FISHES largest specimens of Gobius niger, up to 9^ inches in length, were found in rock pools above the reach of ordinary tides, and Mr. Boulenger suggested that these large speci- mens might have been really Gobius capita. In August 1903 Mr. Pickard- Cambridge found such large gobies in the rock-pools at Portscatho east of Falmouth, and they were identified by him and Mr. Boulenger as Gobius capita, which was thus added to the British fauna. The fish when adult is from 7 to 10 inches in length, much larger than any other species of goby. It is thus evident that Couch saw specimens of this species but erroneously identified them as Gobius niger (see Field, 24 Oct. 1903, where figs, are given). 42. Freckled Goby. Gobius minutus. Linn. According to Holt there are two main races of this variable species. One is the typical form, G. minutus major, which is larger but more slender and reaches 3^ inches in length. This is found on open coasts down to about 50 fathoms. The second race is estuarine and is identical with the G. parnelli of Day ; it is stouter in build but smaller, not exceeding 2^ inches in length. The largest and most brightly coloured specimens came from the clean and sandy estuaries of the north of Cornwall, the smallest and most dingy from the muddy and brackish estuaries of the North Sea. 43. Painted Goby. Gobius pictus, Malm. Abundant on the south coast of the county. 44. Jeffreys' Goby. Gobius jeffreym, Gtin- ther. This is a deep water species ranging from 19 to 1 80 fathoms. It has been found near the Eddystone, and probably occurs further west also. 45. Gobius scorpioides, Collett. This is one of the smallest fishes known. It was first described by Collett in 1874 ; two specimens were obtained off the coast of Norway and one in the Cattegat. The longest was not quite ij inches in length. In July 1897 Mr. Holt obtained a specimen in Falmouth Harbour at a depth of 1 8 fathoms. It was a mature female. He has since found it plentiful in Ballynakill Harbour in Ireland. 46. Transparent Goby. Aphia pellucida, Nardo. Abundant in Cawsand Bay in July, and probably at other parts of the coast. Accord- ing to Collett it is an annual species, reaching maturity in one year and dying after breeding. It was also taken in April 1897 in the Lyn- her river, above Waterlake to Anthony Pas- sage, in company with young herrings of similar size. Also in Kiln Bay, Tamar river. 47. Crystal Goby. Crystallogobius nilssonii, Dub. & Kor. Abundant in the deeper part of Falmouth Bay, forming, as probably on other offshore grounds along the coast, the chief food of half- grown dories and large scald-fish. 48. John Dory. Zeus faber, Linn. Common. Larger specimens are taken by the trawlers in deep water, small ones occur in shallow water in summer. 49. Boar-fish. Capros aper, Linn. In the early part of the nineteenth century this fish was regarded as a rarity ; in 1842 a specimen was found on the beach at Brighton and sent to the Queen, when the Prince Consort identified it as C. aper. In later years many records were published in the Zoologist. At the present time the fish is abundant in summer on the trawling grounds from the Start to the Lizard, and also off Mount's Bay. 50. Trumpet Fish. Centriscus scolopax, Linn. A Mediterranean species of which speci- mens have rarely been found on British coasts. Day states that one undoubted example was thrown on shore at Menabilly near Fowey in 1804, and recorded in the second edition of Pennant's British Zoology in 1812. 5 1 . Mackerel. Scomber scambrus, Linn. The chief fishing season for mackerel off the coasts of Cornwall is the spring, from the beginning of March to June. At this time a fleet of several hundred boats, steam and sail, makes its headquarters at Newlyn, while others are fishing from St. Ives, Falmouth and Mevagissey. The fish are found about the Scilly Isles, north of St. Ives, and in the Eng- lish Channel. They spawn in May and June and the eggs are buoyant. In summer and autumn mackerel approach the shore, and are caught, though in smaller numbers, by hook and line and by the seine. In winter the Cornish boats fish for them off Plymouth. 52. Spanish Mackerel. Scomber colias, Gmel. A Mediterranean species of which occa- sional specimens occur off Cornwall. 53. Short-finned Tunny. Thunnus thynnus, Linn. Mr. R. Couch considered these fish to be common off west Cornwall and the Scilly 297 38
