MISCKT.TiANEOUS NOTICES. 207 



of youthful anglers may be seen in a summer evening, using their simple but 

 effective tackle, which is sometimes nothing more than a slender wand, a bit 

 of twine, and a bent pin. The young Coalfishes, when nearing the shore with 

 the tide, swallow greedily any bait which is thrown in their way, and thus 

 they are taken in great numbers; but when the water is receding, they 

 become shy and will sniff saucily at the bait, wag their tails, and pass on. 

 On the east of Scotland, young individuals are known as podleys, and adults 

 as sdhes. Frequently in the winter season when the fishermen, in catching 

 haddocks, shoot their lines over rocky ground, large numbers are captured of 

 the maximum size, but they are grudgingly brought to shore as intruders on 

 more profitable fishing. 



In speaking of the Hake, {Merlucius vulgaris,) we may observe that althou*>h 

 it is said to be very rare in Scotland, we give credit to some non- scientific 

 authorities who state the reverse: we mean the fishermen. In a recent 

 communication from our friend, Mr. John Jaffray, residing in Dunbar, he 

 states that he had made particular inquiries among the most intelligent of the 

 fraternity, and was pleased to obtain very satisfactory information from one 

 of them regarding the fish. This individual whom he interrogated, knew very 

 well the differences bctwcn it and the Coalfish, and gave them in precise 

 detail, shewing he did not speak at random; affirming at the same time that 

 when following his vocation on the coast of Caithness, he had seen Hakes in 

 great abundance caught in the Herring nets, to which, as well as to the 

 Herrings themselves, they were very destructive. We mention this fact in the 

 hope that if ^'The Naturalist" has travelled so far north as the county we 

 have named, some of its readers there will be induced to make observations 

 confirmatory of what we now record. 



So^ithcroft Govan, Glasgotv, Septemher Sth., 1851. 



3Jli5rdiniirnti3 Jhilm. 



Anecdote of a Dog. — A gentleman of my acquaintance — Mr. II , of 



Axminster, in Devonshire, was, a few years since, the owner of a very intel- 

 ligent and sagacious dog. It was a white Bull-terrier of the largest size; by 

 no means remarkable for its beauty, but singularly docile, and strongly 

 attached to its master; of whom it was the constant companion in the 

 extensive journeys, which, as a commercial traveller, he was in tlie habit of 

 taking. One day, Mr. H. had occasion to call at a house at the entrance to 

 Lyme Regis, and accordingly alighted from his gig for that purpose, leaving 

 his dog on the driving box.. The horse, from some cause took fright, and 

 started at a tremendous pace towards the town, with the reins trailing on 

 the ground in dangerous proximity to its feet. In a few seconds, after appa- 

 rently deliberating how to act, the dog leaped from the gig and seized the 



