102 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Definition of the term "British" as applied to the Marine Fauna 

 and Flora. — A Committee of the British Association, consisting of Canon 

 Norman, Mr. Brady, Mr. Carruthers, Prof. Herd man, Prof. M'Intosh, 

 Mr. Murray, Prof. Newton, Mr. Sclater, and Prof. Haddou (Secretary), 

 appointed for the purpose of considering the question of accurately defining 

 the term " British " as applied to the Marine Fauna and Flora of our 

 Islands, reported as follows : — " A circular giving in detail alternative 

 boundaries for a British marine area, and maps and sections illustrating 

 the same, were distributed to the members of the ' British Marine Area 

 Committee,' as well as to a large and representative number of naturalists 

 interested in marine zoology. As was to be expected, the replies showed 

 that great diversity of opinion exists not only as to the desirability of limiting 

 a British marine area, but also as to how far such an area should extend. 

 A tabulation of the replies was subsequently forwarded to the members of 

 the Committee, and the following statements appear to express the views 

 of the majority: — It may be desirable, for the convenience of curators of 

 museums and the compilers of faunistic works, to limit a marine area 

 which may be more particularly described as ' British.' The British Marine 

 Area may be conveniently subdivided into a shallow- water and into a deep- 

 water district. The 100-fathom contour is a natural boundary line for the 

 former off the north and west coasts of the British Islands for the following 

 reasons : (1) It is defined on all charts ; (2) The Admiralty soundings are 

 very complete down to that depth ; (3) The 100-fathom line roughly corre- 

 sponds with the beginning of the declivity of the continental plateau ; 

 (4) There is a marked change in the fauna about that limit; (5) Most of 

 the dredgings of British naturalists have been taken within that contour. 

 The only boundary on the south and east is the half-way line between 

 Great Britain and the Continent ; this should include the Dogger Bank. 

 The above district may be termed ' The British Marine Shallow-water 

 District.' The deep water district of the British Marine Area may be 

 regarded as extending from 107 to, say, 1000 fathoms— that is, to the 

 commencement of the abysmal floor of the ocean. As these depths- occur 

 only off the north and west coasts, this region may be termed ' The British 

 Atlantic Slope District.' The Channel Islands lie outside the British 

 Marine Area proper." 



Antiquity of the name "Lobster" for the Stoat.— In my note on 

 this subject (p. 65) there is a misprint, which I should be glad to have 

 corrected. For "vj corspyll" read " vj coupyll blake conyes."— J. H. 

 Gurney (Northrepps Hall, Norwich). 



MAMMALIA. 



Equine Mules in Paris.— It may interest some of your readers if 

 briefly describe the appearance of some equine Mules which I saw in 



