Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/237

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FISHES 38. Common Weever. Trachinus vipera, Cuv. & Val. In Sir T. Browne's list this species rather than the preceding is referred to : ' A sting- fish, wiver, or kind of ophthidion, about 4 inches long, with a sharp, small, prickly fin along the back, which often venomously pricketh the hands of fishermen.' 39. Dragonet or Dusky Skulpin. Callionymus lyra, Linn. Norfolk Estuary : common. Yarmouth : ' very rare.' — P. The dusky skulpin is now proved to be the female or immature male of this species. In the estuary the adult male is comparatively rare, and the colours seldom bright as in other localities where the water is clearer. The amount of alluvial matter held in suspension would seem to prevent the colouring action of the light. 40. Two-spotted Sucker. Lepadogaster bi- macuiatus, Penn. For the only record of this being taken on the Norfolk coast I am indebted to the Rev. E. W. Dowell, who caught one at Blakeney, in July, 1846. 4 1 . Angler. Lophius piscatorius, Linn. Common on our coast. One brought into Yarmouth June 3rd, 1897, weighed I cwt. — J. P. ' The Rana piscatrix, or frog-fish, is some- times found in large magnitude.' — Sir T. Browne. 42. Wolf-fish. Anarrhichm lupus^ Linn. Yarmouth. — P. Mr. Gurney writes : ' I have seen a itvi taken off the East Norfolk coast, one is in the Norwich Museum.' ' One measuring 36^ inches long was washed up on Cromer beach, August 6th, 1874.' — J. H. G. Sir T. Browne makes mention of the ' sea wolf, or Lupus nostras of Schoneveldus, re- markable for its spotted skin and notable teeth.' One in the Wisbeach Museum was taken in the Norfolk Estuary. 43. Gattorugine. Blennius gattorugine, Bloch. 'On May 25th, 1897, Mr. Patterson sent me a specimen of this fish, which was taken on the 2 1st in a shrimp-net off Yarmouth.' — T. S. He records a second specimen May 2 1st, 1900. This, the largest of the British blennies, has not been met with previously in Norfolk. It is therefore an important addition to the fauna of Norfolk. 44. Shannay. Blennius pholis, Linn. Cromer : ' among stones at low tide.' — J. H. G. 45. Butterfish. C entronotus gunnelluSy h' n, Norfolk Estuary : common. Yarmouth.— P. Cromer.— 7. H. G. 46. Viviparous Blenny. Zoarces viviparus, Linn. Norfolk Estuary. Yarmouth. — P. Mr. Gurney says : ' Adult specimens are found near the beach, Lowestoft, and in the later summer months young ones, about an inch in length, are abundant in the upper part of the inner harbour at Lowestoft, where they frequent the weed banks and, I think, burrow in them.' ANACANTHINI 47. Cod. Gadus morrhuay Linn. ' It used to be thought that the finest cod supplied to the Norwich fish-market were those sent up from Sherringham, which were usually found to have been feeding on crabs.' -J. H. G. Mr. Day, in his work on ' British Fishes,' has a curious note on what might be con- sidered a Norfolk example of this species. ' The contents of their stomach are almost infinite {sic) — from one, captured in Lynn Deeps, one Midsummer eve, 1626, and brought to the vice-chancellor of Cambridge, was taken a book in three treatises ' (vol. i. p. 279). 48. Haddock. Gadus teglefinus, Linn. Norfolk Estuary : common, Yarmouth. —P. In Sir T. Browne's list : '■Ascellus minor Schoneveldi {Callarius plinii) or haddocks.' 49. Bib or Pont. Gadus luscus, Linn. Norfolk Estuary. Yarmouth. — Patterson. 50. Power or Poor Cod. Gadus minutus, Linn. Mr. Patterson sends me a note of an ex- ample, 4 inches long, taken in a shrimp-net off Yarmouth, February 12th, 1893. He recorded the first Norfolk specimen, which he found at Yarmouth, April 6th, 1890, in the Transactions of that year (vol. v. p. 228). One, 10 inches in length, October 12th, 1894; another, November, 1894; and one, March i6th, 1897, 7^ inches. — A. P. {Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc, vol. vi. p. 3). Since its first detection in 1890 specimens have been occasionally taken by longshore and shrimp-netters, from 7 to 10 inches in length. 205