NOTES AND QUERIES. 509 
Another reported from Lowestoft on Nov. 7th; length, 14 ft. din. A 
Sunfish, undoubtedly the Short Sunfish (Orthagoriscus mola), reported as 
taken into Lowestoft on Sept. 14th. A Porbeagle Shark (Lamna cornubica), 
length 7 ft., on the fish-wharf, Oct. 4th ; one, 8 ft. long (which I did not 
see), was landed on Sept. 28th. This species is more often taken than its 
commoner relative, the Blue Shark (Carcharias glaucus), which was at one 
time the commoner species. Of C.glaucus I have not seen an example 
this season. The largest Mackerel of which I have any local record was 
brought in on Oct. 21st; length 213 in., girth 12 in., weight 3 lb. 7 oz.. 
This exceeds my previous record of one in November, 1881, measuring 
20 in. long, 104 in. in girth, and weighing 23 lb.—A. Patterson (273, 
Southtown, Great Yarmouth). / 
DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES. 
Involuntary Migration.—During a recent visit to the Cape on board 
the mail steamship ‘ Norham Castle,’ I witnessed an instance of this not 
uncommon, but too little recorded, occurrence. On Sept. 9th, when in 
about lat. 22° N., and at about a distance of ninety miles from the coast of 
North Africa, we encountered a wind blowing from the shore, and bringing 
fine sand, which afterwards blew from the opposite quarter, still charged 
with sand, as proved by the opposite sides of objects on deck being alike 
dusted. Numerous birds visited the ship, such as a couple of Hoopoes, two 
Yellow Wagtails, a Dove, Chat, Warblers, and other species. All these 
birds were weary, and frequently alighted on the booms, unalarmed by the 
presence of the many passengers on deck. They were likewise in a 
famished condition, as proved by a small moth which also flew on board 
being instantly seized by a Chat, who carried it to a boom and methodically 
devoured it. Again, in the evening, a Warbler was chased and struck down 
almost at my feet by another bird—unidentified—under the awnings of 
the upper deck, and in the full glare of the electric light; the attack and 
retreat of the bold marauder being almost instantaneous, but in the 
presence of the occupiers of many deck-chairs. In the evening I captured 
Dragonflies in the saloon, and a small bug belonging to the Capsidea. 
These birds must have been blown from the shore, and as we were only 
a spot on the area over which the wind blew, it may well be imagined that 
a considerable loss in avian life must have ensued. In the morning all had 
disappeared. On the voyage home, on board the ‘ Dunvegan Castle,’ I saw 
a fine Coly which had been captured on board during a similar enforced 
exodus, and which had lived some considerable time in a cage, and was in 
splendid condition.—Ep. 
Zool. 4th ser. vol. II., December, 1898. 2N 
