APPENDIX. FISHES. 419 



GASTEROSTEUS TRACHURUS [The Hough-tailed, Tkree-spined Stickle- 

 back] and 



GASTEROSTEUS LEITJRUS [The Smooth-tailed Stickleback] are both 

 plentiful. The former along the coast, and the latter in our 

 streams and rivulets. 



SPIN AOHIA VULGARIS [ The Fifteen-spined Stickleback], 



Common amongst the pools along the shore. I have seen this 

 species with sixteen and seventeen spines. They are known 

 amongst our fishermen by the very peculiar denomination of 

 " Willie-wan-bear. 1." 



OHRTSOPHRTS AURATA [The Gilt-head]. 



I have only seen two specimens of this fish which have been pro- 

 cured with us. The one was taken off Buckie in 1841 ; and 

 the other was brought on shore at Portsoy, in 1839. They 

 appear to be scarce, from the fact that the fishermen do not 

 know them. 



PAGELLUS CENTRODONTUS [The Sea Bream]. 



This is a more common species, numbers appearing annually. 

 In some seasons they appear in greater abundance than in others. 

 They are sold here under the name of " Perch." 



BRAMA EAII [Rays Bream]. Rare. 

 CANTHARUS GRISIUS [The Black Bream]. 



A few of these are generally procured every autumn, or about the 

 beginning of winter. They are known and sold here under the 

 term of "Old Wife." 

 DENTEX VULGARIS [The Four-toothed SjMrus]. 



Although this species, like many more, bears the name "vulgaris," 

 or common, it is not so with us. I am only aware of one speci- 

 men, which was taken off Troup Head. 



SCOMBER SCOMBER [The Mackerel]. 



This beautiful and highly prized fish generally appears on our 

 part of the coast about autumn, in some seasons, in great 

 plenty, in others, not so numerous. 



SCOMBER COLIAS ? (The Spanish Mackerel ?) 



As will be seen, I have placed this species here as doubtful. A 

 mackerel differing in many respects from the one noted above, 

 and which agrees very well with Scomber colias, was taken off 

 Poi'tknockie, but by the time I had the pleasure of seeing it, it 

 was a good deal disfigtired. Still, as I have already said, it 

 exhibited many of the markings and other characteristics of 

 the Spanish Mackerel. 



THYNNUS VULGARIS (The Tunny}. 



Several specimens of this fish have, from time to time, been taken 

 with us. A very large one was captured in a salmon-net at 

 Portsoy. It measured over nine feet in length, and six feet in 

 girth. 



