34 



Mr. Jenyns doubts whether these three Species should be 

 considered as distinct; but having kept the first and third 

 alive in glass vessels, and finding them to manifest very dif- 

 ferent habits, I have no hesitation in believing Mr. Yarrell to 

 be correct in his opinion of their being specifically different. 



FIFTEEN SPINED STICKLEBACK. G. Spinachia. 

 Jenyns, p. 352. Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 87. Common. 



MAIGRE. Sciama Aquila. Jenyns, p. 352. Yarrell's Br. 

 F., vol. 1, p. 90. Having had an opportunity of inspecting 

 a Specimen of this Fish in company with my friend Mr. 

 Yarrell, I am able to refer with confidence to two indivi- 

 duals that were taken in Cornwall. The colours of the 

 latter were far more splendid than those of the former, and 

 it is to be remembered that the serrations of the gillcovers, 

 as represented in Mr. Yarrell's figure, disappear with age. 



SEA BREAMS. 



BECKER. Sparus Pagrus. Jenyns, p. 354. Yarrell's Br. 

 F., vol. 1, p. 102. Common in Summer and Autumn. 



SPANISH BREAM. S. Erythrinus. Jenyns, p. 355. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 104. In Summer, not common. I 

 have also known it taken at Christmas. 



BREAM. S. Centrodontus. Jenyns, p. 356. Yarrell's Br. 

 F., vol. 1, p. 107. The young Fish of the year, being 

 without the lateral spot, is termed a Chad. Abundant, but 

 most so in Summer. I have known it with developed Roe 

 at opposite seasons of the year. 



OLD WIFE. Cantharus Griseus. Jenyns, p. 358. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 114. Common in Summer and 

 Autumn ; I have also seen it in Spring, but in a meagre 

 condition. 



RAY'S BREAM. Brama Rail Jenyns, p. 359. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 117. I have considered the kindred 

 Fish referred to in the transactions of the Linnean Society, 

 vol. 14, p. 78, as a different Species ; but the sketch of 

 its figure, having been presented to Mr. Bewick, the cele- 

 brated engraver, cannot now be referred to. 



THE MACKAREL TRIBE. 



MACKAREL. Scomber Scombrus. Jenyns, p. 360. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 1, p. 121. This Fish can scarcely be said 

 to disappear from the Cornish Coast through the year ; but 

 according to the observations which I have made for a few 

 years, the males precede the females in their migrations in 

 Spring : thus in 1834, March 24, out of 8 taken indiscrimi- 

 nately, 7 were males ; on the 28th, of 8, 6 were males ; 

 April 1st, of 4, 3 were males. In 1835, March 25, from a 

 capture of 7,000, 17 out of 20 were males. In 1836, April 



