402 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the Turbot, but their development and habits throughout closel 

 resemble each other. The Brill is likewise a fish-eater, Sane 

 eels, Sprats, and smaller members of the Cod tribe being it 

 chief fare. 



The Halibut, king of Pleuronectidce in size, when about a fo< 

 long, are occasionally found shorewards, but the adults are quite 

 deeper sea dwellers, and are fish and crustacean feeders. The 

 Flounder, though closely allied to the Plaice, differs widely in 

 habits and migration. It arrives early at maturity, and is ex- 

 ceptionally fecund. There is much disparity in the sexes, the 

 females largest, the males most numerous. It is quite estuarine 

 in habit, a mud, sandy shore lover ; but it ascends and dwells in 

 rivers quite to the fresh-water mark, though the adults migrate 

 seaward to reproduce. The Dab has an exceedingly small egg ; it 

 is not a prolific fish, and the male is smaller than the female. 

 They are not sexually mature till the third year, growth there- 

 after being slow. 



Of other families of British food-fish, the Mackerel doubtless 

 is most important, but unfortunately the chapter in its life- 

 history is still wanting in several particulars. The Red Mullet 

 is remarkable inasmuch as in the larva the " yolk-sac projects 

 far beyond the front of the head, and the oil-globule is placed at 

 the extreme end of the projecting portion," a feature, however, 

 in part shared by the Comber or Smooth Serranus. The Bass, 

 the Grey Mullet, the Skates and Rays (the poor man's food), and 

 Conger and some others, are each and all of considerable con- 

 sumption; but it is enough to say that modern students of 

 piscine biology are at present trying hard to unravel that ancient 

 mysterious puzzle, Whence the Eel and Conger ? 



The whole scope and essence of this new-born Food-fish study 

 resolves itself into the elucidation of general laws applicable to the 

 finny tribe. It is thought that by the aid and exactitude of 

 modern scientific appliances and methods this may be attained, 

 and the knowledge imparted to the fisher fraternity themselves. 

 Towards such inquiry there is wide scope, for living things, 

 physics, and variety of surroundings lend complexity. It is not 

 easy then to gauge the respective influences and their values, and 

 formulate- laws accordingly. Hence where certain difficulties 



