18/9.] OF WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 753 



sand in its mouth and strewed it above ; then taking in some more 

 sand, it went a short distance off and blew it over the structure, thus 

 causing it to be diffused in a shower of bubbles. The nest when 

 completed had its entrance on one side and its exit on the other, as 

 has been described by Dr. Ransom and other observers ; this nest, if 

 lifted out of the aquarium, appeared to be glued together by a jelly- 

 like substance. Mr. Warrington (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1855, 

 (2) xvi. p. 330) remarks that the adult die when tbey have pro- 

 pagated their species. 



Some Roach, Leuciscus rutilus, were added to the inmates of the 

 aquarium, with which invasion the Sticklebacks did not appear to be 

 pleased ; still they were not frightened, but forthwith attacked the in- 

 truders, biting at them anywhere and everywhere, until they became 

 thoroughly cowed. Then these little tyrants were observed to place 

 themselves in front of the Roach, steady themselves by their tail, and 

 then suddenly dart straight at the lips of their intended prey, from 

 which they bit pieces out. These attacks were continued until the 

 Roach had been killed, when they were eaten by their conquerors. 



Gaterosteus spinachia, Linn. Fifteen-spined Stickleback. 

 A local specimen exists in the Weston Museum. 



Labrus maculatus, Bloch. The Ballan Wrasse. 



Two local examples exist in the Weston Museum ; they were 

 received alive. 



Labrus mixtus, Fries, the Cook ; Labrus comber, Pennant ; 

 Crenilabrus melops, Linn., the Corkwing; Gymnelis im- 

 berbis, Linn., the Beardless Ophidium. Have all been taken in 

 Somersetshire. 



Ammodytes lanceolatus, Le Sauvage. The Greater Sand- Eel 

 or Sand-Launce. 



Baker reports this species from Somersetshire. In examining a 

 very fine example received from Mr. Dunn, I find the oesophagus 

 enters abruptly into a pyriform stomach, which has a very narrow 

 prolongation from its posterior or larger end, longer than the 

 remainder of the organ ; the pylorus is also very narrow, and where 

 it enters the small intestines that canal is prolonged upwards into a 

 caecal sac, while the length of the remainder of the tube scarcely 

 exceeds half the length of the stomach. 



Ammodytes tobianus, Linn. Lesser Sand-Eel. 

 Found at Weston. 



Morrhua vulgaris, Flem. Codfish. 



Taken during the winter months on lines ; as is also Morrhua 

 jEGlefinus, or the Haddock; M. merlangus, Linn., or the 

 Whiting, numbers of the young of which are captured in the shrimp- 

 nets ; and Morrhua lusca, Linn., or the Bib. 



