38 



NOTES — CONCHOLOGY AND ICHTHYOLOGY. 



it is clear that this antidinal ridge had suffered a considerable 

 amount of erosion before it was finally covered up by the Keuper 

 deposits. The terraces on which the Triassic rocks rest, show that 

 this ancient land did not go down rapidly, or even at one continuous 

 rate ; but that there were occasional pauses in the process of submer- 

 gence, during which the Keuper waters had time to wear back the 

 coast-line for a few yards before the next downward movement set in. 



JVOTi:-~CONCIlOLOG V. 



Helix ericetorum. — The variety oi Helix ericetonim recorded by Mr. 

 Tomlin on p. 20, from the neighbourhood of Chester, is apparently referable to 

 V. monozona Pascal, which has not hitherto been recorded as British ; it is 

 described as having a single band above the periphery. The m. scalariforme, also 

 mentioned, is the m. disjiinctiiin of Turton, originally found near Dublin. It may 

 be v/ell to note also that the large variety of Planorbis liucafiis found by Mr. Tomlin 

 near Cambridge (Sci. Goss., p. 16) agrees in size with Pascal's var. viajor, which 

 is said to be ' 7 mill, diam., i% alt., greenish-yellow, dull.' Another addition to 

 the British List is Avion hortensis v. nigra mog. , recently sent me from ^Vakefield 

 by Mr. J. AVilcock.—T. D. A. Cockerell, Bedford Park, Chiswick, Jan. 2nd, 1887. 



NOTE—ICHTHYOLOGY. 



Whitby Fish-notes. — Three Grey Mullets were taken here in the salmon- 

 nets on the I2th August, 1885. I believe I neglected to report these. I got one 

 for the museum, but unfortunately the skin got lost, and am therefore unable to say 

 what it was, but I think from what I remember it was ' Mzigil capita.' 



On the I2th November last two specimens of the Boar Fish {Capi'os aper) were 

 given to me in the flesh, one by J. Mitchell, fish salesman ; the other (having 

 been steeped in alum) by a person named Chapman, who picked it up on the pier 

 near the larger fish, having apparently been ejected from the stomach of some 

 lai-ger fish there lying previous to being sold. I should have reported these before, 

 but Mitchell said he thought his had come out of a Cuttle-fish sent from Plymouth, 

 but Chapman (very properly in my opinion) stated that it could not have come from 

 a Cuttle-fish, which he considered could not have swallowed a Boar Fish whole, 

 but would tear it in pieces with its parrot-like beak and swallow it piecemeal. I 

 have both specimens, but, on account of the difference of opinion, have not 

 deposited either in the museum. Chapman feels convinced both had been ejected 

 from the stomachs of the larger fish ; in this I am inclined to agree. 



The following are from notes made by me of occurrences : — 



August 26th. — Jaw and tail of large Greenland Shark [LcBmargiis borealis), 

 brought into Whitby by screw fishing-boat 'Albatross.' The fish, which was 

 estimated to be 17 ft. long, was caught about fifty miles at sea, off ^^^litby. I have 

 part of the lower jaw, which I obtained about a fortnight after it was brought 

 here. 



September. — During this month four common Topes {Galens canis) have 

 been brought in here by the same boat. I have not yet reported this fish as having 

 been taken off here, as till now I had no opportunity to examine it. They have 

 been frequently taken here, and are known locally as ' Tomear ' or 'Tom Ear.' 



October 2nd. — Sandy Ray {Raja cirailaris). 



October 7th. — Common Sea-bream [Pagcllus centrodontus). 



October iith. — In conversation with two Staithes fishermen this day as to 

 Sharks, they informed me that in June last a large Shark was caught (about fifty 

 miles off \\'1iitby) rolled up in the fishing lines of the fishing-boat ' Good Intent.' 

 They described it as being prickly all over like a Thornback ; they had to cut 

 their line and let it go. It was about 10 ft. or 12 ft. long. From their description, 

 I conclude it was a specimen of EchinorJiinns spinosus (Spinous Shark). — Thos. 

 STErHENSOX, \\Tiitby, October 15th, 1886. 



Naturalist, 



