270 Proceedings of the Boyal Physical Society, 
invariable largeness, always superior to that of our herrings 
of the Channel, of which the small dimensions are equally 
constant." Now, he said, it was true that considerable 
shoals of large herrings do appear on the Norway coast in 
the winter and spring ; but the author seems not to have 
been aware that there is always in summer considerable 
shoals and a large fishery of small herrings, generally of a 
superior quality, but of a smaller size on the average than 
those caught in the English Channel {La Blanche) or on the 
Scottish coasts ; and he exhibited a specimen of each size, 
the one a giant of 13J inches, and the other a dwarf of 
about 9 inches, each with the ova fully developed, and said 
that any number of each size could be obtained. He alluded 
to the statement in the same work as to the exceedingly 
deciduous nature of the scales of the herrings, and said that 
this was an exaggeration, as was evident even from the spe- 
cimens he produced, which were covered with their scales. 
It is stated in this work, that the herring spawns apparently 
indiscriminately, without selecting any position, even in the 
middle of the sea — '* au milieu de la mer." But this is not 
the case ; for Mr Mitchell had ascertained that the herring 
always selects rocky, stony, or gravelly ground, on which to 
deposit its spawn. He would also point out that at page 
62, vol. XX., it is said, " c'est pendant lliiver qu'ils appair- 
rissent sur les cotes d'Europe." Now, it is well known that 
great shoals of herrings approach the coasts of Europe in 
summer and autumn, and are fished then, as already stated, 
in great quantities. 
11. Observations on BrituJi Zoophytes and Protozoa. By T. Strethill 
Wright, M.D. 
1. On the Reproductive Elements of {he RJiizopoda. Plate IX. 
We have, as far as I am aware, no definite observations as 
to the reproductive elements of the Ehizopods. All who are 
accustomed to the observation of minute marine life know 
that these creatures increase with great rapidity ; but hoiv 
they increase is at present a mystery. 
Professor Carpenter* has recorded and figured a peculiar 
* Phil. Trans., vol. cxlvi. p. 212. 
