Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/176

144 the last Annual Report of the Limerick Field Club we learn that "the capture of a fine specimen of the Royal Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) was made on July 8th last, by fishermen, near the mouth of the Maigue River, its length heingbeing [sic] about 10 feet, and its estimated weight between four and five hundredweight.

"Social Hours with Celebrities," being the third and fourth volumes of 'Gossip of the Century,' by the late Mrs. W. Pitt Byrne, edited by her sister, Miss R.H. Busk, are some interesting reminiscences of Charles Waterton. His 'Wanderings,' a book which had a large circulation, and was in every way successful, never brought its author a penny. The writer of "Social Hours with Celebrities" tells of going to his publishers with Waterton and inspecting the books and finding that the balance was against the naturalist. In his own grounds we read that "the Peacocks on the lawn, however depressing the weather, seemed to vie with each other the moment they saw him approach, in strolling eagerly forward, and spreading out the glory of their fantails for his delectation. Most remarkable of all, however, was it in the woods, where it was impossible not to believe the birds recognized their benefactor when one saw them come out to meet him, flying about him as he walked, settling on his shoulder, and even on his hand when he held it out to them, while a call from his voice would bring them from any distance." It is said that when his body was being conveyed in a boat across the lake for burial in a sequestered nook of the park, which he had himself selected, "a flight of birds suddenly appeared, gathering as it went, and followed the boat to its destination."

Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at the Royal University of Palermo, died on Nov. 5th last, at Naples, in his fifty-fourth year. He was born in the Baltic Provinces, whence he came to live in Italy about twenty years ago. His fame as an embryologist obtained his appointment at the University of Messina in 1882, from which he was transferred to Palermo. In 1888 he was appointed a member of the "Commissione consultiva per la pesca," to which, in addition to his scientific knowledge, he brought a large amount of practical information acquired by continual intercourse with fishermen. As a supporter of "experimental zones," he was appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to formulate the plan of studies to be pursued at the establishments in the Gulf of Castellamare and of Termini Imerse. The above particulars are taken from 'Giornale Italiano di Pesca e Acquicoltura.'