10 



taken as far nortli as Sweden ; but only three 

 cases are on record of their capture off our 

 coasts. They are held in great rejiute for their 

 flesh, which is fine-flavoured ; the head and 

 shoulders were anciently considere<l the finest 

 parts, and presented by lloman fishermen to 

 the Chief Magistrate as a tribute. The " ear- 

 stones," which are of large size, were said to 

 prevent and cure colic, and for that purpose 

 were worn in a gold setting as lockets. It has 

 been observed that, when swimming in sh^oals, 

 they make a kind of grunting or purring noise. 

 In form they resemble the bass, but are more 

 bulky : the head rather short, body moderately 

 compressed, becoming more slender towards the 

 tail. They are of great strength, and, when 

 captured, wield the tail with such rapidity and 

 force as to fell a man with a blow. The speci- 

 men taken at Brighton was five feet long, and 

 weighed nearly 701bs. The flesh was firuv, the 

 stomach emjity, but the liver weighed only 4oz. 

 The colours were scarcely so brilliant as in those 

 described as frequenting the Mediterranean. 

 The scales were large, some being nearly an 

 inch in length, and similar in their charac- 

 teristics to those of the white bass. The flesh, 

 by all who tasted it, was pronounced excellent. 

 A photograph of the fish was exhibited, and 

 scales disti'ibuted amongst the members present. 



18G9. 



Jan. li.— On "Flint," by Mr. W. Wonfor.— After 

 describing the position of flint in the chalk, 

 as arranged in regular layers, Mr. Wonfor 

 pointed out the fact that, in every case, flints 



