306 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



FISHES. 



The Pogge (Agonus calaphractus) at Scarborough.— A nice speci- 

 men of this curious little fish was taken by Mr. Harrison in a rock pool 

 on the North Shore, Scarborough, on July 26th. Although stated by 

 Messrs. Clarke and Roebuck, in their « Vertebrate Fauna of Yorkshire,' to 

 be common along the Yorkshire coast, this is the first example that 

 either its captor, myself, or other members of the local Naturalists' Society, 

 have met with in this neighbourhood. — W. J. Clarke (44, Huutriss Row, 

 Scarborough). 



Power of Electrical Fishes.— Prof, d' Arson val has been making a 

 series of experiments with the Torpedo or Electric Ray. He found that 

 fish 30 centimetres in diameter could give out a shock of twenty volts. 

 He ingeniously applied some small electric lamps to the fish, and they were 

 lit by the discharge from its body. In some instances he states that the 

 discharge was so powerful as to carbonize the lamps. The electric current 

 generated by the Torpedo is sufficiently powerful to enable it to procure 

 food by killing small fish with which it comes in contact, but diminishes as 

 its strength decreases. The maximum electric discharge is stated to be 

 as high as 120 volts. 



The Opah, or King-fish, off Aberdeen.— There was lately on view at 

 Messrs. J. and T. Sawers', fish merchants, Belfast, a fine specimen of the 

 Opah or King-fish, Lampris luna, caught off the coast of Aberdeenshire. 

 It weighed 70 lbs., was about 4 ft. long, and measured 2£ ft. at the broadest 

 part. In shape this fish resembles the Sunfish, and its hues are very 

 brilliant. The back and sides are of a rich green, with purple and gold 

 reflection, while the under parts are yellowish green. There are some 

 white spots above and below the lateral line, and the fins are vermilion. 

 The discovery of this fish in English waters is comparatively of recent date, 

 and the title " Opah," by which it is sometimes known, was obtained in 

 somewhat curious fashion. A name not being obtained for one of the first 

 specimens secured, it received this designation on the authority of an African 

 prince, who stated that it was known by this title in his own country, though 

 the presence of the species in African waters is more than doubtful. In 

 general outline this fish, though considerably thicker in the body, is not 

 unlike the common Sea Bream. Its colouring is gorgeous in the extreme, 

 and rather reminds us of the varied hues common to the occupants of tropical 

 waters, than of the sober tints of British fishes. The " Opah," or Kingfish, 

 inhabits the deeper waters of the North Sea, and is common off the coast 

 of Norway. A good figure of it is given by Day, in his • Fishes of Great 

 Britain and Ireland' (vol.i. p. 118), and an enumeration of the specimens 

 recorded to have been captured on various parts of our coast, including some 

 half-dozen Irish examples. 



