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 FISHES 67. Lichia vadige, Risso. In the Report of the Penzance Natural History Society, 1893-4, Dr. Gtlnther records a specimen of this species 19 inches long taken in a pollack net off Prussia Cove in 1892 (see also Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, x. 335). 68. Rudder-fish. Pamme/as perciformis, Mitchill. The only British specimen was obtained about six miles from Penzance in October 1874 and was recorded by Mr. Cornish (Zool. 1874). It was found alive in a floating wooden case of which one board was wanting from the top. Day states that it was pre- served in the collection of Sir John St. Aubyn. Mr. Cornish, thinking it was a new species, gave it the name Pimelepterus cornubiensis. Mr. Holt gives an interesting paper on this and other species of the family Strematada (Rep. Fisheries of Ireland for 1901, p. 70), and states that in September 1901 a large shoal of rudder-fish followed a barnacle- covered log which drifted ashore at the Aran Islands. The peasants were so afraid of them that they ran away, believing that they were sheeogues or fairies. 69. Blackfish. Centrolophus pompilus, Linn. Two specimens were taken at Looe in 1721 and recorded by Borlase in his Natural History of Cornwall. Couch mentions one taken in 1830, a second on a hand-line near Polperro in 1831, and another came with a ship into St. Ives Harbour and was gaffed. There are several later records. Mr. Gat- combe (Zool. 1872) records one taken in a mackerel net off the Deadman, which ap- peared to have followed a large porbeagle taken in the same net. Mr. Dunn knew of a dozen taken at Mevagissey. Mr. Holt describes six or eight specimens taken in a mackerel net near the Runnelstone in 1891. They were all small specimens between 12 and 14 inches in length (Journ. M.E.A. ii. 265). 70. Cornish Centrolophus. Centrolophus britannicus, GUnther. This is probably a spurious species. A specimen was thrown on the shore near Looe, obtained by Couch and presented by him to the British Museum, where it was stuffed and the descriptions and figures were taken from the stuffed specimen which, according to Day, is distorted. It was probably a specimen of C. pompilus. 7 1 . Greater Weever. Trachinus draco, Linn. Common on sandy ground. Couch men- tions that they are sometimes taken in drift nets, as though they were in the habit of swimming towards the surface at night. 72. Lesser Weever, Viper Weever. Trach- inus vipera, Cuv. & Val. Common in sandy bays. In both this and the larger species there is a spine at the upper part of the operculum which is poisonous, and a prick from it causes intense pain for a short time. 73. Dragonet or Skulpin. Callionymus fyra, Linn. Very common. The male is distinguished by its brilliant blue and yellow colouring, and by the great elongation of the rays of the anterior dorsal fin. The eggs are buoyant, and the sexes perform an elaborate courtship. 74. Spotted Dragonet. Callionymus maculatus, Bonap. A fully developed male trawled by Mr. Holt in Falmouth Bay, July 1897, depth 30 to 35 fathoms. Previously known from the Hebrides and the uFirth of Clyde, and from the west coast of Ireland. Common in the Mediterranean. 75. Cornish Sucker. Lepadogaster gouanii, Lacp. Common under stones and in pools between tide marks. 76. Double-spotted Sucker. Lepadogaster bimaculatus, Flem. Not so common as the preceding species. 77. Connemara Sucker. Lepadogaster decan- dolii. J. Couch states that he obtained only a few specimens. In his account of dredging excursions subsidized by the British Associa- tion in 1866 he mentions a specimen obtained at 40 fathoms. 78. Cat-fish or Wolf-fish. Anarrhichas lupus, Linn. According to J. Couch has been taken at Looe and Fowey, but it is a northern fish very seldom seen in Cornwall. 79. Gattorugine. Blennius gattorugine, Bloch. Common in rather deep water, and fre- quently taken in crab-pots. 80. Montagu's Blenny. Blennius galerita, Linn. Common in Mount's Bay between tide marks, and on other parts of the coast. 81. Butterfly Blenny. Blennius ocellaris, Linn. Not uncommon at Falmouth (Cocks), and occurs also in Mount's Bay. 299