Mr A. B. Herhert on the Harvest Mouse. 133 



wick and two from tlie Firth of Forth, the latter only one 

 (" the dried skin " Yarrell had), I have thought it might be 

 interesting to the members to exhibit mine to-night. Yarrell 

 has figured and described this ray at page 585, vol. ii., second 

 edition, of " The British Fishes." The figure was taken from 

 the one got in Berwick Bay — a female specimen — and it 

 agrees well with the specimens I now exhibit, although more 

 so when they were fresh and their colours bright. Yarrell's 

 figure was taken from a female example; mine are both 

 females, and agree in length with it and other particulars. 



Couch's figure of this fish, plate xxiii., page 103 of his 

 " History of the Fishes of the British Islands," was taken 

 from Donovan's plate. Couch gives no dimensions, etc., and 

 as I have not Donovan's work, I am unable to give particulars 

 as to size, etc., or locality. There is, however, sufficient in 

 the figure to identify it as a starry ray. I rather think it 

 must have been a larger specimen than mine, judging by the 

 large spines and robust appearance shown in the plate. 

 Couch adds nothing to the description given by Yarrell. 



My specimens were taken in the Firth of Forth ; Parnell 

 sent Mr Yarrell two from the same locality. I regret that I 

 have not been able to examine Parnell's " Fishes of the Firth 

 of Forth." I am not aware that I ever saw any other speci- 

 men of this pretty fish. If I had, I am sure that its well- 

 marked character would not have escaped my notice. To 

 " educate " our young friends has been a strong inducement 

 to bring them here, as well as to express my best thanks to 

 Mr Moffat for his kindness in sending me such a welcome 

 present. 



XX. Note on the Harvest Mouse (Mus messorius). By A. B. 

 Herbert, Esq. 



(Read 16th April 1879.) 



The harvest mouse {mus messorius) designated by Pallas Mus 

 minutus, is the smallest of British quadrupeds, and seems not 

 to have been known as a distinct species till Gilbert White 

 called attention to it in the year 1767. They breed as many 



