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Show 752 MR. F. D A Y O N T H E FISHES [Dec. 2, cast of one 4 feet long is in the Museum, as well as the jaws or three adults. CEPOLA RUBESCENS, Linn. The Band-fish. Somersetshire (Baker). A specimen from Exmouth, captured this year and given me by Frank Buckland, Esq., was infested with worms, which Mr. Cobbold found to be examples of Rudolphi's so-called Nematoideum cepolce-rubescenlis. Six different internal parasites have been described from this fish. BLENNIUS GATTORUGINE, Bloch. Local examples of this Blenny are in the Museum. ATHERINA PRESBYTER, CUV. Sand-Smelt. MUGIL CAPITO, CUV. The Grey Mullet. I saw an example nearly three feet long, taken out of the flounder-stakes, they are said not to be commonly seen, but occasionally small schools of them are captured in the stationary shrimp-nets. At the Westminster Aquarium, those in the same tank as the Sturgeon greedily devoured lob-worms; their food is chopped mussels. MUGIL SEPTENTRIONALIS, Gunther. 31. chelo, Yarrell. Has been recorded from Somersetshire. GASTEROSTEUS ACULEATUS, Will. The Tinker. I obtained an example from tbe stationary shrimp-nets, others likewise exist in the Museum. Baker records the following varieties as found in the county :-G. trachurus, C. & V.; G. semiar-matus, C. & V.; G. leiurus, C. & V., or G. gymnurus, Cuv. Although these Sticklebacks (or Pricklebacks, as they were formerly called) are taken in both fresh and sea water, Mr. Mable found that in an aquarium they rarely lived in salt water upwards of six weeks, and even then they did not thrive. Having obtained upwards of a score, he placed them in a freshwater aquarium, which was apparently too small for all to live in together with comfort; consequently some of the weaker were eaten by tbe stronger and larger ones. This could not have been due to want of food, as they had as much as they wished for ; what they especially seemed to relish was butter, to obtain which they would even spring out of the water. They became exceedingly tame, and were fed with dried beef shredded, which they would take from the hand, but preferred Mrs. Mable to any one else ; in fact she had only to hold a finger over the aquarium, and they would at once come and follow it as she moved it along. Some of the most brilliant males took and retained particular stations, and from which they drove away interlopers. They constructed nests of small hits of twigs, which they carried in their mouth like birds to the place where they desired to form their domicile, which was invariably laid on a sandy foundation. As soon as a piece of stick or other substance had been deposited, the fish carried some |