VERTEBRATA 273 



and the " two spotted" but I only know the former. It is 

 shown in the photo (Fig. 118). 



Frequently in early spring a beautiful little fish comes 

 to our shores, and has the unusual habit of committing 

 suicide there. This is the " Boar-fish " (Capros aper). It 

 is of about the build of the John Dory, but has not the tall 



Fig. 119. The Boar-fish. Capros aper. \ Natural size 



dorsal fin. It is about six inches in length, and of a beautiful 

 red colour. The edges of the scales are finely toothed, and 

 this gives it a velvety appearance. 



I have on one or two occasions stood in a sandy bay and 

 seen shoals of them approach. As they came to the shallow 

 tide margin they would lie on one side and flop themselves 

 high and dry for several feet on the sand. This, with a 

 receding tide. To pick them up and throw them back into 



