SCAB. 137 



of April; but for the remainder of the year it is amongst the 

 commonest of British fishes. Yet from its sensibility to the 

 impressions of cold, there is considerable variation in its habits 

 in the different parts of the British Islands; so that in Scotland, 

 as well as in the north of the European continent, it is only 

 known as a casual visitor whose motions are irregular and 

 interrupted. As the only proof he knew of its occurrence in 

 Scotland, Dr. Fleming adduces an instance in which a mutilated 

 individual Avas found on the shore near the mouth of the Tay; 

 and Mr. Thompson tells us that although known in the north 

 of Ireland, it is abundant only in the south of that kingdom. 

 I have found the Scad with roe ready to be shed at the 

 middle of July, and large numbers, scarcely exceeding two 

 inches in length, were taken in the middle of October in the 

 same year. Yet this cannot be its usual season of spawning, 

 or it must produce its young twice in the year; for I have 

 known them, not exceeding an inch in length, to be found in 

 great numbers in the mouths and stomachs of large fishes, 

 fiom the end of December, through January, to the middle of 

 February. And again, I have known them, of the length of 

 three or four inches, abundantly taken in August and September, 

 in company with the young of the Common Mackarel of the 

 same length; these last-named fish being well known as spawning 

 on our coasts in June, and not later than the early part of July. 

 The fate of these little fishes is sometimes unfortunate, as they 

 come to the surface for the benefit of the warmth and sunshine; 

 for as they huddle close together they are assailed from below 

 by murs and guillemots, Avhich dive beneath, and terrify them 

 from seeking safety in the only way in which it can be ob- 

 tained, while multitudes of gulls rest on the water and devour 

 them at their pleasure. These last-named birds are so closely 

 pressed together, that there is no room for those which have 

 come the last, but in alighting on their comrades, Avhich thus 

 are compelled to make room and rise aloft. In this way there 

 is a constant motion among them, until the diving birds 

 beneath are gorged to the full, and make way for the fishes to 

 escape by sinking beneath. In September and October it is 

 \isual for Scads, of the length of about seven or eight inches, 

 to be caught in considerable abundance in the drift-nets shot 

 for Pilchards; but such numbers of this size have also been 

 VOL. II. T 



