SPARINE. 41 



spines, the last two not enlarged or scaled, but in some instances their bases approxi- 

 mate. Pectoral as long or even longer than the head, Ventral reaching the vent. 

 Second and third anal spines of abont the same length and strength. Caudal 

 deeply forked. Scales 6 rows between the eye and the angle of the preopercle. 

 Ccecal appendages four, of which one is much larger than the remaining three. 

 Colours of an orange-scarlet having purple and silvery reflections, becoming light 

 underneath : fins coloured as is the body : ventrals colourless, anal with a tinge of 

 grey. In a large example, just captured, I observed blue spots over the body, like- 

 wise in some chads of this species, which abounded at Mevagissey when I was 

 there in August, 1880, the usual length of which were about 8 inches. 



Varieties. I conclude Couch's Becker may be a deformed or mutilated 

 example of this fish. 



Names. Pandora, king of the breams. Le Pagel commun, French. 



Habits. It is a migratory species, by no means uncommon, and most usually 

 found during the summer and autumn, leaving as the cold weather sets in. Its 

 habits seem to be somewhat solitary, and it is mostly taken at a depth of several 

 fathoms. Off Nice it appears to be found throughout the year. 



Baits. Mussels are the favourite bait, but small fishes, crustacean animals 

 and even sea vegetables are readily eaten. 



As food. Not esteemed in Britain. 



Habitat. This fish extends from the British shores to the Mediterranean 

 wher/e it abounds, and is found even in the Black Sea. Also in the Atlantic Ocean 

 to the Canaries, while it has been imported from the Cape. 



It is common in the British seas, on the south and west coasts of England, but 

 becomes more rare to the north and in Scotland The Spanish bream recorded 

 from Norfolk by Gurney as having been taken November 13th, 1846 (Zoologist, 

 p. 1555), would appear from the description to be this species. 



In Ireland Andrews has recorded it from the S.W. coast. 



* Holacanthus tricolok, Bloch. At the Zoological Society, January 20th, 1880, Dr. Giinther 

 exhibited a drawing of this tropical fish, " obtained on the coast of the Island of Lewes, and 

 communicated to him by the lieverend George Gordon, who examined the specimen whilst in a 

 fresh state. Dr. Giinther stated that this was the first instance of this fish having reached the 

 British coast." (P. Z. S. 1880, p. 23). This fish "was brought from Stornoway to Lossiemouth, 

 it had been carried to Stornoway by the master of a small ship that had come from Glasgow, and 

 the fish had not been caught at Stornoway by a herring-net or otherwise." (P. Z. S. 1880, p. 356). 

 How it reached Lossiemouth in Morayshire in a fresh state is not recorded. 



