FISHES. 221 



In the preceding enumeration of British Fishes, I have taken notice of 

 a few species which seem entitled only to the rank of stragglers, such as the 

 Flying Fish, Remora, and a few others. The geographical distribution of 

 these species is so far ascertained, that individuals occuiTing in particular 

 places may, with some confidence, be regarded as having strayed from their 

 ordinary haunts, and not likely either to remain permanently, or to multi- 

 ply. But there are a few species, in the genera Wrasse and Gurnard, for 

 example, which, though they have been seldom observed on our coasts, are 

 still permitted to occupy a place in the British Fauna. The geographical 

 distribution of these species is too little known to permit any accurate opi- 

 nion being formed respecting their ordinary hainits. They may, jjrobably, 

 be found more frequently in our seas, as the products of our fishing boats are 

 examined with more attention. In this department there is much which has 

 been neglected, so that a rich harvest of discovery still awaits the zealous and 

 practical cultivators of the science of Ichthyology who have access to exten- 

 sive fishing stations. 



The revolutions which have taken place in the different epochs of the earth's 

 duration, and which have left memorials of their influence, in the numerous 

 relics of extinct species which the different strata contain, have extended 

 their destructive operations to fishes ; an occurrence attested by the remains 

 of teeth and vertebrae, and entire impressions of fish, exhibited by manv stra- 

 ta. But those parts which have been preserved, exhibit so imperfectly the 

 characteristic mark of the species, as to render it difficult, if not impossible, 

 in the present state of ichthyological osteology, to give notices of their his- 

 tory at all calculated to interest the reader. 



The circumstances which regulate the physical distribution of Fishes, appear 

 as yet to be imperfectly determined. Living in a medium, less influenced 

 by changes of temperature than the atmosphere, the mere action of heat 

 exercises but little control. Yet it is probable that the attachment of the 

 Pilchard to Cornwall and the Tusk to Zetland, may arise from this circum- 

 stance. Fish appear, however, to have peculiar local attachments, frequent- 

 ing certain banks, shores, or tideways, in preference to others. Thus, the 

 Hake and the Braize, while they are distributed along the south-western 

 shores of England, and the coast of Ireland, are likewise extended, though less 

 abundantly, to the Hebrides, while their northern limits on the east coast 

 are much more circumscribed. Suitable food is probably the great regulator 

 of these distributions. 



The migrations of fishes, in compliance with the arrangements of their 

 reproductive system, exhibit the most singular movements, often complex, 

 but always useful to man. Those which inhabit the inaccessible depths of 

 the sea, in ordinary cases, approach the shores, towards the season of spawn- 

 ing ; and, after depositing their eggs in suitable situations, again retire to 

 their inaccessible haunts. The fry occupy for a time their littoral birth- 

 place, and then follow the course of the older individuals, though in several 

 cases the young seem to execute movements different from the full grown 

 fish. Not a few species, as the salmon, which have their ordinary residence 

 in the sea, approach, towards the spawning season, the shores, enter estuar- 

 ies and ascend rivers, where, having selected a suitable place, they deposite 

 their eggs, and again return to the sea. The fry, after a certain period, like- 

 wise leave the fresh waters and betake themselves to the sea. Similar move- 

 ments are executed by the fish which inhabits lakes. As the spawning sea- 

 son approaches, several species, as the Gwiniad, leave the deep water" and 

 approach the margin ; while others, as the Roach, not only approach the 

 margin of the lake, but ascend the neighbouring streams.— With a few other 

 species, as the Eel, for example, these movements are reversed ; the spawn- 

 ing fish leave the fresh-water lakes and rivers, and retire to the sea to give 

 birth to their progeny. 



