330 Zoological Society : — 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE. 



Flora Belfastiensis. The Plants round Belfast; with their Geo- 

 graphical and Geological Distribution. By Ralph Tate, F.G.S. 

 24mo. Belfast : G. Phillips & Sons. 1863. 

 This little book is well suited for the object contemplated by its 

 author, viz. to be an assistance to the amateur botanists of Belfast. 

 We are glad to learn by its publication that that is a numerous class 

 there. 



The district is interesting, and is shown by this list to be rich in 

 plants. The number of geological formations is large, and the range 

 in height extends from the level of the sea to the top of Black 

 Mountain, at an elevation of 1272 feet. Excluding such plants as 

 have small claim to be regarded as native, this little Flora records 

 602 species within a circle of from ten to fifteen miles' radius from 

 Belfast. It is probable that its publication will cause some increase 

 in that number, but we may doubt if it admits of much extension ; 

 for the author and his friends have apparently searched the country 

 with acute and discriminating eyes. We should like to know what 

 their Papaver dubium, Viola canina, and Arenaria serpillifolia 

 really are. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Nov. 10, 1863.— E. W. H. Holdsworth, Esq., F.Z.S., in the Chair. 



Notes on the Sebastoid Fishes occurring on the Coast 

 OF California, U. S. A. By Wm. O. Ayres, M.D., C.M.Z.S. 



A remarkable feature in the ichthyic fauna of the coast of Cali- 

 fornia is the occurrence of a large number of species belonging to the 

 old genus Sebastes. They are taken in great quantities, and, being 

 all of excellent quality for the table, they furnish a large proportion 

 of the fresh fish sold in the markets of San Francisco. The different 

 forms are readily distinguished by the fishmongers, though they sell 

 them all under the absurd name of " Rock Cod." Their ichthyo- 

 logical history may be thus recorded. 



In August 1854, Sebastes auriculatus, Girard, S. rosaceus, Gir., 

 and S./asciatus, Gir,, were published in the 'Proceedings of the 

 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.' A few weeks later (in 

 September), before the Philadelphia publication reached California, 

 S. nebulosus, Ayres, S. paucispinis, Ayres, S. ruber, Ayres, and S. 

 ruber, var. parvus, Ayres, were named in the ' Proceedings of the 

 CaUfornia Academy of Natural Sciences ;' and in the same paper I 

 indicated another species as perhaps S. variabilis, Cuv. Of these, 

 (S. nebulosus is identical with S./asciatus, Gir. (but as the namefas- 

 ciatus had been preoccupied by Dr. Storer for a species of Massa- 

 chusetts Bay, nebulosus must be retained for the Californian species); 

 S. ruber, var. parvus, is S. auriculatus, Gir. In November 1854, S. 



