142 Maicjre ; Wrasse ; Stifldebackx. 



and became the property of a fishmonger in the Strand. The 

 Duke of Argyll nailed Buckland's attention to it, who made a 

 cast, intended for his museum. This fish measured in 

 extreme 8 feet 8| inches, the sword being 2 feet 9 inches long'. 



Fam. SciatnidoB. The MAIGRE (SciaiKt aqnila) has been 

 compared not inaptly to a huge bass, though it differs in 

 several respects from that family. The only authentic record 

 within our District is of one taken off Margate in October, 1843. 

 We have also been told of another supposed Maigre brought 

 into Folkestone some years ago, hut no particulars were vouch- 

 safed. Several have certainly been got on the Sussex coast, one 

 such, 3| feet long, was examined by Dr. Murie 40 years ago. 

 They are of tropical extraction, and wander up the English 

 Channel, a few being taken annually. 



Fam. Labridce. Two species of this family are knoAvn to 

 frequent our District both are rare. (1) The BALLAN 

 WRASSE (Labrus maculatus). Under the name "Antient Wrasse." 

 Boys records it in his list, 1792, without exact locality other 

 than Kent. Henry Lee saw two got by the Margate fishermen 

 in February, 1870. Dr. Laver has also shown us one, the given 

 variety, obtained by the Brightlingsea boats a feAv years ago. 

 Mr. Fitch has two preserved in formalin got by S. Wright in 

 the Blackwater off Stsnsgate 23rd June, 1898: each 7 in. long. 



(2) BAILLOXS WRASSE or G-oldsinny (Crenilabrus m<>l<>p*var.). 

 Two Essex specimens have been described by Dr. Bree in The 

 Field, December, 1866. Another example of the variety 

 Norwegicus, 8 inches long, body depth 2^ inches, minus fins, 

 was caught by a Leigh trawler 7th April, 1900. It proved 

 to be a female with ovary about two-thirds ripe. Nature of 

 food somewhat doubtful, being pulpy in condition though 

 probably semi-digested annelids. 



Fam. G-asterosteidoB. The Sticklebacks, although chiefly 

 inhabiting fresh waters, nevertheless have a species, No. 1, a 

 true marine form, while varieties of the other two have been 

 recorded from our estuaries. (1) The IO-SPINED STICKLEBACK 



