742 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIV 



the whole base of the spinous dorsal, these bands become indistinct in 

 large specimens. Head and body, as far as the base of the soft dorsal, and 

 anal spotted with reddish-orange or gall-stone yellow, which, on the head, 

 and sometimes as far as the base of the pectoral fin, are in hexagonal blot- 

 ches, divided by light lines. Base of pectoral white having a black cres- 

 centic band. Under surface of the throat and chest with large black 

 marks sometimes enclosing lighter spaces. Dorsal tin with chestnut-brown 

 spots ; some white ones on the caudal, and anal." 



Can two more divergent statements possibly be imagined ? The explana- 

 tion is that Day's description is taken from a live specimen. 



Day further mentions that Serranus stoliczJccs attains at least 12 inches in 

 length. If the Hamiir and >S'er/T»ms stoliczkce are identical then this estimate 

 by Day must be erroneous. To what weight then does the Hamiir grow ? 

 The writer credits the Hamiir with a maximum weight of 60 lbs., but it is 

 extremely doubtful whether a monster of this size would ever be recorded 

 on rod and line. This prognostication is made from the results of a study 

 of the habits of this species, which have come under the personal observa- 

 tion of the author. Among the lads of Jask village there is usually a big 

 slice of time available for " leisure ," and these hours of idleness are 

 frequently passed on the rocks facing west bay, Suddenly " larking " 

 ceases, and an enquiry will elicit the information that a Hamiir has been 

 spied making into a certain hole in a submerged ledge. To woo him 

 to destruction is no difficult matter ; all that is necessary is to dangle a 

 small fish at the exit to his lair. Patience is very soon rewarded for his 

 greedy ruffian will assuredly dart out and seize the lure. It is then a 

 case of " pull devil ]3ull baker " for the devil is trying his devilmost 

 to get back into his den. The baker, however, generally comes out 

 of the contest triumphant, and a few seconds later the devil is being 

 swung round on a yard of line like a Catherine's wheel, and being 

 mercilessly bashed on the rocks, till he is reduced to an inanimate pulp. 

 So it is with the angler when trolling ; if a Hamiir happens to get hooked 

 be invariably makes straight for the nearest hole in the rocks suitable 

 to his size, probably descending three tortuous alleys to reach his cell. 

 When such an incident occurs two alternatives are open to the fisherman. 

 He can either anchor his craft and sit over the Hamiir till the latter leaves 

 his retreat ; or he can attempt to haul him out by brute force. "With 

 the author the second procedure was always adopted, and more often than 

 otherwise Hamiir, spinner, trace, and some yards of line departed. As 

 regards food the Hamiir is omnivorous, though this trait does not affect 

 adversely his edibility. On one occasion a specimen about a pound in 

 weight was brought to the writer ; and an observant eye noticed that his 

 belly was suspiciously pendulous. It did not require much time to make 

 an incision and an entire rock crab was excavated complete with all claws 

 including the nippers ! 



Can such a cavernous-mouthed Apicius be dignified with the appellation 

 of game-fish ? 



A brother of the Hamiir is also taken in the rocky shallows round Jask ; 

 his local name is 



Leddum. Serranus areolatus. 



and the following is his description, which was taken from a small fish of 

 2 lbs. 10 oz. 



Head. — Of medium size, the median longitudinal line runsrakishly back- 

 ward at an acute angle. 



Mouth. — Capacious with lips on upper and lower jaws. 



