6 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



two, not very large, about 2 lb. each. Horrible-looking fish, but 

 the Fen natives tell me they are of a fine pink- coloured flesh, 

 like a Salmon, and very good eating." The species seems fairly 

 well distributed, and is mentioned in most local faunas, but it 

 seems so elusive that it is referred to often with rather vague 

 description. Lubbock ('Fauna of Norfolk') says: "I have 

 known many caught ; and some two and three pounds in weight." 

 The last Norfolk example of which I have any record was taken 

 in the 'seventies. Mr. J. R. B. Masefleld, " North Staffordshire 

 Freshwater Fish " (N. S. Field Club's ' Transactions '), remarks 

 that " Col. Masefield has this fish in his ponds, where he says 

 they do well, and he once caught one with a Minnow, 4 lb. in 

 weight." 



Dr. Day ('British Fishes') refers to a general belief that the 

 species is dying out and "doomed to extinction"; this would 

 seem to me to fairly well apply to it in Norfolk rivers. I hope 

 I am wrong. 



February 27th. — Thousands of sprat-sized Whitings are 

 being captured in the shrimp-nets. They are a nuisance both 

 to the shrimper and to the sea-angler, one of whom hooked 

 about two hundred in two days. 



Pike on the Norfolk Broads had been fairly well on the feed 

 at the end of February and beginning of March. Among other 

 catches of this " freshwater Shark " may be mentioned one by a 

 London angler, who secured three fishes in one day, weighing 

 respectively '21 lb., 14 lb., and 9 lb. In two Pike captured were 

 found Bream ; one fish having in its stomach two Bream, each 

 weighing lw lb. At this particular time they seem to have been 

 freely taken on the Beccles River (Waveney), and at Oulton 

 Broad, near Lowestoft. One at Wroxham was captured which 

 weighed 22 lb., length 3 ft. 5| in., girth 1 ft. 11^ in. 



A largish Lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) was taken in a 

 shrimp-net early in March. The fish was dropped into a puddle 

 of salt-water at Gorleston, where it created some degree of 

 interest among onlookers. Although fairly common, especially 

 in the spring, its pumpkin-shaped body and rough skin always 

 excite the curiosity of a crowd and the fisher-folk themselves. 



Small Whitings swarming on Breydon. On March 11th a 

 shrimper, dredging up the channel there, secured half a bushel. 



