Ian 



GREA T BRITAIN. 1 17 



the interspace between the dorsal fins. No large pointed 

 axillary scale. The pectoral fin reaches to about the nth 

 or 1 2th scale of the lateral-line. The first dorsal com- 

 mences above the I3th or I4th scale of the lateral-line, and 

 the second above the 26th. No scales on the second dorsal 

 or anal fins ; a long angular one at the base of the ventral. 

 Colours. Silvery, becoming lighter below ; six to eight 

 dark bluish bands along the rows of scales of the back and 

 sides ; head shot with golden ; fins grayish. 



Habits. Couch observed that it never goes far from 

 d, but delights in shallow water during the warm 

 weather, snatching at any oily substance that may chance 

 be floating about. It ventures some distance up rivers, 

 returning with the tide, and frequently enters by the flood- 

 gates into a salt-water mill-pool at Looe, which contains 

 about twenty acres. It selects soft and fat food, or such as 

 has commenced to decompose, and is especially partial to 

 shrimps. 



In autumn and winter these fish are very plentiful and 

 gregarious. They are more active than Mugil ckelo, and 

 when enclosed in a seine they jump much higher. During 

 October and November, 1880, I examined many obtained 

 from Brixham and the coasts of Cornwall, and all belonged 

 to M. capita, as described. 



Means of capture. Netting, and rarely by hooks ; but it 

 is as active at escape as the M. chelo. It sucks at its food, 

 and will occasionally take a rag- worm or artificial fly. In 

 the Stour it is observed that slimy stuff, which after a 

 drought rises most freely from the bed of the river, will stick 

 to the hook, and no other bait equals it. Couch says that 

 it is most readily taken with bait formed of the fat entrails 

 of a fish, or cabbage boiled in broth. It is angled for as 

 the tide is coming in, for on the ebb it returns to salt water. 





