159 



is well known to heighten the colours of fishes. The Polewig 

 sometimes abounds in considerable schuls, and seizes a bait 

 with eagerness : habits which are not common to the fishes of 

 this genus. The size of their mouth is too diminutive to 

 admit of their receiving a hook; but their firm holdfast of 

 the bait and probably the curvature of their teeth, described 

 by Mr. Yarrell, were the cause that many of them were 

 captured by angling; but they fall off from the hook when 

 lifted high above the water. 



WHITE GOBY. Gobius alius. Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 1, 

 p. 295, 2ud edition. 



This obscure species was first noticed by Dr. Parnell ; 

 and though appearing sufficiently distinct, from its form and 

 proportions, to be regarded as a separate species, it affords 

 some grounds for hesitation, that none have been examined 

 but such as are clearly in the first stages of their existence. 



CLUPEIDJE. HERRINGS. 



WHITE BAIT. Clupea alba, Yarrell's Br, F., vol. 2, 

 p. 202. 



Whilst this little fish was considered the young of the 

 Shad, no search was made for it beyond the region where it 

 had become an article of luxury. Mr. Yarrell was the first 

 who decided it to be a distinct species; and since then it has 

 been sought and found in other rivers besides the Thames. 

 During tbe summer of 1843 the favour of a gentlemen sup- 

 plied me with a few specimens from the Fowey, which I 

 have been able to compare with some in my collection from 

 the Thames, with which they exactly agree. I am assured 

 that they abound in the Fowey and I consequently conclude 

 that if sought for within the reach of the tide, they might 

 also be taken in the Tamar, and in the Fal, at the least be- 

 tween Falmouth and Truro. 



CARTILAGINOUS FISHES. CHONDROPTERYGII. 

 RAIID.E. RAYS. 

 CRAMP RAY. Torpedo. 



The wonderful properties of the Cramp Rays, unlike any 

 thing found in other classes of the animal kingdom beside 

 fishes, and confined to few even of them, has solicited the 

 attention of philosophers at all times; but disregarding the 

 minute differences that form specilic character.-, writers on 

 Natural History have not judged until recently that there 

 might be more than one species of the race. And when 

 this has seemed to be probably established, it was still a 

 matter of doubt to which of the acknowledged species the 

 specimens taken in Britain should be assigned a matter 



