, deserves special attention. It 

 was supposed to be rare in the district, but Dr. Murie finds it 

 astonishingly numerous, especially in March and April. According 

 to Prof. Collett, who has made a special study of this curious fish 

 in the Christiania Fjord, the adults die after breeding, and therefore 

 accomplish their life in the course of a year. Dr. Murie throws 

 doubt on this conclusion, for reasons which, however, are reserved 

 for a later communication. 



In concluding this brief notice, we congratulate the Kent and 

 Essex Fisheries Committee on having had the good fortune of 

 bringing out a little book which will render such signal service, 

 and we look forward to the publication of further instalments of 

 the series of Reports of which the first is now before us. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



November 18th, 1903.— Sir Archibald Geikie, D.C.L., D.Sc, F.R.S., 

 Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 



1, ' Notes on some Upper Jurassic Ammonites, with special 

 reference to Specimens in the University Museum, Oxford.' By 

 Miss Maud Healey. 



In the course of re-arranging the Upper Jurassic fossils in the 



