proportion to the kindred species, it was of considerable thickness. The under jaw was slightly the longest; the teeth in front, and forward on the sides, slight, conical, and somewhat scattered; gape moderate. Eye very large, being 13 inch across; nostrils in a depression before the eyes, in this respect, and in the cheeks, for the most part resembling the common sea-bream (Pagellus centrodontus), but slightly differing in the markings of the head. The body thick and plump; scales on the cheeks and body large, those on the hinder part of the body, especially above the lateral line, having well marked festooned edges; those placed on the anterior part less regularly so. Lateral line at first mounting, arched, sinking opposite the ending of the dorsal and anal fins, waved in its course, and mounting again as it approaches the caudal fin; at its origin a large black spot. Pectoral fins very long, reaching to within a short distance of the termination of the anal fin, being in length 44 inches, and passing 2 inches beyond the vent. Commencement of the dorsal just above the origin of the rays of the pectoral. Tail lunated. P. 15: D. 12,12: V. 1,5: A. 3,13: C. about 20. Colours much as in the common sea-bream, but more vivid; top of the head rich brown; the back scarlet red, lighter on the sides, the belly white, with slight mottlings. Dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins and within the mouth, vermilion; ventral and anal fins paler. Compared with the common sea-bream laid beside it, besides the remarkable difference in the dimensions, it is distinguished by a wider gape, by teeth, though resembling in arrangement and structure, less thickly placed, especially the incisors, by a less rounded muzzle, a much their edge. larger eye and longer pectorals, which are also differently shaped, being more arched. In a common bream of the same length these fins were 33 inches long. The scales also were more decidedly waved at In the stomach I found a Comatula and the bait, a slice of fish, with which it was taken; but in the lower intestine were rather broad pieces of brown seaweed, covered with Flustræ, but this, being undigested, seems not to be its ordinary food. At the first glance I was induced to suspect that this fish was nothing more than a dumpy specimen of the common sea-bream; but it differed in so many particulars, besides the shortened form, that on minute examination I have been compelled to conclude that it is a separate species; in which opinion I am supported by the decision of an eminent naturalist. I have not been able to discover any species at all closely resembling it in the works of Rondeletius, Gesner, Ray, Linnæus, Gronovius, Risso or Cuvier; and am therefore compelled to conclude that it is now for the first time described: a circumstance the less to be wondered at, when we recollect that even in the limited waters of the Mediterranean, and so near a region as Madeira, several fishes have been recorded of which only single specimens have been obtained. The specimen is deposited in the British Museum; and, using the privilege of a discoverer, I propose to designate it as Pagellus curtus. JONATHAN COUCH. Polperro, November, 1843. Note on the occurrence of rare Fishes at Redcar, Yorkshire. 1. Gobius unipunctatus, common, of various sizes from 24 inches downwards; one full of spawn. Found in almost every pool on West Coatham marshes, eastern shore of the Tees. 2. Twospotted goby. A single specimen on the rocks at low water here. 3. Two specimens out of a cod-fish, which agree minutely with G. gracilis of Jenyns. 4. Scopelus Humboldtii. First met with by me, May, 1841; this year I have taken thirteen specimens (six of which I sent to Mr. Yarrell), varying in size from 2 to of an inch. 5. Clupea Leachii. In April last I found a single example, in length 11 inches. — T. S. Rudd; Redcar, near Guisborough. Note on Helix hybrida. Perhaps the following note may interest some of your readers. I do not pretend to a scientific knowledge of any branch of Natural History, but am in the habit of collecting in my walks anything that appears uncommon: and early in last September my attention was attracted by what seemed to me a singularly coloured Helix hortensis (being of an almost uniform rosy brown), and on examining it I found it had a beautiful rosy lip. I searched for more, but without success. The first rainy day which occurred I renewed my search, and was rewarded with twelve or thirteen specimens; since then I have, at different times, taken not fewer than fifty. What struck me as remarkable was, that of a fence one thousand yards in extent, and abounding through its whole length with H. hortensis, the one I am speaking of was confined to a distance of one hundred yards, beyond which I did not find a single specimen of H. hortensis; there was every shade of yellow, and every variety of banded ones, but, though I examined some hundreds, I could not find one with the lip in the least degree rosy. I suppose it is what is called H. hybrida, but if this implies a mule between H. hortensis and H. nemoralis, I think it is a misnomer; for though H. hortensis is exceedingly plentiful in this neighbourhood, I know of only one locality where H. nemoralis occurs, and that is four or five miles from the place where these were found. If it is not a distinct species, it must be a variety of H. hortensis; but from its confined locality, and the occurrence in that locality of the young in different stages towards maturity, I should think it a permanent variety. To an unscientifie eye the animal does not differ from that of H. hortensis. The specimens I have sent you embrace every variety both in general colouring and the intensity of the rosy lip; but very few have it so faintly coloured as the palest of the five, though I have one which is perfectly white. In some there are slight indications of bands, and the accompanying ones are selected to show these in their greatest distinctness. Wm. Turner; Uppingham, November 27, 1843. [The shells sent are those of Helix hybrida. I believe no one supposes the species so called to be a mule between the two more common species, although the name is probably intended to imply that the rarer species is somewhat intermediate in its appearance.-E. N.] Note on the carnivorous propensity of Snails. Oblige me by making known to the public, through the medium of your valuable journal, another instance of a snail feeding on the common earth-worm. On the 28th of April, whilst walking upon the chalk hills, near Guildford, I saw a snail feeding on a piece of the common earthworm, about two inches long, half of which it devoured. — F. A. Chennell; Stoke, Guildford, November 4, 1843. [See Zool. 201 and 257]. Note on the Gordius aquaticus. One of these singular worms was found last July, extended to the length of two or three inches on the mould of a flower-bed, lately moistened by the rain, but at some distance from any water. When captured, it coiled itself up into a complicated knot, and some hours after appeared to be dead, but revived on being put into water; in this element it lived about a week, but gradually lost its transparency, and at last died. When in health, the Gordius was transparent and almost colourless, with the exception of numerous minute dark spots, which, under the microscope, were discovered to be eggs; some of these were subsequently deposited, and when examined with a highly magnifying power, appeared of an oval form, semi-transparent, and of a dark brown colour.-A. F. B.* Leyton, Essex. Note on the occurrence of Colias Edusa in November. On the 4th of November I caught a male Colias Edusa, in very good condition, this will most likely be the last for the season. Yet as we had frost during the latter part of October, it appears to *Communicated by J. Gurney Barclay, Esq. prove that the insect may sometimes hybernate, for if it could remain unscathed through part of the winter, it is most probable that it could do so through the whole until some sunny day in March instead of November should revive it. On the 16th of October I took a female of that beautiful variety Helice, perhaps some of your correspondents can inform me if it ever occurs in the male insect? — R. C. R. Jordan; Teignmouth, November, 1843. Note on the occurrence of Colias Electra at Sidmouth. On the 12th of September last Colias Edusa was in great abundance in the clover-fields at Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, Devonshire: there were thousands in one clover-field between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis. I remarked two beautiful white varieties.-Thomas Lighton. Note on the occurrence of Colias Edusa and C. Hyale in Northamptonshire. I saw in Northamptonshire a male Edusa flying very swiftly, on the 14th of July, and a female that was taken near Whittlesea mere on the same day. When shooting near Triplow, Cambridgeshire, the second week in September, I saw two male Edusas and one male Hyale on the wing. I likewise saw a pair of Hyale that were taken about the same time near Cambridge.-F. Bond; Kingsbury, Middlesex, November 10, 1843. Note on the occurrence of Colias Edusa in the Isle of Wight. In addition to the numerous notices of the appearance of this beautiful insect in England, during the past season, which have found place in your journal, I may mention the Isle of Wight, where it has been of very frequent occurrence up to about the middle of October. Although said to be visible only every four years, I think I have seldom failed to observe it annually with us here, though very sparingly except at periods which may agree with the above interval; but this I cannot assert with certainty. I recollect it was equally plentiful as now in the island, two, three, or perhaps four years ago. The rich, warm, saffron tint of the wings, certainly entitles Colias Edusa to rank with the most beautiful of British butterflies; and if gayness of colouring alone were the criterion of beauty, it would take precedence of the much rarer but more elegantly pencilled C. Hyale, likewise a native of this island, but very scarce. It is singular that the near relative of this insect, the sulphur butterfly (Gonepteryx Rhamni), usually so common here in ordinary seasons, has this year been rather scarce, and whilst the mostly abundant Vanessa Iö has appeared in smaller numbers than it is wont to do, I never saw V. Atalanta so profusely on the wing as it was this autumn. Vanessa Polychloros, which generally is the first of the diurnal Lepidoptera to greet us on sunny days in March, and again at the end of summer, has this year fallen numerically below the average; whilst the painted lady (Cynthia Cardui) has been rather frequent. Papilio Machaon occurs occasionally in the island, and I saw a specimen on the wing last August, between Calbourne and Brixton, but it is a rare insect here, as is also Apatura Iris. I have likewise missed Pieris Cratægi and Limenitis Camilla in my botanical rambles, usually not the most unfrequent of my former objects of attraction and pursuit, and though now unmolested, not the less gazed at and admired by me still.—Wm. Arnold Bromfield; Ryde, November 1, 1843. Note on the occurrence of Colias Edusa. I saw many specimens of this butterfly this autumn in the neighbourhood of Forest-hill, and caught three of them.-Francis Richardson; Peckham, November, 1843. Note on Colias Electra or Edusa. I shall be obliged for more records of the capture of this insect: although those now published go far to confirm the quadrennial theory, yet we must have still more abundant evidence of its appearance, and also of its general absence during the intervening years, before the matter can be considered as definitely settled. It will be recollected that the year of its abundant occurrence Note on the occurrence of Colias Hyale at Epping. A few specimens of this species were seen here in August and September, but it was not nearly so numerous as last year. I only captured about a dozen.-Henry Doubleday; Epping, Nov. 29, 1843. Note on the occurrence of Mancipium Daplidice and Argynnis Lathonia near Exeter. My cabinet has lately been enriched by specimens of these rare butterflies, captured in 1836 in Roseberry wood, near Exeter, by R. Dawson. Esq., who kindly presented them. -Thomas Lighton; 4, Caledonian Place, Clifton, October 21, 1843. Note on the occurrence of Polyommati in South Devon. I have ventured to enclose a short account of the south Devon Polyommati, as, owing to the wilful obstinacy of collectors in naming varieties as species, this genus is still imperfectly understood, at least so it would seem from the figures in Wood's Catalogue, as well as those in Mr. Humphreys' more recent work. Polyommatus Argiolus, a double-brooded insect, appearing in April and May, and again in August and September, approaches nearer to the Thecla in habit than the other south Devon species, flying high, and hovering over the holly and ivy bushes. In the spring the male may be seen flying quickly along the tops of currant-bushes, very much in the same manner that Thecla Quercûs flies along the oak trees; this is probably because they are in full flower and leaf at that time, which few other shrubs are. P. Alsus, the smallest of our British butterflies, appears in May (and again in August ?), it is a local insect, frequenting marshes and open places in woods; flight rather quick the male differs from the female in having the wings slightly tinged with a metallic colour, varying in different lights from blue to emerald green. Common on the cliffs at Teignmouth, where it principally settles on the plants of Equisetum hyemale. P. Argus, local, frequents open heaths, and appears in June and July. P. Alexis (Icarius of Wood's Cat.), double-brooded, appearing in April and May, and again in August and September, but specimens may be caught from the latter part of April to October. Wood's figures called P. Alexis and P. Dorylas seem to be varieties of the insect called Icarius, which is the general form of this insect, and by far the commonest of our British species: flight low, amongst the grass, frequently settling: meadows, pastures &c., abundant. P. Agestis, doublebrooded, May and August; local: frequents rocky places in woods. I took it in tolerable plenty in Bradley-woods near Newton, Devon, settling on the flowers of Helianthemum vulgare, though I did not see a single specimen until I came to the rock where this plant was growing. They seemed to settle on the flower, until there was an opportunity of molesting some passer by, either of their own species, or any other insect, as they even attacked bees and large flies (Eristales). This love of combativeness soon spoils their beauty, so that you may catch several specimens without obtaining one perfect insect. These five constitute the whole of our south Devon Polyommati, that is, all that I have ever taken, and with five others, P. Arion, P. Acis, P. Adonis, P. Corydon and P. Artaxerxes, make up the whole of the British species, which perhaps may be reduced to nine, as P. Artaxerxes is most probably merely a local variety of Agestis.-Robert C. R. Jordan; Teignmouth, November, 1843. Enquiry respecting the mode of rearing the Death's head Hawk-moth. I shall feel greatly obliged by your inserting these few lines in the next number of The Zoologist.' The larvæ and pupa of Acherontia Atropos being found almost every autumn in this neighbourhood, sometimes in tolerable plenty, and being extremely difficult to rear; I should deem it a favour if any of the readers of The Zoologist,' who have |