Birds. 813 



probable that the transition or primary formation is not differently 

 circumstanced, but that from the gradual longer decomposition and 

 change of many of its organic relations, it is more difficult to examine 

 and determine." — J. W. 



Enquiry respecting the Polecat. Perhaps some of your correspondents would en- 

 deavour to explain the reason for the polecat leaving the fens and low meadows and 

 plantations in September, and betaking itself to the high lands. This I have observed 

 for several years, and cannot give any cause for it, as it is before either floods or frosts 

 commence. — Henry T. Frere ; Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Nov. 1, 1844. 



Note on the occurrence at Puckaster, of Delphinus griseus, a species of Mammal new 

 to Britain. I have the pleasure of forwarding for insertion in ' The Zoologist,' the 

 description of a dolphin, not hitherto included among British Cetacea. The animal 

 was killed in the spring of 1843, at Puckaster, nearly the most southern point of the 

 Isle of Wight, where it had run aground. I was absent from home at the time, and 

 did not return till it had been cut up and boiled down. I am therefore indebted to 

 Mr. Horatio Dennett, of Newport, for all particulars, as well as for a drawing of the 

 skull. The description and drawing I forwarded to Mr. J. E. Gray, who has pro- 

 nounced it to be an example of Delphinus griseus. Its colour is said to have resem- 

 bled that of a newly killed pig, being lighter on the under parts, and inclining to pink 

 on the back. Teeth three or four on each side of the lower jaw, in front, conical, re- 

 curved, with rather obtuse summits, situated about three-eighths or half an inch 

 apart, and varying in length from half an inch to five-eighths. The back-fin was said 

 to be about the size of a man's hand ; and the length of the entire animal about eleven 

 feet. Your readers, by referring to Cuvier's figure of Delphinus griseus, and compar- 

 ing it with the skull, now in the British Museum, may satisfy themselves of the cor- 

 rectness of Mr. Gray's decision as to the species. — Chas. A. Bury ; Bonchurch. 



[I have been kindly furnished by Mr. Gray with further observations on this spe- 

 cies : these, together with a figure of the skull, I hope shortly to publish. — Edward 

 Newman. ~\ 



Notes on the Birds of Belgium. By M. Julian Deby. 



Believing a few remarks on the migrations and occasional appear- 

 ance of the birds, which myself and several conscientious naturalists 

 have observed in Belgium, might prove interesting to your readers, as 

 it will enable them to compare notes and dates, — I have taken the li- 

 berty of forwarding you these lines, for insertion in your ' Zoologist,' 

 and beg you to believe me a friend to that useful and interesting jour- 

 nal. Being a foreigner, I hope you will excuse the many inaccura- 

 cies of my style. 



