496 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



LOACH. 



Nemachilus barbatulus (L.). 



The Loach is found commonly in our streams. Eichardson, 

 who was well acquainted with the species, wrote : ' We saw one 

 in the Vennet in Westmorland, measured 5 inches ; the largest 

 here not more than 4. . . . Vulgarly, Lob-loache.' Dr. Heysham 

 had evidently no personal knowledge of this species, for he 

 follows Eichardson in a carefully guarded sentence: 'This species 

 is found in the Eamont and small streams near Ulleswater.' As 

 a matter of fact, it was quite as common in the Petteril and other 

 streams near Carlisle, but he had probably not troubled to look 

 for it. Mr. Tom Duckworth assures me that the Loach is an 

 excellent bait for catching eels. 



Order PHYSOSTOML Fam. SCOMBBESOCIDJE. 



GAE-FISH. 



Belone vulgaris, Flem. 



Dr. Heysham includes the Gar-fish as ' now and then taken 

 on our sea-coasts.' It is not uncommon on our open seaboard, 

 but is rare in the higher waters of the English Solway. George 

 Holmes sent me a fine specimen from Bowness in May 1891. 

 Mr. J. N. Eobinson obtained a male and female which had 

 entered the mouth of the Eden together, apparently that the 

 female might spawn in fresh or brackish water, some three 

 years earlier. Dr. Welby I'Anson has met with specimens at 

 Whitehaven, but he considers it scarce in his neighbourhood. 



S A U E Y. 



Scombresox saurus (Walb. ). 



In January 1891 Dr. Welby I'Anson showed me a specimen 

 which he had obtained a short time previously from a small 

 boy, who caught it with a hook and line when fishing off the 

 quay at Whitehaven. It was the first that Dr. I'Anson had 

 seen, so we must infer that the species is rarely captured at 

 Whitehaven. Mr. Nicol has found three different examples, 

 washed up on the sands of the English Solway during winter. 



