SCAB. 
137 
of April; but for the remainder of the year it is amongst the 
commonest of British fishes. Yet from its sensibility to the 
impressions of cold, there is considerable variation in its habits 
in the different parts of the British Islands; so that in Scotland, 
as well as in the north of the European continent, it is only 
known as a casual visitor whose motions are irregular and 
I interrupted. As the only proof he knew of its occurrence in 
' Scotland, Dr. Fleming adduces an instance in which a mutilated 
I individual was found on the shore near the mouth of the Tay; 
and Mr. Thompson tells us that although known in the north 
of Ireland, it is abundant only in the south of that kingdom. 
I have found the Scad with roe ready to be shed at the 
middle of July, and large numbers, scarcely exceeding two 
inches in length, were taken in the middle of October in the 
same year. Yet this cannot be its usual season of spawning, 
or it must produce its young twice in the year; for I have 
known them, not exceeding an inch in length, to be found in 
great numbers in the mouths and stomachs of large fishes, 
I from the end of December, through January, to the middle of 
February. And again, I have known them, of the length of 
three or four inches, abundantly taken in August and September, 
I in company with the young of the Common Mackarel of the 
' same length; these last-named fish being well known as spawning 
on our coasts in June, and not later than the early part of July. 
I The fate of these little fishes is sometimes unfortunate, as they 
I come to the surface for the benefit of the warmth and sunshine; 
for as they huddle close together they are assailed from below 
t by murs and guillemots, which dive beneath, and terrify them 
! from seeking safety in the only way in which it can be ob- 
tained, while multitudes of gulls rest on the water and devour 
them at their pleasure. These last-named birds are so closely 
pressed together, that there is no room for those which have 
I come the last, but in alighting on their comrades, which thus 
( are compelled to make room and rise aloft. In this way there 
is a constant motion among them, until the diving birds 
beneath are gorged to the full, and make way for the fishes to 
escape by sinking beneath. In September and October it is 
usual for Scads, of the length of about seven or eight inches, 
to be caught in considerable abundance in the drift-nets shot 
for Pilchards; but such numbers of this size have also been 
i 
