bit JOHNSTON*S ADDRESS. 7 



least, were the common tope ^ tlie starry ray 2, of which I have had 

 several specimens brought me, the top-knot ^ the toothed gilt-head *, 

 the sea perch ^ the basse", the horse mackerel', the fifteen-spined 

 stickleback'*, which is by no means uncommon on this coast, and is 

 occasionally taken at the mouth of our river during the summer 

 mouths. Besides these, there have occurred four species, which, in 

 our latest system of British animals, are said to be confined to the 

 " Enghsh coast ;" and which may therefore be considered as additions 

 to the fishes of the Scottish shores. These are, the greater weaver ^ 

 the lesser spotted dog-fish ^°, the hag- worm ^\ and the tadpole fish '^ 

 The hag-worm, so remarkable for the peculiarities of its structure, is, 

 according to the testimony of our fishermen, rather common on the 

 coast of Berwickshire ; and the size of the specimens I have seen, and 

 I am assured they are not larger than the average, is much superior 

 to what is stated in our sj'^stematic works ; for, instead of 8 inches, they 

 were 14 and 15 inches in length. Of the tadpole fish, which is one of 

 the rarest British species, and previously known only as an inhabitant 

 of the shores of Cornwall, I had the pleasure of exhibiting to you a 

 living specimen, which had been captured in Berwick Bay. When 

 alive, and when recently dead, the body appeared every where smooth 

 and even ; but, after having lain three days on a plate, and become a 

 Kttle shrivelled, there appeared an obscure row of tubercles, running 

 backwards from the pectoral fijis, and these pea-like tubercles could be 

 more readily distinguished by drawing the finger over the skin. I 

 would call attention to this fact, because the only good distinction 

 between the Raniceps trifurcatus, and R. Jago of Dr. Fleming, is derived 

 from the presence of these tubercles ; in the former the lateral line is 

 said to be tuberculated above the pectoral fins, in the latter it is said 

 to be smooth : but here we have a specimen which, when alive, exhibits 

 the character of the Jago ; when dead, that of the trifurcatus ; and hence, 

 I am induced to think that both are the same animal, having the 

 tubercles more or less prominent and obvious according to the leanness 

 or other conditions of the body. 



Insects. — Since no communication has been laid before us relative to 

 the entomology of Berwickshire, it is beyond my province to make any 

 remarks on the subject ; but you may permit me to notice one family, 



^ Squalus Galeu3 Lin., Galeus vulgaris Flem. 



' Eaia radiata Donoi'. ^ Pleoronectes punctatus Pew. 



* Sparus dentatus Stew., Brama marina Flem. 



* Perca marina Liri., Serrauus norvegicus Flem. 



* Perca Labrax Lin. 



' Scomber Trachurus Lin., Trachurua vulgaris Flem. 



^ Gasterosteus Spinachia Lin., Spinachia vulgaris Flem. 



^ Trachinus major Flem. 



^^ Squalus Catulus Lin., Scyllium Catulus Flem. 

 '^ Myxiue glutinosa Lin. 

 ^' Batraohoides trif oi'catus Davies, Raniceps trifurcatus Flem. 



