4514 Entomological Society. 



the surface of the sea, and lie with the upper part of his head back, from which a fin 

 protruded (about two feet long), and the upper part of his singular tail out of water. 

 After waiting perhaps a couple of minutes, a fish would catch his eye, and away he 

 scudded after it with remarkable rapidity, leaving a track of white foam to mark the 

 course which he had taken : then he was invisible for a few minutes ; again appeared 

 and exhibited the same actions. That he was not a specimen of the common shark 

 or any of the larger common marine fishes (most of which I had seen) I felt certain, 

 and, after a minute search in YarrelPs ' British Fishes,' I discovered that he resem- 

 bled only one figure, viz., that of the fox shark, and I have no doubt that he was a 

 specimen of this rare and singular fish. On the Scarborough coast herrings were un- 

 usually numerous about that period, and probably he was induced to venture so near 

 the shore in pursuit of this his favourite food. Our boatman had been a fisherman 

 from his youth, and had taken some curious fishes, but he had never seen a similar 

 fish in any of his voyages. Mr. Yarrell, upon the authority of Mr. Couch, says, " It 

 is not uncommon for one of these animals to approach a herd of dolphins that may 

 be sporting in unsuspicious security, and by one splash of his tail on the water put 

 them all to flight, like so many hares before a hound." It appears, from that author's 

 account, that very few have been seen or taken off the shores of this country. — John 

 Joseph Briggs ; Kingh Newton, Derbyshire, October 6, 1854. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Entomological Society. 

 October 2, 1854. — Edward Newman, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Donations. 



The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the 

 donors: — 'Memoires Couronnes et Memoires des Savants Etrangers,' tome xxv. ; 

 1 Bulletins de I'Academie Royale des Sciences et des Beaux Arts de Belgique,' tome 

 xx. 3me partie, tome xxi. Ire partie ; ' Annexe aux Bulletins,' 1853 — 1854 ; • Annuaire 

 de I'Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux Arts de Belgique,' 1854 ; 

 all presented by the Academy. Zuchold's ' Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis, Vierter 

 Jahrgang, 1 Heft. January to June, 1854; by the Author. Guerin's 'Revue et 

 Magasin de Zoologie,' 1854, No. 8 ; by the Editor. ' Proceedings of the Royal 

 Society,' vol. vii. No. 6 ; by the Society. The ' Literary Gazette ' for September ; by 

 the Editor. The ' Athenaeum' for September; by the Editor. The ' Journal of the 

 Society of Arts ' for September; by the Society. The 'Zoologist' for October; by the 

 Editor. ' Annales des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles d'Agriculture et d'Industrie,' 

 tomes iv. and v. ; by la Societe Imperiale d'Agriculture &c. de Lyon. ' Memoires de 

 I'Academie Imperiale des Sciences, Belles-Lettres et Arts de Lyon;' ' Classe des 

 Lettres, nouvelle Serie,' tome 2me ; by the Society. ' Annales de la Societe Linueenne 

 de Lyon,' nouvelle Serie, tome Ire ; by the Society. ' Opuscules Entomologiques,' par 

 E. Mulsant, cahiers 2, 3 and 4 ; by the Author. ' Melanges Entomologiques,' par B. 



