3636 The Zoologist — August, 1873. 



off with and shaking them in a manner scarcely conducive to their 

 comfort or dignified appearance, reminding the spectator of a large 

 dog worrying a rat. The fine sturgeon, six feet long, now sharing 

 an adjoining tank with the cod, was first placed with these animals, 

 but in a short time was so persecuted that for safety it had to be 

 removed ; while to this day the lacerated condition of its tail bears 

 witness to the pertinacious attention of its former comrades. Some 

 large skate {Raja clavala and maculaia), while they maintained 

 their usual habit of lying sluggishly on the floor of the tank, escaped 

 molestation ; but no sooner did these fish display any unwonted 

 activity than the porpoises were upon them, and, making a con- 

 venient handle of their characteristic attenuated tails, worried them 

 incessantly. On one occasion I witnessed the two Cetacea acting 

 evidently in concert against one of these unwieldy fish, the latter 

 swimming close to the top of the water, and seeking momentary 

 respite from its relentless enemies, by lifting its unfortunate caudal 

 appendage high above its surface. It need scarcely be remarked 

 that the skate were removed before further mischief could be done, 

 leaving the porpoises, with the exception of a few conger, which 

 during the day-time mostly lie hidden in the crevices of the rock- 

 work, turtles, and a huge monk-fish {Rhina squatiua) sole occu- 

 pants of this colossal tank. While far behind the porpoises in 

 display of intellect, it may be hereafter shown that the repre- 

 sentatives of the Gadida;, or cod family, are by no means the least 

 intelligent offish. — Reprinted from 'Nature' of July 17, 1873. 



2. Difficulty with Mackerel. — Up to within the last few weeks, 

 a single mackerel has been the only representative of the Scora- 

 bridae in the Brighton tanks. This specimen was added to the 

 collection, in company with several others, towards the close of the 

 last season, and proved to be the only survivor through the winter. 

 The difficulties attending the preservation of these delicate pelagic 

 fish, on account of their extreme susceptibility on exposure to 

 atmospheric air, and the reckless impatience of confinement they 

 usually display when first imprisoned within the limits of a tank, 

 occasioned a high value to be set on this solitary captive, and one 

 only rivalled perhaps by that attached to the small shoal of herrings 

 occupying an adjoining tank in the same corridor. During the 

 early spring and summer months the mackerel taken on this coast 

 are caught many miles out at sea by means of "drift nets" fastened 

 across the course of the current, and having the meshes of sufficient 



