116 Observations on Border Fishes, by Mr. A. Brotherston. 



character, as the number is liable to vary in different individuals. 

 (See also Grayling and Goldsinny of Jago). 



II. Great Weever (TracMnus major), Penn. — There was one 

 about 10 inches long, caught in Berwick Bay, Sept. 27th, 1876. 

 The "Weevers differ from the true Perches in having the ventral 

 fin situated before the pectorals. The body of this species is 

 lengthened, the scales arranged in oblique lines sloping back- 

 wards from above, showing yellow and black stripes in the same 

 direction. The spines on the dorsal fin and the operculum of 

 this fish are supposed to be venomous, hence one of its names — 

 Sting-bull. It is believed to be the Draco of the ancient 

 naturalists. Yarrell says, "When caught, it should be handled 

 with great caution." " I have known, " says Mr Couch, "three 

 men wounded successively in the hand by the same fish, and the 

 consequences have been in a few minutes felt as high as the 

 shoulder." After death the spines must lose much of their 

 effect. When preserving it I received several wounds, but felt no 

 more pain than if they had been inflicted by any other sharp 

 body. 



III. Grayling (Thymallus vulgaris), Cuv.— The Teviot, into 

 which this fish was introduced by the late Marquis of Lothian, 

 appears to be particularly suitable to its habits, as it is there 

 increasing rapidly, and is also spreading into the Tweed. The 

 first specimen that I saw (I believe a few had been obtained before 

 that) was caught by Mr A. Steel, on the 6th of November, 1868. 

 It was 14£ inches in length. I have since seen numerous ex- 

 amples, one which Mr E. Eodgers killed (December 7th, 1876) is 

 18^ inches long, and I have heard of others still larger. Some 

 authors consider the Grayling to be a migratory fish, leaving the 

 sea early in the spring, ascending clear and rapid rivers to spawn, 

 where it remains till autumn, and then returns to the sea. What- 

 ever may be its habits in other rivers, it is not migratory in the 

 Tweed and Teviot, where it is caught at all seasons. On com- 

 paring the number of fin-rays as given by Pleming and Yarrell 

 for this species, with two specimens now before me, I find that all 

 are different — 



Fleming— D. 18 : P. 12 : V. 11 : A. 11 : C. 19. 



Yarrell — D. 20 : — 15 : — 10 : — 13 : — 20. 

 18& in. long ) ( 23 : — 14 : — 9 : — 15 : — 20. 



16 in. long ) ieviot - ( 24 : — 13 : — 9 : — 15 : — 20. 



