Fishes. 2999 



dragonet. It is about the same length as that described by Yarrell, 

 and it corresponds in every respect with the statements of my two 

 authorities so often mentioned (Yarrell and Parnell), save that Yarrell 

 takes no notice of the protractile snout, which, in the specimen of 

 which I am speaking, was capable of an elongation of two-eighths of 

 an inch. As it has been suggested that this species may possibly be 

 only the female of Callionymus Lyra, or gemmeous dragonet,* I think 

 it proper to mention, that the specimen in my possession contained a 

 milt, or soft roe. This fact may not be without interest, as it confirms 

 a similar occurrence, in respect to the fish before us, which is reported 

 by Dr. George Johnston, of Berwick. That the matter in the present 

 case might have every justice done it, as far as circumstance would 

 allow, T had recourse to the following expedient. On turning out the 

 the substance and satisfying myself as to what it was, I called in two 

 females, the one an experienced housekeeper, and the other an indivi- 

 dual who is employed in cutting up and preparing fish for the market, 

 and who, in this manner, passes some thousands annually through her 

 hands. Without any previous remark, I requested them to tell me, if 

 they could, what sort of thing this was, directing their attention to the 

 substance before me. Both agreed in at once pronouncing it to be a 

 milt. This circumstance fortifies the opinion, entertained by Yarrell, 

 that the sordid and the gemmeous dragonet, are two distinct, inde- 

 pendent, and well-marked species. Of this, I have for my own part, 

 no doubt whatever. 



Following these, I now introduce a very beautiful stranger, in the 

 person of the Belone vulgaris, the garfish, or, as it is called upon this 

 coast, the green-bone. The specimen in my possession was extracted 

 from its aqueous element, in September of this year, off the Bay of Gam- 

 rie, at a depth of sixteen fathoms. Its capture was in consequence of 

 its audacity in attacking a mackerel line. It would seem that my two 

 authorities speak of this fish as occurring on the Scottish coast, only 

 in the Firth of Forth. By what I can learn, however, an example or 

 two are commonly caught off our stations here in the course of every 

 year.f The present specimen is twenty-six inches in length, being 

 two inches longer than any of those noticed in my two guides.! The 



* This is the opinion of Neill (Wern. Mem., vol. i. p. 529), and Dr. Fleming seems 

 evidently inclined to agree with him (* British Animals,' p. 208). 



f It is also caught at Banff; and, from the circumstance of its having a local 

 name there, the sea-needle, it may be presumed to be by no means uncommon along 

 the whole shore of the Moray Firth. 



% Mr. West tells me that he has met with a specimen three feet long. 



