102 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Liparis Montagui, Cuv. — Since I first called attention 

 to the presence of this little fish on the West Coast, 

 I have, at certain seasons, found them by no means 

 uncommon. During last month (March) they were 

 quite numerous on the shores of Lochbuie, and 

 heavy with ripe ova. They are then so distended 

 that the least rough treatment bursts them and 

 allows the ova to extrude. All varieties, from the 

 lace-w T ork sucker of Couch to the richly- coloured 

 picta, are procurable at that time ; but should the 

 day be exceptionally calm, these delicate fish seem 

 to proceed farther to sea, and not to hover around 

 their accustomed pools. 



Conger vulgaris, Cuv. — The young of this eel have 

 been supposed to constitute the species Leptocephalus 

 Morrisii, Anglesea Morris. I believe that the figure 

 in Couch has been taken from a spirited specimen, 

 which is much altered from the original. In life, 

 the young of these eels, about three inches long 

 (as taken for the Institute in the fresh water of 

 a stream flowing into Loch Spelvie, and again on 

 the shore at Lochbuie), were strips of transparent 

 gelatine, but yet unmistakable offspring of the old 

 Conger in movement and appearance. They differ 

 in toto from the young of the fresh - water eel, 

 which are never transparent, and are more robust 

 and vigorous at the same size. It was interesting 

 to find this peculiarly sea-fish freely entering fresh 

 water at this stage, at a time when the fresh-water 

 eels are breeding in sea-water, as if invading each 

 other's territory ? 



RAIA clavata, Lin. (Thornback Skate). — Professor 

 MTntosh is in error as to the habits of this fish, as 

 recorded in last Fishery Board Report. The Thorn- 

 back throws its purses in the months from May to 

 July, affixing them to sea-ware in shallow water, 

 on rocky ground, by means of a mucus that sur- 

 rounds them at exit, and stiffens in the sea-water. 

 I have taken these egg-cases from the females when 



