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FISHES Very little is known of the distribution of fishes in this county, and the only list ever given, so far as I have been able to ascertain, is that contained in John Morton's Natural History of Northamptonshire, published in 171 2. I have fortunately been assisted by Mr. R. M. Serjeantson, and by my friend Captain Vipan of Stibbington Hall, Wansford, who has very kindly supplied me with notes on the fishes of the river Nene about Peterborough. This, together with Morton's account, has been my source of information in drawing up the following list. TELEOSTEANS ACANTHOPTERYGII 1. Perch. Perca fluviatHis, Linn. Common. In the last ten years a fair number of these fish have been taken up to 4 lb. in weight from various lakes in the county. Some even larger ones have been caught, one in the possession of the Rev. R. A.White of St. Giles's, Northampton, weigh- ing nearly 5 lb. 2. RuflFor Pope. Acerina cernua, Linn. Plentiful. 3. Miller's Thumb. Cottus goblo, Linn. Very common in all the small streams running into the Nene. ANACANTHINI 4. Burbot or Eel-Pout. Lota vulgaris, Cuv. According to Morton rarely met with above Peterborough Bridge ; below the bridge, though rare, somewhat more frequent. 5. Flounder. Pleuronectes Jlesus, Linn. Occasionally found as high up the Nene as Lilford ; plentiful below Peterborough. HEMIBRANCHII 6. Three - spined Stickleback. Gastmsteus aculeatus, Linn. Local and sometimes plentiful. 7. Ten-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus pun- gitius, Linn. Common in small ditches and ponds. HAPLOMI 8. Pike. Esax iucius, Linn. Common. Fish frequently taken up to 20 lb. and more in weight from all parts of the county. OSTARIOPHYSI 9. Carp. Cyprinui carpio, Linn. A few in the Nene, but very seldom caught. I o. Crucian Carp. Cyprimu carassius, Linn. Doubtful. The gold-fish (var. auratus, Linn.) introduced in ponds. 11. Barbel. Barbus vulgaris, Cuv. Captain Vipan has heard of one or two taken, but he cannot vouch for the truth of the statement as he has never seen one. 12. Gudgeon. Gohio Jluviatilis, Flem. Common on every shallow. 13. Rudd. Leuciscus erythrophthalmus, Linn. Plentiful locally, especially in Teston reservoir. 14. Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. Very common, but except in Nene of no great size. 15. Chub. Leuciscus cephalus, Linn. Common. 16. Dace. Leuciscus dobula, Linn. {L. vul- garis, Day). Plentiful ; mostly on shallows and in quick- running brooks. 108