The Zoologist — Jandarv, 1874, 3839 



At this time of the year I never noticed these flying-fish " on the wing ; " 

 doubtless they were too heavy, but at other times I have, of course, observed 

 thousands in various seas, and my experience respecting their flight entirely 

 coincides with that so admirably expressed by Mr. Mathew. Not even the 

 frigate-bird was ever seen by me to swoop at, much less to catch, one on the 

 wing, and in 'South Sea Bubbles' either "the Earl" or "the Doctor" 

 ridicules the very idea of any bird being able to do so, expressing at the 

 same time his ardent wish that it were possible to train a frigate-bird or a 

 tropic-bird (I quote from memory), and adding with a burst of enthusiasm, 

 " What hawking I would have ! " That there may be no mistake about the 

 species, I may observe that I possess one of the largest " wings " procured 

 on that occasion, dried and spread out iu a book : it just goes in a large 

 octavo volume, but is too large for ordinary octavo. — Hoivard Saunders. 



Small Lumpsacker. — I have just received alive the smallest lumpsucker 

 I ever saw or heard of. It measures barely three inches iu length, and is 

 of the usual dull leaden blue of this fish when not in first-class condition. 

 It was taken in the open sea in about twelve fathoms water, and is exactly 

 like its parents. — Thomas Cornish ; Penzance, November 20, 1873. 



Greater Forkbeard off Looe, Cornwall. — On Saturday, the 29th of 

 November, a forkbeard was brought to me, which had been taken in a 

 herring-net the night before. This being the only specimen I have ever 

 seen, I sought for information in Couch's ' British Fishes,' by which I found 

 my specimen did not correspond with either of the figures given in that 

 work, but that it bore resemblance to both the greater and blennoid fork- 

 beards, having the gill-covers, eyes, beards and colour of the latter, with the 

 pectoral, dorsal, anal fins and tail of the former, whilst the body was not so 

 deep as in the figure of the greater, nor so slender as the figure of the 

 blennoid. Not feeling satisfied as to its identification, I sent it on to 

 Mr. Cornish, of Penzance, requesting his opinion, and iu reply he says, 

 " Your fish is the greater forkbeard. I have had it twice, and in 1864 I had 

 a specimen which corresponded with Couch's blennoid forkbeard. Mr. Couch 

 and I wrote each other about it ; and the conclusion I came to was that he 

 was mistaken in supposing the fish to be of a distinct species, and that the 

 blennoid forkbeard was merely a common one out of condition." Although 

 Mr. Couch gives a figure and description of the so-called blennoid forkbeard 

 I think it is quite evident that he was doubtful as to its being a distinct 

 species, and that he was inclined to defer to the opinions of Cuvier and 

 Dr. Gunther ; but without presuming to offer an opinion, I would suggest 

 that such a specimen as I have described would tend to bear out their 

 opinions. — Stephen Clogg ; Looe, December 9, 1873. 



Food of the Salniou.— Is it not said that the salmon feeds upon other 

 fishes, as herrings, &c., when in salt water? but when in our rivers has it 

 the same depraved appetite? I have sometimes seen these noble fishes 



