MISCELLANY. 
219 
that the annuitant was dead. The Registrar (Mr. Colville) suggested that the 
affidavit would not justify the Court in making the order, inasmuch as it only 
deposed to the fact of a single death, whereas a Cat was proverbially known to 
have nine lives.—(Laughter.) It was also a very nice question, whether the 
language of the will did not create a tenancy in tail. The next of kin of the 
intestate were also said to be extremely numerous, and it was not alleged that 
any of them had been personally served with the petition.—(Laughter). Mr. 
Jacob thought that the Court ought to proceed to adjudicate with extreme caution 
on a case supported by such slender evidence, and before the authorities had been 
looked into. He remembered a case before Sir John Leach, which was all fours 
with the present.—(A laugh.) The Vice-Chancellor felt the weight of the 
first objection taken by the Registrar • but observed, that the Cat, having once 
died, must be held for ever civiliter mortuus , and not entitled to greater privileges 
than a Christian.—(Much laughter).— May 7. 
Singular Fish. —Mr. Baker, fishmonger, of York, has now in his possession 
an Opah, or King-fish, which is exceedingly rare and beautiful, only a few ex¬ 
amples being recorded of its having been taken in Great Britain. This fish was 
caught on the Dogger Banks, near Burlington, on Thursday last, and was secured 
by a harpoon, after eight days’ labour. It is about five feet long, fifteen or sixteen 
inches thick, and weighs twelve pounds. The Opah is a native of the Eastern 
seas, and is esteemed by the Japanese as the peculiar emblem of happiness, 
because it is sacred to Neptune. We copy the following description from Mr. 
Yarrell’s History of British Fishes: — u The upper part of the back and sides 
are of a rich green, reflecting both purple and gold in different lights, passing into 
yellowish-green below; above and beneath the lateral lines are various round 
yellowish-white spots, from which the fish received the name of Luna ; the irides 
are scarlet, all the fins bright vermilion.” It is dappled like the John Dorey, 
and is eaten by the Japanese and Greeks.— Sheffield Iris , Nov. 20, 1838. 
Reinstatement of the Wood Grouse in Britain.— The Capercailzie, or 
Wood Grouse, which Lord Breadalbane turned out in his forests during the past 
and present Summer have, says the Morning Post , bred in those wilds. There 
were 44 altogether, about two-thirds of which were females, and all were old and 
seasoned birds. This splendid collection was made in Sweden, with vast trouble 
and at great expense, by Mr. Lloyd. T. Fowell Buxton, Esq., late M.P. for 
Weymouth, presented them to the Marquis. In addition to the Capercailzie 
now at large in the Highlands, Mr. Lloyd, we understand, sent at the same 
time three others to the Dutchess of Athol, and fifteen to the Earl of Derby. — 
This is a very interesting circumstance.— Ed. 
Extraordinary Canine Sagacity.— The following fact, which we lately 
witnessed while passing in one of the steam-boats down the Clyde, so far exceeds 
2 G 
VOL. IV.-NO. XXVIII. 
