I have watched this fish for some years past, and have invariably observed this film quite over the eye in the early part of the mackerel season, and that it gradually disappears until the eye is left quite clear. This film appears like an ill-cleared piece of calf's-foot jelly spread over the eye, but does not strike you as a natural part of the fish, but rather as something extraneous. I have also remarked that when the fish is boiled, that this patch separates, and then resembles a piece of discoloured white of egg. This film may be observed by any one who takes the trouble of looking at the eye of the mackerel.
I have looked into every book on natural history I could get hold of, and in none is the slightest notice taken of this; therefore I suppose my conclusion as to its blindness is wrong; but I do not consider this to be conclusive, as all we can learn from books is, "Scomber is the mackerel genus, and is too well known to require description." I believe less is known about fish than any other animals; and should you think this question on natural history worthy a place in your "N. & Q.," I will feel obliged by your giving it insertion.
An Odd Fish.
Minor Queries.
Original Words of old Scotch Airs.—Can any one tell me where the original words of many fine old Scotch airs are to be found? The wretched verses of Allan Ramsay, and others of the same school, are adapted to the "Yellow-haired Laddie," "Ettrick Banks," "The Bush aboon Traquair," "Mary Scott," and hundreds of others. There must exist old words to many of these airs, which at least will possess some local characteristics, and be a blessed change from the "nymphs" and "swains," the "Stephens" and "Lythias," which now pollute and degrade them. Any information on this subject will be received most thankfully. I particularly wish to recover some old words to the air of "Mary Scott." The only verse I remember is this,—
"Mary's black, and Mary's white,
Mary is the king's delight;
The king's delight, and the prince's marrow,
Mary Scott, the Flower of Yarrow."