98 ~ Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
the root of the caudal fin. Also the spines of this specimen 
are longer than the other.” Concerning the occurrence of 
this and other deep-sea species as pelagic fishes, Dr Giinther 
makes some observations of great interest. He remarks that 
for the greater part of their lives they inhabit the depths of 
the ocean, from 100 fathoms downwards; and proceeds to 
say that the “causes which make these fishes ascend to the 
surface is not known; but as some of them have been observed 
to make their appearance at the surface periodically, we may 
surmise that this change of habitat is in connection with 
their propagation. Indeed, most of them are found at the 
surface only during the early stages of their growth, and it 
would seem that their ova and fry require for development 
and growth the higher temperature and the light of the 
surface-water. These fishes connect the surface pelagic 
fauna with the deep-sea fauna.” Vaillant (17), on the 
“Talisman,” captured specimens at from 54 to 527 fathoms 
off the north-west coast of Africa. 
The northernmost habitat of this fish, as yet ascertained, 
is off the Norwegian coast, whence it is recorded as occurring 
by both Collett (15) and Lilljeborg (16), and where it 
appears to be not uncommon in depths of from 100 to 300 
fathoms. 
Regarding Scorpena dactyloptera as a British fish, there 
are but few records. It was described as new to the 
British fauna by Dr Giinther (5) from several specimens 
obtained during a deep-sea trawling cruise off the south-west 
coast of Ireland, at a depth of 250 fathoms, during the first 
week of July 1889. The species, however, appears to be 
not uncommon off the west coast of Ireland, whence Holt 
(6) has recorded examples at depths ranging from 75 to 500 
fathoms, in his valuable surveys of the Irish fishing grounds. 
Lastly, we have the Yorkshire specimen,- obtained, as de- 
scribed, during the present year.' 
From the information afforded by our little review of the 
history of this fish, its occurrence in the British North Sea 
area may be considered as very remarkable. The North Sea 
1 Since this was printed, I have been informed by Mr E, W. L. Holt that 
a specimen has been recently captured in the Humber estuary. 
