and remain until the game is again started, and is rarely known to miss a second time: when the hawk has captured the game, he is rewarded with a piece of meat, or a pigeon's head, to induce him to give up the prey: if the hawk be allowed to range at pleasure, by whistling he will return with surprising swiftness, when, finding he cannot stop suddenly to settle without striking you with great force, he will glide past, form a circle round you, and alight with ease, and gently, upon the hand. Mag. Nat. Hist.

NEW BRITISH GOOSE.

MR. A. D. BARTLETT has read to the Zoological Society a paper "On a new British species of the genus Anser, with remarks on the nearly-allied species." In conclusion, having noticed three nearlyallied species, and described the new one, Mr. Bartlett points out the distinctions between this new species and the Bean Goose, to which it bears the nearest resemblance. First, the average size of the Bean Goose is 33 inches in length, and 64 inches in extent; while the average size of the new species is 28 inches in length, and 60 inches in extent. Secondly, the bill is much smaller, shorter, more contracted towards the tip, and of a different colour. Thirdly, the difference in colour and form of the legs and feet, and in the fleshy character of the foot; and the hind toe being more closely united by its membrane, has, consequently, less freedom of motion. Fourthly, the plumage on the rump and shoulders being more inclined to grey. And lastly, in the form of the sternum, which differs from that of the Bean Goose in shape, and bears a more close resemblance to that of the white fronted goose. Mr. Bartlett has examined, in all, twelve specimens of this new species, four of which were alive: one of them is living in the garden of the Zoological Society, where it has been eight years, without exhibiting any perceptible alteration in its plumage, or in the colour of its legs and feet. The Grey Tail Goose is by far the most rare of the four species here referred to. - Proc. Zoological Society.

TALKING CANARY BIRD.

A CANARY BIRD, capable of distinct articulation, has been exhibited in the metropolis. The following are some of its sentences: "Sweet pretty dear." "Sweet pretty dear Dicky." "Mary." " Sweet pretty little Dicky dear; " and often in the course of the day, "Pretty Queen." "Sweet pretty Queen." The bird also imitated the jarring of a wire, and the ringing of a bell: it was three years old, and was bred by a lady who never allowed it to be in the company of other birds. This canary died in the month of October.

NEW FALCON.

M. Gene has read to the Academy of Sciences at Turin, the description of a new species of Falcon, discovered in Sardinia by M. de le Marmora, which has been confounded with the Common Hobby, (F. Subeteo,) but from which it differs in its much stronger form, in the colour of the cere, which is blueish; by the form of the cutting edges of the mandible, which are not cut between the base and the tooth; and by the colour of the eggs, which are reddish, spotted, and blotched with brown. - L'Institut.; An. Nat. Hist.

RARE FISH.STERNOPTIX CELEBES.

ABOUT the year 1774, Prof. Hermann, of Strasburg, applied the name of Sternoptix, (from the apparent folds in the external covering of the breast,) to a very rare osseous fish from around the West India Islands, small in size, truncated in front, narrow and tapering behind, high backed, very compressed, and presenting a triangular pellucid compartment of the region of the tail. From the last-mentioned character, as well as to distinguish it from another genus, from the Azores, (since described by M. Olfers, under the name of Sternoptix Olfersii, in which character it is wanting,) the former is known to naturalists as the Sternoptix diaphana, or transparent Sternoptix. Owing to the great rarity of this fish-it being hitherto known to no author, excepting through the means of the very incorrect representation of it afforded by Hermann, and the specimen which that naturalist has left in the museum at Strasburg-no opportunity has yet offered for rectifying the mistakes into which Hermann fell, in describing this fish as devoid of a gill-membrane and of a lateral line, and in placing it among the Apodes of Linnæus; thus concluding it to be destitute of ventral fins.

The species of Sternoptix here figured, however, differs from both the preceding in many even generic characters; such as the situation, character, and number of the teeth, the number of the branchial (or gill) rays, and the components of the different fins: it likewise varies in locality; for, while the two former seem to be confined to the West India Islands, and the warmer parts of the Atlantic, the latter has been hitherto observed only in the Eastern Archipelago. In the present imperfect state of our knowledge respecting this family, the species under consideration is not submitted as a new genus; although (as we have shown) the characters peculiar to it might justify such a course.

The cuts represent the natural size of the Sternoptix Celebes, from a specimen caught by Mr. Thomas Kincaid, surgeon, R. N., in the Straits of Macassar, 1° S. lat. 119o E. long., and within thirty miles of the Celebes coast, during calm and clear weather. It is uncertain whether it frequents shoal or deep water; but some fish resembling it were observed swimming about the roots of trees, which had been washed from the coast by the rains, and which trees the fish seemed to have accompanied from the coral reefs near the shore.

(Fig.) 2.

The length of the specimen, of which fig. 1 is a lateral view, is, exclusive of the tail, two inches and a quarter, its height is two inches, and its greatest thickness is scarcely half an inch: it appears to have reached full maturity. Our limits will not allow us to detail the anatomical peculiarities of this extraordinary tenant of the deep; so that we must be content to notice its most striking characteristics. Thus, the caudal (or tail) region, which runs one-half the length of the body, is convex and carinate (keel-shaped) below, and the posterior and lower triangular portion of this cavity is, from the vertebral spines downwards, resolved into a pellucid membrane, as clearly defined in the above figure. This membrane, which consists of two layers of tegumentary texture, is sustained in a tense and vibratory condition by slender bony processes, or spiculæ.

The head is remarkably obtuse, and the ridge of the the principal frontal and interparietal bone is distinctly dentated. The eyes are large, salient, and naked; they occupy the middle third of the height of the head, and advance within a line of its anterior boundary. The mouth, which is directed upwards, suddenly descends very obliquely, so as to appear abrupt when viewed in front, (as in fig. 2,) and is, therefore, singularly capacious in the vertical direction; while the maxillary (or jaw) bones, (the upper of which slides over the lower) form the superficial boundary of this opening.

The mouth is set with maxillary and palatine teeth; the former being very numerous and minute, and arranged en crotchets, three rows in each jaw. (See fig. 3.) Each tooth presents the form of two incurvated cones applied base to base, their concavities being directed towards the interior of the mouth. The palatine teeth are much larger, and the existence of them appears to be distinctive of this species. They are five in number, on each side of the mesian plane, and, being arranged en cardes, they, on the approximation of the jaws, close after a dove-tailed manner; as shown in fig. 2. The branchial arches, (see also fig. 2,) are four in number; on the posterior half of the first three of which are placed several slender and curved dental appendages, resembling

the teeth of a garden rake; while, on the anterior half of these three arches are placed several tufts of short, straight teeth, arranged en brosses. The branchial rays are five in number, naked, attenuated, and curved. (See fig. 1.) The dorsal (or back) rays, amount to (one moveable spine and) ten soft rays, each bifurcated at its extremity, the terminated points fimbriated. The anal fin is furnished with thirteen soft rays, connected by a transverse band near the root, and bifid at their extremities. The caudal fin is attached, as in the salmon, to a very fleshy root, being moved by powerful muscles: it is forked, and

(Fig. 3.)

consists of thirty-six flattened, articulated, firm, and highly elastic rays. The pectoral fins have each ten soft rays; and the ventral fins present each seven soft rays.

For the remaining structural peculiarities of this very interesting fish, the reader is referred to the paper by Dr. Handyside, F. R. S. E., communicated to Prof. Jameson's Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, No. 54: the illustrations by M. Willington, of Saltisford, War

wick.

ISINGLASS FROM INDIAN FISH.

DR. CANTOR has examined the Suleah Fish, (the Polynemus Sele of Hamilton,) and has found an individual of 2lb. weight to yield 65 grains of pure isinglass, an article which sells in India at 16 rupees, (11. 12s., per lb.) The air-vessels form the isinglass, requiring only the removal of the vascular membrane that covers them, washing with lime-water, and drying in the sun. As these fishes attain a great size, they promise to furnish an abundant supply of isinglass in India.Proc. Zoolog. Soc.

NEW FISH.

A MEMOIR has been read at the Academy of St. Petersburgh, by M. de Baer, on a remarkable fish found in the White Sea, and called Navaga by the natives. It is a species of Cod, described by Pallas as the Gadus navaga, and its length does not exceed ten inches. The transversal apophyses of most of the abdominal vertebræ are of an excessive length, semi-tubular, and are terminated by cavities for air. The five first caudal vertebræ partake of this structure, having on each side of their lower curve, which receives the trunks of the vessels, a hollow prolongation. Although Pallas knew the skeleton, the affinity between these cavities and the swimming bladder seems to have escaped him, as well as Koelreuter. This bladder gives out lateral prolongations, which are hollow, into all these tubular bones; and this structure is peculiar to the species, as those of the genus nearest to it do not present any vestiges of it.-Athenaum.

THE WHITE TROUT OF IRELAND,

As a species, is perfectly distinct from the salmon or trout. Mr. Yarrell, in his History of British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 37, states that the Salmo-trutta of Linnæus, the Sea-trout of Fleming, and his Salmon trout, is the White Trout of Ireland; but there is not a close correspondence between the two. In contra-distinction to the common Trout, the flesh of the White Trout is of a richer flavour, and of a deeper orange colour; its skin is much thicker and more oily, its colour bright silvery, with the exception of the back, which is darker: it is destitute of orange spots. It is abundantly taken in salt water, and very seldom in fresh. Mag. Nat. Hist.

CAPTURE OF AN IMMENSE SAW-FISH AT TRINIDAD.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Magazine of Natural History describes the taking of an immense Saw-fish on April 15, at Point-à-Pierre. The labour occupied one hundred persons hauling the fish on with ropes before it was exhausted. On endeavouring to raise the fish, it was most desperate, sweeping with its saw from side to side, so that the men were compelled to get strong guy-ropes to save themselves being cut to pieces. At length, a Spaniard got on its back, and, at great risk, cut through the joint of the tail, when animation was completely suspended. It was then found to be 22 feet long, and 8 feet broad, and to weigh nearly five tons. The liver filled a beef-tierce; and in the body were found several eggs, the size of 18lbs. carronade shot. The head was cut off below the lower jaw, and has been prepared for the Wisbeach Museum: it is believed to be the largest head of a Saw-fish in the world.

NEW OSTRACEA.

A NEW genus of Ostracea has been established by M. Cantraine, of Ghent. It was found in the East by M. Bové, and has been named Carolia, in honour of Prince Charles Bonaparte. It is intermediate between the Anomiæ and Placunce. It is rounded, flattened, the valves moderately thick, of a leafy texture, and marked externally with diverging, irregular striæ. A very narrow fissure at the apex divides the dorsal edge. Its greatest diameter is four inches nine lines. Athenaum.

LIVING PROTEI AT PARIS.

PROF. JULES CLOQUET has brought with him from the grottos of Adelsberg, not one Proteus, but five, two only of which, however, have reached Paris alive. They have the form of a salamander or lizard, about six or seven inches long; their heads are flattish, and resemble those of an adder. They are either entirely blind, or at least no vestige of eyes can be observed. At the sides of the head are bronchiæ, which float about in the water, and are not unlike small coral branches; their feet are very short and flexible; the fore ones having three fingers, the hinder only two. The tail is flattened transversely, is semi-transparent, and endowed with great mobility. Two of these creatures are of a fine white colour tinged with pink; the