438 
MISCELLANY. 
gian order, and apparently to the family Clupeidse. Mr. P. discovered this 
species on the northern coast, near Oifiord, in pools left by the retiring tide, his 
attention being excited by the Gulls which were preying on it. We have been 
induced to notice this fish in consequence of being unable to identify it with any 
of Cuvier’s genera, in his Regne Animal. In length it varies from five to five 
and a half inches ; the back olive brown ; under parts and lateral line silvery ; 
head compressed; jaws elongated—the under being the longer; teeth on the 
maxillaries and tongue, but so small as to be almost imperceptible; body more 
cylindrical and longer in proportion than that of the Common Herring ( Clupea 
harengus) ; the number and position of the fins the same as in C. harengus , 
excepting that the first ventral is a little more in advance ol the dorsal, and its 
having a slightly adipose dorsal, which clupea has not. Branchiae, as usual, 4; 
brancheostegous rays 8 ; of the dorsal fin 13 ; pectoral 17 ; ventral 8 ; anal 20 ; 
caudal 20; vertebrae 69. It contained several intestina. Mr. Yarrell, in his 
History of British Fishes , alludes to a small variety of the Herring, which? 
according to Crantz, is found on the northern coast of Greenland, and he states 
that this small variety, or species, was found by Sir John Frankland on the 
shore of the Polar basin, on his second journey. We have never seen a specimen 
or a description of this Herring, but we are inclined to suppose that it is a 
distinct species from Mr. Proctor’s, because it does not appear to be met with 
southward of the last-mentioned localities. Should our opinion be well founded, 
and Mr. P.’s fish prove to be an undescribed species, we would propose that the 
specific name of Proctori should be applied to it—a just and proper compliment to 
one who has been so indefatigable in the pursuit of natural science.— Durham 
Advertiser , April 27? 1838, communicated by Mr. W. Proctor. 
Occurrence of Amara ovata .—This insect, which is stated in my “ Notes on 
the Amaral ” (Vol. II., p. 240) to be rare near London, Warrington, &c., occurred 
rather frequently in this neighbourhood during last month, and the commence¬ 
ment of the present.— Peter Hylands, Bewsey House , Warrington , May 19, 
1838. 
The Scarce Swallow-tail (Papilio podalirius ).—In the first volume of 
The Naturalist , p. 32, and also in a then recent number of Curtis’s British 
Fntomology , it is mentioned that a specimen of the Scarce Swallow-tail had 
been taken near Windsor, by W. IT. R. Read, Esq., F.L.S., Z.S., E.S., O.S., &c., 
of Frickley Hall, near Doncaster. We have, however, seen Mr. Read on the 
subject, and he expresses himself not quite certain as to its being actually a 
British specimen. •“ Others have lately been purchased as British, by Mr. G. 
Robertson, Dr. Bromfield,” and Mr. Allis (see Naturalist , l. c., and Yol. II., 
p. 38). It would seem, then, that this beautiful and rare insect still holds a 
doubtful place in the British Fauna.— Ed. 
