i8o 



ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTE. 



with the small bits of coal usually found embedded in these gravelly 

 drifts. Especially singular were the largest, which indeed formed the 

 chief portion of the bed. They were rather sub-angular than rounded 

 like the other coal pebbles, as if they had not travelled far, and, 

 except in parts, they lacked the lustre, of the smaller fragments. In 

 fact, these big lumps are unlike any Coal-Measure coal known in the 

 neighbourhood, and at first sight resemble much more such a sub- 

 stance as brown coal. There is no woody structure, but the material 

 of which the lumps are composed is very tough, and sounds like wood 

 when struck. It burns somewhat like a cannel coal, with which, 

 indeed, it has some other points of resemblance. There is no reason 

 to doubt that this coal (as it must be called) is really of Coal-Measure 

 age, and that it comes from no great distance; but it is strange that 

 the bed from which it comes should be quite unknown in a district 

 such as this, where every seam has been worked, tried, or proved over 

 and over again. The analysis of the coal, as made by Mr. Richard 

 Berkley and given me by Mr. Harris, only adds to the interest of the 

 occurrence, since its results are quite foreign to the experience of 

 miners in the great northern coalfield. Nor can the peculiarities of 

 the coal be ascribed to long exposure to wet and weather, since the 

 smaller and brighter pieces with which it is associated have no 

 unusual characteristics, and have necessarily been exposed to the 

 same influences, and probably for the same amount of time. 

 The analysis shows : — 



Volatile matter ... ... ... ... 17*0 ) 



The specific gravity being i"34, is greater than that of average 

 Newcastle coal. 



Whitby Notes. — The past season has not been very productive in the 

 matter of uncommon fishes. Amongst my memoranda are the following: — 



October 31st, 1884. — Fifteen-spined Stickleback {Gasterosteics spinachia L.) 

 caught in Whitby Harbour by clasp net. 



November 13th. — Miiller's Topknot [Rhombus piindatiis Bl.) caught off 

 Whitby by John Storr. Unfortunately I did not see this specimen, but from the 

 description of it given to me by a person, I showed him Miiller's Topknot in the 

 museum, and he said it was exactly like it. This is the second instance of its 

 coming under my notice here, the first having been on the 3rd of May, 1 88 1. 



December 26th. — One coble landed 21 scores of Haddocks {Gadiis ceglefimcs']^). 

 This is worth mention, because since this date they have been rarely caught here, 

 and appear to have left for the spawning ground. 



December 31st. — Common Basse [Labrax hiptis Lacep.), caught by Dring, 

 weight 3% lbs., length 22 inches, girth 6 inches. — Thomas Stephenson, Whitby, 

 February 13th, 1885. 



Red Ash... 



Fixed Carbon 



ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTE. 



Naturalist, 



