Specimens of the Top-knot, &c. 



139 



were carefully kept in glass-houses. He also made some remarks in 

 support of the recent German theories against the generally received 

 opinions of the igneous origin of granite, and in favour of its aqueous 

 origin. 



VII. (1.) Dr John Alex. Smith exhibited a Specimen of Block's Top- 

 knot (?) (Pleuronectes punctatus, Bloch), taken near North Berwick ; 

 and of the JEquoreal Pipe-fish (Nero phis aequoreus, Kaup.) from the 

 Coast of the Isle of May. 



The specimen of this small flat fish of the genus Rhombus of Yarrell 

 was sent to Edinburgh by Sir Hugh Dalrymple. It was taken in the be- 

 ginning of August last, near North Berwick. Two species of this genus 

 have been described as closely resembling one another, — the Rhombus 

 hirtus, or Muller's Top-knot (Yarrell); and the R. punctatus, or Bloch's 

 Top-knot (Yarrell). But, unfortunately, the fins of this fish not being per- 

 fect made it difficult to decide to which of these so-called species it belonged * 

 The upper surface, the left, and brown-coloured side of the fish was very 

 rough, and the under surface was white, and also rough, though in a less 

 degree ; with the exception of the under side of the head, which was smooth. 

 Muller's Top-knot was described as being perfectly smooth on the under 

 surface, whereas Bloch's fish was rough ; if this was a correct distinction, 

 it would identify the specimen as being not Muller's but Bloch's Top -knot, 

 which, as far as he was aware, had not before been observed in our 

 neighbouring seas. Muller's fish was also rare ; but specimens had been 

 obtained at distant intervals in the Firth, especially towards its mouth. 

 This fish measured about eight and a half inches long, by about five 

 inches across, including the fins. 



Dr Smith also exhibited a specimen of the iEquoreal Pipe-fish, 

 Syngnaihus or Nerophis wquoreus (Kaup), measuring twenty inches 

 in length. It was taken about three weeks ago among the long weed 

 on the coast of the Isle of May. The dorsal fin, the only fin this 

 species has, was about two and a half inches in length, and terminated 

 nearly in the middle of the length of the fish, the vent being in a 

 line with the beginning of the last fourth of the fin. It is of rare 

 occurrence in our seas. Dr Parnell says, "this fish was first recorded 

 as British by Sir R. Sibbald in 1685, who obtained a specimen in 

 the Firth of Forth. No other instance of its occurrence in that locality 

 has since been noticed. It is one of the rarest of our British fishes." Dr 

 Kaup says, " This species has till now been found only on the south-west 

 coast of Scotland, in Ireland, the Isle of Man, at Havre, and in Norway." 

 He was indebted for the fish to Mr John Anderson of the Royal Em- 

 porium, George Street ; and he had the pleasure of presenting it to the 

 Museum of the University. His friend Dr M'Bain had in his possession 

 an imperfect specimen taken from the stomach of a cod, which was pur- 

 chased in Edinburgh. 



(2.) Dr John Alexander Smith exhibited Specimens of the Stoat (Mustela 

 erminea) ; the Ruff (Tringa pugnax) ; the Shoveller (Anas clypeata) ; 

 and the Young of the Black Scoter (Oidemia nigra). 



Messrs John Dickson & Son, gunmakers, Prince's Street, had sent 

 for exhibition two specimens of the stoat or ermine (Mustela erminea, 



* Sir John Richardson since the date of this meeting, has kindly informed 

 Dr J. A. S. that he is "not convinced of the two species being distinct, and 

 the ' Skandinaviens Fiskar' contains a fine figure of an intermediate form : 

 all three are probably slight varieties." 



