364 



FIELD NOTES. 



Spotted Crake near Whitby. — On September 27th, 

 at Hagg House Farm, Ruswarp, near Whitby, a Spotted 

 Crake was shot by Mr. A. S. Frank of Whitby. — F. Sxowdon, 

 Whitby. 



Meta menardi in Kirkdale Cave. — Prof. Watson informs 

 me that he has obtained this large spider in Kirkdale Cave. — 

 J. T. Sewell. 



It has previously been recorded for the county (see The 

 Naturalist, December, 1920). — Ed. 



White Kittiwake at Bridlington. — A beautiful white 

 variety of the Kittiwake has frequented the Bay during the 

 autumn. The plumage is pure white, bill ivory, and legs 

 white. The specimen would have been a perfect albino had 

 the eyes been pink instead of light brown in colour. Arrange- 

 ments have been made to protect this bird as far as may be 

 possible. — Sydney H. Smith. 



Yorkshire Fishes. — A Barbel of 9 lbs. weight was caught 

 in the Derwent at Wheldrake by Wm. Dodd, of York, on Oct. 

 ist, 1921. A Gudgeon, 7 inches long and weighing 2 ozs., 

 was caught in the River Seven by Thos. Wood of York on 

 Sept. 8th, 1921. Two very evenly matched Perch were 

 caught in a private lake near York on Sept. 20th, 1921, by E. 

 W. Jones, of York ; together they weighed =; lbs. — Sydney H. 

 Smith, York. 



Common Rorqual at Scarborough. — On the evening of 

 September 30th, a rough sea, accompanied by an easterly 

 wind washed ashore in the North Bay at Scarborough a small 

 specimen of the Common Rorqual [Balaenoptcra mitsculus). 

 It measured 27 feet in length, and had evidently been dead for 

 some time, as most of the outer epidermis was eroded, and the 

 body was much distended with gas. It had been on the 

 beach for some hours before I heard of it. When I reached 

 the place all the baleen had been removed, but the interior of 

 the mouth was slate grey in colour, and the strongly compressed 

 hinder part of the body and general colouration left no doubt 

 as to the species. — W. J. Clarke. 



We learn from the press that during the process of cutting 

 up the whale by the Scarborough Corporation, a brief hitch 

 occurred. The whale is a ' royal fish,' and when cast ashore 

 is claimed by the Crown. Representation was made on behalf 

 of the Crown of their rights in the matter, and almost im- 

 mediately the task was continued under their auspices. The 

 ' right ' involved does not affect the municipality, who, in 

 surrendering responsibility, at the same time freed themselves 

 from the cost of removing the whale. — Ed. 



Naturalist 



