Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/519

Rh (D'Arcy Thomson), in Ireland. The species has also been recorded from the south coast of Devonshire by the late Mr. Parfitt. Hence there is nothing surprising in my recent discovery of it at Portishead, on the coast of Somersetshire, some three or four miles to the south of Avonmouth, at a spot a few hundred yards to the north of the Nove lighthouse, where a small shingle beach forms a convenient bathing-place. I had hitherto looked upon this Centipede as a rarity to be picked up only by ones or twos. Great therefore was my astonishment when, turning over the line of seaweed marking the high spring-tide, to find specimens of all sizes swarming amongst the slimy decaying fronds, and wriggling away into darkness in company with hosts of scuttling Woodlice and hopping Sand-Shrimps; while here and there was a cluster of them feeding upon the remains of one of these crustaceans. I afterwards looked for this Centipede under the weed on the beach beneath Aust cliff, in Gloucestershire, some miles to the north of Avonmouth, but without success.— (Nat. Hist. Museum, South Kensington).

Vertebrate Fauna of North Wales.—I am preparing materials for a fauna of this district, which has hitherto been sadly neglected. Excellent local lists of birds have been published by Prof. Salter, Mr. F.C. Rawlings, and Dr. Dobie, dealing respectively with the districts of Aberystwith, Barmouth, and the counties of Flint and Denbigh. The Report of the "Parliamentary Commission on Land in Wales" contains notes on birds and mammals by my friend Mr. Ruddy, and others. Eyton's list, published in 1838, is the only one which deals with the whole district, and with all the vertebrates. It is now quite out of date, and of little practical use. Valuable notes have appeared in 'The Zoologist' from time to time, especially during the last ten years. Others, in the Reports of the Marine Biological Committee, Liverpool, and in various books, periodicals, &c. The labour of preparing the description of a fauna of such a wide district is evidently beyond the powers of any one man. I therefore venture to appeal to all readers of 'The Zoologist' to assist in this much-needed work by contributing notes of their own observations. Many practical naturalists in North Wales have already promised me their valued aid; but, in order to arrive at a just idea of the distribution of the common species, it is necessary to collect information from every district. I shall be glad to hear from anyone who is willing to fill up lists, especially as regards Anglesea and Carnarvon. Very little is known about the Fishes and Cetaceans of North Wales; information about these will be most welcome.— (Shrewsbury Museum).