396 



Miscellaneous. 



began to doubt its possibility. Since my return to Europe I have 

 perused Spix and Martius's Reise in Brazilien, and it is there stated 

 (vol. iii. p. 956,) that a similar report exists in Para; and this is 

 given upon the authority of an eye-witness, a Dr. Lacerda. The 

 fish was described to me to be about half an inch in length, and to 

 be gregarious. MM. Spix and Martius consider it to be a species 

 of Cetopsis. — Schomburgk's MSS. 



[We trust that Mr. Schomburgk will make this one of his desiderata 

 in " inquiry," as soon as he can, on returning to Guiana, and will en- 

 deavour to send specimens of the animal to Europe. Is it a fish ? — 

 Ed.] 



Aquilegia vulgaris. — The Scotch habitats for this plant are gene- 

 rally of suspicious character, near to some old mansion or garden. 

 On the rugged banks of the Garple, a small mountain stream, a tri- 

 butary to the Evan water in Annandale, Dumfries-shire, " far in a 

 wild," and removed from horticulture, the Aquilegia was noticed 

 many years since ; and on revisiting the station in October last, in 

 company with Mr. C. Babington and Dr. Lankester, it was again 

 discovered in considerable abundance, growing from the crevices of 

 dripping rocks, in company with Rubus saxatilis and Hymenophyllum 

 Wilsoni, but confined to a space not exceeding forty yards in 

 extent. — W. J. 



Mr. Gutch has sent us the following corrections and additions to 

 his communication in p. 236. The latter are from particulars fur- 

 nished to him by Mr. Dillwyn : — 



No. 7, Somerset Place, Stoke. 



The Stints were shot on Tuesday, October the 6th, on the muddy 

 and sandy bed of the river Plym, in this neighbourhood, about low 

 water : on the 9th we again visited the same spot, and saw but two ; 

 on the 10th we again went, not meeting with even one specimen, 

 and on subsequent visits have equally failed. I presume, therefore, 

 that they have migrated. 



Jan. 3. — A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Picus minor, in a wood 

 at Ynysygerwn, by L. L. Dillwyn, Esq. A Gannet (Sulci Bassana), 

 caught when floating on the water at the entrance to Port Talbot. 



Feb. 16. — After a heavy storm myriads of the Medusa Velella were 

 cast on the shore between Swansea and the Mumbles. 



April 7. — A Hoopoe (Upupa Epops), shot by L. L. Dillwyn, Esq., 

 on his lawn in front of Burrows Lodge. 



July 1. — A male Torpedo (Raia Torpedo), caught in one of the 

 Swansea wiers, and purchased whilst still alive by L. L. Dillwyn, 

 Esq. ; it died in a few hours : when alive the length of it was 411 

 inches ; greatest breadth 29 \ ; breadth of the caudal fin at its ex- 

 tremity 9 inches, and the weight about 45 pounds. 



July 29. — The Sting Ray (Raia Pastinaca), taken in a sein-net 

 between Swansea and the Mumbles, weighing about 381bs. 



Aug. — Another specimen of the Hoopoe, shot at St. Helens, near 

 Swansea. 



The former existence of Glaciers in Scotland. — The late visit of 

 M. Agassiz to Scotland during the meeting of the British Associa- 



