752 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES [Dec. 2, 



cast of one 4 feet long is in the Museum, as well as the jaws of two 

 or three adults. 



Cepola rubescens, Linn. The Band-fish. 



Somersetshire {Baker). 



A specimen from Exmouth, captured this year and given me by 

 Frank Buckland, Esq., was infested with worms, which Mr. 

 Cobbold found to be examples of Rudolphi's so-called Nematoideum 

 cepolce-rnbescenlis. Six different internal parasites have been des- 

 cribed from this fish. 



Blennius gattortjgine, Bloch. 



Local examples of this Blenny are in the Museum. 



Atherina presbyter, Cuv. Sand-Smelt. 



Mugil, capito, Cuv. The Grey Mullet. 



I saw an example nearly three feet long, taken out of the flounder- 

 stakes, they are said not to be commonly seen, but occasionally 

 small schools of them are captured in the stationary shrimp-nets. At 

 the Westminster Aquarium, those in the same tank as the Sturgeou 

 greedily devoured lob-worms ; their food is chopped mussels. 



Mugil septentrionalis, Giinther. 31. chelo, Yarrell. 

 Has been recorded from Somersetshire. 



Gasterostetjs aculeatus, Will. The Tinker. 



I obtained an example from the stationary shrimp-nets, others 

 likewise exist in the Museum. Baker records the following 

 varieties as found in the county : — G. Irachurus, C. & V.; G. semiar- 

 matus, C. & V. ; G. leiurus, C. & V., or G. gymnurus, Cuv. Although 

 these Sticklebacks (or Pricklebacks, as they were formerly called) 

 are taken in both fresh and sea water, Mr. Mable found that in 

 an aquarium they rarely lived in salt water upwards of six weeks, 

 and even then they did not thrive. Having obtained upwards of a 

 score, he placed them in a freshwater aquarium, which was 

 apparently too small for all to live in together with comfort ; con- 

 sequently some of the weaker were eaten by the stronger and larger 

 ones. This could not have been due to want of food, as they had 

 as much as they wished for ; what they especially seemed to relish 

 was butter, to obtain which they would even spring out of the water. 

 They became exceedingly tame, and were fed with dried beef shredded, 

 which they would take from the hand, but preferred Mrs. Mable to 

 any one else ; in fact she had only to hold a finger over the aquarium, 

 and they would at once come and follow it as she moved it along. 

 Some of the most brilliant males took and retained particular stations, 

 and from which they drove away interlopers. They constructed 

 nests of small bits of twigs, which they carried in their mouth like 

 birds to the place where they desired to form their domicile, which 

 was invariably laid on a sandy foundation. As soon as a piece of 

 Stick or other substance had been deposited, the fish carried some 



