[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 22 Oct 1814 - Natural History

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 22 Oct 1814   (p. 4, col. 1)

 

CURIOSITIES in NATURAL HISTORY. 

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Some time ago, Mr. Thomas MILBURN, of Hayton, in the neighbourhood of Carlisle, set some partridge's eggs under a hen, which were
all reared; though they were soon afterwards destroyed by a cat, except two. These followed their foster-mother with the same
assiduity as if they formed part of her own brood; and though she has now left them to shift for themselves, the partridges are
nevertheless as domesticated as any poultry could possibly be: they still feed in the barn-yard, have a particular cry of their own;
and though they sometimes fly to considerable distances in quest of food, in this respect partaking somewhat of the nature of wild
fowl, they never fail to appear when called upon. 

 

An eel was exposed for sale in Whitehaven market, on Thursday week, which weighed 18½lbs. 

 

A fresh water trout, of the great weight of 15lbs was lately taken in the Clyde, nearly opposite the village of Crawford. 

 

An onion, measuring 15 inches round, and weighing 15½oz. was taken up in a garden at York. 

 

Last week, John ANDERSON, tailor, of North Shields, caught on the shore an uncommon fish, called the Lophious, or European Angler, a
name given from its lying at the bottom amongst the mud, and having numerous tentacula on its back, resembling worms, which it moves
to entice its prey. It was three feet long, 16 inches broad near the head, and had a triple row of teeth on each jaw, like the
shark, with numerous rows on the tongue and roof of the mouth, pointed inwards; two large eyes on its back, betwixt the dorsal fins,
under which were two large pouches, apparently for the purpose of sheltering its young, like the oppossum, &c. This fish had two
large eels in its stomach, and the jugular fins were shaped like a human hand. 

 

On the 5th inst. at Lytham, on the ebbing of the tide, a fish of extraordinary dimensions (thirteen yards in length) was observed on
the sandbanks. Numbers of the country people hastened to the spot, but were deterred by the horrible noise it made, and which was
heard throughout the whole neighbourhood, from attacking it till the tide had begun to flow, when they pierced both its eyes with
boat-hooks; but before they could effectually moor their prize, the tide had risen nine feet, when it floated into deep water and
has not since been heard of. 

 

 

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