APPENDIX. | Fishes. 367 
be met with at intervals all the year round. The superstitious 
dread of this little bird by sailors and fishermen is well known. 
With the stormy-petrel ends my List of the Birds of Banffshire. 
Many species given as “rare” may turn out to be of frequent occur- 
rence, and many given as “ occasional visitors” may prove to be na- 
tives. Species, too, not mentioned in this list may have to be in- 
cluded in the birds of the county; and no one will be more pleased to 
hear of such additions than myself. 
FISHES. 
Lasrax Lupus [Zhe Bass or Sea-perch]. 
This is a rare species with us, only three having come under my no- 
tice. One of these, a beautiful specimen, was found dead in our 
river, the Deveron, not far from its mouth, in 1839. 
Acerina vuLearis [ The Ruff or Pope]. 
One is said to have been obtained off Troup Head about forty-two 
years ago. 
Tracuinus praco [The Great Weever]. 
Occasionally found. The fish is said to be possessed of very poi- 
sonous qualities, insomuch that a prick or even a mere scratch 
from either of the rays (which are hard and spinous) of the first 
dorsal or back fin causes the severest pain imaginable. On the 
Continent, where they are more numerous than they are here, 
and where they are used as an article of food, there is a very 
stringent law which forbids them being brought to market, or 
even exposed for sale in any shape whatever, unless these spines 
are all cut off; and in order to enforce obedience, parties found 
transgressing the law are severely punished. 
Tracuinus vipera [ The Little Weever]. 
Specimens of the little weever are not unfrequently met with ; which 
would seem to indicate that they are more numerous in the Firth 
than the preceding. , 
Mutius Barsartus [The Red Surmullet]. 
This and the striped red mullet (M. surmuLetvs) have both been ob- 
tained, the latter being the most frequent. 
TrieLa cucutus [The Red Gurnard]. 
Is pretty frequent; as is also 
Tricia HrruNDo [The Sapphirine Gurnard]. 
Some splendid specimens of this latter fish are annually brought on 
shore by our fishermen toward the end of autumn. 
