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Show 1879.] OF WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 753 sand in its mouth and strewed it above ; then taking in some more sand, it went a short distance off and blew it over the structure, thus causing it to be diffused in a shower of bubbles. The nest when completed had its entrance on one side and its exit on the other, as has been described by Dr. Ransom and other observers ; this nest, if lifted out of the aquarium, appeared to be glued together by a jellylike substance. Mr. Warrington (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1855, (2) xvi. p. 330) remarks that the adult die when they have propagated their species. Some Roach, Leuciscus rutilus, were added to the inmates of the aquarium, with which invasion the Sticklebacks did not appear to be pleased ; still they were not frightened, but forthwith attacked the intruders, biting at them anywhere and everywhere, until they became thoroughly cowed. Then these little tyrants were observed to place themselves in front of the Roach, steady themselves by their tail, and then suddenly dart straight at the lips of their intended prey, from which they bit pieces out. These attacks were continued until the Roach had been killed, when they were eaten by their conquerors. GATEROSTEUS SPINACHIA, Linn. Fifteen-spined Stickleback. A local specimen exists in the Weston Museum. LABRUS MACULATUS, Bloch. The Ballan Wrasse. Two local examples exist in the Weston Museum; they were received alive. LABRUS MIXTUS, Fries, the Cook ; LABRUS COMBER, Pennant; C R E N I L A B R U S M E L O P S , Linn., the Corkwing; G Y M N E L I S IM-BERBIS, Linn., the Beardless Ophidium. Have all been taken in Somersetshire. AMMODYTES LANCEOLATUS, Le Sauvage. The Greater Sand-Eel or Sand-Launce. Baker reports this species from Somersetshire. In examining a very tine example received from Mr. Dunn, I find the oesophagus enters abruptly into a pyriform stomach, which has a very narrow prolongation from its posterior or larger end, longer than the remainder of the organ ; the pylorus is also very narrow, and where it enters the small intestines that canal is prolonged upwards into a csecal sac, while the length of the remainder of the tube scarcely exceeds half the length of the stomach. AMMODYTES TOBIANUS, Linn. Lesser Sand-Eel. Found at Weston. MORRHUA VULGARIS, Flem. Codfish. Taken during the winter months on lines; as is also M O R R H U A JEGLEFINUS, or the Haddock; M. M E R L A N G U S , Linn., or the Whiting, numbers of the young of which are captured in the shrimp-nets ; and M O R R H U A LUSCA, Linn., or the Bib. |