The Zoologist — February, 1868. 1075 



description of one killed in the Hebrides in 1817 is given by Mr. 



Macgillivray in the ' Naturalist's Library,' vol. xvii. p. 223. 



Edward R. Alston. 

 Slockbriggs, Lesmahagow, N. B., 



December 23, 1867. 



[On the day on which Mr. Alston's paper reached my hands a notice appeared in 

 the ' Times ' of the death of the walrus, since which a most careful dissection of the 

 animal has been made by Dr. Murie, the Prosector to the Zoological Society, at the 

 gardens in the Regent's Park, with the twofold purpose of examining and recording 

 the anatomical structure of the animal, and of ascertaining the cause of its death: 

 this was, apparently, the presence of a large number of Entozoa in the stomach. 

 These amounted to many thousands, averaging from one to three inches in length, 

 and in thickness from that of a thread to a good-sized knitting needle, both ends 

 tapering lo a point. The exact species of worm has not yet been determined, and it 

 is not known when or how they were introduced into the stomach. Their presence, 

 however, was accompanied with ulceration of the mucous lining of the stomach, 

 which caused the death of the animal. It is singular that these worms were 

 confined to the stomach, not being found in the intestinal canal, and no evidence 

 of their existence was manifested during life. Dr. Murie has had the opportunity of 

 contrasting the anatomical structure of the walrus with that of the sea-bear, and the 

 record u of the distinctions between them will be of great service to naturalists. It may 

 interest our readers to know that the skin and skeleton of this animal have been 

 secured for the British Museum, and that the anatomical preparations to illustrate the 

 structure of the viscera will form part of the collection in the Museum of the Royal 

 College of Surgeons. — E. Newman.'] 



Letters on Ornithology. By Harry Blake-Knox, Esq. 

 (Continued from S. S. 631). 



Letter VL — British Larid^e. Genus Lards. Species canus. 



Part II. — Being an Account of its Plumages and Transformations 

 from the Nestling lo the Adult Bird. 



" May this magnificent study, second to none but Theology, daily gain more 

 favour in the eyes of the public ; and be the time not far distant when observers shall 

 arise capable of giving greater accuracy and precision to our knowledge of British 

 birds. While the world endures — be it a thousand years or a million of centuries— 

 the works of God will never be fully comprehended by man; and thus there is de- 

 lightful occupation in view for all lime." — Prof. W. Macgillivkay, Preface, Vol. iv., 

 ' History of British Birds' 



Perhaps the plumages of no bird are so apt to be curtailed as are 

 those of the common gull, authors describing it adult at one and two 



