Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/471

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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 and a 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 21 in. in length from nose to tail. It was infested with no fewer than three distinct varieties of parasites—Lernæa 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 T 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.— (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough).