160 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



tame, never attempting to bite; and, as far as my own experience goes, this 

 species seems to be a very suitable inmate of a vivarium. — B. J. Hoeton 

 (Sparkbrook, Birmingham). 



PISCES. 

 Notes from Great Yarmouth. — Since the practical failure of the local 

 trawling industry our fish-wharf has offered few attractions for the ichthy- 

 ologist. Very few smacks now land fish here — indeed much of the fish on 

 sale in the local shops is brought to Yarmouth via Lowestoft, some of our 

 fishmongers finding it answers their purpose better to proceed thither. On 

 May 5th, 1900, I caught on Breydon a •' double " Flounder (Pleuronectes 

 Jlesus), corresponding exactly with the figure given by Couch (vol. iii. 

 p. 197). The fins, curiously enough, were spotted with red, after the 

 fashion of a Plaice. Both sides were dark brown in colour. A beautiful 

 green variety of the Ballau Wrasse [Labrus maculatm) was landed on the 

 fish-wharf, June llth, 1900. During the Herring fishery but few strangers 

 were observed, two Porbeagles {Lamna cornubica), of moderate size, being 

 the most conspicuous. A 22-\h. Salmon, out of season, but in fine con- 

 dition, rolled itself up in the Herring-nets, and was brought to port on 

 Oct. 13th. A Lump Sucker [Cyclopterus lumpus) was taken on a hook — an 

 unusual circumstance — in the harbour on Oct. 14th. Some of the Herrings 

 imported from Norway run very large, but are unpleasantly bony and 

 indifferent eating. I saw one on Dec. 5th measuring 15^ in, ; three 

 others of similar length on Dec. llth. One, 15 in. long, was 7^ in. in 

 girth, and weighed I4i^ oz. A 16-in. "double " Brill [Rhombus lavis) was 

 brought in early in January, 1901, the eye-notch being well formed ; and a 

 normally shapen but double-coloured Smeared Dab {Pleuronectes micro- 

 cephalus). A 1'2-in. example of the Streaked Gurnard [Trigla lineata) was 

 procured on Feb. 18th. It is astonishing how large a prey the Whiting 

 dares attempt to commandeer. Noticing the tail of a Whiting protruding 

 from the mouth of another, I pulled the victim out, and laid them side by 

 side, measuring them individually at 9^ in. and 7f in. This was on 

 March 5th. On March 21st I was asked to settle a dispute relative to the 

 identity of a " sea-monster " brought in by a fishing-smack. It was the 

 ugliest example of a Conger-Eel [Conger vulgaris) I ever saw ; its " dead- 

 green " eyes contrasting against its dark-skinned carcase gave it a most 

 repulsive appearance. I lound it to measure about 7 ft. 6 in., with a 

 weight of 92 lb. The thickest part of the body was as big round as an 

 ordinary bucket. This is the largest example brought into Yarmouth of 

 which I have any record. Some 9-in. " spring " Herrings brought in about 

 the middle of March contained well-developed roes. — A. Patterson (Ibis 

 House, Great Yarmouth). 



