Fishes. 393 



of eating " the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt, 

 and the water-newt ; " thus showing that distinctions, existing even 

 among these amphibious creatures, did not escape the observant and 

 discriminating eye of Shakspeare. The only species of newt (Lisso- 

 triton punctata*) common in the north of Ireland, is there well 

 known by the name of " Mankeeper," and is an object of apprehen- 

 sion to the uneducated, from the idea that it is prone to jump down 

 the throat of any one whom it may find sleeping ! 



Pliny informs us that " the Salamander is able to destroy whole 

 nations at one time, if they take not heed and provide to prevent 

 them."* Such an opinion of its malignant powers was most probably 

 never at any time current in these countries, for on this point Shaks- 

 peare is altogether silent ; and the only mention of the creature oc- 

 curs where Falstaff, addressing Bardolph, says, with reference to the 

 nose of that worthy, — 



" I have maintained that Salamander of yours with fire any time this two-and- 

 thirty years." — \st part K. Henry VI. Act iii. Scene iii. 



Belfast, September, 1843. R. PATTERSON. 



Note on the occurrence of the edible Frog in Cambridgeshire. I have the pleasure 

 of recording in * The Zoologist,' the capture of the edible frog (Rana esculenta, Linn.) 

 for the first time I believe in this country. Two specimens were taken by my friend, 

 C. Thurnall, Esq., of Duxford, in Foulmire fen, Cambridgeshire, in September last. 

 They are now in the British Museum, J. E. Gray, Esq., the curator, having kindly 

 determined the species for me. There is a beautiful figure of this frog in Bell's ' Bri- 

 tish Reptiles,' p. 104, taken from a foreign specimen. — Fred. Bond; Kingsbury, No- 

 vember 23, 1843. 



[I should be much obliged fur a drawing and detailed description of this interest- 

 ing addition to our British Vertebrata. — E. iV.] 



Account of a species of Sea Bream new to the British Fauna, and 

 perhaps hitherto undescribed. By Jonathan Couch, Esq., F.L.S. 



On the 2nd of September, 1843, a fisherman took with one of his 

 ordinary baits, a sea-bream, which he presently discerned never before 

 to have fallen under his notice ; and in consequence it was transfer- 

 red to my possession as soon as he reached the land, which was be- 

 fore sufficient time had elapsed to allow it to undergo any change. 

 Its length was I foot 2 inches, the greatest depth 9 J inches, and, in 



* Book 29, p. 358. 



