230 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



shown (p. 10), was founded upon a mistake in the identification of the 

 species. In Dr. M. C. Cooke's little volume, ' Our Reptiles,' C. austriaca 

 is described as British, and a coloured figure is given of the species from 

 a specimen obtained in Hampshire. — J. E. Harting. 



fishes. 



Blind Gudgeon. — In a small pond near Scarborough are to be found 

 great numbers of Gudgeon, Gobius fluviatilis ; nice, well-fed little fish, 

 perhaps somewhat under-sized, but almost all of them blind. This 

 peculiarity has puzzled me for a long time, as it is not odd fish which 

 are thus afflicted, but about ten out of every dozen examined. I have also 

 been struck with a peculiarity in the pond — that even in the hottest and 

 driest period of last year the water did not dry up or diminish to any per- 

 ceptible degree. On causing enquiry to be made, I am informed that a 

 subterranean lake exists, having an outlet into the pond, which thus always 

 maintains the same level, independent of climatic changes. It has been 

 suggested to me that possibly the Gudgeon inhabiting the pond may have 

 been bred in the subterranean lake, which would probably in the course of 

 generations lead to the loss of sight, the fish then finding their way upwards 

 into the pond. I should be glad to know if this is a probable explanation, 

 and if so, what food-supply would the fish find underground ? I would add 

 that numbers of Newts inhabit the pond, all of which appear to possess full 

 powers of vision. — William J. Clarke (44, Huutriss Row, Scarborough). 



Sapphirine Gurnard in the Solway Firth.— The Sapphirine Gurnard, 

 Trigla hirundo, Linn., may now be added to the fauna of the Solway Firth, 

 for several specimens have been taken in our waters this spring. The 

 largest that has hitherto come under my notice was a female fish weighing 

 3f lbs. It was caught on the Firth on May 19th, and proved to be full of 

 roe. The maturity of the specimen was further evidenced, as we ascertained 

 on dissection, by the form of the air-bladder. I had some reason pre- 

 viously to suppose this species visited our waters, but had not obtained 

 any specimens. — H. A. Macpherson (Carlisle). 



[We are not surprised to hear of the occurrence of this fish in the 

 Solway Firth, for although not so plentiful as the Red Gurnard, Trigla 

 cuculus, it is to be found all round the British coasts, and is widely 

 distributed, being known from Norway to the Mediterranean. — Ed.] 



The Bergylt, Sebastes norvegicus, on the Norfolk Coast.— Mr. A. 

 Patterson sent me a beautiful specimen of this pretty fish, for the Norwich 

 Museum, measuring 5f inches in length, which had been taken off 

 Yarmouth, in a shrimp-net, on April 29th. I am not aware that this fish 

 has been recognised as occurring on the Norfolk coast previously, and as 

 it is believed to be an inhabitant generally of " rocky bays, where the 



