540 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON ALBINISM. 



'Caswell,' and was sent by Mr. H. E. Rees to Mr. James V. 

 Pryor at Cambridge ; not recognizing the species, Mr. Pryor 

 showed it to Professor Stanley Gardiner, and on his advice sent 

 it to Mr. Regan. 



Mr. Rees had kindl}^ given the following information : — " The 

 fish was caught by the steam trawler ' Caswell ' on Sunday, 

 May 7th, at 3 p.m. The vessel was fishing 95 miles S.S.E. of 

 the Bull Rock, Ireland, in 300 fatlioms of water. The fish was 

 caught in the trawl on the sea-bottom and was alive when it 

 was brought in on deck." 



The fish is nearly 400 mm. long; it has 53 dorsal and 31 anal 

 rays. The principal differences between C hritannicus and the 

 more abundant C pompilus appear to be as follows : — 



C. hritannicus. — D. 46-53. A. 28-33. About 240 scales in a 

 longitudinal sei'ies above lateral line, which has a curve in the 

 anterior i of its length. Length of head 5| to 6 in length 

 of fish. 



C.pom;ji^«6-.—D. 37-41. A. 23-25. 185 to 205 scales in a 

 longitudinal series above lateral line, which has a long curve, 

 becoming straiglit above origin of anal fin. Length of head 4 

 to 5 in length of fish. 



Mr. Regan also exhibited a Silver Ling [Molva elongata), nearly 

 600 mm. long, taken from the stomach-pf a very large Sun-fish 

 [Mola viola) that had been caught in a trawl, landed at Milford, 

 and sent to Mr. W. Howlett of Billingsgate Market, who pre- 

 sented it to the Natural History Museum. The Sun-fish appears 

 generally to swim near the surface and to eat small invertebrates, 

 larval fishes, etc. It is interesting to note that it may descend 

 to considerable depths {M. elongata is usually found at 100 to 

 300 fathoms) and that it may capture fairly large and active fish. 



Albinism in American Animals. 



Dr. R. W. Shufelbt, C.M.Z.S., communicated the following 

 notes on cases of albinism seen in American animals : — 



" During the past half century I have noted and examined a 

 great many instances of albinism in various parts of the United 

 States, and as this condition is of interest from several points 

 of view, I am presenting here a few notes I have made upon the 

 subject. It is generally supposed that we may meet with albinos 

 in any type of animal now to be found in existing faunae in 

 any part of the world ; but, strange to relate, there are certain 

 groups of animals, representatives of which seem to be exempt 

 from it. Moreover, while we know very accurately what con- 

 stitutes albinism, whether partial or complete, we do not know, 

 in so far as I am aw^are, the precise cause of it, when manifested 

 in any particular individual. There are those who are disposed 

 to consider it simply as a ' freak of nature,' an opinion that I 



