ORE A T BRITAIN. 243 



Mediterranean forms. Moreau observes that it may be 

 absent. As no other differences exist except this incon- 

 stant one, I have not considered such to denote distinct 

 species. 



Habits. Gregarious, migratory, in the summer being 

 mostly at or near the surface, but during the autumn 

 frequenting deeper water. It is usually found further out 

 to sea than the gar-fish, while it has an extensive range. 

 Instances are on record in which it has ascended as high as 

 fresh- water. It first appears off Cornwall about the latter 

 half of June or commencement of July, and in the autumn 

 frequently shows itself in enormous schools, while it leaves 

 the coast prior to the end of November. It is constantly 

 in motion, moving with great rapidity, frequently springing 



it of the water,by scores at a time, and giving much the 

 iarance of a shoal of flying fishes. It has been fre- 



lently known to spring out of the water into the fisher- 

 men's boats, especially during stormy weather. Mr. Dunn 

 considers the skippers and pilchards as natural enemies, 

 and Couch held the same views. In the year 1825 skippers 

 and pilchards were enclosed in pilchard seines together, 

 and before they could be taken into the boat, thousands of 

 the pilchards had their eyes knocked out by the skippers, 

 and scores of pilchards were transfixed through the body 

 by the beak of the skipper. The fishermen were first made 

 aware of these fishes being on the coast by the noise they 

 were making in the night the one attacking, the other 

 running away. This battle continued more or less along 

 the coast each summer from 1825 to 1834. The fishermen 

 consider the presence of skippers is an hindrance to the 

 successful taking of the pilchards. Entomostraca, small 

 Crustacea, and sea- weed have been found in its stomach. 



Means of capture. In Cornwall they are frequently, in 



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