244 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



with this. So I think you may take it that the 

 Sprats in question were females, and contained 

 embryotic ova. I do not think this is a rare 

 occurrence, but in more advanced state I have 

 never seen it." 



Still unsatisfied, I remained on the alert, while 

 one or two fisherfolk were as eager to assist me. To 

 a most unusual catch of Sprats made in February I 

 was indebted for satisfactory evidence. On the 18th 

 some large and plump examples were on sale, and 

 one or two were reserved for me. One fish was full 

 of ripe ova, which, on pressing the abdomen, oozed 

 out in distinct yellow globules the size of a pin's 

 head indeed, they looked very much like mustard 

 seeds, and were proportionately larger, and con- 

 sequently not so numerous as those found in a 

 Herring. 



BULL-DOG VARIETY OF GURNARD 



A most extraordinary example of the variety 

 known as "Bull-dog" Gurnard a Sappharine or 

 " Latchett " was sent to me in May 1897. It 

 measured 16 inches in length. The head had the 

 appearance of having been " stove in," the lower jaw 



