British Freshwater Fishes Research Articles

On the occurrence of blood flukes (Sanguinicolidae: Trematoda) in British freshwater fish

On the occurrence of blood flukes (Sanguinicolidae: Trematoda) in British freshwater fish

A new trematode metacercaria from the eyes of trout.

SEVERAL workers1–4 have reported the occurrence of eye metacercariae from various British freshwater fishes, and all have regarded their specimens as Diplostomum volvens. This, as described originally by Nordmann (1832) and reported later by various workers, has an oral sucker much smaller than the ventral, and its lateral adhesive organs are never in the form of cup-shaped structures. Moreover, its ventral sucker is also shown to be pre-equatorial in position. During an investigation on the trematodes of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L., at Edinburgh, I obtained, mostly from the vitreous humour of the eye, a metacercaria in which the oral sucker was much larger than the ventral, the lateral adhesive organs formed cup-shaped sucker-like structures and the ventral sucker was post-equatorial in position. It is, therefore, distinct from Diplostomum volvens. Furthermore, the present metacercaria on comparison comes nearer to some of the American and Australian species of Diplostomulum but differs from all these in several important features. It is, therefore, regarded as a new species and designated Diplostomulum truttae n.sp. (Diplostomulum being the name given to eye metacercaria of which the adult has not yet been identified).

XCII.—The occurrence of parasitic worms in British freshwater fishes

XCII.—The occurrence of parasitic worms in British freshwater fishes

The Natural History of some British Freshwater Fishes.

Summary.1. The growth and the spawning and feeding habits of nine species of British freshwater fish are described. These species are:—Rutilus rutilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Abramis brama, Blicca bjoerkna, Gobio gobio, Perca fluviatilis, Acerina cernua and Esox Lucius.2. Growth has been studied by the use of scale‐reading. Individual growth‐rates vary greatly, the range in size of any age group nearly always exceeding the differences in average length between that age group and the next junior and senior age groups.3. In the cyprinids, male and female fish are at first equal in numbers, but the males die off more swiftly than the females and are in the minority in the senior age groups.4. Freshwater fish show a wide range of choice of foods; such species as Rutilus rutilus and Scardinius erythrophthalmus may be herbivores or carnivores as opportunity offers.5. Two instances have been found of closely related species sharing an ecological niche. These species are:—Abramis brama with Blicca bjoerkna, and Perca fluviatilis with Acerina cernua.

The Right Hon. Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bt., K.T., F.R.S

ALL who love Scotland, whatever may be the grounds of their affection, will join in the tribute of congratulation and wishes of good will to Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell of Monreith on the celebration of his ninetieth birthday on January 8. He has shown himself a most loyal son of a race noted for pride in its motherland; and as much as any writer since the days of Sir Walter Scott, he has successfully interpreted to his fellow-countrymen, as well as to the southerner, the charm, never too obvious, of the Scottish countryside in all its variety, and the romance of the chequered and turbulent course of Scottish history. Here he has ranged from the making of Scotland and the high adventure of the Bruce to the lowly annals of the hamlet, obscurely and imperfectly preserved in local tradition and place-names. His numerous studies of national and local history, the latter especially in his own Galloway, deserve well of Scottish students; but archseologist and historian alike are no less indebted to him for his activities as president of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and as chairman of the Royal Commission on Scottish Historical Monuments in practical affairs relating to Scottish history and archaeology. Sir Herbert's literary achievement has covered a wide field-from romance and fiction, history and biography, including a life of the Right Hon. W. H. Smith and a survey of the first sixty years of Queen Victoria's rule, to “British Freshwater Fishes”; but he is most at home when he seeks to convey the interest and charm of the birds and beasts of his own countryside, the trees of the woodlands and the flowers of a Scottish garden. Here, indeed, nihil tetigit quod non ornavit.

British Fresh-Water Fishes

British Fresh-Water Fishes

News and Views

THE Trustees of the British Museum have appointed Mr. Charles Tate Regan to be Director of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum in succession to Sir Sidney F. Harmer, who retired from office on Mar. 9. Mr. Regan was born in 1878 and was educated at Derby School and at Queens' College, Cambridge. He graduated with a first class in Part I. of the Natural Sciences Tripos in 1900 and obtained a second class in Part 2 in 1901. He joined the staff of the Natural History Museum in 1901 as assistant in the Department of Zoology and was placed in charge of the collection of fishes. The care of this unrivalled collection opened before him an extensive opportunity for research, of which he took full advantage, and he soon established himself as one of the leading ichthyologists of the day. He has written many memoirs on fishes-as well as reports on the fishes of Central America and the Antarctic -and is the author of a book on “British Freshwater Fishes.” He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1917. He was president of Section D at the Southampton meeting of the British Association in 1925, and selected “Organic Evolution” as the subject of his address. He was exempted from military service during the War on account of the important work which he was doing on the Freshwater Fish Committee. At the time when he entered the Museum, the other members of the Zoological Department were much senior to him in years, and as many of them had no desire to undertake administrative work, he secured early promotion. In 1919, on the retirement of Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, he was appointed Assistant Keeper (or Deputy Keeper, as the office is now styled), and in 1921, when Sir Sidney Harmer became Director, he succeeded him as Keeper of Zoology. He now succeeds him in the highest office of the Museum, and to him falls the task of advising the Trustees on the work of the Museum and on the course that may provide the best solution of the difficulties arising from the present congestion in the buildings at South Kensington.

A Reference List of the Trematode Parasites of British Freshwater Fishes

Our freshwater fishes have for long been a subject of some economic interest and in consequence their diseases and their parasites have received quite a considerable amount of attention. Much has been written on the subject, even in this country, and it has formed the basis of not a little speculation and possibly some results of economic value. As usual, however, more attention has been devoted to the matter on the continent and in America. It is, nevertheless, gratifying to find that Mclntosh (1863) was one of the first to realise the important help to be derived from a scientific study of fish parasites in investigations on such problems as migration, etc. His work has been greatly amplified by the later researches of such men as Hofer (1904) and Zschokke (1884–1914) in Europe, and Ward (1908–11) in America, to mention only a few well-known names which have been prominent in this line of investigation.

British freshwater fishes. By C. Tate Regan. Methuen & Co.

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The Practical Fisherman

THIS book deals with the natural history, the legendary lore, and the capture of British freshwater fish, together with the art of tackle-making. The author has bestowed great care on his work, and seems to have studied every book written or published on the charming subject from Oppian to the present time. Mr. Keene is besides an enthusiastic fisherman, and has thus produced a treatise of great interest to the practical angler. We may add that this work is almost the only one on angling which treats of the natural as well as the traditional history of fishes.

A History of British Freshwater Fishes

THE most complete monograph on this branch of natural history which has yet appeared, several species of Salmonidæ being illustrated for the first time. The coloured figures and the engraved lake and river scenes, which head each chapter, are admirable works of art. The book is exquisitely got up, and is well suited to the drawing room table. At the same time, it is of real scientific value to the amateur ichthyologist, the descriptions and plates rendering the species of easy identification. The preliminary chapters on the classification and anatomy of fishes are carefully written and well illustrated. The work will add to Mr. Houghton's reputation as an intelligent and accomplished naturalist. A History of British Freshwater Fishes. By the Rev. W. Houghton, Rector of Preston-on-the-Weald Moors, Wellington, Shropshire. Two volumes, extra large 4to. (Copies to be obtained from the author at the above address.)

Professor von Siebold and the Freshwater Fishes of England

THE object of the present letter is to appeal to naturalists throughout the British islands to assist Prof. von Siebold—the eminent zoologist of Munich—in his studies of the freshwater fishes of Europe. Prof. Siebold is preparing a new edition of his well-known work on that subject, and is exceedingly anxious to obtain specimens of some of our British freshwater fishes to compare with the specimens which he has collected from all parts of Europe. In spite of various attempts, he has, I am very sorry to have to say, failed to obtain specimens from English naturalists. I am sure that this can be only owing to the fact that he has not been able to make his wants known directly to those who could help him. I have not myself been able to do much in supplying the specimens of which he forwarded to me a list, but from the Thames at Oxford have sent him Dace, Bleak, Pope, Miller's Thumb, and Sticklebacks. The list to which I refer included the Graining and the Azurine fishes which have been obtained in or near Knowsley Park; and I have received a kind assurance from Lord Derby that efforts shall be made to procure specimens for Prof. Siebold. Specimens of these and of the Powan, the Pollan, the Gwyniad, and the Vendayce, are the chief desiderata which I am anxious to obtain for Prof. Siebold; his list also includes the Sharp-nosed and the Broad-nosed Eel.

The angler-naturalist: a popular history of British freshwater fish; with a plain explanation of the rudiments of ichthyology. By H. Cholmondeley Pennell. London: Van Voorst. 1863. 12 mo

<i>The angler-naturalist: a popular history of British freshwater fish; with a plain explanation of the rudiments of ichthyology</i>. By H. C<scp>holmondeley</scp> P<scp>ennell</scp>. London: Van Voorst. 1863. 12 mo