228 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



which are then carried down stream by the current, and afford a 

 repast to every fish in the vicinity. 



The Salmon is rare in the Severn in comparison with the 

 number of fry hatched there, and which would be quite sufficient 

 to form a good supply had they a chance in the battle for life 

 in the lower waters. The paucity of these fish is due to three 

 main causes, excluding poaching: — (1) Difficulty in the ascent 

 of breeding fish, owing to natural or artificial obstructions in the 

 river ; (2) immoderate netting ; and (3) pollution of the water. 

 The present policy of masterly inactivity against the great 

 destroyers of the Salmon, aided by local activity against the 

 petty ones, are characteristic of our fishery laws and regulations, 

 and will probably form a subject for marvel to the antiquarians of 

 future ages, when naturalists will perhaps observe — " What could 

 have been expected from a legislature tbat left the young fish 

 to take care of tbemselves, but protected the useless birds which 

 destroyed them, and concluded every Parliamentary Session 

 by dining at Greenwich off 'whitebait,' the fry of the Common 

 Herring ? " 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS ON BRITISH 



STALK-EYED CRUSTACEA. 



By .John T. Caiuungton, F.L.S., and Edward Lovjjstt. 



(Continued from p. lNf>.) 



Thia polita, Leach. 



This rare species is described by Bell in tbe Appendix to his 

 work, at the time of writing of which very little seems to have 

 been known as to its habitat; though it seems probable, according 

 to M. Milne-Edwards, that it is a Mediterranean form. 



The carapace is somewhat shaped like a thumb-nail, but 

 produced posteriorly ; it is rarely quite an inch in length, and 

 nearly as broad in the widest part; it is remarkably smooth and 

 polished, and fringed with fine downy setse. The antennae are 

 about a quarter of an inch in length, and slightly plumose. 



The anterior pair of legs are robust, rounded and smooth, the 

 forceps curved ; the legs are capable of being closed in beneath 

 the carapace. The remaining legs are hairy and rather -short, 

 the fourth pair being the shortest. The abdomen is five-jointed 



