The Zoologist— January, 1868. 1061 



blowing strongly at the time, and I need not say that the gales during the week 

 November 30 — December 7 will long be remembered in every part of England. This 

 bird was killed, and sent to Mr. Ambrose, of this town, for sniffing, where I saw it, and 

 recognized it at once as Leach's or the fork-tailed petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii). It 

 has been purchased for me by Mr. Ambrose, and is added to my collection. Like its 

 congener, the storm petrel, tbisiird is frequently taken iu England during or after strong 

 gales, Yarrell says more frequently in the autumn. They are carried inland, and 

 generally fly to light when captured. 1 have a storm petrel taken in this way twenty- 

 five years ago, twenty miles from the sea. — C.R. Bree ; Colchester, December 10, 1867. 

 —From the • Field.' 



Forktailed Petrel near Spalding. — I have this last fortnight received two forktailed 

 petrels; both were alive when caught, but only lived a few days. I believe they are 

 male and female, as they differ slightly in plumage and size. I have never heard of 

 any being caught in this neighbourhood before. Both are being preserved by Mr. 

 Evans, of Bourn. — J. W. Harrison; Broad Street, Spalding. — Id. 



[Many instauces of the occurrence of petrels inland have been recorded in the daily 

 papers, but most of them are unauthenticated by a name. — E. N.~] 



Large Pike in Buckinghamshire.— On the 28th of September last a large pike 

 was caught upon a " trimmel" on the ornamental water at Ditton Park, the seal of his 

 grace the Duke of Buccleuch. This fish weighed 20| ft>s and had a very large head 

 in comparison with its body: the head was preserved by Mr. Fisher, of Eton. — 

 A. Clark-Kennedy. 



Monster Eel.— On Tuesday an eel of immense size was shown at Mr. Culling's, 

 fishmonger, of Downbam Market, which was taken out of the River Ouse, near 

 Denver Sluice: it measured in length 5 feet 8 inches, girth 17£ inches; and weighed 

 36 lt»s. (28 tt»s. after being cleansed). Yarrell, in his ' Britis Fishes,' mentions having 

 seen the skins of two at Cambridge which together weighed 50tbs. (one 27 fas. and 

 the other 23tbs.), which were taken within a few miles of the spot where this was 

 captured. The party who secured it left for Cambridge with their prize, and obtained 

 at Elv upwards of £3 by showing it. Ely is said to have obtained its name from rents 

 in the isle being paid in eels. The lords of the manors in the isle were annually 

 entitled to upwards of 100,000 eels— not, we presume, of this monster size.— From the 

 ' Times ' <>/ October 28, 1867. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Entomological Society. 

 November 18, 1867.— Prof. Westwood, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Donations to the Library. 

 The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the donors: — 

 'Journal of the Linnean Society,' Zoology, Vol. ix. No. 37; and 'Proceedings of the 

 Liunean Society;' presented by the Society. 



