NOTES AND QUERIES. 439 
PISCES. 
Short Sunfish near Scarborough.—On the afternoon of Sept. 4th I | 
was with a party of friends in a boat about two miles from land, off Cloughton 
Wyke, a small rocky cove five miles north of Scarborough. The day was 
very hot, with no wind anda calm sea. We saw coming along with the 
current, and perhaps a quarter of a mile distant, a tall black object showing 
above the surface of the water, moving somewhat rapidly from side to side, 
and never disappearing beneath. On gently paddling the boat towards it, 
we saw that it was a Short Sunfish, and, moving very carefully, it allowed 
us to bring the boat up within three feet of it, and drift alongside while we 
watched it. It was moving at the rate of about four miles an hour with 
the help of the current, at the same time steadily paddling with its large 
fins. Perhaps the fact that the uppermost of these was almost entirely out 
of water accounted for the fact that its position was lop-sided instead of 
straight, and at first it gave us the impression of an injured fish. The 
means of propulsion appeared to be entirely confined to the two large fins, 
with which it sculled itself along by alternate movements. So far as we 
noticed, the pectoral fins and tail were not used. The fish showed no signs 
of fear until we touched it, when it darted, at an astonishing speed for such 
an awkward-looking creature, across the bows of the boat. On striking it 
with a “gaff” it struggled powerfully, diving downwards, and was with 
difficulty secured. Out of the water it lived only a very short time, and 
changed its colour in a very remarkable manner as it died. While in the 
water, and immediately after being taken out, the general colour was very 
dark brown, almost black, with bright silver streaks and spots. The belly 
was silvery. After being out of the water about three or four minutes all 
the dark colour faded, leaving the fish a uniform bright silver. In a few 
minutes the dark colour gradually returned, until the fish was its normal 
colour, after which it slowly faded again to plain silver, and remained so. It 
groaned piteously as it lay in the bottom of the boat, much like a Gurnard, 
but not quite so loud. The fish weighed about 20 lb., and was 31 in. from 
tip to tip of the large fins, and 2] in. in length from nose to tail. It was 
infested with no fewer than three distinct varieties of parasites—Lernea 
branchialis on the gills, a large round flat parasite about one inch in 
diameter on the belly and sides, and a smaller one with a long tail on the 
same part. On dissection the stomach contained a quantity of yellowish 
fluid, but nothing recognizable. A week later I saw a small specimen of 
the same species in a local fishmonger’s shop, which the manager said had 
been taken at Scarborough, but I could get no details as to the exact locality 
and date.— W. J. CuarKe (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 
