Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 3 (1899).djvu/299

Rh fish, 4½ in. An equally remarkable Herring (Clupea harengus) was sent me on Feb. 28th. It was 2 in. deep up to the dorsal and anal fins, but was nearly normal in shape, and then singularly shortened behind. Length, 6¾ in.; it should, if perfect for its size, have been 10 in. long. I had a Codling sent me on Jan. 20th, in which the mouth was strangely placed under the head, the snout protruding considerably, the lower lip being singularly like that of a Shark. The tongue formed a kind of ball or stopper which effectually closed the mouth when necessary. Length, 13½ in. On Jan. 16th I met with a Lemon Sole (Solea lascaris), which was brought to the fish-wharf. I saw a Brill (Rhombus lævis), on March 2nd, which was pure white on the upper surface, with the exception of the extreme margin of the fins; the latter half of the tail was coloured, as was a small ring encircling each eye normally. I was shown a large Turbot (R. maximus), on May 29th, which was also white all over the upper surface, save here and there a small spot of grey. Both fish, as in all cases of albino Turbots, were minus the spiny processes which dot the back or upper surface. A small example of the Greenland Bullhead (Cottus scorpius var. grœnlandicus) reached me on April 29th. On May 21st a local shrimper brought me a fish which was quite new to him. It measured 4 in. in length. On comparing it with Day's plate, I found it to be an example of Blennius gattorugine. It was not at all highly coloured, as depicted by Couch, but was of a dull tawny or yellow-brown, the edges of the fins being of a ruddy hue. Day speaks of it being subject to variation according to locality, and no doubt on our sandy coast such a stray fish would assume more sober tints than in its native rocky habitat. Mr. T. Southwell, to whom I sent it for confirmation of my finding, noticed it was not so deep as in Day's figure, and the "slight notch" mentioned between the spinous and soft portions of the dorsal fins did not seem to him to exist in my specimen. This is the first record of B. gattorugine occurring in East Anglian waters. The specimen has been spirited, and will be presented to Yarmouth Museum at the Old Tolhouse Hall.— (Great Yarmouth).

[The Gattorugine, known to fishermen of the West of England by the homely appellation of Tompot (Couch), has been recorded from the northeast coast. "Included in Sir Cuthbert Sharp's List of Hartlepool Fishes," cf. R. Howse, 'Cat. Fishes of the Rivers and Coast of Northumberland and Durham,' p. 25. It is reported as lying concealed in pools among long seaweeds, where it is probably often overlooked.—]

Aviculture and its Scientific Status.—Although for many years the increase in the number of zoological gardens has shown that scientists have desired to become familiar with the living representatives of their cabinet Zool. 4th ser. vol. III., June, 1899.