5160 TuE ZooLoGist—NovEMBER, 1876. 
There seems to be much doubt which species of wrasse was 
known to the Greeks under the name of “ Julis,” probably various 
species, some of which were said to be poisonous, while of others 
they thought it not easy to do justice to the flesh: “to speak of its 
trail as it deserved was impossible, and to throw away even its 
excrement, a sin.” Speaking from experience, I can ,say that 
wrasse is excellent eating, and at the present day they are largely 
consumed in Southern Europe, where they form the chief ornaments 
of the fish markets, Coris Julis being known at Naples as 
“ Cazzillo di re.” 
E. Howarp BIRCHALL. 
Crystal Palace Aquarium, 
October 20, 1876. 
Ornithological Notes from the Isle of Wight—— 
Pomarine Skua.—A bird of this rare species was shot on the 9th of 
September, by Mr. W. Smith, on Black Pan farm, in the north of the island, 
when following the plough, feeding, I am told, in the furrows with the gulls! 
The sex was not ascertained, but it is apparently a female (or an immature 
male). Yarrell’s figure and description would, with slight alteration, answer 
for this specimen. It was sent to me for identification by Mr. F. Smith, 
the Newport taxidermist. Total length, about fifteen inches, the two central 
tail-feathers exceeding the rest by three-quarters of an inch. General colour 
of a brownish black, tinged with gray, most of the feathers slightly edged 
with grayish white. The closed wing reaches to the end of central tail- 
feathers. What is most remarkable is the parti-coloured web-foot, the half 
next the tarsus being of a flesh-colour, the rest dusky. The tarsus, which 
is two inches in length, dusky, having a greenish tinge. The Pomarine 
skua has been included in our list as having occurred in the island some 
thirty years since, but the author of the statement does not tell us where, 
or by whom, it was shot. [See Zool. 978.—Eb.] 
Kite—Towards the end of August I was informed by a friend who has a 
fair knowledge of birds that he had observed one on the downs with a forked 
tail, which, from the description, I thought could be no other than the kite, 
of which on the 4th of September I had ocular proof. A large bird with 
elongated tail having been seen in the distance, it was kept in view until 
passing overhead, when, though at a great height, I observed that the tail 
was forked. This, I believe, is the first recorded occurrence of the kite in 
the island. 
Spotted Crake-—A handsome specimen, in perfect plumage, has lately 
been sent to Mr. Smith for preservation —H. Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of 
Wight, September 21, 1876. [When, where, and by whom shot °Ep.] 
