Reptiles — Fishes 4705 



Occurrence of the Iceland Gull and other Scarce Birds in the Neighbourhood of 

 Plymouth. — The Iceland gull (Larus leucopterus) was killed by the Rev. R. A. Julian, 

 January 30th, on the Laira. This species is far less frequent with us than Larus 

 glaucus; indeed, the only other specimen I know of, obtained in this locality is in the 

 collection of Dr. Moore of Plymouth, where it has been for many years. During the 

 late severe weather some fine examples of the gadwall, goosander and smew have been 

 obtained, also many bitterns. The cold appears to have had great effect upon the 

 common heron, from the unusual quantity received for preservation by the taxider- 

 mists of Plymouth.— John Gatcombe ; Wyndham Place, Plymouth, March 10,1855. 



Insensibility of Reptiles to Poisons. — In the ' Zoologist' a short time ago I met with 

 an observation, which I cannot now put ray hand upon, respecting the insensibility of 

 reptiles to strong poisons. This reminded me that some years ago, when I used prussic 

 acid in killing insects, I endeavoured by its means to destroy a common water newt; 

 but, though several strong doses were administered, no effect seemed produced on the 

 reptile. The acid was Scheele's, and kept well corked. — George Guyon ; Richmond, 

 Surrey, April 9, 1855. 



An unnoticed character in the structure of the Fishing Frog or Angler. — On the 14th 

 of April I obtained a very fine specimen of the angler (Lophius piscatorius), which was 

 on the same day forwarded alive to the Gardens of the Zoological Society. It was 

 taken on the ebbing of the tide at 8 a.m., and was kept in a pool of water until 3 p.m., 

 at which hour it was packed and dispatched. I would draw the attention of natu- 

 ralists to a fact lhave not seen hitherto mentioned, which is this ; when looking down 

 on the fish, the whole of the outline of the head and also the body carries little leaflets 

 which are in constant motion. In all the drawings I have seen appendages only ap- 

 pear around the anterior part of the head, and these are represented as cirrhi. This is 

 not the case ; the appendages are carried round the body quite to the commencement of 

 the caudal, and do not differ from each other, excepting in size ; these are mostly fths of 

 an inch in length, nearly flat, and all shaped like an oak-leaf; they are very regular 

 in their shape : these are, doubtless, from their constant motion, used to entice prey. — 

 William Thompson ; Weymouth, April 22, 1855. 



Curious Habit of the F ringed-lipped Lamprey. — My friend Mr. Coombs, the Mayor 

 of Dorchester, has lately found the fringed-lipped lamprey (Petromyzon Planeri) 

 in great quantities in the river Frome, close to Dorchester. I had noticed two about a 

 fortnight since, and was much amused at their proceedings : they were in a small 

 rivulet near the County Gaol : I watched them for nearly an hour, during which time 

 they were constantly employed in removing stones, and this evidently in their search 

 for food. Their mode of proceeding was to attach themselves to the stone, and then 

 by wriggling their bodies to detach it from its bed, and then, making a spring for about 

 eighteen inches, they dropped the stone ; they never made a second dart with the same 

 stone : on dropping the stone, they immediately returned to the spot from which they 

 had taken it and nozzled for some time in the mud and sand, leaving me to infer they 

 were searching for food : they certainly were not making a nest, as they never dropped 



