NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BELL ROCK. 



Port Hamilton. Hooking a fair sized codling, the camera 

 was turned on the scene, and fish a la photo figured in our 

 bill of fare next morning. A few years ago a photo was- 

 taken of a paidle cock and hen, both of which were taken 

 from their nests for this purpose, and proved amenable 

 sitters ; the cock appearing in the photo quite conscious of 

 his importance, though the hen appeared somewhat bored, 

 having been snapped in the middle of a huge " gape," which 

 some of my previous sitters might interpret as a yawn. Both 

 were returned to their nests none the worse of their unique 

 experience, and possibly yet relate their feelings before the 

 camera to the admiring wonder of fishy audiences, till puffed 

 with the idea of their own importance they now probably 

 suffer from a disease (peculiar to some higher vertebrates 

 with as slender a reputation) resulting in what is colloquially 

 known as " swelled head." 



Wouldn't the fishermen of Arbroath fancy their lines had 

 fallen in pleasant places should the fish they pursue at such 

 hazard come sailing voluntarily into the harbour, and even 

 without the usual ceremony of dropping them a line, appear 

 on the surface, mutely asking to be lifted out? Such, how- 

 ever, was our experience lately. Shortly before daybreak one 

 quiet morning our attention was attracted by the movements 

 of a few gulls, evidently interested in some object in the 

 water at the edge of the reef. As daylight advanced it was- 

 seen to be a large fish wobbling erratically upon the surface. 

 On extinguishing the light and descending to the rocks, which 

 the advancing tide had not yet covered, the fish was seen 

 to have entered the Johnny Gray boat track, and was pro- 

 pelling itself, keel upwards, in our direction. A fish in this 

 unusual position indicates an abnormal distension of the 

 swimming bladder, which, by over-increasing its buoyancy, 

 entirely upsets its centre of gravity, and forces it topsy-turvy 

 to the surface. A steam trawler, which had been working 

 close to the Rock for several days previous, was probably 

 responsible for our friend's "blown" condition. Stepping 

 gingerly over beds of white whelks as we wade bare foot to- 



