Quadrupeds — Birds. 2723 



ing to injure an aged female, he was dispatched soon after to his more natural High- 

 land home. Some of our roe deer are particularly tame, and may frequently be seen 

 feeding in the pleasure-ground around the Abbey. — J. Mcintosh; Milton Abbey, 

 February 6, 1850. 



Note on the Otter (Lutra vulgaris). — I have made a very interesting addition to 

 the Museum, of two young male otters, which were killed on the 19th of January, on 

 the river Bollin, in Cheshire, about ten miles from Manchester. One of the game- 

 keepers of Trafford Trafford, Esq., of Outrington Hall, was in the pursuit of wild 

 fowl, and observed the frequent occurrence of foot-marks of otters in the snow ; and 

 after tracing them for about a mile up the banks of the stream, he came upon three 

 lively fellows disporting themselves by fishing : the one in advance of the other two 

 was occupied with a fine eel, which after securing between his teeth he brought to the 

 others, and they all retired to the banquet under the shelter of an overhanging part 

 of the bank. After staying for a short time they reappeared, and commenced again 

 their fishing diversions, which, however, met with a fatal interruption from the gun of 

 the keeper, who killed one instantaneously, and so wounded another that it was cap- 

 tured and killed soon afterwards without any difficulty. On seeing the sad fate of 

 his brothers, the third immediately sped away up the stream at an amazing rate, and 

 so escaped. I have no doubt that they were all of one paternity, as, from their re- 

 semblance in size and social habits while fishing, they seemed linked in the affection- 

 ate ties pertaining to brotherhood. The two which were killed weighed nearly 10 lbs. 

 each. The river Bollin is a narrow winding stream, of about thirty miles in length, 

 flowing through a nearly level country of new red marl ; and its soft banks are so 

 deep and water-worn as to afford very considerable protection to an animal of such 

 amphibious habits. Not many years back the river abounded with otters, and regular 

 otter hunts were of ordinary occurrence ; but being most unfortunately regarded as 

 enemies to the finny tribe, they have been most mercilessly destroyed, and are now 

 found but sparingly throughout its course. I have learnt that two were shot in the 

 month of May, 1848 ; but we may probably be not far distant from the time when it 

 will have totally disappeared from all our inland streams. — John Plant ; Royal Mu- 

 seum, Peel Park, Salford, February 6, 1850. 



A few Remarks on Nomenclature in Natural History. 

 By the Rev. James Smith. 



Being favoured by a friend with the publications of the Ray So- 

 ciety, I have felt much interest in their volume which is entitled 

 ' Reports on Zoology,' and which was published in 1847. These 

 Reports have reference to the years 1843 and 1844.* In perusing 



* On the most cursory glance at this volume of Keports, one cannot but be struck 

 with the number, the importance, and the critical and philosophical character of 

 German productions in every branch of zoology. In comparison, those of Britain 

 and France are limited ; and it may be doubted if, in general, they exhibit the same 



