150 PHYSOSTOMI. 



In the Orkneys and Zetland it is not uncommon (W. Baikie) and extends in 

 more or less abundance during certain seasons around the British coasts. Banff, 

 not scarce at certain seasons (Edward) : Moray Firth (Harris) : Aberdeen (Sim) : 

 St. Andrews, occasionally thrown on the sands after storms (Mcintosh). It enters 

 the Firth of Forth in large shoals about the beginning of July in company with 

 the mackerel, and remains till the end of August. It seldom ascends the Firth 

 to any distance. Is taken with net and hook, and sometimes found on the haddock 

 lines which have been baited with mussel (Parnell). Berwickshire occasional 

 (Johnston) : Yorkshire, resident off the coast and not uncommon, approaching 

 the shore in summer : in autumn it has been cast ashore in considerable numbers 

 during heavy gales* (Yorkshire Vertebrata) : Norfolk, off which coast it breeds 

 (Lowe) : one is recorded by Lubbock as having been taken within five miles of 

 Norwich. Along the whole of the south coast. Kent and Sussex very abundant. 

 Devonshire not uncommon (Parfitt). Cornwall common. Off Swansea is not 

 infrequent in the Bay, but never in shoals and usually of a smaller size than 

 on the other coasts (Dillwyn). In the Firth of Clyde, May 25th, 1877, the 

 capture of an example 28 inches in length was recorded as a rarity (Flemyng, 

 Nat. Hist. Soc. Glasgow). 



In Ireland it is taken all round the coast, generally in the latter part of 

 the summer and autumn: a few are also obtained in the early months of 

 the year (Thompson). In some seasons it is common from Cork to Londonderry. 



The example figured is 28 inches long from Devonshire : the largest example 

 I have collected has been 2 feet 9 inches. Pennant records it up to 3 feet. 



* Mr. Dunn informs me of an instance in which one of these fishes, just outside the harbour at 

 Mevagissey, was seen and chased by a porpoise. It sprang out of the water and its pursuer 

 followed it upwards of a hundred yards. The gar was now almost in the jaws of the porpoise 

 when a rock jutting a few inches above the sea was arrived at. Over it went the fish, but the heavy 

 porpoise ran its head against the barrier and appeared partially stunned. 



