Birds — Fishes. 5065 



Occurrence of the Sclavonian Grebe (Podiceps cornutus) in Devonshire. — On the 

 22nd of January last I visited that most interesting locality for an ornithologist, 

 Slapton Lea, near Dartmouth, and saw a specimen of the dusky or Sclavonian grebe, 

 which had been shot on the Lea on the previous day. — W. S. M. D Urban; Newport, 

 near Exeter, February 5, 1856. 



Occurrence of the Little Gull and Common Skua on the Exe. — On the 28th of De- 

 cember last, the man Hall, who killed the avocet in September (Zool. 4895), shot a 

 specimen of the little gull (Larus minutus), and the next day an immature example 

 of the common skua {Lestris catarractes), which had just struck down and was making 

 a meal off a blackheaded gull, and was so intently occupied on it as to allow him to 

 approach quite close before he fired. Both birds were killed on the Exe, below Top- 

 sham, and are very rare on this river. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Storm Petrel (Thalassidroma pelagica) at Newmarket and near 

 Cambridge. — A fine specimen of the storm petrel was picked up in the street of New- 

 market, in a very exhausted state, on the 2nd of November; and on the following day 

 another was found dead at Bottisham, near Cambridge : they are now in the possession 

 of Mr. Savell, naturalist, Cambridge. — A. Fuller; St. Johns College, Cambridge, 

 February, 1856. 



Another supposed New Flounder. — I beg to hand you some account of a flounder 

 which has lately come under my notice, it having been taken out of the stomach of 

 a cod. 



Extreme length 2f inches. 



„ breadth, fin rays included, 1£ inch. 

 Length of caudal rays, £ ths of an inch. 

 „ pectorals, f ths of an inch. 



„ head, rather more than j of an inch. 



The dorsal commences in advance of the upper eye, and runs down until it nearly 

 reaches the caudal : ventrals very small : the anal, which begins exactly below the gill- 

 cover, and has the appearance of being joined to the ventral, ends posteriorly in the 

 same manner as the dorsal : all the fins are ragged, and partially denuded of mem- 

 brane : the eyes are even ; I cannot find that either is in advance of the other ; they 

 seem to be of three colours, first a dark blue, then brown, and the centre or pupil deep 

 black: the scales, a few only of which remain, are not large, and appear to have been 

 very deciduous: lateral line straight: mouth armed in both jaws with numerous 

 sharp-pointed teeth : eyes, &c, on the left side. The upper side is of a pale flesh- 

 colour mixed with horn-colour; the underside is unfortunately gone, but seems to 

 have been whitish : the thickness is about that of four common wafers, and it is almost 

 transparent. At regular distances, on the extreme edge of the dorsal and anal fins, 

 are seven black spots, very conspicuous when fresh, and distinctly visible now the fish 

 is dried. Now what is this fluke? a variety of Rhombus arnoglossus? or a specimen 

 of R, candidissiraus of Risso? or a new species? I have never seen a specimen of 

 Pleuronectes diaphanus, which is synonymous with R. candidissimus, but from what 

 I have heard I think it comes nearest to that species. In case it proves that species it 

 XIV. T 



