FIELD NOTES. 19^ 



FLOWERINQ PLANTS. 



Early Flowering of the Hawthorn. — On the 29th of 

 April I saw a spray of May blossom. I do not remember seeing 

 any in April previously, and in this district it is more often 

 June than May before it flowers ; but the first few days in 

 May this year produced a good many sprays of the blossom. — 

 R. Fortune. 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



Green Hairstreak Butterflies near Scarborough. — 

 Enormous numbers of Green Hairstreak Butterflies ( Callophrys 

 ruhi) are to be found on the Moors near Scarborough. They 

 are evidently well established, and in some places many hun- 

 dreds can be seen within a very short radius. Although May 

 and June are said to be the months for the Butterfly, yet they 

 were flying in this district about the first week in April, which 

 is a very early date. — Harry Witty, Scarborough. 



FISHES. 



Coitus bubalis at Scarborough. — A remarkably fine 

 specimen of the Common Fatherlasher {Cottus bubalis) was 

 caught off the pier at Scarborough, on May 14th. It measures 

 exactly twelve inches in length, and weighed, the day after cap- 

 ture, and when very dry, i lb. ^ oz. In ' Yarrell's British Fishes' 

 the usual length is given as from six to ten inches. The largest 

 specimen I have previously seen is one which I have preserved, 

 and which was also caught from the Scarborough Pier, on 

 February i8th, 1896 ; this measures ten inches in length and 

 weighed | lb. — W. J, Clarke. 



VERMES. 



Piscicola geometra at Scarborough. — While fly fishing 

 recently in the Derwent at Forge Valley I caught a trout 

 which had attached to its side, near the pelvic fins, a small 

 greenish leech about one inch in length. I sent this while still 

 ahve to Mr. W. A. Harding, F.Z.S., of Histon, who kindly 

 identified it as Piscicola geometra. In Mr. Harding's work on 

 ' The British Leeches ' is the following account of this species : — ■ 

 Piscicola geometra is widely distributed in Europe and not 

 uncommon in the British Isles. It attacks probably most of our 

 species of fresh-water fishes. It attaches itself firmly by the 

 posterior sucker to some convenient object, and, stretching 

 itself out like a rod and swaying its body to and fro, lies in 

 wait for its prey. With the anterior sucker it strikes at, and 

 fixes upon any passing fish with remarkable speed and pre- 

 cision, and letting go its hold posteriorly is carried off attached 

 to its victim. It remains upon its host for some days, drawing 

 blood chiefly from the fins, and drops off when gorged. The 

 process of digestion is comparatively short. — W, J. Clarke. 



1912 June I. 



