224 COUNTRY ESSAYS. 



cry, around us. Needless to say, not one more was shot than 

 was necessary for the collections. 



No whiting were caught, but the grey gurnard bit briskly, and 

 we took ninety-seven while the boat was absent. This fish is 

 amongst the few British fish which can emit a groan or sigh on 

 being pulled out of the water, hence it is known in Scotland as 

 the " crooner," and its brother the red gurnard is aptly named 

 by science trigla cuculus. The skilful manner in which the 

 seamen in a trice exenterated, skinned, and beheaded these 

 fish was very striking. They were supposed to be dead before 

 this process was commenced ; but as the ninety-seven were by 

 captain Try's order laid out in the sunshine, like so many 

 sticks of celery, muscular motion, horrendum dictn, still existed 

 amongst the trunks in a manner which opened up many avenues 

 of serious thoughts, leading from this borderland of sensation 

 up to the very Fountain of Life. Our speculations, like those 

 of many much more renowned naturalists, needless to say, 

 soon lost themselves in the outer darkness which surrounds 

 this mystery. And then we adjourned to tea and eat the un- 

 fortunate gurnards with much satisfaction on which we had 

 been philosophising. 



The shooting party having returned, and a brisk breeze 

 springing up, fishing tackle was hauled in, and the word passed 

 to steam homewards under all sail. Then, indeed, the sailors 

 were proud of their craft; and we had an opportunity of seeing 

 how each hand knew his own work, and was forward in doing 

 it. It was like the heroes of old setting sail, such activity pre- 

 vailed. 



Nauticus exoritur vario certamine clamor. 



The casings were taken off the trim spars, the sails hauled 

 up from the forecastle and run aloft in a twinkling, and then 

 the good ship Firefly staggered along through a stiff tideway 

 under steam and sail, raising at her clear-cut bows what 

 yachtsmen know as " a very pretty feather." Everyone had 



