142 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



as well as throughout the Mediterranean. If the Z. Gafensis, &c., are merely 

 varieties, it extends to the Cape, also to the seas of Japan and South Australia. 



In Great Britain it is common along the south and west coasts, becoming 

 rarer proceeding towards the north. At Hartlepool Hogg recorded its 

 occurrence in February, 1860, observing that it had not been taken there 

 previously. Paget mentions its capture at Yarmouth, and Johnston off 

 Berwickshire. 



Parnell informs us that in the Pirth of Forth seldom more than one or 

 two are captured during the course of a year : it is rather rare at St. Andrew's 

 (Mcintosh), but not uncommon as a summer visitor in Banffshire, where it 

 is mostly taken in the salmon nets (Edward) : whUe two were obtained off 

 Elginshire (Gordon, Zoologist, 1852, p. 3459). It does not appear to be included 

 among the fishes of the Orkneys. 



In Ireland it is found all round the coast, but sparingly in some localities. 

 Thompson says that their numbers increase northwards, and he was credibly 

 informed that about twenty are taken in the vicinity of Portrush for one in 

 Belfast Bay. 



In August, 1879, one at Norwich, which weighed 14 lb., was recorded in 

 " Land and Water." Couch mentions another, 22| inches in length, which 

 scaled 181b. 



