472 NOVA SCOTIAN ZOOLOGY—PIERS. 
road to the east of Blockhouse (Stanford’s) Pond, near the Three- 
mile House. It was a couple of feet in length and answered per- 
fectly the description of this species. I know of only one previ- 
ous record of its capture in the vicinity of Halifax. Dr. J. B. 
Gilpin, in his paper on the Serpents of Nova Scotia,* says that it 
is exceedingly rare in our Province, and he was indebted to Mr. 
J. M. Jones, F. L. S., for the only adult specimen he had identi- 
fied. Mr. Jones’ specimen was one which he had obtained many 
years ago from my father, Mr. Henry Piers, who had captured it 
in adamp place about three-quarters of a mile to the south of the 
locality whence my own had come. 
FISHES. 
SuNFISH (Orthagoricus mola). On August 11th, 1889, while 
walking on the shore of Bedford Basin, near the Four-mile House 
(Rockingham), I saw a dark-coloured object bobbing up and 
down in the smooth water, about half or three-quarters of a mile 
from the land. It appeared and disappeared at pretty regular 
intervals and at the same time progressed slowly through the 
water. After some delay several men left the shore in a boat 
and succeeded in securing the animal. It was brought to land 
and, to my surprise, proved to be a Sunfish. This is a rare fish 
in Nova Scotian waters. Mr. J. M. Jones in his list of the fish of 
our Province,f mentions only one specimen which has been taken 
here. This was an individual five feet six inches in length, 
which was taken in Halifax harbour, October 1873, and was des- 
cribed by Dr. J. B. Gilpin in the Transactions of the Institute.t 
It is the only recorded specimen. Another, however, was taken 
many years ago by Mr. James Doyle near the Mill Cove at 
Bedford. 
The Sunfish, it is said, is very fond of feeding upon Jelly-fish 
(Meduse). The specimen recently captured must have been at- 
tracted by these animals, myriads of which were in the Basin at 
the time. On examining the fish as it lay upon the shore imme- 
diately after it was taken from the water, I noticed upon the sides 
* Transactions of N, S. Institute of Natural Science, Vol. IV, p. 84. 
tTrans. N, S, Inst. Nut, Sc., Vol. V, p. 95. 
{Vol. III, p. 343. 
