Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/263

Rh Large Holibut at Isle of Man.—A fine Holibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris, was brought into Ramsey Market on April 8th, having been taken by the trawl-boat 'Swift' off Bahama Bank. I saw it at the fish-dealer's (Aldritt's), and found it measured 6 ft. 6 in. by 2 ft. 6 in., and 8 in. thick. I asked that it might be weighed, but on my return found that it had been cleaned and packed to be sent across the water. I now hear that it was then weighed at 200 lbs. About 14 lbs. had been removed in the cleaning of it. In its stomach was a whole cod and many fish-bones. I have a note of one taken at the same place in November, 1891 (140 lbs.), in which was a recently swallowed cod. Day, in his 'British Fishes,' quotes Lacepede to the effect that in Greenland these fish "appeared to prefer localities also frequented by the cod, as they probably seek the same food." Evidently it simplifies matters to make one mouthful of the cod and his food together. It appears that in April, 1829, an example, 7½ ft. long and 320 lbs. weight, was taken off the Isle of Man, one of the largest recorded in the British Islands.— (Ramsey, Isle of Man).

Occurrence of the Cuckoo Ray at Great Yarmouth.—Couch, in describing this Ray, remarks that "this well-marked species has been overlooked or mistaken by many naturalists." Such appears to have been locally the case, for, until Feb. 4th, it remained unidentified in this neighbourhood, when a message from a fish merchant reached me to the effect that "a queer Skate had turned up." The gentleman referred to (amongst others) keeps an eye open for "strangers." Hence the opportunity afforded of examining what turned out to be a very interesting take. This fish was caught on the hooks of a steam long-liner sailing out of this port, and fishing along the coast as far as Grimsby, returning every two or three days with her catches. The Ray was yet "stiff" and ungutted. It was a 26-inch female, and contained eggs running from the size of snipe-shot to chestnuts. Couch hints that its spawning-time may be December, but leaves a wide margin when remarking he had seen eggs just ready to be shed in July. The fish much resembles a "Honer," Raia maculata, in shape and build. Colour yellowish drab, verging on to red at the fin-borders. The surface of the disc (back) is adorned with short spines, a half-circular row of which defend the back of each eye; a triangular group decorate the "shoulders," whilst the tail, which is stout at the origin, tapers off posteriorly, and has two fins near the end. It has a gutter-like depression running its whole length, protected on either side by five rows of spines. The pair of marbled circular blotches, of black and white, each the size of a half-crown, are very distinct. The specimen has been preserved for Yarmouth Museum.

A somewhat smaller male came to hand on Feb. 16th, whilst a third