CATAPHRACTI. 69 



from Southend, captured in February, the eggs, which are comparatively large, 

 were nearly ready for extrusion. Its ova are deposited among stones. 



As food. — It is too insignificant to be of any value, but its flesh is said to be 

 firm and good. 



Habitat. — From the coasts of Iceland and Norway, the Baltic, the German 

 Ocean, and around the British shores. 



In Britain it is not uncommon along the south coast, but becomes compara- 

 tively rare in Devonshire and Cornwall, being more common on the eastern than 

 on the western shores of the kingdom, and very numerous at the mouth of the 

 Thames. In Scotland it has been recorded along the east coast at St. Andrew's, 

 while it is said to be common on the west sands after storms. Gordon observes 

 that in the Moray Firth in January, 1849, ten examples from 2 to 5 inches long 

 were found in a cod-fish (Zoologist, p. 3458). In Banffshire, Edward remarks 

 this is another stomach species,* though he also took them but sparingly among 

 the rocks at low water. In the Orkneys and Zetland it is not common according 

 to Baikie. 



In Ireland it is said to be common around the coast : Templeton recorded an 

 example from Carnolloc Bay, the only one he had known caught off the Irish 

 shores. 



It attains to at least 6|- inches in length, an example of this size from 

 Brighton, having been given me by Mr. J. Carrington, f.l.s. 



* A term applied to such as he has obtained from the stomachs of larger species of fish. 



