546 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



species. In the immediate neighbourhood it is by no means 

 common. Great numbers are, however, at times brought in by 

 trawlers. As an article of food it is held in high esteem by 

 the poorer classes. Exceedingly abundant in May, 1897 (' Zoolo- 

 gist,' ante, pp. 275, 339). A twenty-inch example ashore alive, 

 Dec. 21st, 1890. Local, " Latchet." 



T. gurnardus. Grey Gurnard. C. — Was once abundant, 

 forty or fifty in the course of an hour being sometimes taken 

 by sea-anglers from the piers. At intervals some smart takes 

 are landed even now. Was unusually numerous offshore in 

 September, 1894. Draw-netters occasionally secure a " trunk "- 

 ful in a night. 



fT. lineata. Streaked Gurnard. K. — The late Rev. C. J. 

 Lucas, in 1895, met with a specimen in a fish-shop, forwarding 

 it to me for identification. It is now in Yarmouth Museum ; 

 length, 9j in. I met with a second on Nov. 22nd, 1895 ; length, 

 12J in. And a third, taken off Lowestoft on March 9th, 1896, 

 came into my hands a few hours later. I have met with one or 

 two others since. 



Agonus cataphractus. Pogge. C. — A most abundant species, 

 taken in great numbers by shrimpers. Local, " Hardhead." 



Trachinus draco. Greater Weever. F. — Abundant in fish- 

 shops during the summer months, mostly brought in by trawlers. 

 Occasionally entangled in the Herring-nets. It is excellent in 

 the fry-pan, although only eaten by the poorer classes. Its dorsal 

 fins appear to possess exceedingly venomous properties, with 

 which fishermen righteously dread contact. A pricked finger 

 produces intense pain, and often acute inflammation follows. It 

 was no unusual thing to meet a fisherman with his arm in a sling 

 from poisoned finger, when the local trawling industry was in a 

 healthier condition than it is at present. 



T. vipera. Viper Weever. C. — Taken in numbers offshore in 

 the summer months. In as bad repute as the previous species, 

 fishermen " heeling " it in the sand on sight. The fish knows well, 

 even when lying on the sand, how to direct its dorsal spines at any 

 near object, and has a deft way of pricking the fingers of those who 

 carelessly handle it. An example was taken from a salt-water pipe 

 on the quay on May 15th, 1897, after having been pumped in at the 

 jetty, and traversing a system of pipes into a tank, and thence out 



