GREA T BRITAIN. 309 



to be when they spawned in the Thames. They appeared 

 to disencumber themselves of their roe by violent muscular 

 action, and on a calm still evening or night the noise they 

 make might be heard at some distance. He obtained the 

 young 2-i- inches long in October, and only 4 inches long 

 the following spring. 



As food. Owing to their numerous bones it is not held 

 in much estimation in our markets ; the flesh also is 

 rather dry. 



Habitat. Scandinavia and the coasts of Europe, enter- 

 rivers for breeding purposes. It is taken in the 

 [editerranean, and as far as the Nile. 



Banff, rare (Edward) ; Aberdeen (Sim) ; in the Firth of 

 r orth at the end of July, disappearing in August (Parnell) ; 

 Cumberland (Heysham) ; off Yorkshire (Yorkshire Verte- 

 >rata) ; Yarmouth, not uncommon (Paget) ; mouth of the 

 'names, and along the south coast as far as Cornwall. 



In Ireland it annually ascends some of the southern 

 ivers. Ruttey mentions it as having been found in the 

 Liffey near Ringsend ; while in Tighes, Kilkenny, the 

 shad is recorded as ascending the river. Early in May, 

 Dr. Ball states, they were taken abundantly in the Black- 

 water at Cappoquin, where the water is brackish. They 

 are called long horsemen, and, not being esteemed, are sold 

 for one penny each even the largest, which reach twenty 

 inches. Andrews says they are common in the northern 

 rivers ; they have been recorded from Belfast Bay ; New- 

 castle, co. Down ; Youghal ; the counties of Cork, Galway 

 and Dublin ; while Thompson says two or three were 

 taken in Donegal while he was there. 



It attains, according to Yarrell, about 16 inches in 

 length. 





