204 ICTHYOLOGICAL NOTES 



Lamprey {Petromyzon marinus) 

 An unusually large specimen, measuring over 3 feet in length, and 

 between 8 and 9 inches in circumference, was caught in the Tweed, 

 below Newwater Haugh, on 26th March 1896. 



Hag or Borer (Myxine ghitinosa.) 

 I found a specimen, about 15 inches in length, washed up on 

 the sands behind the Pier, on 12th January 1897. It was very pink 

 in colour — almost red for an inch and a half near the head — but it 

 had been dead a short time before it was found. Yarrell correctly 

 describes the anal aperture as " about 2 inches before the end of 

 the tail"; Day's figure shows this at about one third of the length 

 from the snout, which taken in conjunction with the description : — 

 "a narrow dorsal fin commencing about the middle of the total length and 

 continued round the tail to the vent" — is very misleading. Day's 

 illustration, if turned upside down, would give a tolerably accurate 

 idea of the disposition of the fins in the present specimen ! 



Bergylt (Sebastes Norwegiciis.) 

 Is occasionally exhibited in our shop windows. Two were sent 

 into Berwick, from Eyemouth, on 7th February 1896 ; they had 

 been caught there the previous day, measured 15 and 16 inches in length 

 respectively. 



Red Gurnard (Trigla cuctdus.) 

 A fine example, 18 inches in length, was landed by a Berwick boat, 

 on 31st March 1896. 



Sword-fish (Xiphias gladius.) 

 One of about 9 feet in length, is recorded in the 'Field' newspaper of 

 1st October 1892, by MrAnthony Harris, as having been seen about a mile 

 north of Dunstanburgh, on the morning of 18th August. 



Short Sun-Fish (Orthagoriscus mola.) 

 A few days prior to the 18th August 1898, a specimen of this curious 

 looking fish was caught off Berwick, and is now preserved i»i the shop of 

 Mr Cowe, fishmonger, High Street. It measures about 18 inches in 

 length. 



In the 'Field ' of 2nd November 1889, Mr J. de C. Paynter has recorded 

 one, which was washed up by the sea, at C raster, on 25th October. The 

 measurements given were — " length 7 feet 6 inches, breadth, from tip to tip 

 of fins, 8 feet 6 inches, girth 10 feet 6 inches, and estimated weight 

 between 7 and 8 cwt," 



