748 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES [Dec. 2 



the first dorsal fin (T. blochii). This dorsal blotch, however, as a 

 rule, is present in all specimens, although in some it is faint, or 

 merges into the colour of the remainder of the fin, while it fre- 

 quently becomes lost in examples kept long in spirit. Occasionally 

 the dorsal blotch instead of being round is semicircular. 



This is said to be the most common form of Gurnard at Weston ; 

 but none of the genus were captured when I was there. Although 

 Couch observes that T. gv.rnardus is less sensible to variations in 

 temperature than any other form of British Gurnard, it is found to 

 be the most difficult to keep alive in the Westminster Aquarium. 



Trigla lyra, Linn. The Piper. 



Somersetshire {Baker). 



Scouler (Mag. Nat. Hist. vi. 1833, p. 529) states this fish not to 

 be rare at Glasgow, where it sometimes attains to 7 lb. weight. Lord 

 Ducie found it this year more abundant than usual in Ballinskellig 

 Bay, where in August he obtained nine with the trawl, in 1878 

 none, in 1877 one, in 1876 four. 



Agontjs cataphractus, Linn. The Pogge. 

 A local example exists in the Weston Museum. 



Trachintjs draco, Linn. Great Weever. 

 A single local example in the Weston Museum. 



Trachintjs vipera, Cuv. & Val. Little Weever. 



I obtained a single specimen from the stationary fish-nets. The 

 fishermen professed to regard these fish as very rare. 



Scomber scomber, Linn. The Mackerel. 



A few (adult) are occasionally taken near Weston. Mr. Dunn, of 

 Megavissey, observes (MS.) that "many have the fins of the belly 

 red. Our fishermen carefully note them, as when they appear 

 quantities of fish are always off the coast. * * * Their ova float on 

 the surface of the sea. * * * During the month of September this 

 year some hundreds of a fish-louse (Rocinela dannoniensis 1 ) have 

 been found on the Mackerel at Megavissey ; all I have noticed or 

 heard of have, except in one instance, been taken from near the 

 pectoral fins ; the one excepted was imbedded in a wound near the 

 vent of the fish. These 'Lice,' as our fishermen call them, visit our 

 coasts in countless millions in the spring months of the year ; they 

 seldom come nearer than 3 miles from the shore, and remain on the 

 sea-bottom. Sea-Bream eat them readily." 



In the ' Field ' (August 9th) is an account of another Isopod, 

 JEga tridens, and its carnivorous propensities. It is there stated, 

 by both Mr. Tudor and Mr. Anderson, that in Shetland they attack 

 the fish caught on the long lines, when laid on certain sandy bottoms 

 or grounds, and, getting in through the gills, it is supposed, eat up 

 the inside of the fish without destroying the skin or bone, so that 



1 Mr. Miers has kindly identified the species. 



