IS/9.] OF WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 749 



when the fish is hauled up it looks as plump and round as a live 

 fish, but when opened is found full of these parasites. 



Mr. Dunn subsequently (Sept. 29th) observes, » the statement in 

 the 'Field' is quite in keeping with our knowledge of these fish- 

 lice. We have no deep-sea long lines in use here ; our deep-sea 

 fishing is done with hand-lines ; consequently we have no opportu- 

 nity of testing the habits of the 'lice' in a like manner with the 

 northern fishermen. But it often happens when a half Mackerel 

 is used as a bait that the lice will in a few minutes scoop out all the 

 fish, leaving nothing but the skeleton and the skin. To a novice 

 the bait will appear as round and full as when first cast into the sea' 

 so closely packed are the lice in the body, but a hard rap against 

 the side of the boat reveals the secret. They give out a ticking sound 

 when crawling." ° 



Zeus faber, Linn. John Dory or Doree. 



I obtained two from the stationary shrimp -nets. This fish has 

 numerous yellow lines taking an irregular horizontal direction alon«- 

 the body, a very light edging to the black lateral blotch, and two 

 darkish lines along both dorsal and anal fins. At the Westminster 

 Aquarium these fish are fed upon Sand-Smelts ; and one day, beino- 

 perhaps more hungry than usual, a Dorv was observed to seize a 

 young Bass, which it subsequently devoured. Mr. Saville Kent 

 drew attention to the peculiar manner in which this fish uses its fins, 

 which he, with great justice, likens to that of the dorsal fin in the 

 Pipe-fish, a movement that Dr. J. E. Gray considered resembled the 

 action of the Archimedean screw. This rapid motion affects the 

 soft rays and interradial membrane of the dorsal, anal, and pectoral 

 fins, all, or merely some, of which may be in motion at the same time. 

 This may be perceived both when they are ascending or descending, 

 or even when lying over on one side ; but they are likewise able To 

 move their fins more slowly, as we generally perceive in fishes. 



The Dory appears to have been more common this year than 

 usual. Turning to Lord Ducie's captures, I find them in Ballins- 

 kelhgBay as follows:— 1873, one; 1874, four; 1876, five; 1877 

 lour; 1878, five; 1879, twenty-seven. 



Capros aper, Linn. The Boar-fish. 



An example, 5} inches in length, is in the Weston Museum ; it 

 was brought there alive. Large numbers have been captured this 

 year off the English coast ; and Mr. Carrington observes that he has 

 received notices, during June 1579, of their having been taken in 

 various parts of the south and south-east coast of England. At 

 Weymouth and Bournemouth they were not infrequently found 

 dead on the shore. At Sheerness a shrimp-trawler took a dozen at one 

 draught ; off Harwich a pair were similarly captured. The Essex 

 fishermen term them 'Red Dorees,' but do not remember observing 

 them in previous years. In the commencement of September, abou't 

 a dozen were captured in one day on the south coast. Mr. Dunn sent 

 me a fine example from Megavissey, November this year. On 



