272 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
on the increase, except for a few weeks in the depth of winter being 
resident, and nests comparatively freely in the meadows, where a few 
years ago it was quite unknown. I was told, on their first arrival 
this year in the early spring, a group of more than thirty birds was 
seen flying up the valley. They nest near: Fordingbridge, and I have 
known specimens to be killed on the heath-lands as far west as 
Verwood in Dorsetshire, and I am not at all sure of the limit of its 
western range. On this point our friends in Dorset may speak more 
freely. In 1911 the Little Owl reared broods in at least two localities 
a few miles apart, but I think most of the birds have since been shot. 
—G. B. Corin (Ringwood, Hants). 
CRUSTACEA. 
What is the Maximum Weight of the Edible Crab ?—It has been 
stated in print (the reference to which I cannot at present remember), 
and frequently alleged, that on the Cornish coast Cancer pagurus has 
been known to attain the weight of 20 lb. The late Thomas Cornish, 
in these columns (Zool. 1881, p. 214), stated that a huge Crab was 
brought to his house at Penzance, when he was absent, which was 
stated to have turned the scale at 16 lb., and he believed that this 
record was a true one. During a recent visit to Penzance I endea- 
voured to substantiate these statements, but without success. The 
first man I interrogated, a catcher and purveyor of Crabs, told me 
without any hesitation that he had handled a ‘cock-crab.” which 
weighed 23 lb.!| Another man, who seemed more cautious, assured 
me he had once seen a Crab weighed at 20 1b. I then had recourse 
to the kind assistance of the editor of the ‘ Cornishman,’ who under- 
took the inquiry, and as a result the following paragraph appeared in 
his paper (June 20th last):—‘“The largest Crab caught on the 
Cornish coast of which we have the recorded weight turned the 
scales at 94 lb. An 8 lb. Crab, however, is a large specimen.” I 
subsequently consulted our well-known contributor, Mr. A. Patterson, 
of Yarmouth, as to recorded weights on the east coast, and received 
the following reply:—‘‘I have overhauled several folk and several 
stalls, and can only learn that 5 lb. is a big Crab—a very big one, 
possibly 53 lb. to 6 lb., may be a record.’’—W. L. Distant. 
Since this was written I have learned that a Crab was caught at 
Brixham, Devon, on Oct. 20th last, which weighed 12 Ib., and is now 
in the Hull Museum. I have the authority of Mr. T. Sheppard, the 
Curator of that institution, that the statement is correct.—(W. L. D.) 
