120 R. Embleton on Miscellanea Zoologica, 8fc. 



The terminal portion of a system of kaims frequently 

 consists of patches of peat moss completely landlocked, or a 

 congeries of mounds, the direction and relation to each other 

 of which cannot be satisfactorily accounted for by the action 

 of running water alone; but the whole phenomena seem 

 capable of a simple explanation when the additional element 

 is added of the probably rugged nature, with outlying masses, 

 of a great field of submerged wood. 



Also, such a deposit of wood would scarcely in any circum- 

 stances be uniformly solid. Entire openings even might be 

 expected to occur in it occasionally; and these openings, 

 being filled with gravel by the current flowing over them, 

 would present just the appearance of those isolated, often 

 conical, mounds of gravel which occur in the mosses of this 

 district. 



Miscellanea Zoologica et Botanica. By R. Embleton. 



Mergus Albellus ; The Smew. This species of the duck 

 family is one of the rarest of our winter visitors, and during 

 the last twenty years only two adult specimens have come 

 under my notice. The one in my possession was shot a few 

 yards from my own house, in tlie month of February last. 



Inachus Leptochirus ; Slender legged Spider Crab. This 

 is one of the rarest of the British decapods. The male is 

 remarkable in having a round polished tubercle on the 

 thorax, which mine possesses ; and which is peculiar to this 

 genus, and only known to exist is another species, the Inachus 

 thoracicus of the Mediterranean. 



AcMJSA Testudinalis ; Rocks at Beadnel. 



Sambucus ebulus ; Dwarf Elder. In a lane behind the 

 Church at North Sunderland. 



Camelina Sativa ; Gold of Pleasure. Plentiful in a field 

 at Beadnel this year amongst flax. 



Alyssum Calycinum; Near Warkworth. To John Chrisp, 

 Esq., I am indebted for specimens of this doubtful native. 



Brassica Napus; The Turnip. Specimens of the true 

 plant have been forwarded to me by my friend, John Chrisp, 

 Esq., from Coquet Island. Long before there was any culti- 

 vated ground, Mr Chrisp was aware of the locality. It still 

 retains its hold, and is looked upon as a weed in the garden 

 round the light-house. 



Beadnel, August, 1864. 



