NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BELL ROCK. 95 



are white in colour, and somewhat resemble the outline of the 

 human ear. The enveloping membrane, of rubber-like con- 

 sistency, is quite transparent, and is seen to contain a frothy 

 fluid. The inner edge of each coil is furnished with an 

 adhesive margin, by means of which it is firmly fixed to the 

 rock surface. 



It is interesting to note the different modes adopted by 

 fioh to ensure the propagation of their species. Some, ap- 

 parently careless of results, consign the spawn to the mercy 

 of the waves, while others conceal it from predatory neighbours 

 in the soft, sandy bottom. The skate family, adopting a 

 different procedure with their egg cases those purse-like 

 receptacles often seen cast up on our beaches moor them 

 securely to the vegetation on the sea bottom by the long 

 elastic tendrils prolongations of the four corners of the case. 

 Parental interest is, perhaps, better evinced in the case of the 

 "paidle-fish" standing guard over his nest with unwearied 

 vigilance, exhibiting all the care of a brooding hen for his 

 future offspring, Again, in the case of the dog-fish the 

 plague of fishermen how different. Here the young are 

 brought forth, after the fashion of mammals, fully developed. 

 A common sight in fishing boats where these pests are brought 

 on board, is to see the finger-long juveniles swimming briskly 

 about in the bilge- water with the yolk-sac still attached. In 

 some parts it is customary to split and dry these fish for 

 winter consumption, though the flavour of roasted " dogs " 

 would scarcely recommend itself to anyone unaccustomed to 

 its use, nor its relationship to fish even be suspected. The 

 liver at one time supplied the natives of the Hebrides with 

 lamp oil, and was also considered a panacea for all bovine 

 ailments, the method of administering the dose being to 

 keep the head of the cow elevated while the mouth was forced 

 open, and the entire liver, as removed from the fish, slipped 

 gently down the throat ; no " sugar-coated pills " about that ! 



Spring tides occurring at the "full" and "change" of the 

 moon, and our gratings consequently being then uncovered 

 for a much longer period each tide, the "reliefs" are so 



