1110 



SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 



of its geographical range, but its occurrence is rare 

 even off the north coast of France. It penetrates into 

 the Sound fiiul, through the Belts, into the western- 

 most part of the Baltic in the same manner as the 



Fig. 317. llaja hi/perborea, rf, ^,3 nat. size. After Collett 



Tlioruhack, but is somewhat commoner there, though 

 less numerous on the coast of Bohusli'tn than the latter. 

 iMjually e.Ktensive is its bathymetric range. In Scan- 

 dinavian waters it general!)' lives at a less depth than 

 the Thornback, but appears also to descend to far lo^ver 

 levels. Stou.m obtained a specimen from Trondhjem 

 Fjord that had been taken in 250 fathoms of water, 

 and the above-mentioned Norwegian Fxpedition secured 

 their two young s]5ecimeiis from Spitzl>crgen at a depth 

 of 4.59 fathoms. 



In its manner of life the Starry IJay seems else 

 to resemble the preceding species; but it is smaller, 

 and is therefore restricted to smaller prey, preferably 

 small fishes, comparatively minute crustaceans (Aniphi- 

 pods), and worms. "Early in spring (in the month of 



March)", says Kkdyek, "it ascends towards the shal- 

 lows; it appears to lead a secluded life during a great 

 part of the summer; and at the approach of winter it 

 returns to the depths on the completion of its spawn- 

 ing operations." Its egg-shells, he says, are about 61 

 mm. long, exclusive of the prolongations at the tour 

 corners, and 39 mm. broad. The fry seem to remain 

 not far from land during winter, for the small young 

 specimens mentioned above, whose peculiarities were 

 remarked by Fuies, were caught at this time of year 

 in Herring-seines. 



In Scandinavia the Starry Ftay is of less im- 

 portance than the Thornback, partly owing to its smaller 



