MILLPORT MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION. 



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If single valves of Mussels with flesh attached are put into 

 the tanks, Plaice, Dabs, and Saithe will all shake them vigor- 

 ously in trying to get the flesh out. When the Lemon Dab 

 (Pleuronectes microcephalics) snaps at or seizes food a peculiar 

 noise is made, which sounds rather as though one had hit 

 the masonry of the tank with a hammer below water. The 

 noise made is a distinct " plunk," and might be represented by 

 that word. Dr. J. F. Gemmill and I have succeeded in closely 

 imitating the noise by snapping one's fingers under water. We 

 also produced the noise, though more faintly, by putting our 

 heads under water with the mouth shut, expanding the back of 

 the mouth and throat and then opening the mouth suddenly. 

 This is as nearly as possible an imitation of the action of the fish 

 when feeding, only the fish does it much more quickly. The 

 Ballan Wrasse occasionally makes the same noise. 



Cobblers (Cottus scorpius) feed greedily on mollusc or crusta- 

 cean food. They readily attack strangers in their tanks, and 

 swallow Pipefish (Syngnathus) or Saithe as long as or even longer 

 than themselves, although it takes three or four days to finish 

 the operation. 



Sandhoppers (Gammarus), which can be gathered in thou- 

 sands in the higher reaches of the tidal zone, are a favourite 

 food with most fish in captivity (e.g. Cobbler, Pogge, Goby, 

 Shanny, Butterfish, Ballan Wrasse, Goldsinny, Cod, Saithe, 

 Lythe, Kockling, Topknot, Plaice, Lemon Dab, Dab, and Sole). 

 Shrimps and Prawns, alive or dead, are also readily taken. 

 Lythe show a stronger taste for crustacean food than Saithe do. 



Dragonets, Anglers (Lophms), Skate, and Dogfish do not feed 

 at all readily. Witches and Long Bough Dabs are very difficult 

 to keep in captivity, and generally only live two or three days. 



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