196 FLOTJNDEK. 



tliree weeks in securing them. It is also known to be common 

 throughout the Baltic, and, Ekstrom says, up to the sixtieth 

 degree of latitude. 



In the younger stages of their existence these fishes are 

 devoured in large nu.mbers by predaceous fishes and the larger 

 diving birds, and an instance of this has been already given 

 in our account of the habits of the Dorce; but the loon (diver,) 

 cormorant, and shag are more voracious enemies, while their 

 sharp bills enable these birds to grasp them beyond the chance 

 of escape. But to gulp down so wide a prey is not found 

 so easy as to seize it, and it is amusing to the spectator to 

 see the contrivance adopted by these birds to succeed in the 

 attempt. The fish is to be first pecked in such a manner as 

 to break or dislocate the bones, which can only be effected after 

 repeated and violent efforts. The sides are then rolled together, 

 like a sheet of paper, and with the head foremost the whole 

 is safely passed into the capacious gullet. We may add here 

 that if the prey be a crab it is taken to the surface, and the 

 bird makes successive pecks at the legs, which, when struck 

 with violence, are thrown off in succession by an effort of 

 the animal, and duly swallowed, and the naked body is 

 swallowed last of all. A Launce or Shanny is held aloft by 

 the tail, or across the mouth, and then thrown into the air, 

 when some skill is shewn in catching the fish with the head 

 in the right direction, and it passes easily into the stomach. 



I have fovmd the roe of full size from the middle of 

 December, the spawn being deposited in the tide-way of 

 rivers; and I have also known the young to be excluded 

 about the end of April, when they may be seen in the stiller 

 parts of pools, their structure easily seen through, and moving 

 in all directions, either flat or on their edge. 



With us this fish seldom exceeds the length of a foot, and 

 the heaviest I have a memorandum of weighed a pound and 

 a half; but it is said to have acquired a much larger size. 

 There is reason to suppose that the females are larger than 

 the males. An example eleven inches and a half long measured 

 four inches and a half in breadth, exclusive of the fins. The 

 general shape bears a resemblance to that of the Plaice; gape 

 moderate; mouth twisted, arched; under jaw a little protruded; 

 teeth slender. Eyes rather large the lower one slightly in 



