AN ANNOTATED LIST OF CORNISH FISHES. 427 



Mevagissey Mackerel-boat that had been disturbed in its opera- 

 tions south of the Dodman by several Porbeagle Sharks, brought 

 in a specimen that measured 18£ in. in length. Dunn/, says it 

 has appeared in Mackerel-nets once or twice lately in the mouth 

 of the Channel. The Cornish Centrolophus (C. britannicus, 

 Giinther) is a doubtful species. The only known example was 

 thrown up on the shore near Looe in February, 1859. 



The two Weevers are deservedly dreaded by bathers, fisher- 

 men, and shrimpers, because of the poisonous spines of the 

 operculum and first dorsal fin. The Greater Weever {Trachinus 

 draco, L.) is locally not uncommon at times round the coast on 

 sand and fine gravel from between tide -marks downwards. It 

 seems to be of most frequent occurrence where Shrimps abound. 

 The Lesser Weever (T. vipera, Cuv. et Val.) is apparently scarcer 

 in the west of the county than the other, but is elsewhere locally 

 common on similar ground. The gorgeous adult male of the 

 Dragonet or Skulpin (Callionymus lyra, L.) is frequently obtained 

 on sandy or gravelly bottoms at a depth of twenty-five fathoms 

 downwards both off the south and north coasts, and may be 

 common. The female evidently prefers shallower water, while 

 the young are often plentiful close inshore. A fully developed 

 male of the Spotted Dragonet (C. maculatus, Bonap.), a distinctly 

 northern species, was trawled by Holt in Falmouth Bay in July, 

 1897, at a depth of thirty to thirty-five fathoms. 



The Cornish Sucker (Lepadogaster gouanii, Lacep.) is common 

 on the south coast in small rock-pools, under stones between 

 tide-marks, and in shallow water. On the north coast it seems 

 to be scarce or very local. The Double-spotted Sucker (L. bi- 

 maculatus, Flem.) is by no means so common. During the past 

 eight years it has been dredged at a depth of fifteen fathoms at 

 Polperro, and up to twenty-five fathoms in Falmouth Bay. It 

 has also been taken at low spring tide at Gorran, Gyllyngvase, 

 and near Mousehole, and dredged in shallow water in Nanjizal 

 Bay, Land's End. Couch is evidently the only naturalist who 

 has obtained the Connemara Sucker (L. decandollei, Bisso) off 

 the Cornish coast. 



(To be continued.) 



