THE ZooLoGisT—FEBRUARY, 1875, 4348 
marine surveyings. When the gannet has exhausted a certain beat of water 
and finds its food at tediously long intervals, it checks its up-wind course, 
and with lazy winnowing and majestic sweep, the bird in a few seconds has 
harked back to its starting point, again to renew its finny warfare.—Robert 
Chambers ; 339, High-street, Edinburgh, January 15, 1875. 
Slow-worm abroad on the 26th of December.—Whilst most parts of 
England have been subject to much severe weather, we have here been 
almost free from cold, so much so that on the 26th of December, 1874, a 
friend of mine, whilst walking in his garden, saw and captured a small 
slow-worm (Anguis fragilis) whilst basking in-the sun. He brought it to 
me; it was quite active, and very beautiful in its youthful markings.— 
Stephen Clogg ; Looe, January 15, 1878. 
Vaagmaer, or Deal-fish, in Ireland.—A fish of great interest has just 
heen secured by Messrs. Gray and Swanston, of the Belfast Naturalists’ 
Field Club, and is now in the Museum, College-square North. It has been 
identified by Dr. Cunningham, Professor of Natural History, Queen’s College, 
as the deal-fish (Trachypterus arcticus), an inhabitant of northern seas, and 
only in a very few instances found so far south as British waters. It mea- 
sures seven feet nine inches, including a tail of only five inches. Its greatest 
depth is fifteen inches and a quarter, whilst its greatest thickness (which is 
at the back of the head) is only two inches and a half, and from that point 
it tapers to the tail. This specimen exceeds by nearly two feet in length 
the largest example hitherto recorded. It was found washed ashore at 
Bundoran, on the southern shore of Donegal Bay, and thus attracted the 
attention of the fishermen. Mr. Patrick Daly, of that place, on being shown 
the fish, was acute enough to perceive that it was a rarity, and communicated 
with Mr. William Gray, of Belfast, who, in concert with Mr. W. Swanston, 
decided on having it brought here at once, being satisfied from the descrip- 
tion given by Mr. Daly, that the specimen represented a very rare species, 
and was of unusual dimensions. On its arrival in town they had it photo- 
graphed in its fresh condition, and have engaged the well-known skill of 
Mr. Darragh, in order that it may be permanently preserved. As collections 
are now being formed in the Museum to represent our local Natural History, 
we hope this interesting specimen may find a place among them. Mr. Daly 
deserves the thanks of our naturalists for having so promptly communicated 
with the Secretary of the Field Club. 
[This information is kindly communicated by Mr. A. G. More, of Dublin. 
The vaagmaer or deal-fish was, I believe, first described by Cuvier and 
