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"I had rather be a toad, and live upon the vapour of a dungeon,"

Act iii. Scene ii.

we may perhaps be justified in supposing that the food of the creature was then as little known as its real powers and habits. In a line in Romeo and Juliet' there is embalmed a curious traditionary error,

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"Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes,"

Act iii. Scene v.

an idea which probably took its origin from a notion that the bright full eye of the toad was more suitable for the bird that at "heaven's gate sings" than for a reptile so "loathed." A passage in 'As you like it' demands more deliberate attention: it is one of those which, like sterling coin, has passed into general circulation, and scarcely suggests to our mind the recollection of the rich mint from which it came: and, as the gold has its alloy, so here we have the moral truth and the legendary error.

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Much commentary has been expended on these lines, but from Douce's Illustrations we learn-what is probably the true solution of the enigma-that the common people of England "made superstitious uses of a real jewel that always could be found in a toad's head; and that, according to popular belief, "the toad before her death sucks up, if not prevented by sudden surprisal, the precious stone (as yet but a jelly) in her head, grudging mankind the good thereof." -p. 294.

In Ireland the common toad is unknown; but our tutelary saint has left us the smaller species (Bufo calamita), the natterjack. It has been found in three or four localities in the county Kerry, and at Ross bay, county Cork.

The remainder of the British Amphibia belong to the order Urodela, and family Salamandrida. They consist of four species of

newts, of which two only have as yet been noticed in Ireland.

The newt, like others of the tribe, is enumerated among the ingredients of the charmed chaldron, so frequently mentioned; and the term "gilded newt," which has been also quoted, indicates the bright orange colour visible on the body of the male eft during the spring. Among the best known passages in which newts are introduced, is that where Edgar, in his assumed character of poor Tom, speaks

of eating "the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt, and the water-newt;" thus showing that distinctions, existing even among these amphibious creatures, did not escape the observant and discriminating eye of Shakspeare. The only species of newt (Lissotriton punctatus) common in the north of Ireland, is there well known by the name of "Mankeeper," and is an object of apprehension to the uneducated, from the idea that it is prone to jump down the throat of any one whom it may find sleeping!

Pliny informs us that "the Salamander is able to destroy whole nations at one time, if they take not heed and provide to prevent them."* Such an opinion of its malignant powers was most probably never at any time current in these countries, for on this point Shakspeare is altogether silent; and the only mention of the creature occurs where Falstaff, addressing Bardolph, says, with reference to the nose of that worthy,

"I have maintained that Salamander of yours with fire any time this two-andthirty years."-1st part K. Henry VI. Act iii. Scene iii.

Belfast, September, 1843.

R. PATTERSON.

Note on the occurrence of the edible Frog in Cambridgeshire. I have the pleasure of recording in 'The Zoologist,' the capture of the edible frog (Rana esculenta, Linn.) for the first time I believe in this country. Two specimens were taken by my friend, C. Thurnall, Esq., of Duxford, in Foulmire fen, Cambridgeshire, in September last. They are now in the British Museum, J. E. Gray, Esq., the curator, having kindly determined the species for me. There is a beautiful figure of this frog in Bell's 'British Reptiles,' p. 104, taken from a foreign specimen. — Fred. Bond; Kingsbury, November 23, 1843.

[I should be much obliged for a drawing and detailed description of this interesting addition to our British Vertebrata.-E. N.]

Account of a species of Sea Bream new to the British Fauna, and perhaps hitherto undescribed. By JONATHAN COUCH, Esq., F.L.S.

ON the 2nd of September, 1843, a fisherman took with one of his ordinary baits, a sea-bream, which he presently discerned never before to have fallen under his notice; and in consequence it was transferred to my possession as soon as he reached the land, which was before sufficient time had elapsed to allow it to undergo any change. Its length was 1 foot 2 inches, the greatest depth 9 inches, and, in

*Book 29, p. 358.

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.

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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

larger eye and longer pectorals, which are also differently shaped, being more arched. In a common bream of the same length these fins were 34 inches long. The scales also were more decidedly waved at their edge. 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 2 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 3 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.

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