9 6 THE MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND FISHES OF ESSEX. 



parts of the English seaboard, it appears only as a straggler 

 off Essex, the sandy shallow shore not suiting its habits. 



I have seen many exposed for sale in Norway. As they 

 are there sold alive, the fishermen, to prevent their becoming 

 dangerous, cut off a large part of the upper jaw. 



Genus CENTRONOTUS, Block. 



Centronotus gunnellus, Block. BUTTER FISH. 

 This is another fish frequently caught in eel-trawls. I find 

 it very commonly on the Zostera-covered ooze at Mersea. 

 Yarrell (British Fishes, vol. i., p. 240) says it is found in the 

 mouth of the Thames. 



Genus ZOARCES, Cuv. 



Zoarces viviparus, Cuv. VIVIPAROUS BLENNY. 

 Not a rare fish. It is taken occasionally among sprats by 

 the stow-boat fishermen, also by eel-trawlers. 



Family ATHERINID^E, Giinther. 



Genus ATHERINA, Artedi. 



Atherina presbyter, Jenyns. SAND SMELT, 

 This fish is occasionally captured by the Smelt fishermen 

 at the mouth of the Colne. In 1886, I saw many specimens, 

 and an old man engaged in the work told me they were then 

 more numerous than he had ever before known them to be. 

 As a rule, we very rarely see them. They are far inferior in 

 every way to the true Cucumber Smelt. 



Family MUGILID^, Cuv. 

 Genus MUGIL, Artedi. 



Mugil capito, Cuv. GREY MULLET. 



Yarrell says (British Fishes, vol. i., p. 202) " it occurs con- 

 stantly on the Essex coast." I consider it common in the 

 season all round the coast, entering and passing some distance 



