NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 119 
theca extends along the abdomen to within three inches of the 
umbilicus, and has no pendant prepuce, almost precisely as is ob- 
served in the Bos family. In the three smaller species named the 
theca is suspended from a point so near the scrotum that when 
the animal is standing it occupies a vertical position within, half 
an inch of it, the posterior measurement of which is three to four 
inches, anterior measurement half that length. The lower half 
may be described as an exaggerated prepuce, which is ‘entirely 
wanting in the elk. In this regard but little difference is observed 
in the three smaller species. 
It would be interesting to know to which of these species the 
moose (C. alces) most conforms in this particular, and I hope that 
you, or séme of your correspondents will be able to inform us. — 
J. D. Caton, Ottawa, Ill., Nov., 1870. 
Occurrence or Krttanp’s Own Ix Mame. — A characteristic 
specimen of the Nyctale albifrons Cassin, was shot at Norway, 
Me., September 14th, by Mr. Clarence M. Smith, and by him 
presented to the museum of Yale College. It has not been hith- 
erto recorded from New England. So far as known to me, the 
specimen taken at Racine, Wis., by Dr. Hoy, is the only one pre- 
viously recorded from the United States. Prof. Baird mentioned 
another specimen collected by Dr. A. Hall, near Montreal, and in 
a recent number of the “Canadian Naturalist” (vol. v, P- 103) a 
specimen is recorded as obtained near Quebec, by Rev. D. Ander- 
son. The early date would indicate that the specimen taken at 
Norway was resident there, as it was before the southward migra- 
tion had commenced. In a recent letter Prof. Baird expresses 
doubt whether the albifrons may not prove to be the young of N. 
Acadica. But if so, it is singular that the young of the latter has 
not oftener been observed in localities where it is eommon, as in 
many parts of New England. This question is well worthy of 
thorough investigation. — A. E. VERRILL. 
SPAWNING- or THE CapELin.—The Capelin (Mallotus villosus), 
an inhabitant of the northern seas of the Atlantic coast of Amer- 
ica, is well known as a bait for cod-fish. It visits the shores dur- 
ing August and September, for the purpose of spawning, when it 
is so abundant as to darken the sea for miles. There me ERT 
peculiarities abont the method of its spawning ; the females, on 
approaching the beach, being attended by two males, who hol 
