near ditches; it varies in colour, especially underneath, becoming spotted with black; the S. ciliatus of Sowerby is merely a variety; brings forth nine young. Mole. VI. Genus.-TALPA. Incisors in the lower jaw eight, in the upper six; no external ears; forefeet broad, formed for digging. 11. T. Europaa. Common Mole. Fur black; eyes small, and concealed in the fur. E. Moldwarp, or Molawant. S. Mudywort. G. Famh, Uir-rea-thabh. Common in all good soils, where it feeds on worms; subject to vary in colour from black to yellowish white; the incipient change appearing first on the belly; brings forth five young. Genus VII.-MELES. Badger. Incisors, six in each jaw, the second on each side in the lower jaw placed behind; cutting grinders in the upper jaw six, in the lower eight, the first adjoining the tusks very minute; bruising grinder in the upper jaw large, in the lower small; nails grooved; ears short; tongue smooth; a transverse glandular pouch between the anus and tail. 12. M. taxus. Common Badger, or Brock. Hair rigid, grey above, black beneath; head above white, with a black band on each side, in which the eyes and ears are placed. E. Gray, Pate, Bawson, G. Broc. Frequent in thickets; fond of eggs; brings forth five young; flesh used as food. An opinion formerly prevailed among naturalists that there were two kinds of badgers, viz. the sow-badger, and the dog-badger. But in England, ever since the days of Ray, few have given credit to the existence of the former species. In some districts of Scotland, however, the distinction is still recognized, leading us to hope, that some one qualified for the task will communicate to the public a detailed description of each species. "There are two species of badger found among the loose rocks of the Campsie Fells, the one somewhat resembling a sow, the other a dog; the first is more arched in the back, and is not so nimble in turning itself; there has occasionally been hams made of it in this place." Stat. Acc. Vol. -XV. p. 322. Campsie. Rev. James VIII. Genus.-MUSTELA. Weesel. four; in the lower six. Ears middleCutting grinders in the upper jaw sized'; tongue rough; pupil horizontal; fur near the mouth white; emit a fetid odour when irritated. 13. M. vulgaris. Common Weesel. Fur, above, yellowish brown; beneath, yellowish white. Length of the body seven inches; of the tail two inches and a half. E. Fitchet, Foumart; S. Whitred, Whitret; G. Neas. Common in old walls; a keen devourer of mice; brings forth five young, which are blind; sometimes changes to white in winter. 14. M. erminea- Ermine. Fur, above, yellowish brown; beneath, primrose yellow. Tail bushy; black at the end. Length of the body ten inches; of the tail six inches. E. Stout, Winter Weesel; S. Weasel. Frequents thickets; fond of eggs and poultry when putrid; generally confounded with the preceding, from which it may readily be distinguished by its superior size and black bushy tail; probably the Lavellan of CaithIn winter the fur assumes a ness. white colour, with the exception of the extremity of the tail, which remains black. 15. M. putorius. Foumart. Fur blackish brown, with a little white about the mouth and ears; nails long; length of the body seventeen inches; of the tail six inches. E. Fitchew, Polecat; G. Fòclan. Lives in holes under trees, near rivulets; destructive to poultry, sucking their blood; brings forth six Cuvier, Règne An. I. p. 149. La Marte commune. In the pine forests of Scotland, where it builds its nest like a squirrel on the tops of the trees. Rare in England. Common in the colder latitudes of the New and Old Continents. As the descriptions of these species are obscure, it would be desirable to obtain more definite characters, from an examination of recent specimens. The nomenclature of Ray has been adopted, and a list of synonimes added to prevent confusion. The fur of the pine martin is softer and more valuable than that of the former species, and before the Union formed an article of export from Scotland. X. Genus.-LUTRA. Otter. Cutting grinders six in each jaw; toes webbed; nails grooved; ears minute; tongue smooth; eyelids three, one of these lateral; nostrils furnished with a valve for closing them when diving; tail depressed. In the female, the external organ of generation is a small pouch, in the middle of which is the vagina. 18. L. vulgaris. Common Otter. Fur blackish brown, with a white spot on each side of the nose, and another under the chin; eyes looking upwards. S. Tyke. ; G. Ďòran, Dòrchù. Common near lakes and rivers, where it feeds on fish; burrows in the banks, and brings forth five young. In the islands it frequents the sea, (hence by some called Sea-otter,) visiting springs of fresh water for drink. Skins annually exported from the Northern Isles. II. Tribe. Two bruising grinders behind each chewing one, in the up per jaw, with a small cæcum. Not so bold and sanguinary as the animals of the preceding tribe. XI. Genus.-CANIS. Dog. Cutting grinders, in the upper jaw six, in the lower eight; two bruising grinders in each jaw; fore feet with five, hind feet with four, toes; nails hollowed; tongue smooth; ears large. Nostrils do not pass the end of the A. pastoralis. Shepherd's Dog, or Colly. Ears half pricked; tail bushy, recurved; fur black, long, soft, and loose; docile, sagacious; the useful companion of the shepherd, and still to be found unmixed in many of the sheep-districts of Scotland. B. Amphibius. Newfoundland Dog. Ears pendant; lips loose; fur long, dense, and waved; docile, sagacious; swims and dives well; not unlike the preceding, but larger, and fonder of the water. Originally from Newfoundland. C. Zetlandicus. Zetland Dog. Ears pointed, pricked; muzzle sharp; fur 1 long, brown; bark shrill, and indistinct. This is the common dog in the Zetland islands, and approaches in character to the Greenland dog. The preceding races are less mixed than any of the others, and probably make the nearest approach to the primitive stock. D. Villaticus. Cur. Ears half-pricked; fur short and smooth, stronger than the shepherds' dog; chiefly used in driving cattle. In some individuals the tail is very short. E. Taurinus. Bull-dog. Ears halfpricked; head round; snout short; under jaw projecting; stature low, muscular; courageous and obstinate. Seldom kept but by the idle and profligate for fighting. F. Mastivus. Mastiff. Ears pendant; lips large, and loose; stature large, stout; aspect sullen. A trusty guard, bold and vigilant. G. Scoticus. Rough Greyhound, Deer-dog, Ratche, or Scotch Greyhound. Chest deep; body curved; tail long; snout long, bearded; ears half-pricked; fur wiry, waved; stature tall, stout; possessed of great strength, sagacity, and swiftness. Common in the Highlands. H. Hibernicus. Wolf-dog, or Irish Greyhound. Chest deep; body curved; tail long; snout long; ears pendant; fur smooth, short; stature large; powerful; harmless and indolent; formerly employed for hunting wolves. Still to be found in Ireland 1. Leporarius. Smooth Greyhound. Chest deep; body curved; tail long; snout long, and sharp; ears halfpricked; fur short, thin, smooth, and glossy; stature tall, slender; swifter, but not so hardy or sagacious as the Rough Greyhound. K. Maculatus. Dalmatian Dog. Fur white, with numerous regular black spots; considered as an elegant companion to a carriage. wounded game; and in tracing the footsteps of robbers; now extinct. From this stock have sprung the Harrier, which is the smallest, and is used in hunting the hare; and the Forhound, of a larger size, used in the fox-chase. ** M. Indicator. Pointer. fur short, smooth, and glossy; extremely docile, but not active. Pointer, Spanish Head and snout thick; N. Aviarius. Spaniel, or Setter. Head and snout narrow; hair soft, long, waved, and pendant; more impatient, active, and hardy than the preceding. The Springer or Cocker seems to be a variety of this kind. * O. Terrarius. Terrier. Ears erect; legs short; joints thick; snout bearded; hair long, wiry; bites keenly; fond of vermin; docile. There is a variety with smooth soft fur, and another of a larger size, a cross breed with the fox-hound. This last is called the Otter Terrier, is docile, sagacious, bold, a goood house-guard; swims and dives well. P. Vertagus. Lurcher. Smaller and less slender than the rough greyhound; hair long; wiry; face hairy; steals upon its prey; sagacious, cunning, docile. A cross breed with the pointer constitutes a staunch and active setting dog. **** Q. Aquaticus. Water-Dog. Ears pendant; body thickly covered with long curled hair; snout slightly recurved; eyes almost concealed in the fur; scent acute, docile, sagacious; swims well, and learns readily to carry. 3. Section. Dwarfs. R. Carolinus. King Charles's Dog. Ears long, pendulous; body thickly covered with long waved hair. When the hair is very long and conceals the members, it is called the Shock-dog. S. Melitensis. Comforter. Hair on the ears and tail long. It is charac 2. Section. Motions regulated by terized as snappish, ill-natured, and the Smell. L. Sanguinarius. Bloodhound. Ears and lips large and pendant; tail blunt; joints thick; fur brown, with black spois; stature strong; scent acute; used by our ancestors in recovering noisy. T. Chinensis. Pug. Head globular; under jaw longest, and turned upwards. The three last are chiefly kept by ladies. Although a useless race, they are generally painpered and caressed, b. Nocturnal pupil compressed. 20. C. Vulpis. Fox. Fur yellowish brown; tail straight and bushy. S. Tod. G. Sionnach, Balgaire. There are three varieties of this animal known to huntsmen; but, whether these are permanent, or depend on age or sex, has not been satisfactorily determined. The first of these is called the Greyhound Fox; the tail is long and bushy, with a white tip; it is the largest and boldest; devours sheep and lambs. The second is the Mastiff Fox, or Brown Fox, of a darker colour, low, but more strongly built; feeds on poultry. The third is the Cur Fox, or Red For; the smallest; more red in the fur, tip of the tail black; feeds on poultry. III. Tribe. One bruising grinder behind each chewing grinder in the upper jaw, none in the lower; the most cruel and sanguinary of all animals. XII. Genus.-FELIS. Cat. Cutting grinders in each jaw four; toes five before, and four behind; nails retractile. 21. F. Catus. Wild Cat. Fur yellowish grey; back, sides, and tail, transversely barred with black; breast with a white mark; tail cylindrical, truncated; length of the body and tail sometimes five feet; weight eleven pounds. G. Cat-fiadhaich. This animal is found near exten sive woods, and feeds on poultry and lambs; improperly considered as the parent stock of our domestic cat. lour various; breeds about midsumE. Seamer; flesh dark coloured. S. Selch, Selchie, Tang calf, Soil. fish. Common on all parts of the coast. 23. P. barbata. Great Seal. Length about twelve feet; fur of thin brown hairs; flesh white; breeds in harvest. S. Haaf-fish, Bull-fish. Not so common as the preceding; more shy. The characters by which these two species are distinguished are far from being satisfactory. The history of the last has been but imperfectly explored. J. F. Manse of Flisk, March 1818. (To be continued.) FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS RESPECTING THE PROPAGATION OF FISH. MR EDITOR, WELL authenticated facts in natural history are certainly interesting to the general reader, as well as to the man of science. They are both aand I conmusing and instructive; fess I should like to see that department of your valuable Miscellany enlarged and extended. The field is ample, as we have yet much to learn with regard to the instincts and habits of even the most common of our domestic animals. We have now had a good many anecdotes respecting the feathered tribes; if, therefore, you think the following account of what I have observed with regard to the production or propagation of the finny race is of any interest, you will oblige me by giving it publicity. It was formerly a very common practice in this country, to" fish the waters," as it was called in the vulgar phraseology, by torch-light, during the close or spawning season, particularly during the latter end of November and beginning of December. In that part of the country where I resided, it was generally in quest of salmon that these fishings took place, technically denominated bills, salmon bills; query, bulls? The younger part of the community carried the torches, while the elders followed, each wielding a leister or spear, with which the fish was dispatched as soon as discovered. I have sometimes been a member of these unlawful meetings, to gratify my curiosity, as I was told 3 K they most generally killed the fish in the very act of spawning, a fact of which I was anxious to be a witness. One evening I carried a torch, and, to my great joy, discovered the object I had long been in quest of. Two fish of a moderate size, I think neither of them more than eighteen inches long, were squeezed into a hollow space resembling the rut of a cart-wheel, about eight or nine inches wide, and rather more than two feet long, which they had evidently dug in the centre of the stream. It was in a ford or shallow, about twenty yards above a pool of considerable depth. They were not even disturbed by the glare of the torch-light; and I prevailed upon the party to spare their lives, that I might prosecute my investigations farther; and we left them in the same state in which they were discovered. Next day I returned to the ford, but there was no appearance of any hollow; nay, the spot which I had accurately marked the night before was, if any thing, rather higher than the rest of the gravel. I frequently returned to this place, to ascertain if any change had taken place, and observed, that, in about three weeks or a month after the spawn had been deposited, the spot, and for a considerable distance around it, was covered with a glairy substance, resembling the spawn of frogs, which seemed to bind the sand and gravel together, so as to prevent their being acted upon or moved by the current that passed over it. In a week they had increased in size considerably. In a fortnight the pool was much thinned, and I could trace them for nearly a mile down the river. By the middle of March some of them were an inch and a half in length, and one day about the end of May, I caught upwards of seven dozen of them with the rod and fly, in the course of a few hours. They were then generally from four to five inches in length;-many miles distant from their birth place, and evidently making their way to the sea. It appears that they move in shoals, as every angler can testify, that he will frequently traverse miles about the beginning of the season without a single nibble, and that, when he does fall in with a shoal, he has only to throw in and pull out, and often if there were ten hooks upon his line, he would have a trout on each. I could not trace my particular family any longer. Indeed, I have no doubt ere that time they had been associated with many other families. In the spawning season the breeding fish are followed into the smaller rivers by a species called spawn suckers, whose business it is to dig up the spawn when they discover it, and feed upon it. Their young fry have also many enemies, and fall an easy prey to every species of their kind. I am, Sir, &c. H. Edinburgh, 4th May 1818. SOME PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE (Continued from page 326.) About the beginning of February, this substance seemed to be disappearing as if it had been washed away; and one day, about the middle of that month, I actually thought I could perceive the gravel heaving up and down. I determined next day to bring a spade, and ascertain if possible the condition of the young fry. A considerable fall of rain, however, produced a flood in the river, which prevented my accomplishing what I wished for several days, and when the water fell sufficiently to admit of my doing so, I found that the channel of the river had been so much altered, that no vestige whatever of my fish burrow remained. My next business was to investigate the pool, and as soon as the water became sufficiently clear, I found that it was filled with myriads of little minnows, many of them scarcely visible to the naked eye. published by Mr Rose, into whose posses SIR PATRICK HUME, after making the narrow escape from the party sent to apprehend him, related in our last, proceeded to London through bye ways; and from thence passed over to Holland, where he appears to have resided incognito till the following year, (1685,) when he accompanied the Earl of Argyle in his descent upon Scotland. The history of that unfortunate enterprise is well known, and Sir Patrick's interesting account of his own share in it is probably familiar to many of our readers. Sir Patrick's "Narrative" was first |