2996 THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1872. 
Emperor indulged was that of frogs, who, says the author, “ may also be 
trained to catch sparrows. This looks very funny.” He adds, “ His 
Majesty, from curiosity, likes to see spiders fight, and amuses himself with 
watching the attempts of the flies to escape, their jumps and combats with 
their foe.” He then quotes :— 
“T am in the power of Love: and if I have thousands of wishes, it is no crime; 
And if my passionate heart has an (unlawful) desire, it is no crime.” 
* And, in truth, his Majesty’s fondness for leopards is an example of the 
power of love, and an instance of his wonderful insight.” The historian may 
thank Abul Fazl for having preserved this little trait of Akbar’s character. 
In several places in the ‘ Ain,’ Abul Fazl tries hard to ascribe to his Majesty 
higher motives, in order to bring the Emperor’s passion for hunting in 
harmony with his character as the spiritual guide of the nation. But, as 
higher motives were insufficient to explain the fancy which Akbar took in 
frog and spider fights, Abul Fazl has to recognise the fact that peculiar 
leanings will lead even a sensible man to oddities and to actions opposed to 
the general tenor of his character—C. Horne; February 8, 1872. 
Muller’s Top-knot at St. Leonard’s.—About a month since a very good 
specimen of Muller's top-knot (Rhombus hirtus, Yarrell) was taken on the 
beach in a slight depression by a bay. It was nearly six inches in length, 
and so like Yarrell’s figure of it (Brit. Fishes, vol. ii. p. 243) that it might 
have been taken for the original specimen. It is evidently very rare, as 
neither the fishmongers nor the fishermen knew it.—J. S. Bowerbank ; 
2, East Ascent, St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, February 21, 1872. 
Large Whiting near Penzance.— For the last fortnight, weather per- 
mitting, our fishermen have been taking very large whiting, nearly as large, 
on an average, as they usually run on the whiting ground off Polperro, in 
East Cornwall, where are usually taken the largest whiting. I received one 
last week, taken in our bay, two feet one inch and a half over all and one 
foot ten inches and a half from eye to fork. Unfortunately the fisherman 
who brought it to me had, in his kindness, gutted it, and so I could not 
take its girth or weight. It was, out and out, the largest whiting I ever 
saw.—Thomas Cornish ; Penzance, January 24, 1872. 
Silver Eel of Extraordinary Size.—By the kindness of Mr. Augustus 
Smith, of the Scilly Islands, I have received a silver eel (Anguilla acuti- 
rostris), taken in his fresh-water pond at Tresco, Islands of Scilly. It is 
three feet six inches and four-tenths in length over all; greatest girth nine 
inches and four-tenths; and weight, turning the scale at six pounds eight 
ounces. Its size is something altogether unprecedented in the West, 
although I see it has been taken of much larger size elsewhere in England. 
—lId.; February 3, 1872. 
