6540 



Fishes. 



two districts mentioned by him in the above extracts, being about 

 thirteen miles from each. Should any of the readers of the Zoologist' 

 wish to visit the spot, I beg to refer them for further particulars (as I 

 myself shall most likely be abroad most of the summer) to Mr. T. 

 Southwell, of Hempton, near Fakenham, who, I doubt not, will 

 willingly furnish them with the information necessary to re-discover 

 it. If they find it inhabited, I only trust they will be careful not to 

 diminish the number of the colonists too much, and that they will 

 record in the pages of this magazine their observations on the present 

 condition of the settlement, of which I have no knowledge whatever, 

 never having re-visited the locality. 



How far the facts above related will serve to answer the inquiry 

 propounded nearly twelve years since by Mr. J. Wolley (Zool. 1821) 

 " Is the Edible Frog a true Native of Britain ? n 1 do not presume to 

 say, but 1 will merely draw attention to one point, namely, that, as 

 appears from Mr. Berney's letter, upwards of 1500 edible frogs, besides 

 spawn, had been, by him alone, imported into the east of England, 

 some of them six years and all more than a whole year, before Mr. C. 

 Thurnall's discovery of the species, in September, 1843, at Foulmire 

 fen in Cambridgeshire (Zool. 393). 



Alfred Newton. 



Elveden Hall, Thetford. 

 April 5, 1859. 



A Beautiful Gurnard. — When trawling in the Dee for shrimps, &c, I have 

 frequently taken a small gurnard of very beautiful appearance. It is generally from 

 four to six inches in length, and the body is of a pale reddish colour. When held in 

 the hand there is nothing remarkable to be observed about it, but if placed alive in a 

 tub of water a wonderful change comes over it. The large pectoral tins previously 

 folded up are now spread widely out, and display a border of the most brilliant tur- 

 quoise blue. There is also a large black patch on the upper surface of the tin which 

 is studded with spots of the same colour. Altogether it reminds one forcibly of a 

 butterfly, more especially of a South American species which is similarly studded with 

 blue spots. Were it not for the spots being blue instead of white, I should almost 

 imagine it to be the little gurnard (Trigla pceciloptera) of Yarrell, which from his 

 description seems to be taken in the same sort of situations. Perhaps some of your 

 readers may be able to enlighten me on the subject. I may add that it seems to do 

 pretty well in confinement, and I cannot imagine a more beautiful fish for the aquarium. 

 Alfred O. Walker; Chester, March 29, 1859. 



[Is not this the young of the Sapphirine gurnard, so remarkable for its beautifully 

 blue pectorals? — Edward Newman]. 



The Shower of Fishes. — You ask if some of your correspondents will enlighten you 

 on the subject of " The Shower of Fishes in the Valley of Aberdare :" I have seen the 



