148 THE ZOOLOGISY. 
elevation.” This is probably in reference to their coming on board ship at 
night, attracted, it is supposed, by the lights. I believe the pectoral fins 
are kept extended without any motion, except perhaps as Mr Whitman, a 
recent observer, says, just when they rise from the sea. He gives 800 to 
1200 feet as the greatest distance he has seen them fly, and about forty 
seconds as the longest time out of the water. By what mechanical means 
they move when out of the water is still to mea mystery. I have neyer 
known the Flying-fish to be pursued by other fish, nor ever seen any bird 
near them; indeed few birds are ever seen far from the land north of the 
southern tropic, where Flying-fish are most abundant. The Dolphin 
(Coryph@na) is supposed to be their greatest enemy. I had once an oppor. 
tunity of seeing one opened—in the West Indies; its stomach was quite 
full of Orthayoriscus mola, very young, being not quite an inch long.— 
Francis P. Pascor (1, Burlington Road, W.)—‘ Nature,’ Feb. 3. 
MEMOIR OF THE LATE EDWARD R. ALSTON, F.LS. 
In London, on March 7th, of acute phthisis, died Epwarp 
Ricuarp Auston, of Stockbriggs, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, at 
the comparatively early age of thirty-five. To say that his death 
has called forth a universal expression of regret amongst those 
who knew him is only to announce the feeling of a host of 
friends ; a feeling which, we doubt not, will be shared by very 
many readers of this Journal to whom his name will be familiar, 
even if they could not claim a personal acquaintance with him. 
Like many another naturalist who has preceded him, and 
who has made his mark upon the age, Edward Alston’s earliest 
publications appeared in the pages of ‘ The Zoologist,’ to which 
periodical for some years he was a frequent contributor. Amongst 
the articles which will be fresh in the recollection of our readers 
may be mentioned his ‘‘ Notes on the Quadrupeds and Birds of 
Lanarkshire” (Zool. 1865, °66, °67), ‘‘On the Wild Cattle of 
Cadzow”’ (Id. 1865), ‘‘ Zoological Notes from Arran” (Id. 1866), 
“On the Habits of the Roe-deer (Id. 1867), ‘‘ The Folk-lore of 
Zoology ’’ (Id. 1867-8), ‘‘ Wayside Notes in France and Germany ”’ 
(Id. 1868), and ‘‘ Observations on British Martens”’ (Id. 1879). 
After a year or two spent in travel, during which time, in 
company with his friend Mr. Harvie Brown, he visited Norway, 
and Archangel, exploring the country lying at the mouth of the 
Dwina, of which they gave a most interesting account in ‘The 
