154 MISCELLANEA. 
Cowpen, about three miles N.E. of Norton. I saw it on 
Wednesday last at Stockton, where it is being stuffed for the 
person who shot it. It corresponds well with Bewick’s figure, 
(p. 10 ‘Supplement,’ Newcastle 1821), which was taken from 
the specimen shot at Widdrington in Northumberland, in Jan- 
uary, 1823.*—Ibid, December 13, 1861. 
The Norway Lobster and Red Mullet.—Owing to the recent 
introduction of ‘‘ trawling” in this district, large numbers of the 
pretty little lobster, Nephrops Norwegicus have been caught, and 
have been sold at the fish shops in the town. It has always 
been a favourite article of food in Scotland; but in this district 
it has been unknown in this capacity. Its flesh is more delicate 
in flavour, and less tough than that of the common lobster, but 
unfortunately there is less of it. Whether owing to improved 
methods of fishing, or to its actual numerical increase on this 
coast, [ am not prepared to say, but the Red Mullet, has during 
the past year been seen in our fish shops, much more frequently, 
and in greater numbers than formerly.—Henry T. Mennell, 
January 8, 1862. 
Vitality of the seed of Fumaria muralis (Sonder), and Hyosya- 
mus niger, l1.—The ancient churchyard “of Embleton, in this 
parish, was surrounded by a very old hedge, which last year, 
when the church was re-built, was grubbed up. Upon this 
freshly turned up ground—earth which had not been disturbed for 
centuries—there sprung up in profusion two interesting plants 
Fumaria muralis (Sonder) and Hyoscyamus niger (i). What 
makes the circumstance the more remarkable is the fact, that 
this is the first and only instance in which I have met with either 
of the Capreolate Fumarie in the neighbourhood, notwithstand- 
ing that they have been closely looked for. Such instances of 
the vitality of seeds are not unfrequent, but are always interest- 
* Both Bewick and Selby first referred this bird to the N. passerina, (Linn.), the 
latter author, however, subsequently corrects this opinion, (Zrans. Nat. Hist. Soc., North.) 
and shows it to be the Noctua Tengmalmi of Temminck which is distinguished from the 
other British species of little owl, N. nwdipes, by having the toes, as well as the tarsi, densely 
feathered. Authors differ as to whether the ¥. nudipes is the WN. passerina of Linneus, 
but if the latter be a third species, it has not occurred in Britain.—Secs. 7. WV. F. C. - 
January 22, 1862. 
