The Zoologist — April, 1874. 3947 



WJiile Wagtail.— The white wagtail was the only species of 

 Motacilla seen ; but as none were shot or closely examined I could 

 only judge from their being of a light gray colour on the back. It 

 would puzzle an unscientific observer to discover why a gray bird 

 should be called " white," but it might puzzle him still more to 

 find a black bird named the " white wagtail" and a yellow wagtail 

 the " gray." 



Tree Sparrow. — Numerous nests of this species, I believe, were 

 observed in some tall and leafiess trees by the roadside. 



Woodcock and Snipe. — Woodcocks and snipe were scarce, owing 

 to the mildness of the season — neither frost nor snow up to the 19th 

 of November, at which date I left for Paris. There had been flights 

 of woodcocks early in the month, but in such open weather, in a 

 well-wooded country like Brittany, they are so dispersed that few 

 are met with; and in wet weather snipes are scattered over the moors 

 and heaths. 



Gulls. — On the coast, particularly at Concarneau and Carnac, 

 many gulls were seen in the distance; and I may remark that 

 I never saw them in such numbers except at their breeding-stations, 

 but it is readily accounted for, fish being so abundant, more so 

 than in any part of the world I have visited, except the coast of 

 Malabar. 



Henry Hadfield. 



Ventnor, Isle of Wigtt, February 9, 1874. 



Fish and Crustacea in the Tanks, 8fc., at Concarneau. 

 By Captain H. Hadfield. 



It may give some idea of the immense quantity of fish caught 

 on the coast, if I state what came under my observation when at 

 Concarneau. At an early hour I was awakened by a great com- 

 motion and a clattering of sabots, and on looking out beheld a 

 prodigious quantity offish exposed for sale, well nigh covering the 

 street; still more and more were being brought, literally carpettin" 

 the ground, being spread out on cloths, the soles in pairs— the street 

 thereby transformed into a busy market, to which the townspeople 

 were flocking. The quantity of fish taken is far too great for home 

 consumption, and much is sent up to Paris. 



Wonderful as this sight was, an inspection of living fish and 

 Crustacea, in the far-famed tanks, was more surprising still. Hewn 



