3118 Fishes. 



[The drawing represents Bonaparte's gull (Larus Bonaparti), described in Rich- 

 ardson and Swainson's ' Fauna Boreali-Americana,' part ' Birds,' p. 425. A notice of 

 its occurrence at Belfast, together with a minute description, will be found in an early 

 number of the 'Zoologist,' (Zool. 2069). Mr. Yarrell, who has seen the drawing sent 

 by Sir G. Leith, and has kindly investigated the matter, pronounces it to be L. Bona- 

 parti. I have seen a third British example, and have introduced this species without 

 a doubt into the last edition of the ' Zoologist List of British Birds.' — E. iV.] 



The Little Gull (Larus minutus) in Derbyshire. — A most beautiful specimen of 

 this pretty little gull was killed in this parish on the 22nd of January, 1851, by my 

 neighbour, H. Orton, Esq. Having examined it by Mr. Yarrell's descriptions of the 

 British gulls, I found it was a young bird of the year. When first seen, it was swim- 

 ming leisurely on the Trent, nearly opposite to Weston Cliff, but on being disturbed 

 it rose from the river; soon, however, it settled down again on the water, and was so 

 tame that it allowed a person to approach within thirty yards without betraying the 

 least fear. Indeed, when my friend got up to it with his gun, he was so close that he 

 dared not fire, lest the bird should be shattered to pieces, and he was obliged to make 

 it take wing, and then shot. — J. J. Briggs ; Kings Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire. 



Occurrence of the Shag or Green Cormorant (Phalocrocorax graculus) at Oxford. 

 — A fine specimen of this bird was shot lately in the immediate neighbourhood of Ox- 

 ford by a poor man, from whom it was purchased by Charles Coar, Esq., and presented 

 by him to the Ashmolean Museum. As I see by Yarrell that this bird, " it is said, 

 never quits the salt water to follow the course of a river," perhaps a notice of its occur- 

 rence at some sixty miles from the sea, may not be uninteresting to your ornithologi- 

 cal readers. — A. W. Norman ; Christ Church, Oxford. 



Occurrence of the Fork-tailed Petrel (Thalassidtoma Leachii) at Blenheim Parle, 

 Oxfordshire. — A specimen of the fork-tailed petrel, an occasional though unwilling 

 visitant, was found dead this last winter in Blenheim Park, and is now in the Ashmo- 

 lean Museum. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Gemmeous Dragonet near Gamrie. — " The gemmeous dragonet 

 (Callionymus lyra, Linn.)," says Mr. Yarrell, " is not a common fish on our coasts ; 

 and according to my own observation is much more rare than the sordid dragonet." 

 Within the last fifteen months not fewer than eight specimens of the former, called 

 here the bridegroom, have been caught off the fishing stations in this parish ; and dur- 

 ing double that space of time I have been able to ascertain the capture of only two ex- 

 amples of the latter. With one exception, a sordid dragonet, they were all taken with 

 lines. As bearing on a question of species, I may add, that a gemmeous dragonet in 

 my possession contains a roe, which remains in situ in the specimen. " The Prince 

 of Musignano, in his ' Fauna Italica,' has figured the female of the same colour as the 

 male, but without the elongation of the fin-rays." In the present example the elon- 

 gation is complete. — Geo. Harris; Manse of Gamrie, Banffshire, April, 1851. 



The Bib, or Whiting Pout (Morrlma lusca, Flem.) — Of this fish several specimens 

 bare been brought to me within the last three months, varying in length, from six to 

 fourteen inches. — Id. 



Tin- Spoiled Gunnel or Butter -fish, (Mur.Tiioides guttata, Lac6p.) — This common 



ies is the only one I have yet met with, in which I have had any difficulty in the 



