of flic Fisher 1/ JJoard for Scotland. 533 



Species Found in the Stomachs of Sprats. 



Allis Shad. Clupea alosa, Liu. 



A specimen of Clupea cdosa was obtained from the salmon fishers at 

 the Bay of Nigg on August 18th, 1900 ; it had been captured in their nets 

 during the preceding tide. The specimen measured twenty inches 

 (about 50 cm.) in length, and weighed 2 lbs. 6^ vz. The food contained 

 in its stomach, which appeared to consist entirely of Temora longicornis, 

 filled a 4-oz. bottle. 



TwAiT Shad. Clupea finta, Cuv. 



A specimen of the Twait Shad measuring 20| inches, or nearly 51 

 centimetres, in length, which was captured about eight miles east-north- 

 east of Aberdeen on January 6th of this year (1902), had in its stomach 

 two Sprats about 7|- centimetres in length, and also several Amphipods 

 belonging apparently to Parathemisto oblioia (Krbyer). 



Common Eel. Anguilla vulgaris, Luach. 



Nineteen specimens of the Common Eel have been examined, seven of 

 which were captured at the mouth of the Eiver Dee at Aberdeen, one in 

 Loch Fyne, and eleven in Loch of Loirston — a tew miles distant from the 

 Laboratory — and for these I am indebted to Dr. Williamson. The 

 specimen from Loch Fyne was captured near Inveraray in 1897, but ft 

 was only examined on January 27th, 1901. The stomach of this 

 specimen contained three dozen examples of Idoiheccpelagica, Leach. Some 

 of the female specimens carrying ova measured scarcely 5 millimetres in 

 length. The fragments of a few Gamviarus locusta were observed in the 

 intestines of this fish. 



Two specimens of average size captured near the mouth of the River 

 Dee, the one in July and the other in August, 1900, had in their 

 stomachs partly digested Crustacea and Annelids. Five which were 

 captured near the mouth of the River Dee on July Sth^ 1901, and measured 

 from 37^ to 60 centimetres in length, were examined, and in the stomach of 

 the largest one a small shore Crab, Carcinus mcenas, and the partly 

 digested remains of a Hermit Crab were obtained; the stomach of 

 another, 39^ centimetres, contained a small Gunnel, Pholis gunnellus, the 

 length of which was about 10 cm.; but the other three stomachs contained 

 nothing that could be identified. 



The specim(!ns from Loch of Loirston were collected early in June, 

 1901, five being collected on the 4th and six on the 5th; nothing 



