The Zoologist— October, 1870. 2347 



November, that a youngs one bad been got upon Salisbury Plain. Such records migbt 

 be multiplied, but it is questionable if many of iliem do not refer to escaped birds. I 

 take this opportunity of asking if the pinkfooted goose is not found in Cornwall, as it 

 is not included in Mr. Rodd's list. In most places it is commoner than the bean 

 goose, which he states to be "our common wild goose" (Zool. S. S. 2276). — J. H. 

 Gurney,jun. 



Dabchicks in Kensington Gardens. — There were twenty-five dabchicks on the 

 round pond at Kensington yesterday: most of them had commenced shedding the 

 adult summer plumage. Mr. T. D. Pigott informs me that he has seen as many as 

 ninety-eight; a circumstance which seems worth putting on record. —7<^. ; August 23 

 1870. ' 



Terns at Henley-on-Thames. — Whilst walking by the river last Sunday I saw a 

 tern of the common species flying about close to the bridge: it was evidently much 

 tired, for it flew very weakly. We frequently see both terns and gulls on our reach.— 

 Charles E. Slubbs ; Henley-on-Thames, Oxon, September 13, 1870. 



Where do our Summer Visitants yoP—l have often thought that we need some 

 reliable information concerning the doings of our summer visitants during the time 

 they are absent from us. Can any of the readers of the 'Zoologist' enlighten us on 

 this point? I believe it is pretty well known where many of them are to be found 

 during our winter months ; but I have never read from any reliable source in what 

 way they pass their lime, and if they are noticed to leave their winter quarters for our 

 shores. Do they propagate while they are away? Are they in song— for instance, 

 the nightingale, swallow, &c.? Some very interesting letters might be written on this 

 subject, if any of your readers would direct their attention to the vadiiex.— Edward 

 Sweelapple; Eynsham Paper Works, near Oxford, September 12, 1870. 



Spinous Shark taken off Penzance.— k spinous shark was taken here yesterday on 

 a hook and line, about a mile ofi" shore, on as nearly as possible the ground on which a 

 spinous shark, of which I advised you at length (see Zool. Feb. 1866), was taken in 

 December, 1865. This specimen was eight feet long and three feet in girth. It cor- 

 responds very closely with Couch's figure, and still more closely with Yarrell's second 

 figure (first Supplement, p. 56). It was of a dark lead-colour. The eye slightly oval, 

 but more round than is usual in sharks. The fish was bulkier in proportion to ii.s 

 length than my former specimen, and the spines were scarcer, stouter and shorter- 

 they were also more regularly set, and being recurved backwards were less so than iu 

 the other. These and the superior bulk of this fish in proportion to its length con- 

 stitute the only points of diflference between the two specimens. In all particulars of 

 dentition, gills, spiracles, and size and position of fins, the specimens correspond, and 

 I therefore consider them of the same species, and attribute these differences to a^^e or 

 sex. Both these specimens have two anal fins on the same plane (just as the pectorals 

 are): Yarrell and Couch show only one; they, especially the latter, figure the 

 pectorals badly. The eye had a very small range upwards, but a very extensive scope 

 downwards and forwards. The fish was taken on a bream-hook, and secured in good 

 condition. — Thomas Cornish; Penzance, September 8, 1870. 



Sting Ray near Penzance.— A. specimen of ihe sting ray, or fire-flaire, was taken 

 in Porthcuruow Sands, about nine miles west of this place, ou Wednesday, August 



