Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/373

Rh microscopic sections, the photographs of which, taken by Dr. J.H. Teacher, have been made into a very valuable series of lantern slides. A finely mounted set of these slides has been presented to the Station by the gentlemen named, and by means of the lantern given by Mr. Paul Rottenburg, of Glasgow, they can now be used for demonstration purposes.

has taken a specimen of the Fresh-water Mussel (Dreissensia polymorpha) containing a very beautiful and perfect pearl. This shell was found in a large colony of the species in the North Staffordshire Canal, near Rugeley. The pearl attached to it is almost spherical in shape, and has a small protuberance at one side; it is 2 mm. in diameter, and is very pure in colour. This is said to be the first recorded instance of a pearl being found in this mollusc. The shell is figured in the Ann. Rep. and Trans, of the "North Staffordshire Field Club," 1899-1900, vol. xxxiv.

Stevens' Auction Rooms two more eggs of the Great Auk were recently disposed of. One—an unrecorded egg—sold for three hundred and fifteen guineas, and the other egg for one hundred and eighty guineas. They were both bought by Mr. Gardner, of Oxford Street.

The 'Banffshire Journal' of June 5th last has published a letter received from Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, relating to Elvers, Eels, and Smolts. The following are extracts from same:—

"It is certain Elvers are largely consumed by Brown Trout for a few days. Soon after that, worm becomes the deadly bait. Why? Well, worm in low clear water, after the run of Elvers, becomes a necessary purge to Trout after the Eel 'stodge.' At least, I believe this to be the case—just as grass is an occasional vomit for a Dog.

"If Elvers are largely consumed by Brown Trout, they are also largely consumed by Sea-Trout, Grilse, and probably also by Smolts. What are known among Sea-Trout as Finnocks, at the mouths of our East Coast rivers in April, May, &c, are the Grilse of the Sea-Trout, which went down the previous year as Smolts, which went up as Grilse or Sea-Trout, do not breed, but attain a growth of up to, say, half a pound, or less, and come down again along with the Smolts of the Salmon. Their time so far is known to legislators, because fishing for Finnocks is prohibited whilst the Salmon Smolts are descending—i.e. about 15th May. The baskets of Sea-Trout and Finnock made in the spring months on the East Coast of Scotland—at Ythan, Deveron, Findhorn, &c.—are either down-run Kelts or unspawning Grilse of the Sea-Trout; or rapidly-grown Smolts of the