2260 The Zoologist — August, 1870. 



basking shark is a norlhern fish, and if the black fish were the com- 

 panions of my shark it probably came from the south and not from the 

 north. The larger of the two specimens of C. pompilus was a little 



over eighteen inches long. 



Thomas Cornish. 

 Penzance, July 21, 1870. 



Sun Fish on the Dorsetshire Coast. — A very fine specimen of this monster of the 

 deep was captured in the bay on Thursday afternoon last. Mr. W. Anderson, of 

 Bread-street, London, who had been staying in the town for a short time, was cruising 

 in a little yacht during the afternoon, and suddenly espied this strange object lying 

 on the surface of the water, basking in the sunshine. On perceiving a movement, 

 having a gun with him, he discharged the contents of a couple of barrels, which lodged 

 in the side of the bead. Plunging suddenly down and almost as quickly rising to the 

 surface, the opportunity of capturing had eagerly to be watched. Another shot had to 

 be fired, which seemed to hit some vital part, and a noose was quickly fastened at the 

 back of the fins, and the huge thing with some difficulty brought ashore at Cobb-gale. 

 It measured five feet six inches long and six feet four inches deep, measuring from the 

 extremities of the large fins, and is supposed to weigh from six to seven cwt.—Alwin 

 S. Dell; 4, Rot/al Terrace, Weymouth, July 22, 1870. 



Sun Fish at Abbolsbury. — Au extremely fine specimen of the short sun fish 

 (Orlhayoriscus Mola) was taken in a seine at Abbolsbury on Wednesday. The weight 

 was estimated at not far short of a ton. The length was about five feet, and the 

 breadth nearly the same. The fish was bought by Mr. Vincent and taken to Wey- 

 mouth for exhibition. Probably the continued calmness of the weather had caused 

 the appearance of this creature on our coast, from the warmer latitudes (Mediterranean, 

 &c.), which it usually inhabits. The fish was placed in the marquee in the new 

 gardens at Weymouth, and exhibited at twopence each visitor. Large numbers of the 

 Medusae, or common jelly-fish, about the size of a parasol, have also entered 

 Weymouth harbour during several days. — Id. 



Black Variety of Montagu's Harrier in North Devon.— Mr. Shopland, bird- 

 preserver, of Torquay, showed me to-day a very beautiful adult pair of the dark race 

 of Montagu's harrier, which were sent to him from North Devon, on the 7tb of May, 

 to be stuEfed, and informed me that he found in the stomach of the male six young 

 partridges, and the remains of some sky lark's eggs and of three or four sand lizards: 

 the stomach of the female harrier also contained the remains of several sand lizards, 

 together with those of a slow-worm and a field mouse. — /. H. Gurney ; Marldon, 

 Tolnes,July 16, 1807. 



[The three following notices respecting this interesting variety are extracted from 

 the ' Field' newspaper. — E. Newman.} 



Black Montagu's Harrier.— J had brought to me last Monday, the 20th of June, 

 a most peculiar-marked specimen of Montagu's harrier. It was a male bird, and of a 

 uniform black-blue colour. On dissection, I found in its crop six young sky larks, 

 and in its stomach three more, and five sky lark's eggs ; three were broken in two, and 



