256 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



earlier age, which the progress of palaeontology may yet 

 demonstrate to have a closer affinity to the Devonian than 

 the true Carboniferous system. 



IV. On the Occurrence of the Argentine, Anchovy, and other Fishes, on 

 the Coast of Caithness ; with a Note on the Termination of the Vertebral 

 Column in the Tails of the Salmon tribe. By Charles W. Peach, 

 Esq., Wick. 



(Muller's Topknot was exhibited, and also specimens of 

 the tails of salmon, smolt, and trout, showing the upward 

 terminal turn of the vertebral column.) 



1. Scopelus Humboldtii. (Cuvier.) The Argentine. 

 A fine specimen of this really handsome little fish was 

 picked up on Shaltigo beach, Wick, on the 15th January 

 last, by Mr William M'Leod, pilot. He had kept it in his 

 pocket for a day or two before giving it to me, and shown it 

 to many as the young of the herring. It is somewhat in- 

 jured in the fins by the handling, but, on the whole, is in 

 pretty good condition. The spots on the lower part of the 

 body are very distinct ; the row above these not so clear ; 

 those on the head and gills perfect. Its length about If 

 inch, depth nearly half an inch. When examining it to 

 observe the fins, a great deal of oil oozed out of it, covering 

 large spaces on my fingers. In the second edition of Yar- 

 relFs " British Fishes " 1851, pp. 161 to 168, I find that it 

 has been taken at Orkney, Firth of Forth, Yorkshire, and 

 Devonshire, also in the Mediterranean ; and, although not 

 abundant, it has a wide range. The dates of its capture are 

 recorded in Yarrell — viz., " Firth of Forth, April 1833 ; 

 Bedcar, May and March 1841 ; " now, in Caithness in Jan- 

 uary 1861. Thus it has been taken in the British islands, 

 from midwinter to near midsummer. Mr Couch of Polperro, 

 Cornwall, informs me that he has had four specimens sent 

 him from a gentleman in Somersetshire, which he intends 

 to publish coloured figures of in his new work on the British 

 Fishes, now coming out in numbers. 



2. Trachinus Draco. {Linnmus.) 

 The Great Weever has been taken off here in the drift 



