1462 Cetacea. 



Hybrids between the Lion and Tigress. — I have just received a letter from Norwich, 

 where one of my menageries is now open, stating, that one of the tigresses yesterday 

 Drought forth a litter of four cubs, whose sire is a descendant of the old lion Wallace. 

 This is the second instance of such an extraordinary cross-breed ever taking place, al- 

 though I have had lions and tigers living together in harmony many years ; indeed it 

 is twenty years since such a birth has occurred, and by most naturalists it has been 

 deemed an impossibility, and certainly is as rare as it is curious. — George Wombwell ; 

 39, North Street, Pentonville, Jan. 9th, 1746. [From the Times newspaper]. 



Weasels hunting in packs. — The following remarkable anecdote was communicated 

 to me by Mr. W. Withington, Curator to the Fairfield Mechanics' Institute. A game- 

 keeper in the employ of Mr. Hume, of Medlock Vale, whilst taking an early stroll in 

 the woods that border on the river, saw a hare pass near him, apparently much 

 fatigued with long running. He stood on the watch, expecting to find some poach- 

 er's dog in pursuit, and soon heard a faint cry or yelping which could not proceed 

 from dogs. A large pack of weasels then came in view, in full cry after the hare, 

 which they must soon have overtaken, as it was already exhausted. The chase was, 

 however, stopped by the gamekeeper discharging both barrels into the midst of the 

 weasels, when according to his own, probably heightened account, seventeen remained 

 dead, and the rest dispersed. I might add, that weasels are exceedingly plentiful 

 along the Medlock. — J. W. Slater ; Fairfield. 



On some Whales stranded on the Belgian Coast. 

 By M. Julian Deby. 



Delphinorhynchus micropterus, Cuv. 



Believing that every fact connected with the knowledge of the 

 Cetacea, however trifling it may be, or appear to be, is worth record- 

 ing, and having paid some attention to this branch of Natural His- 

 tory, I have thought a few papers on those species which I have per- 

 sonally observed might be agreeable to naturalists in general, and 

 have collected accordingly all the information I could about them 

 for insertion in the c Zoologist,' beginning with the one commonly 

 known as the " Toothless Whale of Havre."* 



History. Only three instances, are, I believe, recorded of the 

 appearance of this very rare species ; one was stranded on the 

 9th of September, 18*25, at Havre, in France, the second on the 

 21st of August, 1835, near the port of Ostend, on the Belgian 

 coast, and the last on the 23rd of September, 1841, on the shores 

 of the Island of Scilly. All descriptions of it before 1836 were 



• I must again beg the greatest indulgence of my readers in favour of my 

 English. 



