114 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



some specimens of both species at the Natural History Museum, South 

 Kensington, I at once recognized the Sand-Lizard as similar to the 

 ones I obtained. — Michael J. Nicoll (10, Charles Eoad, St. Leonards). 



PISCES. 



The Saw-fish (Pristis antiquorum) in British Waters. — In the 

 notice of my " Notes and Letters of Sir Thomas Browne" (ante, p. 79), 

 the writer, after quoting the statement by Browne that a " sword fish 

 or Xiphias or Gladius " was taken " intangled in the Herring netts at 

 yarmouth," adds on my authority that this " appears to be the only 

 authentic record of this southern species in British waters," which is 

 far from being the case. The note in which the above statement 

 occurs does not refer to this species, but to the Saw-fish (Pristis anti- 

 quorum), respecting which Browne writes: — "A pristes or serra saw- 

 fish taken about Lynne comonly mistaken for a sword-fish and answers 

 the figure in Rondeletius " ('Notes,' p. 36); then follows the account 

 of the Sword-fish in a separate paragraph. In my footnote to Pristis 

 antiquorum I say that, " so far as I am aware, Browne's is the only 

 record of the occurrence of this southern species in British waters, 

 with the exception of a note in Fleming's ' British Animals ' (p. 164), 

 where it is stated, on the authority of the late Dr. Walker's MS. 

 ' Adversaria ' for 1769, that Pristis antiquorum " is found sometimes in 

 Loch Long " ; but Fleming adds that he has " met with no other proof 

 of its ever having visited the British shores." Any further informa- 

 tion with regard to this species as a British fish would be gladly 

 received. — Thomas Southwell (Norwich). 



[Mr. Southwell is quite justified in his correction, " Sword-fish " 

 having accidentally been substituted for " Saw-fish " in the notice 

 referred to. However, although the Sword-fish is undoubtedly some- 

 times taken in British waters, it still seems doubtful whether Browne's 

 record of the Saw-fish will be generally accepted. Mr. Boulenger — 

 with whom I recently discussed the question — certainly did not believe 

 the fish had ever reached our shores. — Ed.] 



