566 mr. a. Patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth. 
XIV. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM YARMOUTH. 
Ry A. Patterson. 
Read Slst March, 1903. 
1902—1903. 
March 13th. A ten-inch Ballan Wrasse ( Labrus maculatus ) was 
found amongst a parcel of Whitings. 
On March 17th, a twelve-inch example of the . Lumpsucker 
( Cyclopterus lumpus) was taken with shrimps in a net off-shore. 
Six hours after it had left the water it was still alive ; so much so 
that when brought to me and laid upon a dish, it adhered so 
tenaciously that the dish did not fall off when the fish was lifted. 
On March 27th, Muller’s Topknot. A very beautiful, fresh 
example of ( Zeugopterus punctatus) was landed. Length 7 £ inches. 
It has been preserved for the Yarmouth Museum. 
As late as April I saw Dunlins and other small Waders wearing 
the grey dress of winter. 
On April 5th, after a gale from the N.E., during a long ramble 
on the beach, north of Yarmouth, I observed hundreds of live-rayed 
Starfishes ( Uraster rubens) and eleven, twelve and thirteen-rayed 
Stars (, Solaster papposa), with hundreds of empty shells of the Horse 
Mussel ( Modolia modiolus). And with them many “ Sea-mice.” 
I was surprised at not finding a single Rockbird ; these had 
probably already gone safely north. 
An interesting accident anent the Starfishes happened to Mr. B. 
Dye’s Cat. I had left him a few Sunstars ; and during the tea- 
hour the feline member of the family managed to devour the half 
of one. In half an hour’s time she could not walk straight, and 
groaned piteously. After a collapse of some hours’ duration she 
got upon her feet, and could just manage to stagger along ; her jaws 
which had become rigid, relaxed. The symptoms were altogether 
those of poisoning, next day however, she was herself again ; and 
1 received emphatic orders never to bring Starfishes there again. 
