great difficulty that I drew it out. The Dabchick, I think, much more frequently than the Kingfisher, loses its life in the above manner.—C. Matthew Prior (Bedford).
[On the 31st January last a Dabchick was brought to us which had been found choked precisely in the same manner, and the "Miller's-thumb" was still sticking in its throat.—Ed.]
Large Mackarel at Plymouth.— An enormous example of the common Mackarel, Scomber vulgaris, measuring two feet in length, thirteen and a quarter inches in girth, and four pounds and one ounce in weight, was taken in a drift net off Plymouth on February 9th. The colour and markings of this fine fish were of the ordinary kind, and very bright. Mr. Couch, in his 'History of British Fishes,' mentions that the largest he ever saw measured half an inch short of two feet; but Pennant speaks of one sold in London that weighed five and a quarter pounds.— J. Gatcombe (55, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth).
Scyllarus Arctus at Plymouth.— A specimen of this rare British crustacean was brought up in a trawl off Plymouth, in the middle of January, and is now in the possession of Mr. Spence Bate, by whom it has been preserved. I have heard of but one other local example of this species having been taken, which I duly recorded some years ago.— J. Gatcombe.
PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
Linnean Society of London.
January 17, 1878.— Professor Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair.
Mr. J. B. Kerswill, of Fairfield, St. Germains, Cornwall, was balloted for, and duly elected a Fellow of the Society.
Professor Owen, C.B., read a paper "On Hypsiprymnodon, Ramsay, a Genus indicative of a distinct Family (Pleopodidæ) in the Diprotodont Section of the Marsupials." The animal in question is an inhabitant of the Rockingham Bay district of Queensland. There it sparingly frequents the dense and damp shrubs bordering the coast. It is diurnal, and feeds on insects, worms, and tuberous roots, or palm-berries. These it grasps in its fore paws, and, sitting on its haunches, munches after the manner of the Phalaugers. It breeds during the rainy season, viz., February to May. Both sexes have a musky odour, are alike in size, and somewhat over a foot long. This Rat Kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) Mr. E.P.
