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Show 1879.] OF WESTON-SUPER-MARE. 749 when the fish is hauled up it looks as plump and round as a live fish, but when opened is found full of these parasites. Mr. Dunn subsequently (Sept. 29th) observes, " the statement in the ' Field' is quite in keeping with our knowledge of these fish-lice. W e have no deep-sea long lines in use here ; our deep-sea fishing is done with hand-lines; consequently we have no opportunity of testing the habits of the ' lice' in a like manner with the northern fishermen. But it often happens when a half Mackerel is used as a bait that the lice will in a few minutes scoop out all the fish, leaving nothing but the skeleton and the skin. To a novice, the bait will appear as round and full as when first cast into the sea, so closely packed are the lice in the body, but a hard rap against the side of the boat reveals the secret. They give out a ticking sound when crawling." ZEUS FABER, Linn. John Dory or Doree. I obtained two from the stationary shrimp-nets. This fish has numerous yellow lines taking an irregular horizontal direction along the body, a very light edging to the black lateral blotch, and two darkish lines along both dorsal and anal fins. At the Westminster Aquarium these fish are fed upon Sand-Smelts; and one day, being perhaps more hungry than usual, a Dory was observed to seize a young Bass, which it subsequently devoured. Mr. Saville Kent drew attention to the peculiar manner in which this fish uses its fins, which he, with great justice, likens to that of the dorsal fin in the Pipe-fish, a movement that Dr. J. E. Gray considered resembled the action of the Archimedean screw. This rapid motion affects the soft rays and interradial membrane of the dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins, all, ormerely some, of which may be in motion at the same time. This may be perceived both when they are ascending or descending, or even when lying over on one side ; but they are likewise able to move their fins more slowly, as we generally perceive in fishes. The Dory appears to have been more common this year than usual. Turning to Lord Ducie's captures, I find them in Ballins-kelligBay as follows:-1873, one; 1874, four ; 1876, five; 1877, four; 1878, five; 1879, twenty-seven. CAPROS APER, Linn. The Boar-fish. An example, 5\ inches in length, is in the Weston Museum ; it was brought there alive. Large numbers have been captured this year off the English coast; and Mr. Carrington observes that he has received notices, during June 1879, of their having been taken in various parts of the south and south-east coast of England. At Weymouth and Bournemouth they were not infrequently found dead on the shore. At Sheerness a shrimp-trawler took a dozen at one draught; off Harwich a pair were similarly captured. The Essex fishermen term them ' Red Dorees,' but do not remember observing them in previous years. In the commencement of September, about a dozen were captured in one day on the south coast. Mr. Dunn sent me a fine example from Megavissey, November this year. On |