FISHES. 
221 
In the preceding enumeration of British Fishes, I have taken notice of 
a few species which seem entitled only to the rank of stragglers, such as the 
Flying Fish, Femora, and a few others. The geographical distribution of 
these species is so far ascertained, that individuals occurring in particular 
places may, with some confidence, be regarded as having strayed from their 
ordinary haunts, and not likely either to remain permanently, or to multi- 
ply. But there are a few species, in the genera Wrasse and Gurnard, for 
example, which, though they have been seldom observed on our coasts, are 
still permitted to occupy a place in the British Fauna. The geographical 
distribution of these species is too little known to permit any accurate opi- 
nion being formed respecting their ordinary haunts. They may, probably, 
be found more frequently in our seas, as the products of our fishing boats are 
examined with more attention. In this department there is much which has 
been neglected, so that a rich harvest of discovery still awaits the zealous and 
practical cultivators^ of the science of Ichthyology who have access to exten- 
sive fishing stations. 
The revolutions which have taken place in the different epochs of the earth’s 
duration, and which have left memorials of their influence, in the numerous 
relics of extinct species which the different strata contain, have extended 
their destructive operations to fishes ; an occurrence attested by the remains 
of teeth and vertebrae, and entire impressions of fish, exhibited by many stra- 
ta. But those parts which have been preserved, exhibit so imperfectly the 
characteristic mark of the species, as to render it difficult, if not impossible, 
in the present state of ichthyological osteology, to give notices of their his- 
tory at all calculated to interest the reader. 
The circumstances which regulate the physical distribution of Fishes, appear 
as yet to be imperfectly determined. Living in a medium, less influenced 
by changes of temperature than the atmosphere, the mere action of heat 
exercises but little control. Yet it is probable that the attachment of the 
Pilchard to Cornwall and the Tusk to Zetland, may arise from this circum- 
stance. Fish appear, however, to have peculiar local attachments, frequent- 
ing certain banks, shores, or tideways, in preference to others. Thus, the 
Hake and the Braize, while they are distributed along the south-western 
shores of England, and the coast of Ireland, are likewise extended, though less 
abundantly, to the Hebrides, while their northern limits on the east coast 
are much more circumscribed. Suitable food is probably the great regulator 
of these distributions. 
The migrations of fishes, in compliance with the arrangements of their 
reproductive system, exhibit the most singular movements, often complex, 
but always useful to man. Those which inhabit the inaccessible depths of 
the sea, in ordinary cases, approach the shores, towards the season of spawn- 
ing ; and, after depositing their eggs in suitable situations, again retire to 
their inaccessible haunts. The fry occupy for a time their littoral birth- 
place, and then follow the course of the older individuals, though in several 
cases the young seem to execute movements different from the full grown 
fish. Not a few species, as the salmon, which have their ordinary residence 
in the sea, approach, towards the spawning season, the shores, enter estuar- 
ies and ascend rivers, where, having selected a suitable place, they deposite 
their eggs, and again return to the sea. The fry, after a certain period, like- 
wise leave the fresh waters and betake themselves to the sea. Similar move- 
ments are executed by the fish which inhabits lakes. As the spawning sea- 
son approaches, several species, as the Gwiniad, leave the deep water, and 
approach the margin ; while others, as the Roach, not only approach the 
mar^n of the lake, but ascend the neighbouring streams. — With a few other 
species, as the Eel, for example, these movements are reversed ; the spawn- 
ing fish leave the fresh-water lakes and rivers, and retire to the sea to give 
birth to their progeny. 
