Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/242

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 92. Pearlsides. MauroUcus borealis, Nilss. Mr. Southwell thinks that ' Pearlsides,' given by Mr. Yarrell, is preferable to Argen- tine as a trivial name for this fish, as the latter is apt to create confusion vv'ith the Hebridal smelt, Argentina sphryoena. A specimen of this lovely fish was found in some draw-net refuse on Yarmouth beach, on April ist, 1889, by Mr. A. Patterson. Three others were found under similar circumstances near the Britannia Pier, by Mr. J. B. Beckett, of Yarmouth, on February 24th, 1890. ' Another freshly dead specimen was picked up on Scratby beach by Mr. W. Tomkins, in March, 1893 ; it was i^ inches long.' — yi. P. OSTARIOPHYSI

  • 93. Carp. Cyprinus carpioy Linn.

A large one was taken in the Kettle Mills pond, Lynn, in 1865. Mr. Lubbock says : ' It is not common upon the whole of the broads, but where it does occur, grows to the very largest size ; the dimensions of one lately taken are as follows : length 29:^ inches, girth 29 inches, weight 15^ lb.' ' Nearly forty years since a carp of about 12 lb. weight was found alive and healthy in a drain communicating with the river Wen- sum, near the site of the old Blackfriars Monastery at Norwich. With this excep- tion, I never knew a carp taken in the Norwich river.' — J. H. G. Sir T. Browne says : ' Two of the largest I ever beheld were taken in the Norwich river.'

  • 94. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn.

'A solitary specimen has been twice ob- served in the Yare ' {Fauna of Norfolk). Mr. Gurney informs me that it is common in ponds in East Norfolk, and he says : ' It is well known to hybridize freely with the common carp. Some years since some hy- brids of this description, bred at Hempstead, near Holt, were identified as such by Dr. Gtlnther, to whom I sent them for examina- tion. At Hempstead the true carp generally attains 8 lb. in weight, and the hybrid about half that weight. The largest specimen of Cyprinus carassius of which I have note weighed only i lb. 7 oz.' The variety known as gold-fish {Cyprinus auratus) is said by Mr. Gunn to ' breed at several mill-pools in Norfolk,' but he gives no locality.

  • 95. Gudgeon. Gobio fuviati/is, Flem.

Lynn. The Broads. — P. ' Abundant in the higher part of the rivers, but not, I think, otherwise than of rare ocur- rence amongst the broads.' — Lubbock. 'The upper part of the Yare, the Tudd, and the upper part of the Wensum.' — f. H. G. ' Gudgeons or Funduli fuviatilis ; many whereof may be taken in the river within the city.' — Sir T. Browne,

  • 96. Rudd. Leuciscus erythrophthalmus, Linn.

Common in the broads and rivers. Mr. Norman has taken one weighing 3 lb. 1 oz. Mr. T. G. Bagfield, of Norwich, states that a specimen of what he confidently believed to be the var. L. cteruleus (Swainson) was taken some years ago by Mr. Ewing, between Keswick and Cringleford Mills.

  • 97. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn.

Common in streams and broads. Mr. Gurney remarks that they are very fine in the Yare and Wensum. Mr. Norman caught one at Yarmouth which weighed 2 lb. 2 oz. ' T. Lord of Norwich caught a roach at Ranworth, on July 31st, 1883, 3 lb. in weight, length 17 inches, girth 12^ inches.' — r. s.

  • 98. Dace. Leuciscus dobula, Linn. {L. vul-

garis. Day). Common. 'Abundant and large in the upper Yare, Does not thrive in ponds.' — f. H. G. This and the two preceding are mentioned in Sir T. Browne's list.

  • 99. Chub. Leuciscus cephalus, Linn.

' Is totally unknown in the Bure, the Yare, and, I believe, the Waveney. Is very large in some Norfolk rivers, the Ouse, the Thet, and the Wissey, near Stoke Ferry.' — Lubbock. Sir T. Browne remarks : ' The chubbe to be found in divers other rivers in England, I have not observed in these.'

  • I00. Minnow. Leuciscus phoxinus, hinn.
  • I0I. Tench. Tinea vulgaris, Cuv.

Common in lakes and ponds. Mr. Gurney says : ' The only river locality I know for the tench in Norfolk is in the Yare, above Trowse.' It occurs also in the Ouse above Denver. Mr. Norman informs me that the largest he has caught near Yar- mouth weighed 5 lb. 14 oz. The late Mr. Johnson, of Watlington, informed me that in the ponds there, wher- 210