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Alexander  Wetmore 

1946  Sixth  Secretary  1953 


NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  IRELAND. 


YOL.  IV. 


V- 


THE 


NATURAL  HISTORY 

OF 

IRELAND. 


IN  FOUR  VOLUMES. 
VOL.  IV. 


MAMMALIA,  REPTILES,  AND  FISHES. 

ALSO 

INVERTEBRATA. 


BY  THE  LATE 


Wm.  THOMPSON,  Esq., 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  NAT.  HIST.  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY  OF  BELFAST,  CORRESPONDING 
MEMBER  OF  THE  NAT.  HIST.  SOCIETY  OF  BOSTON,  TJ.  S.  ; 

OF  THE  ACADEMY  OF  NATURAL  SCIENCES,  PHILADELPHIA,  ETC. 


LONDON : 

HENRY  O.  BOHN,  YORK  STREET,  COVENT  HARDEN. 
1856. 


JOHN  CHILDS  AND  SON,  PRINTERS. 


fib 

Wn 

\JM 


PREFACE. 


In  the  will  of  the  late  William  Thompson,  Esq.,  of  Belfast,  the 
following  paragraph  occurs  : — 

“ In  the  event  of  my  decease  before  the  publication  of  my  work 
on  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland  shall  have  been  completed,  it 
is  my  wish,  and  I hereby  direct,  that  the  entire  of  my  manuscript 
relating  thereto  shall  be  handed  over  to  Mr.  Robert  Patterson  and 
Mr.  James  R.  Garrett,  both  of  Belfast,  with  a request  that  they 
will  undertake  the  duties  of  superintending  editors  of  same,  in 
order  that  the  whole  may  be  carefully  published.” 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Thompson’s  death  (February  17,  1852)  his 
papers  were,  in  conformity  with  these  directions,  delivered  to  my 
friend  the  late  Mr.  Garrett  and  myself. 

On  examining  the  mass  of  papers  thus  placed  in  our  hands,  we 
found  those  relating  to  the  principal  divisions  of  the  animal 
kingdom  carefully  separated  from  each  other,  and  the  materials  for 
each  of  the  minor  groups  in  separate  covers.  Within  these,  smaller 
envelopes  were  placed,  each  appropriated  to  one  species.  So  far 
nothing  could  be  more  methodical  or  more  complete — the  families, 
genera,  and  species  were  arranged  in  regular  sequence,  and  of 
course,  any  particular  one  could  immediately  be  found. 

But  on  opening  one  of  these  envelopes  the  idea  of  completeness 
was  dissipated ; instead  of  the  building  itself,  there  were  only  the 
materials  with  which  it  would  have  been  constructed,  had  the  life 
of  the  architect  been  spared  to  finish  what  he  had  so  well  begun. 
The  envelopes  contained  notes  made  at  various  times,  letters,  or 
extracts  from  letters,  references  to  his  personal  journals  or  to  his 
published  papers,  to  books,  to  scientific  periodicals,  or  to  the 
transactions  of  societies.  In  some  instances  there  were  also 
memoranda  for  his  own  guidance,  with  regard  to  fishes,  indicating 
the  manner  in  which  he  intended  to  treat  the  subject. 


VI 


PEEEACE. 


Here  at  the  very  outset  a difficulty  arose.  The  notes  were 
written  on  paper  of  the  most  miscellaneous  description  ; and  occa- 
sionally on  scraps  so  small  that  six  or  eight  lines  were  crowded 
into  a slip  not  exceeding  an  inch  in  breadth.  To  work  with  good 
effect  on  notes  in  such  a state  was  impossible ; nor  was  it  safe  to 
make  the  attempt,  for  the  sudden  opening  of  a door  or  window,  if 
a table  were  covered  with  such  scraps,  might  have  involved  the 
loss  of  some  precious  fragment  that  could  never  be  replaced.  We 
resolved,  therefore,  in  the  first  instance,  to  have  the  entire  of  the 
memoranda  relating  to  the  vertebrate  animals  carefully  transcribed 
and  compared  with  the  originals.  This  was  done,  and  every 
scrap  in  Mr.  Thompson’s  handwriting  scrupulously  preserved,  so 
that,  if  needful  at  a future  period,  any  one  might  be  referred  to. 

The  next  step  was  to  fix  on  some  general  plan  of  arrangement, 
so  that  the  several  topics  might  follow  in  regular  order.  Tor  our 
guidance  in  this  matter  we  had  Mr.  Thompson’s  “ Birds  of  Ire- 
land,” and  the  memoranda  already  noticed  with  respect  to  some 
of  the  fishes.  A certain  course  was  accordingly  planned  by  Mr. 
G-arrett  and  myself ; and  meeting  with  the  approval  of  our  friends 
Dr.  Dickie  and  Mr.  Hyndman,  was  adopted. 

We  decided  on  making  no  change  in  such  of  the  printed  papers 
as  we  now  republish,  except  where  additional  information  had  been 
acquired.  We  determined  to  give  the  facts,  references,  and  de- 
scriptions in  full,  but  to  condense  the  enumeration  of  dates,  names, 
localities,  &c.  It  was  obvious  we  might  do  our  friend  injustice  by 
publishing  too  much,  as  well  as  by  publishing  too  little. 

Another  question  now  arose.  How  was  the  information  em- 
bodied in  these  notes  to  be  written  out  P It  was  desirable  to  use, 
as  far  as  possible,  the  very  words  that  Mr.  Thompson  had  em- 
ployed. The  book  should  be  his  composition,  not  ours.  Yet  to 
give  to  the  world  the  hurried  jottings  of  the  moment,  and  the 
unrevised  memoranda  of  successive  years,  could  not  be  thought  of. 
We  knew  how  carefully  the  “ Birds  of  Ireland”  had  been  written, 
and  with  what  critical  and  fastidious  nicety  the  proof-sheets  had 
been  corrected  by  him,  and  that  he  had  even  availed  himself  of  the 
kindly  criticism  of  two  of  his  attached  friends.  We  felt  sure  that 
had  he  lived  the  present  volume  would  have  been  an  object  of 
equal  solicitude ; and  we  thought  that  we  might  endeavour  to  do 
what  would  have  been  done  by  him.  It  was  agreed,  therefore,  that 
detached  memoranda  might  be  united,  that  the  facts  observed  by 


PREFACE. 


vii 

different  persons  or  at  different  times,  should  when  practicable  be 
brought  together,  and  their  union  rendered  less  obvious  by  some 
changes  of  expression,  which  might  impart  a greater  uniformity  of 
style.  Whatever  doubts  we  might  originally  have  held  about 
adopting  this  course  were  dissipated  by  a memorandum  in  Mr. 
Thompson’s  own  handwriting,  which  we  found  attached  to  some 
of  his  calculations  as  to  the  space  the  materials  collected  for  the 
“ Natural  History  of  Ireland  ” would  occupy.  It  was  dated  July, 
1849,  and  was  in  the  following  words : — “ Should  I die  before 
these  volumes  are  prepared  for  the  press,  it  is  my  express  desire 
that  none  of  my  notes  be  printed  without  having  undergone  rigid 
correction.  I have  always  written  so  hastily  and  carelessly.” 

These  preliminaries  being  arranged,  Mr.  G-arrett  took  under  his 
charge  all  notes  relating  to  Mammalia,  Beptiles,  and  Pishes. 
To  me  was  allotted  the  duty  of  examining  all  Mr.  Thompson’s 
journals  and  letters,  of  extracting  from  the  diary  of  his  con- 
tinental tours  and  his  visit  to  the  JSgean  what  seemed  of  general 
interest,  with  a view  to  determine  whether  such  materials  should 
be  embodied  in  a memoir  of  his  life,  or  whether  such  memoir  should 
be  restricted  to  the  brief  and  simple  form  in  which  it  now  appears. 
On  me  also  devolved  the  incidental  correspondence  which  arose  in 
the  progress  of  the  work.  At  a later  period  we  applied  to  Pro- 
fessor Dickie,  of  Queen’s  College,  Belfast,  for  his  valuable  assist- 
ance in  the  remaining  (Invertebrate)  portion  of  the  volume.  It 
was  cheerfully  promised,  and,  after  due  examination  of  the  materials 
placed  in  his  hands,  Dr.  Dickie  undertook  to  do  in  that  depart- 
ment what  Mr.  G-arrett  was  doing  for  the  other ; his  only  stipula- 
tion was  that  we  should  render  all  possible  aid  in  those  local 
names  and  references  with  which  he,  as  a stranger,  could  not  be 
expected  to  be  familiar. 

Throughout  Mr.  Thompson’s  notes,  extracts  from  Dr.  Ball’s 
letters  and  references  to  him  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  Mr. 
G-arrett  and  I were  desirous,  after  some  progress  had  been  made 
in  the  work,  of  submitting  to  that  gentleman  what  had  been  done, 
so  that  we  might  feel  assured  that  his  meaning  had  in  all  cases 
been  correctly  rendered,  and  also  that  our  mode  of  dealing  with 
the  detached  memoranda  met  his  approval.  This  was  done,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  manuscript  afterwards  sent  to  him  for 
revision. # 

* As  Dr.  Ball’s  name  was  of  frequent  occurrence  in  Mr.  Thompson^  MSS., 


Vlll 


PREFACE. 


To  Mr.  Hyndman,  of  Belfast,  Mr.  Thompson’s  associate  in 
dredging  excursions  and  his  chosen  companion  in  working  out  the 
Mollusca,  Articulata,  and  Badiata,  the  manuscript  was  also  sub- 
mitted, and  received  many  emendations  and  improvements  which 
he  alone  could  have  supplied. 

From  the  scrupulous  care  with  which  every  portion  of  the 
manuscript  was  thus  edited  and  revised,  I can  say  without  hesita- 
tion that  all  was  done  that  lay  in  our  power,  to  bring  forward 
fully  and  fairly  the  materials  which  Mr.  Thompson  had  for  years 
been  accumulating.  And  yet  with  all  of  us  there  was  a deep 
conviction  that  the  result  so  attained  must  needs  be  imperfect. 
We  could  deal  only  with  the  materials  which  we  found ; we  could 
give  only  what  Thompson  had  bequeathed.  Had  his  life  been 
spared  he  would  doubtless  have  brought  collateral  knowledge  to 
illustrate  what  to  us  was  only  a simple  statement.  He  would 
have  expanded  what  to  us  were  merely  the  hurried  memoranda  of 
the  moment,  relative  to  some  ascertained  fact.  He  might  in  some 
instances  have  condensed  and  brought  under  comprehensive 
generalization  more  than  one  series  of  recorded  phenomena.  We 
feel,  therefore,  that  we  have  claims  on  the  consideration  and  in- 
dulgence of  those  readers  who  are  pursuing  in  a truthful  and 
earnest  spirit  the  study  of  any  department  of  natural  science. 

The  kindness  and  forbearance  usually  accorded  to  a posthumous 
work  will  not  be  lessened  by  the  fact,  that  one  of  those  to  whom 
the  publication  had  been  intrusted  did  not  live  to  complete  his 
allotted  task.  Mr.  Jas.  B.  Grarrett,  my  beloved  and  lamented  co- 
trustee, died  of  fever  in  little  more  than  three  years  after  his  friend 
Mr.  Thompson.  The  painful  duty  then  devolved  on  me  of  receiv- 
ing both  his  manuscripts  and  the  originals,  together  with  those 
memoranda  which  he  had  written  for  his  guidance  in  the  work  he 
had  so  nearly  completed.  To  Dr.  Dickie  I turned  in  this  new 
emergency,  and  the  little  that  remained  to  be  done  was  accom- 
plished by  him,  with  such  co-operation  as  it  was  in  my  power  to 
afford. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  indicate  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 

as  “my  friend  Ball,”  “Mr.  Ball,”  “ R.  Ball,  Esq.,”  and  “Dr.  Ball,”  it  was 
thought  better  to  adopt  the  latter  designation  throughout,  although  several  of  the 
notes  were  written  many  years  before  that  well-merited  honour  had  been  con- 
ferred. The  same  plan  was  adopted  with  regard  to  the  names  of  two  other 
friends,  Professor  E.  Forbes  and  Professor  Allman.  Notes  contributed  by  Dr. 
Ball,  while  these  sheets  were  passing  through  the  press,  are  indicated  by  the 
signature  “ R.  Ball.” — Ed. 


PREFACE. 


IX 


assistance  rendered  to  the  present  volume  by  those  friends  who 
have  acted  either  as  editors  or  revisers.  If  the  result  meet  with 
approval,  to  them  be  the  honour ; if  otherwise,  I am  prepared  to 
share  the  blame,  for  nothing  whatever  has  been  arranged  without 
my  concurrence,  or  written  that  has  not  passed  under  my  revision. 
But  in  truth  the  book  has  to  me  associations  more  grave  than  any 
connected  merely  with  literary  praise  or  censure.  It  speaks  to 
me  of  four  lamented  friends,  Thompson,  Eorbes,#  Johnston,!  and 
Garrett ; J they  laboured  in  very  different  spheres,  yet  were  all 
actuated  by  the  same  object, 

“ to  know 

The  works  of  God,  thereby  to  glorify 
The  great  Workmaster.” 


In  little  more  than  three  years  they  passed  away.  They  were 
endeared  to  me  by  personal  intimacy  or  unreserved  correspond- 
ence. Their  labours  are  connected  in  different  ways  with  the 
present  volume,  and  in  it  their  names  are  of  frequent  occurrence* 
What  winder  then  that  a voice  of  solemn  admonition  comes  to 
me  from  its  pages,  and  breathes  into  my  ear  the  words  of  the 
Psalmist,  “ The  days  of  man  are  but  as  grass,  for  he  flourisheth  as 
a flower  of  the  field ; for  as  soon  as  the  wind  goeth  over  it,  it  is 
gone,  and  the  place  thereof  shall  know  it  no  more ! ” 

BOBEBT  PATTEBSON. 

Belfast,  20 th  March,  1856. 


* Professor  Edward  Forbes  died  at  Edinburgh,  18th  Nov.,  1854.  A sketch  of 
his  life  and  labours,  from  the  pen  of  his  friend  and  colleague,  Professor  Balfour, 
is  given  in  the  Annals  of  Natural  History  for  January,  1855.  It  concludes  most 
appropriately  by  quoting  the  statements  made  regarding  him  by  four  men  of 
eminence,  viz.,  an  anatomist,  a botanist,  a geologist,  and  a zoologist,  who  well 
knew  his  merits. 

f Dr.  George  Johnston  died  at  Berwick-on-Tweed,  30th  July,  1855,  a town 
to  which  his  labours  have  given  a scientific  celebrity.  An  enumeration  of  his 
principal  writings  appeared  in  the  Athenaeum  and  in  the  Literary  Gazette  on  the 
ensuing  Saturday  (Aug.  4),  and  a Biographical  Sketch  in  the  Edinburgh  Medi- 
cal Journal  of  September,  1855. 

f Mr.  James  R.  Garrett  died  of  fever  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1855,  in  the  thirty- 
eighth  year  of  his  age.  In  the  Dublin  Natural  History  Review  for  July,  1855, 
there  appeared  a notice  of  the  event,  in  which  justice  is  done  to  his  attainments 
as  a naturalist,  his  “ unassuming  manners,  kindly  disposition,  and  simple  yet 
refined  tastes.” 


MEMOIR 


OF  THE  LATE 

WILLIAM  THOMPSON,  ESQ., 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY  OF  BELFAST. 


A wish  has  been  expressed  by  some  of  the  personal  friends  of  the  late 
William  Thompson,  that  this  volume  should  contain  a biographical  notice 
of  his  life  and  labours : in  deference  to  the  desire  so  expressed,  the  pre- 
sent memoir  has  been  prepared. 

It  is  brief,  for  his  was  a quiet  and  uneventful  life ; no  “ stirring  inci- 
dents by  flood  or  field”  have  to  be  recorded ; nor  difficulties  long  encoun- 
tered and  successfully  overcome.  It  is  brief  for  another  reason : his 
letters  do  not  in  general  contain  those  outpourings  of  thought  or  senti- 
ment, those  revelations  of  the  inner  man,  which  to  reflective  minds  are 
even  more  interesting  than  the  open  and  noon-day  occurrences  of  the  out- 
ward life.  To  his  most  intimate  friends,  his  correspondence,  though  fre- 
quent, was  of  the  briefest  possible  kind.  Such  letters  do  not  furnish  the 
biographer  with  materials  likely  to  be  of  general  interest;  and  remarks 
on  persons  or  occurrences,  made  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  and  trans- 
mitted in  the  full  confidence  of  private  friendship,  should  not,  we  think, 
be  torn  from  their  shrines,  and  exposed  to  public  comment. 

Our  author,  born  2nd  of  November,  1805,  was  the  eldest  son  of  a Bel- 
fast merchant,  then,  extensively  engaged  in  the  linen  trade;  and,  being 
intended  by  his  parents  for  the  same  business,  he  received  such  an  educa- 
tion as  was  at  the  time  considered  suitable  for  commercial  life.  In  1821 
he  was  apprenticed  to  a highly  respectable  firm  in  the  linen  business,  the 
staple  trade  of  the  North  of  Ireland.  The  senior  partner  of  that  firm, 
himself  a keen  sportsman,  has  survived  the  subject  of  the  present  memoir, 
and  is  not  unfrequently  referred  to  in  the  volumes  on  “ The  Birds  of  Ire- 
land,” as  an  authority  on  their  habits. 

A gentleman  who  was  then  in  the  same  counting-house,  and  is  now  a 
merchant  resident  in  Belfast,  has  kindly  communicated  some  particulars 
respecting  Mr.  Thompson’s  habits  and  tastes  at  this  period  of  his  life. 
According  to  him,  Thompson  never  showed  any  great  inclination  for 
business,  but  while  engaged  in  it  his  habits  were  strictly  methodical. 
His  leisure  hours  were  chiefly  spent  in  rural  walks,  in  which  this  gentle- 
man, though  ten  years  his  senior,  was  frequently  his  companion.  He 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE  WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ.  xi 

adds  that  he  was  fond  of  reading  poetry,  particularly  the  works  of  our 
great  Dramatist. 

Information  still  more  detailed  and  more  ample  respecting  the  same 
period,  has  fortunately  been  obtained  from  one  who  had  been  Thompson’s 
chosen  playmate  in  childhood,  his  comrade  at  school,  his  companion  in 
the  same  office  when  at  business,  and  his  friend  in  maturer  years.  This 
gentleman,  Mr.  William  Sinclaire,  had  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
family,  a few  years  prior  to  Mr.  Thompson’s  death.  When  this  little 
memoir  was  contemplated,  application  was  made  to  him  for  reminiscences 
of  the  character  and  habits  of  his  departed  friend  during  the  early  period 
of  his  life,  and  he  was  more  especially  requested  to  give  such  particulars 
as  he  could  furnish,  as  to  the  period  when  a fondness  for  Natural  History 
pursuits  first  became  apparent.  To  this  request  he  had  the  kindness  to 
reply,  in  two  letters  so  creditable  to  himself,  and  so  highly  characteristic 
of  his  friend  Thompson,  that  they  are  given  almost  entire. 

LETTER  I. 


West  Hoboken,  N.  J., 

January  26,  1853. 

“ The  death  of  my  poor  friend  in  his  very  prime  gave  me  much  sorrow, 
and  it  was  so  little  anticipated,  that  I could  hardly  realize  that  William 
Thompson  was  dead.  I shall  do  everything  in  my  power  to  elucidate  the 
life  of  my  oldest  friend,  even  from  his  boyish  days. 

“ William  Thompson  and  I were  at  school  together  for  several  years, 
during  all  which  time  he  never  evinced  the  remotest  taste  for  those  pur- 
suits to  which  he  devoted  himself  with  such  ardour  at  an  after  period,  and 
he  passed  through  the  different  branches  of  an  education,  such  as  it  was 
in  those  days,  with  nothing  more  than  average  ability,  nothing  very  bril- 
liant, and  in  no  respect  ever  dull.  In  regard  also  to  the  various  sports  and 
pastimes  common  to  boys  at  that  period,  he  never  showed  much  aptitude, 
especially  for  such  as  required  much  muscular  exertion.  After  leaving 
school,  and  in,  I should  think,  his  sixteenth  year,  he  came  into  my  father’s 
office  to  learn  the  linen  business,  which  I had  been  at  some  time  previously. 
Here  he  came  into  immediate  contact  with  my  ornithological  pursuits,  the 
taste  for  which  was,  I may  say,  in  me  decidedly  innate,  as  my  earliest 
perceptions  were  drawn  towards  the  flights  of  swallows  as  seen  from  the 
nursery  windows,  where  I have  spent  many  an  hour  in  the  summer 
evenings  of  my  earliest  days.  At  the  time  above  alluded  to  I had  com- 
menced forming  a collection  of  stuffed  birds,  and  an  old  edition  of  4 Be- 
wick’s British  Birds,’  which  was  lent  me  by  Dr.  Drummond,  was  at  the 
time  in  my  office  drawer,  and  at  all  leisure  moments  in  constant  use  both 
for  study  and  reference  ; it  was  therefore  a very  natural  consequence  that 
W.  T.,  who  was  my  sporting  companion,  should  take  some  interest  in  the 
pursuit  he  saw  me  attending  to  with  considerable  ardour,  and  when  the 
spoils  of  the  day  were  brought  home  he  began  to  be  interested  in  identi- 
fying the  species  acquired ; and  the  above  volume  of  Bewick,  with  its 
beautiful  and  characteristic  illustrations,  gradually  brought  about  in  my 
friend  a taste  for  birds,  so  that  he  then  purchased  a more  recent  edition 
of  the  work  in  two  volumes,  which  thenceforth  became  our  only  work  of 
reference.  At  this  period,  and  for  two  or  three  years,  he  spent  the  sum- 
mer in  Holywood  with  the  family,  coming  up  to  town  every  morning  for 
business  during  the  day,  and  returning  in  the  evening  for  dinner.  During 


MEMOIR  OE  THE  LATE 


xii 

the  autumn  he  was  in  the  habit  of  shooting  along  the  shore  in  the  early 
mornings  prior  to  coming  up  to  town,  and  the  various  species  of  ‘ Gralla- 
tores  ’ which  at  that  season  visit  Belfast  Lough  were  constantly  acquired 
and  identified  from  Bewick  upon  coming  to  the  office ; and  I well  recol- 
lect the  interest  taken  in  a very  rare  species  killed  one  morning,  the  de- 
scription of  which  was  given  to  me,  and  the  bird  to  have  been  brought 
the  next  day  for  preservation,  when  judge  of  the  vexation  of  both  of  us 
at  the  miserable  fate  of  the  much-prized  species,  it  having  been  plucked 
and  cooked  ere  my  friend’s  return  in  the  evening!  During  this  time  my 
collection  was  going  on,  and  W.  T.  began  to  have  a few  species  preserved, 
which  he  had  himself  procured ; I had  previously  given  him  lessons  in 
the  manual  operations  necessary  for  stuffing  birds,  but  he  never  liked 
the  trouble,  especially  the  soiling  his  fingers,  and  I well  recollect  his  first 
visit  to  a bird  preserver  in  Belfast,  to  have  stuffed  a very  fine  heron 
which  he  shot ; the  bird  being  unwieldy  from  its  great  length  of  neck  and 
legs,  he  did  not  like  carrying  it  through  the  streets  in  the  day-time  (I 
may  observe  that  in  youth  he  was  naturally  shy,  and  did  not  like  to  at- 
tract personal  notice),  so  we  deferred  our  visit  till  evening,  when  we 
started  with  the  bird  for  Nicholl’s,  who  then  lived  in  North  Street ; it  was 
carried  by  my  friend,  holding  it  by  the  legs,  and  in  order  to  prevent  the 
head  coming  in  contact  with  the  ground,  it  had  to  be  held  so  high,  that 
even  under  gas  light  it  became  a most  conspicuous  object,  and  in  passing 
along  the  streets  attracted  universal  attention,  and  even  remark,  to  the 
very  great  annoyance  of  poor  T.,  and  I am  sorry  to  add  to  my  great  de- 
light, suggesting  that  probably  the  amazement  of  the  spectators  was 
caused  by  the  length  of  legs  of  both  parties,  viz.,  T.  and  the  heron.  That 
excursion  wras  a standing  joke  in  the  office  for  many  a day,  and  always 
taken  by  T.  with  the  most  imperturbable  good  nature.” 

LETTER  II. 

West  Hoboken,  N.  L, 

February  9,  1853. 

“Our  various  sporting  and  ornithological  pursuits  then  went  on  for 
several  years,  up  to  the  summer  of  1826,  when  my  friend  made  a tour 
upon  the  Continent ; he  was  at  that  time  so  conversant  with  the  birds  of 
his  own  country  that  he  made  notes  in  regard  to  various  species  met  with 
abroad,  some  of  which  are  adverted  to  in  his  work  on  the  4 Birds  of  Ire- 
land.’ I think  I was  at  this  time  a member  of  our  Natural  History  So- 
ciety, which  I well  recollect  urging  him  to  join,  without  at  that  time  suc- 
cess ; he  had  not  yet  become  enthusiastic  enough  in  the  pursuit,  and  was, 
as  I remarked  before,  rather  shy  and  diffident.  From  this  time,  for  seve- 
ral years,  he  hunted  regularly  a good  deal  with  me,  seldom  missing  a day 
when  the  hounds  were  out ; these  were  favourable  opportunities  for  mak- 
ing ornithological  observations,  and  our  notes  were  frequently  compared 
in  the  evenings  as  to  the  birds  seen  by  either  or  both  during  the  day  ; he 
had  great  power  of  sight,  and  nothing  escaped  his  keen  observation.  As 
an  instance  of  his  power  of  vision,  I may  mention  that  he  could  distin- 
guish the  pole  erected  on  the  top  of  Devis  mountain,  above  Belfast,  when 
leaving  Lurgan  on  horseback  to  return  home.  About  this  time  he  dis- 
played a considerable  inclination  for  planting  trees,  and  had  a most  cor- 
rect taste  for  landscape  gardening.  He  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
forms  and  peculiar  habits  of  growth  of  all  our  forest  trees,  both  indigen- 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


xiii 

ous  and  exotic.  He  planted  many  various  species  at  the  family  place  in 
the  country,  and,  had  he  ever  gone  there  to  reside  permanently,  would 
have  beautified  it  much  by  his  taste  in  this  department  of  rural  pursuits. 
Up  to  the  years  1830  and  31,  his  taste  for  Natural  History  was  more  that 
of  an  amateur  than  a scientific  naturalist,  and  he  had  every  intention  of 
pursuing  the  business  to  which  he  had  been  brought  up  ; but  in  these 
years  circumstances  of  a domestic  nature  occurred  which  had  the  effect  of 
altogether  changing  his  intentions  with  regard  to  business,  and  in  fact  to 
make  him  give  it  up  entirely.  This  was  the  pivot  upon  which  his  future 
life  turned,  and  I am  satisfied,  had  matters  then  gone  on  as  he  wished,  we 
should  never  have  heard  of  him  as  a naturalist.  But  such  not  being  the 
case,  and  his  mind  being  of  such  a cast  that  frivolous  pursuits  had  no 
charm,  he  began  in  real  earnest  to  devote  himself  to  the  investigation  of 
the  Natural  History  of  his  native  country ; and  you  will  observe,  that  with 
few  exceptions  all  his  observations  date  from  1832.*  From  this  period  up 
to  the  time  of  my  leaving  Ireland,  he  and  I were  in  the  constant  inter- 
change of  thought  in  regard  to  ornithological  observations,  and  he  was 
always  most  particular  in  noting  down  at  the  time  anything  new  that  I 
might  have  observed  in  our  favourite  branch  of  Natural  History  ; and  the 
frequent  allusions  to  the  ‘ Falls’  in  his  works,  always  recall  something  to 
my  mind  probably  long  forgotten.  Many  a pleasant  ramble  he  and  I have 
had  together ; one  of  our  favourite  excursions  was  to  Colin  Glen,  entering 
at  the  foot  and  ascending  to  the  top  of  the  glen  ; every  foot  of  the  way 
would  be  subjected  to  his  indefatigable  research ; the  heaps  of  fallen 
leaves  would  be  our  ‘ diggings,’  and  were  as  carefully  searched  for  land 
shells,  as  ever  were  the  golden  lands  of  Australia  or  California  for  that 
treasure,  the  love  of  which  ‘ is  the  root  of  all  evil.’  The  trees  and  rocks 
afforded  lichens,  the  sandstone  its  fossils,  while  overhead  among  the  foli- 
age not  a bird  could  open  its  mouth,  without  note  of  observation  on  our 
parts.  Sometimes  the  top  of  Colin,  and  at  others  that  of  Devis,  would  be 
our  aim ; if  in  summer,  the  golden  sunsets  as  seen  from  the  latter,  when 
the  orb  of  day  would  slowly  descend  beyond  the  waters  of  Lough  Neagh, 
were  to  my  friend  inexpressibly  charming ; he  saw  nature  with  a painter’s 
eye  and  a poet’s  soul,  and  the  apt  quotations  from  our  best  poets,  which 
were  always  so  ready,  would  be  given  with  great  expression.  I cannot 
recall  those  days  without  much  sorrow  for  his  loss  ; I still  looked  forward 
to  a period  when  I might  again  revisit  my  native  land,  and  the  most  pleas- 
ing anticipation  was  that  of  again  rambling  to  some  of  our  former  haunts, 
and  living  over  again  the  days  of  our  youth  or  early  manhood : that  vision 
has  faded,  never  to  reappear.” 

The  usual  length  of  an  apprenticeship  to  business — five  years — was 
completed  by  the  subject  of  the  present  memoir  early  in  1826. 

That  year  was  a memorable  one  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Thompson,  then  in 
his  twenty-first  year.  In  the  spring  he  set  out  on  his  first  visit  to  the 
Continent,  accompanied  by  his  friend  and  relative,  the  late  George  Lang- 
try, junior,  Esq.,  of  Fort  William,  Belfast.  Their  route  lay  through  Hol- 
land and  Belgium,  thence  by  the  Rhine  to  Switzerland,  Rome,  and  Naples ; 
returning  homewards  by  Florence,  Geneva,  and  Paris.  Travelling  was  in 
1826  a slow  and  expensive  procedure,  compared  with  what  it  now  is. 


* It  was  in  the  month  of  June  this  year,  in  company  with  Mr.  Hyndman,  that 
he  made  his  first  Natural  History  excursion  to  Strangford  Lough,  County  Down, 
where  he  visited  many  of  the  islands. 


XIV 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


Scenes  which  were  at  that  time  known  but  to  a few  of  our  countrymen, 
and  those  belonging  to  the  wealthier  classes,  are  now  visited  annually  by 
thousands,  and  are  more  familiar  to  tourists  than  many  parts  of  these 
kingdoms. 

During  Mr.  Thompson’s  tour,  which  occupied  four  months,  he  was 
daily  in  the  habit  of  noting  down  the  leading  incidents  of  his  journey. 
These  memoranda  are  occasionally  copious,  but  in  general  they  are  very 
concise.  They  bear  intrinsic  evidence  of  being  written  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment,  and  do  not  embody  in  a narrative  form  the  details  of  personal 
adventure  and  dialogue,  nor  discussions  on  habits  and  manners,  remains 
of  antiquity,  nor  works  of  art. 

From  some  interlineations  obviously  added  at  a later  date,  it  would 
appear  probable  that  the  author  had  intended  at  some  future  period 
transcribing  into  a more  regular  and  extended  form  the  rough  notes  of 
his  original  diary.  If  such  was  his  intention,  it  was  never  fulfilled.  To 
him  the  hurried  jottings  of  the  note-book  would  have  been  replete  with 
meaning,  rich  in  pleasant  memories  and  bright  associations.  To  others 
they  are  little  more  than  a list  of  places  and  objects — sketches  of  scenery 
enjoyed — an  enumeration  of  paintings  visited — and  occasionally  a brief 
phrase  expressive  of  admiration  and  delight. 

We  have  read  this  journal  with  much  interest,  not  for  the  sake  of  any 
information  which  it  contains  respecting  the  localities  visited,  but  because 
of  the  manifestations  it  affords  of  the  mental  characteristics  of  the  author. 
It  furnishes  examples  of  the  habits  of  observation  and  the  modes  of  thought 
by  which  he  was  afterwards  distinguished.  To  those  who  knew  him  well, 
it  likewise  evinces  his  quiet  humour,  his  appreciation  of  art,  and  the 
spring  of  poetic  feeling  which  throughout  life  was  ever  welling  up,  amidst 
all  his  devotion  to  science. 

But  while  the  journal  presents  these  attractions  to  the  members  of  the 
family  circle  and  a few  attached  and  intimate  friends,  it  did  not  seem  to 
be  such  as  would  warrant  publication.  As  a guide-book  it  is  out  of  date, 
and  the  facts  which  it  contains  have  been  told  by  a hundred  other  writers. 
We  felt  convinced  also  that  no  one  would  have  shrunk  more  sensitively 
than  Mr.  Thompson  himself,  from  the  idea  of  giving  to  the  public  the 
crude  and  hasty  notes  jotted  down  by  him  more  than  a quarter  of  a century 
ago.  The  first  and  the  concluding  paragraphs  may,  however,  be  given,  as 
embodying  the  dates  both  of  his  departure  from  Belfast  and  his  return. 

“ I commence  this  journal  with  the  idea,  that  in  after  years  I will  read 
it  over,  and  think  upon  it,  as  on  a lovely  dream  never  to  be  realized. 

“ On  Sunday  morning  at  nine  o’clock,  21st  May,  1826,  left  Belfast  in 
the  Chieftain  S.  P.  for  Liverpool.  Sailing  down  the  Lough,  the  shore  on 
every  side  looked  as  beautiful  as  a fine  summer  day  could  make  it,  and 
when  opposite  Donaghadee  the  waters  assumed  the  most  glassy  smooth- 
ness I ever  witnessed.  Our  vessel  stopped  here  to  land  a party  of  plea- 
sure ; all  the  boats  of  the  town,  that  were  scattered  around  us,  in  an  in- 
stant ceased  their  motion,  and  nothing  was  heard  in  the  intervals  of  our 
music  ceasing,  but 4 the  light  drip  of  the  suspended  oar.’  The  waters  lay 
calm  and  motionless  as  the  sky  above  them,  so  that  we  could  neither  dis- 
tinguish where  the  one  terminated,  nor  where  the  other  commenced, 
which  made  the  vessels  at  a distance  appear  as  if  suspended  in  air.” 

The  journal  concludes  thus  : — 

44  20th  September. — At  three  we  set  sail  from  Liverpool  in  the  Chief- 
tain, and  after  a delightful  passage  occupying  seventeen  hours,  landed 
upon  4 mine  own,  my  native  land,’  about  eight  o’clock,  on  Thursday,  21st 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XY 


September,  having  been  absent  (since  21st  May)  within  a few  minutes 
of  four  months.” 

Some  time  after  his  return  he  commenced  business  on  his  own  account, 
with  the  intention  of  ultimately  occupying  the  bleach-green  at  Wolf-hill, 
where  his  father  had  carried  on  a trade  extensive  for  those  days.  The 
linen  trade  at  that  time  was  conducted  in  a different  manner,  and  on  a 
very  different  scale,  from  what  it  now  is.  Mr.  Thompson  for  a time  went 
on  successfully,  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  capital  employed.  A 
change,  however,  took  place,  some  losses  occurred,  and  by  these  and 
other  circumstances  he  was  induced  to  abandon  the  idea  of  continuing 
in  business.  From  this  period  science  became  not  only  the  pleasure  but 
the  occupation  of  his  life. 

In  1826  he  had  been  prevailed  on  by  his  friend  the  late  Dr.  Jas.  L. 
Drummond,  founder  of  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Belfast,  to  become 
a member  of  that  body.  In  the  ensuing  year,  1827,  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  Council.  In  that  year,  on  the  13th  of  August,  he  read  his 
first  paper,  choosing  for  his  subject  “ The  Birds  of  the  Copeland  Isles,” 
situated  at  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay.  He  was  chosen  one  of  the  Vice- 
presidents  in  June,  1833;  was  elected  President  in  1843,  on  the  retire- 
ment of  Dr.  Drummond,  and  was  annually  re-elected  during  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  a period  of  nearly  nine  years. 

In  1827,  when  Mr.  Thompson  visited  the  Copeland  Isles,  he  made  a 
few  notes  of  some  of  the  objects  observed.  This  was  a commencement 
of  a series  of  memoranda  botanical  and  zoological,  remarkable  both  for 
their  extent  and  their  minuteness.  Every  locality  visited  furnished  a 
supply  of  fresh  materials,  all  of  which  were  carefully  preserved.  When 
the  time  came  for  putting  them  in  order  and  arranging  them  as  scientific 
communications,  they  were  carefully  winnowed,  and  every  grain  of  value 
which  they  contained  was  transferred  to  its  fitting  place,  with  all  those 
details  which  authenticated  the  accuracy  of  the  record.  Twenty-four  of 
those  journals  are  now  in  possession  of  the  editors.  Some  of  them  occupy 
but  two  or  three  pages  ; others  extend  to  many  sheets.  They  refer  prin- 
cipally, as  might  be  expected,  to  Irish  localities,  visited  in  the  course  of 
successive  tours,  or  made  the  place  of  sojourn  during  a few  weeks  or 
months  in  the  summer  or  autumn.  But  they  are  not  limited  to  these  ; 
they  refer  to  some  of  the  loveliest  and  most  romantic  English  scenery,  and 
also  to  portions  of  that  of  Scotland,  especially  of  Ayrshire,  Inverness-shire, 
and  the  islands  of  Islay  and  Skye.  The  last  of  these  journals  was  written 
at  Newcastle,  County  Down,  in  the  autumn  of  1851,  and  consequently 
but  a few  months  before  his  death. 

During  this  long  period  of  years  he  gave  great  attention  to  specific 
distinctions,  and  was  gifted  with  an  eye  quick  in  detecting  their  exist- 
ence. It  was  a natural  result,  that  he  would  soon  be  able  to  detect 
species  which  science  had  not  yet  named  or  described,  and  others 
well  known  but  unrecorded  as  Irish.  Having  satisfied  himself  of  the 
accuracy  of  the  facts,  the  next  step  was  to  impart  a knowledge  of  them 
to  his  brother  naturalists,  by  communications  to  different  Societies  and 
to  scientific  periodicals.  He  first  came  forward  in  this  way  in  1833,  by 
submitting  to  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  some  notes  on  the  Sterna 
arctica , and  other  birds  observed  in  Ireland.  In  1834  he  contributed  a 
paper  to  the  same  Society,  which  appeared  in  their  Proceedings  ; and 
another  to  the  Linnsean,  the  substance  of  which  was  published  in  the 
London  and  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal  of  that  year.  His  first 
appearance  as  a contributor  to  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  whose 


XVI 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


pages  he  enriched  with  many  valuable  articles,  took  place  in  1836,  and 
did  not  cease  until  a few  months  prior  to  his  death. 

The  London  men  of  science  were  not  slow  in  appreciating  the  value  of 
these  papers  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Sister  Isle,  nor  the  unassum- 
ing worth  of  the  young  Irishman  who  was  their  author.  The  consequence 
was,  that  acquaintance  thus  commenced  ripened  in  many  instances  into 
permanent  friendships.  What  wonder,  then,  that  an  annual  visit  to 
London  should  be  one  of  Mr.  Thompson’s  greatest  pleasures ! There  he 
mingled  with  that  variety  of  intellectual  fellowship  which  the  great  metro- 
polis alone  can  afford.  There  he  not  unfrequently  had  difficulties  re- 
moved and.  doubts  cleared  up,  such  as  every  Naturalist  who  critically 
examines  species  has  at  times  experienced.  To  London  he  brought  for 
comparison,  specimens  which  seemed  to  him  ill-defined,  and  which  could 
not  be  satisfactorily  determined,  except  by  reference  to  books  and  spe- 
cimens which  were  not  accessible  in  a provincial  town.  The  meetings  of 
the  London  societies,  the  conversaziones  where  the  devotees  of  science,  of 
literature,  and  of  art,  mingle  so  happily  together,  had  peculiar  attractions 
to  a refined  and  cultivated  mind  such  as  Thompson  possessed,  and  which 
was  not  narrowed  by  a too  exclusive  attention  to  one  pursuit.  He  took 
pleasure  in  every  ennobling  effort  of  the  intellect,  in  the  fair  creations  of 
the  artist — the  bright  imaginings  of  the  poet,  in  every  discovery  within  the 
wide  domain  of  physical  science,  and  in  the  applications  of  its  laws  to 
lessen  the  labour  or  minister  to  the  happiness  of  man. 

From  about  the  year  1833  he  went  steadily  on  recording  the  occurrence 
of  species  previously  unknown  as  Irish,  and  gradually  accumulating  the 
materials  for  a Fauna  of  Ireland.  As  his  labours  became  better  known, 
correspondents  in  every  province  of  Ireland  sprang  up,  and  information 
of  the  most  varied  character  poured  in  upon  him.  This  was  sifted  with 
exemplary  care.  Questions  were  asked,  and  if  not  answered  with  suf- 
ficient perspicuity,  new  interrogatories  followed,  until  his  own  mind  was 
perfectly  satisfied  as  to  the  accuracy  of  the  statement.  It  occasionally 
happened,  that  the  communication  related  not  to  something  in  relation 
to  the  habits  of  a well-known  species,  but  to  the  capture  of  a species 
which  was  either  rare  or  known  only  as  the  denizen  of  other  lands.  In 
such  cases  he  sometimes  did  not  rest  content,  until  he  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  examining  the  specimen,  and  determining  the  species  by  actual 
inspection.  That  being  done,  then  all  details  were  given,  especially  the 
date,  the  locality,  and  the  name  of  the  correspondent  to  whom  he  was  in- 
debted for  the  information.  Detached  observations,  each  separately  of 
little  account,  assumed  a new  character  when  combined,  and  bearing  the 
stamp  of  his  scrutiny  and  approval.  Parties  residing  in  widely  scattered 
localities  felt  gratified  at  their  observations  being  permanently  embodied 
in  Mr.  Thompson’s  papers,  and  were  thereby  stimulated  to  co-operate  by 
every  means  in  their  power.  Thus  a body  of  observers  sprang  up,  who 
made  choice  of  Mr.  Thompson  as  the  channel  for  what  they  wished  to 
announce,  in  connexion  with  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland ; and  never 
was  such  assistance  more  scrupulously  acknowledged  than  by  him.  Per- 
haps no  one  of  his  mental  characteristics  was  more  uniformly  manifested 
than  his  anxious  desire  to  record  any  assistance  he  had  received,  and  to 
express  his  gratitude  for  facts  communicated  or  specimens  sent  for  his 
inspection. 

In  the  busy  community  amid  which  Mr.  Thompson  lived,  he  was  the 
only  one  who  was  devoted  to  Natural  Science,  and  whose  time  was  so 
entirely  at  his  own  disposal  as  to  be  given  up  to  its  cultivation.  Among 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ, 


XVII 


the  professional  men,  the  merchants  and  manufacturers  of  Belfast,  with 
whom  he  mingled,  he  stood  in  this  respect  alone.  To  him,  therefore,  all 
intelligence  was  brought  of  natural  objects  possessing  either  rarity  or  in- 
terest in  the  neighbourhood.  To  men  of  all  ranks,  thus  calling  to  impart 
information,  he  gave  a courteous  reception  ; to  none  more  so  than  to  the 
young.  Many  will  remember  the  searching  cross-examination  to  which, 
on  such  occasions,  they  were  subjected. 

The  labours  in  which  Mr.  Thompson  was  engaged  for  more  than 
twenty  years  of  his  life  were  not  those  which  were  obvious  and  external. 
To  many  a toiling  mortal  in  his  native  town,  he  must  have  appeared  to 
be  one  of  those  favoured  individuals  who  have  nothing  to  do.  Yet  few 
were  more  industrious,  or  more  persevering  in  the  execution  of  his  self- 
appointed  task.  Every  hour  in  the  day  had  its  allotted  duty.  For  four 
hours  after  breakfast  he  was  engaged  in  scientific  research,  preparation 
for  the  press,  or  in  correspondence.  Exercise  for  two  or  three  hours  fol- 
lowed. The  interval  between  dinner  and  tea  was  given  to  the  lighter 
literature  of  the  day,  and  when  the  claims  of  local  societies  and  social 
intercourse  left  him  free,  the  study  was  again  the  scene  of  two  or  three 
hours’  additional  work  ere  bed-time.  Such  was  the  ordinary  routine  of 
his  life,  subject  only  to  occasional  interruptions  of  a local  or  personal 
nature. 

Not  only  did  each  day  present  in  some  respects  a general  resemblance 
to  other  days,  but  the  very  years  of  his  life,  for  a long  period,  had  a great 
uniformity  of  character.  With  spring  came  a visit  to  London — then  a 
sojourn  with  the  family  at  the  sea-side — in  the  autumn  a little  tour  with 
some  friend — an  attendance  on  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  for 
Science,  or  an  excursion  to  shooting  quarters  in  Scotland.  The  month 
of  November  found  him  settled  once  more  at  home,  and  resuming  the 
daily  routine  of  occupation  already  mentioned.  Throughout  life  he  took 
pleasure  in  field  sports ; and  for  many  years  went  out  regularly  to  hunt 
during  the  season. 

It  would  not  serve  any  useful  purpose  to  endeavour  to  trace  in  detail 
the  incidents  by  which  one  year  was  distinguished  from  another;  we  pass 
on,  therefore,  to  the  year  1840,  in  which,  at  the  Glasgow  meeting  of  the 
British  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  Mr.  Thompson’s 
“ Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland — Division  Vertebrata,”  was  brought 
forward.  This  was  not  merely  an  enumeration  of  the  vertebrate  animals 
of  Ireland ; the  comparative  abundance  or  scarcity  of  particular  species, 
and  their  distribution  in  that  island,  so  far  as  it  had  then  been  recorded  ; 
but  it  was  also  an  exponent  of  the  number  of  species  inhabiting  this  the 
most  western  land  of  Europe,  compared  with  those  known  as  British,  and 
in  some  instances  with  those  of  continental  countries.  The  knowledge 
acquired  during  many  years  of  careful  observation  and  patient  research 
were  here  embodied  in  a manner  the  most  simple  and  perspicuous.  It 
was  justly  characterized  by  Prince  Charles  Lucien  Bonaparte  as  “ a 
valuable  and  lucid  essay,  which  faithfully  exhibits  the  subject,  and  seems 
worthy  of  imitation.”* 

The  ensuing  year  brought  with  it  to  Mr.  Thompson  a change  of  scene, 
and  an  abandonment  for  a time  of  all  the  established  routine  of  occupa- 
tion. Early  in  1841  his  friend  Captain  Graves,  of  H.M.  surveying  ship, 


* “ Report  on  the  State  of  Zoology  in  Europe,  as  regards  the  Vertebrata, 
read  at  the  third  meeting  of  the  Italian  Congress  of  Science,  Florence,  1841.” 
Published  by  the  Ray  Society.  London,  1845. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


xviii 

the  Beacon,  then  laid  up  at  Malta,  paid  a visit  to  Belfast.  Acting  in 
conformity  with  that  devotion  to  science  by  which  he  had  been  ever  dis- 
tinguished, Captain  Graves  took  measures  to  obtain  from  the  Admiralty, 
for  Mr.  Edward  Forbes — the  late  (alas  ! that  we  should  have  to  speak  of 
him  as  the  late ) eminent  Professor  of  Natural  History  in  the  University 
of  Edinburgh — the  honorary  appointment  of  Naturalist  to  his  vessel,  then 
about  to  proceed  to  the  iEgean.  A survey  of  the  Island  of  Candia  was 
at  that  time  in  contemplation.  On  his  arrival  in  Belfast,  Captain  Graves 
kindly  invited  Mr.  Thompson  to  join  the  party,  and  succeeded  in  in- 
ducing him  to  do  so,  as  a most  welcome  guest. 

In  consequence  of  these  arrangements,  Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Forbes 
left  London  together  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1841,  and  proceeded  by  Paris 
and  Marseilles  to  Malta,  where  the  Beacon  then  was.  On  the  21st  of 
April  they  embarked,  reached  Navarino  on  the  28th,  and  anchored  at 
Syra  on  6th  of  May.  Leaving  the  vessel  there,  Captain  Graves  and  Mr. 
Thompson,  on  the  11th  of  May,  embarked  in  the  French  steamer  Sesos- 
tris,  for  Smyrna  and  Constantinople.  On  their  return,  a few  days  were 
spent  by  the  three  friends  together  in  the  Beacon,  and  in  short  excur- 
sions connected  with  the  surveying  work  that  was  in  progress.  Mr. 
Thompson  then  started  on  his  return  homewards,  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Wilkinson,  son  of  the  British  Consul  at  Syra.  They  reached  Athens  on 
the  12th  of  June,  Trieste  on  the  18th,  Venice  on  the  30th.  Thence  Mr. 
Thompson’s  route  was  by  Milan,  Constance,  Strasburg,  Manheim,  Co- 
logne, and  Antwerp,  reaching  London  on  the  19th  of  July,  after  an  ab- 
sence of  about  three  and  a half  months. 

The  first  fruit  of  this  voyage  was  a paper  published  in  the  Annals  of 
Natural  History,  and  afterwards  reprinted  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Birds  of 
Ireland.  It  was  entitled,  “ Notice  of  Migratory  Birds  which  alighted  on, 
or  were  seen  from,  H.M.S.  Beacon,  Captain  Graves,  on  the  passage  from 
Malta  to  the  Morea,  at  the  end  of  April,  1841.”  It  enumerates  twenty- 
three  species,  seen  under  those  circumstances,  and  is  valuable  because  of 
the  critical  knowledge  and  accuracy  of  the  observer,  and  its  bearing  on  a 
question  of  popular  interest,  which  cannot  be  better  stated  than  in  the 
words  Mr.  Thompson  has  himself  employed.  “Persons  even  of  educa- 
tion,” says  he,  “ still  exist  who  are  incredulous  respecting  the  fact  that 
many  species  which  in  summer  frequent  the  British  Islands,  winter  south 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  cross  that  sea  annually  on  their  northern 
migration  in  the  spring;  but  surely  the  fact  of  twenty-three  of  them 
having  been  seen  crossing  the  Mediterranean  during  several  successive 
days  in  spring,  and-  all  flying  northward,  should  be  a conclusive  proof ; in 
addition  to  which  it  may  be  stated,  that  migratory  species  only  were  ob- 
served.” 

During  this  tour  a journal  had  been  regularly  kept  by  Mr.  Thompson. 
It  is  much  fuller  and  more  carefully  written  than  the  journal  of  1826. 
Fifteen  years  had  passed  since  his  former  visit  to  the  continent,  and  had 
brought  with  them  the  ordinary  amount  of  change.  On  a part  of  the 
route  traversed  in  either  going  or  returning,  steam  had  been  at  work,  and 
old  modes  of  conveyance  had  been  superseded.  Some  of  the  scenery  had 
been  modified  in  its  character ; “ formal  ” vineyards  had  replaced  on 
the  banks  of  the  Rhine  much  of  its  natural  planting  ; and  wood  had  been 
cleared  away  even  in  the  proximity  of  the  ruined  castles.  “ Thus,”  he 
remarks,  “ are  they  divested  for  the  sake  of  gain  of  their  richest  charm. 
Were  Byron  now  to  write  of  them  he  could  not  say  with  truth,  4 Where 
ruin  greenly  dwells,’  though  when  I was  last  [here,  the  expression  was 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XIX 


strictly  applicable.”  Changes  had  in  some  cases  taken  place  in  the  con- 
dition or  in  the  habits  and  customs  of  a community.  Thus,  in  Venice,  as 
the  journal  informs  us,  “ The  gondolas  are  greatly  changed  for  the  worse 
since  1826,  the  fine  steel  front  being  now  only  seen  on  old  ones  ; the  mo- 
dern are  simply  bound  with  polished  steel  for  a protection,  and  instead  of 
the  canopy  overhead,  a common  awning  is  used,  which  in  some  is  plain 
canvas,  in  others  blue  and  white  striped,  and  a few  more  tasteful,  all  as 
in  British  boats.  In  connexion  with  the  fast  disappearing  gondolas,  I 
could  not  but  think  of  the  changes  in  Greece  and  Turkey.  Pictorially,  it 
is  a pity  that  it  is  becoming  a more  matter-of-fact  world  every  day, 
though  it  is  well  that  the  human  race  is  becoming  daily  more  and  more 
one  great  family.  In  the  evening  I saw  a few  gondolas,  each  rowed  by 
two  livery  servants  (a  V Anglais).  I could  not  hear  any  songs  of  gondo- 
liers this  time,  though  in  1826  they  were  occasionally  to  be  heard.” 

The  changes,  however,  which  the  journal  indicates  as  having  occurred 
in  the  external  world,  are  few  compared  to  those  which  had  taken  place 
in  the  mind  of  its  author.  Fifteen  years  of  the  most  active  period  of 
man’s  existence  had  passed  by,  and  had  cast  their  mellowing  influence 
both  on  his  feelings  and  on  his  intellect.  He  had  lived  during  that  time 
among  the  intelligent  inhabitants  of  his  native  town,  and  among  the 
literary  and  scientific  circles  of  Metropolitan  Societies.  His  reading  had 
not  been  restricted  to  Natural  Science,  but  had  embraced  biography,  his- 
tory, travels,  poetry,  and  the  fine  arts.  The  journal  in  every  page  indicates 
his  more  mature  and  cultivated  intellect ; and  passages  occasionally  occur 
which  breathe  a comprehensive  charity  for  his  fellow-men,  and  a sympa- 
thy with  their  social  advancement.  There  is,  too,  a discrimination  in 
praise  or  in  censure,  which  time  and  experience  alone  can  give ; and  a 
nice  perception  of  beauty  in  form,  outline,  colouring,  and  aerial  tint, 
which  mark  the  artistic  eye.  To  personal  friends,  therefore,  it  contains 
much  that  is  interesting.  Yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  many  scenes  or 
incidents  which  are  graphically  narrated,  are  told  as  well  or  better  by 
other  travellers,  such  as  the  ordeal  of  a Turkish  bath — the  slave-market 
at  Smyrna — a turtle  chase  in  the  iEgean,  and  the  absurd  annoyances  con- 
nected with  the  Lazaretto  at  Trieste.  The  journal  too  is  obviously  a per- 
sonal and  private  record,  not  written  with  a view  to  publication.  But 
while  the  insertion  of  it  as  a whole  would  not  seem  justifiable  or  judici- 
ous, a few  extracts  illustrative  of  the  remarks  which  have  just  been  made, 
may  not  appear  out  of  place,  especially  if  they  be  regarded  as  revelations 
made  by  Thompson  himself  of  his  own  mind,  perceptions,  and  feelings. 

Valence  to  Avignon,  April  9th,  1841. — “ Never  did  I see  the  Almond 
in  flower  look  so  beautiful  as  to-day,  when  several  large  trees  in  full 
bloom  were  in  their  graceful  beauty  backed  by  dark-hued  rocks.” 
“ Finally,  to  contrast  the  scenery  of  the  Rhine  and  the  Rhone,  in  vine- 
covered  hills  they  are  alike — the  rivers  are  much  on  a par — the  Rhine 
rather  the  grander — the  Rhone  more  varied  by  the  hills  coming  forward 
and  again  receding  or  folding  in  the  most  romantic  manner  back  and  for- 
ward. No  verdure  from  grass  or  pasture  is  to  be  seen  on  the  Rhone  banks, 
the  more  Southern  character  of  the  vegetation  being  from  ferns  springing 
from  a sterile  soil.  The  Rhine  has  its  numerous  castles,  but  against  these 
are  the  snow-clad  mountains  seen  from  the  Rhone.” 

May  5th. — “ The  setting  of  the  sun,  as  we  lay  off  Syra,  was  very  grand,  so 
many  hues  as  the  land  displayed  I never  before  witnessed.  The  island  on 
which  he  sank  was  empurpled ; another  displayed  the  ordinary  distant 
blue ; those  in  the  west  were  tinged  with  lilac.  Immediately  in  the  fore- 
b 2 


XX 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


ground  some  little  islets  looked  richly  green,  and  one  strongly  displayed 
its  grey  sterile  rocky  barrenness.  After  sunset  for  some  time  the  hues  of 
earth  and  sky  were  still  more  varied.  Syra,  which  was  purple  a short  time 
before,  assumed  a dark  rich  oil-green,  and  strongly  cut,  whilst  the  water 
at  its  base  was  no  less  strongly  marked.” 

Syra,  May  9th. — “ Dined  with  Mr.  Wilkinson,  the  British  Consul. 
From  the  balcony  of  his  drawing-room  is  the  finest  and  most  beautiful 
view  I have  ever  seen  from  a house  situated  in  a town.  It  is  placed  at  a 
great  height  above  the  sea,  and  commands  a view  over  several  of  the  is- 
lands, some  of  them  at  a considerable  distance.  The  sea  is  beautifully 
clear  beneath,  and  several  species  of  fish  are  seen  feeding  and  gambolling 
about.  The  hues  of  the  sea-weed,  too,  are  extremely  pleasing  to  the  eye, 
the  rich  green  of  the  Tllva  so  much  exceeding  that  of  any  plants  seen  here 
on  land.  Just  below  the  balcony  fishermen  were  engaged  last  night,  with 
torches  of  pine,  spearing  the  fish  that  were  exposed  to  view.  Here  the 
water  is  shallow,  and  the  fishermen  waded ; whilst  further  out  the  sepia 
or  cuttle-fish  hunters  were  engaged,  and  with  a brilliant  light  placed  on 
a gridiron-like  article,  placed  at  the  bow  of  the  boat,  looked  most  pic- 
turesque.” 

May  12th. — “ At  half-past  five  o’clock  we  left  Smyrna  in  the  Sesostris 
French  steam-packet  for  Constantinople.  The  “ jable  ” of  green  waves  up 
to  the  quay  was  precisely  as  I have  seen  them  represented  in  some  of 
Claude’s  paintings,  and  I think  in  some  of  Canaletti’s  fine  Venetian 
views.” 

Delos,  June  2nd. — “ Never  was  I so  struck  with  the  appearance  of  utter 
desolation  as  at  Delos.  At  Rome,  Athens,  &c.,  the  ruins  connect  the  past 
with  the  present  and  tell  the  tale  of  many  centuries,  but  here  all  is  past — 
there  is  no  present — not  a human  being  claims  the  island  as  his  home, 
though  still  before  us  are  the  columns  of  one  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the 
world,  and  well  might  the  temple  of  Apollo  (judging  from  its  ruins)  so 
be  called.” 

Venice,  July  2nd. — “ Went  to  church  [Santa  Maria  de  Fraria],  con- 
taining Canova’s  tomb,  the  grandest  monument  I have  ever  beheld : de- 
sign and  execution  are  alike  most  admirable.  Opposite  to  it  in  the  church 
is  the  tomb  of  Titian,  with  his  simple  surname  inscribed  on  one  of  the 
ordinary  floor  flags  of  the  building.  How  strange  this  seems ! The  gal- 
leries of  Venice  teem  with  his  sublime  paintings,  many  of  them  in  colours 
rich  and  glowing,  as  they  had  just  passed  from  the  hands  of  their  great 
artificer.  We  are  enraptured  with  them,  and  pacing  over  the  floor  of  a 
neighbouring  church,  start  back  with  affright  on  lifting  our  foot  from  a 
common  flag,  to  find  that  it  rested  upon  and  covered  the  name  of  Titian, 
who  sleeps  beneath  it.  In  Venice,  however,  should  Titian  rest.  In  many 
respects  is  it  of  high  importance  that  the  mortal  remains  of  the  workman 
should  thus  as  it  were  go  hand  in  hand  with  his  noblest  work.  Thus  are 
the  mortality  and  immortality  of  earth  a striking  lesson ! ” 

“ The  first  mournful  reflections  over  on  visiting  such  a tomb,  do  we  not 
feel  the  bodily  and  intellectual  pulse  beat  quicker,  and  urge  us  on  to  the 
best  work  of  which  we  feel  ourselves  capable,  before  we  are  hidden  be- 
neath the  flag-stone.” 

Aldstatten,  July  11th. — “ The  mountain  rises  steeply  from  the  town, 
and  before  proceeding  very  far,  a most  grand  and  extensive  prospect  was 
presented.  In  the  immediate  foreground  on  the  sloping  mountain-side 
all  was  of  the  loveliest  Swiss  character.  Most  picturesque  cottages  with 
their  pretty  little  gardens  and  numerous  bees’-caps  placed  against  the 


\VM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XXI 


houses.  Against  one  cottage  I reckoned  fifty  of  these,  of  ordinary  size. 
Each  abode  with  its  appliances  seemed  a little  paradise ; everything,  too, 
being  in  that  order  which  betokened  in  their  owners,  what  above  all 
things  most  delights  me,  a heart  at  ease.  Such  a sight  strikes  upon  the 
inmost  chord  of  a passing  stranger’s  heart,  see  it  in  what  part  of  this 
world  he  may.” 

Appenzel,  July  12th. — “ The  eastern  side  of  the  mountain-chain  which 
separates  the  canton  of  St.  Gallen  from  Appenzel  is  a grain,  fruit,  and 
vegetable  country.  On  the  western  side,  where  it  slopes  into  a great  table 
land,  very  many  square  miles  in  extent,  it  is  meadow  or  pasture,  unbroken 
by  a single  patch  of  grain,  vegetables,  or  fruit.  It  seemed  to  me  a prac- 
tical illustration  of  what  should  be  done  the  whole  world  over,  the  ener- 
gies of  every  country  being  applied  to  whatever  it  could  do  best,  and  its 
surplus  production  exchanged  with  its  neighbours.” 

The  Zoological  notes  scattered  through  the  journal  are  few  in  number. 
The  botanical  refer  chiefly  to  the  appearance  of  plants  or  trees  in  connex- 
ion with  their  altitudinal  range  or  geographical  distribution. 

The  enjoyment  which  Mr.  Thompson  experienced  in  his  tour  to  the 
iEgean,  had,  like  all  other  earthly  pleasures,  a certain  portion  of  alloy. 
In  his  case,  this  proceeded  principally  from  his  sensitiveness  to  sea-sick- 
ness when  in  the  vessel,  and  from  the  heat  and  vermin  in  some  localities 
on  shore.  But  he  always  spoke  in  glowing  terms  of  the  beauty  of  the 
classic  and  historic  scenes  he  had  visited,  and  the  kindness  not  only  of  his 
friend,  Captain  Graves,  but  of  all  the  officers  of  the  beacon. 

From  1841  to  1843,  he  was  a frequent  contributor  to  the  Annals  of 
Natural  History,  and  he  was  steadily  preparing  his  Report  on  the  Inver- 
tebrate Fauna  of  Ireland.  This  was  presented  at  the  Cork  meeting  of  the 
British  Association,  in  August,  1843;  and,  to  use  the  words  of  the  Very 
Rev.  the  Dean  of  Ely,  was  “ remarkable  for  the  minuteness  and  fulness  of 
the  information  which  it  conveys.”  * At  the  same  meeting,  Professor  E. 
Forbes,  who  had  returned  to  these  countries,  presented  his  valuable  “ Re- 
port on  the  Mollusca  and  Radiata  of  the  Aegean  Sea.” 

The  attendance  of  members  and  associates  at  the  Cork  meeting  was  un- 
usually small ; but  those  who  compare  the  number  and  importance  of  the 
papers  read  in  the  Natural  History  section  with  those  at  other  meetings, 
will  find  no  inferiority  there,  and  will  naturally  attribute  a portion  of  the 
success  of  Section  D.  to  the  personal  influence  and  character  of  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, who  acted  as  its  President,  and  whose  courtesy  on  the  occasion  was  no- 
ticed by  all.  His  own  communications  he  compressed  into  the  briefest 
possible  space,  so  as  to  give  time  and  opportunity  for  the  reading  of  those 
contributed  by  other  members. 

At  intervals  during  the  succeeding  five  years,  he  was  engaged  in  pre- 
paring for  the  press  his  intended  work  on  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland, 
and  in  writing,  for  the  Annals  of  Natural  History,  the  well-known  series  of 
papers  on  the  Irish  Fauna.  But  his  labour  was  liable  to  many  interrup- 
tions. Some  of  these  were  caused  by  visitors ; some  by  the  arrival  of 
new  specimens,  or  the  sending  away  of  duplicates  to  other  Naturalists ; 
but  chiefly  by  the  extensive  correspondence  in  which  he  was  engaged. 
His  letters  were  in  general  very  concise,  and  went  at  once  right  to  the 
subject-matter,  in  the  briefest  terms.  They  often  consisted  of  merely  a 
message  or  a question,  written  on  a scrap  of  paper,  signed  with  his  initials, 


* Vid.  address  of  the  Very  Rev.  Geo.  Peacock,  D.  D.,  as  President  of  the 
British  Association  at  the  York  meeting,  1844. 


XXII 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


and  then  enclosed  in  an  envelope.  Dr.  Ball,  who  for  years  had  some  of 
those  communications  almost  every  week,  received  one  complaining  that 
a question  in  the  previous  letter  had  not  been  answered.  On  searching 
for  the  “ letter,”  which  had  been  overlooked,  Dr.  Ball  at  last  found  it  in 
his  pocket-book,  between  the  folds  of  a bank-note,  into  which  it  had 
accidentally  dropped,  and  where,  from  its  diminutive  size,  it  had  lain 
concealed ! 

This  habit  of  writing  upon  scraps  of  paper,  to  the  great  embarrassment 
of  editors  and  printers,  is  one  to  which  several  well-known  authors  have 
been  addicted.  We  may  refer  as  examples  to  the  “ paper-sparing  Pope,” 
whose  translation  of  the  Iliad,  preserved  in  the  British  Museum,  is  writ- 
ten on  the  backs  and  other  blank  portions  of  letters  ; and  to  Sharon 
Turner,  whose  third  volume  of  the  “ Sacred  History  of  the  World”  is 
written  on  fragments  of  letters  and  notes,  and  on  covers  of  periodicals. 

The  first  volume  of  the  “ Natural  History  of  Ireland  ” appeared  in 
1849  ; the  second  in  1850;  the  third  in  1851.  The  reviews  of  it  were,  as 
might  be  expected,  of  a very  favourable  character  ; and  letters  relating  to 
it,  from  many  of  Mr.  Thompson’s  friends  and  correspondents,  afforded 
him  much  pleasure.  He  valued  very  highly  the  good  opinion  of  those  he 
really  esteemed. 

The  volumes  contained  a large  amount  of  popular  matter  relative  to 
the  instincts,  habits,  and  economy  of  our  native  birds,  to  which  they  were 
exclusively  devoted  ; and  among  these  were  occasionally  interspersed 
graphic  descriptions  of  localities  or  of  picturesque  groups,  such  as  Horn 
Head,  County  Donegal,  vol.  iii.  p.  223. ; Grotto  of  Egeria,  near  Home, 
vol.  i.  p.  367  ; and  Grouse  Shooting  Scenes  in  the  Highlands,  vol.  ii.  pp. 
54  and  55.  As  might  have  been  expected,  they  were  largely  quoted  from 
in  the  periodical  literature  of  the  day.  Perhaps  no  one  passage  was  more 
frequently  republished  than  the  one  (vol.  i.  p.  11)  in  which  the  author 
dwells  on  the  effects  produced  on  the  birds  of  a district  by  the  industrial 
operations  of  man. 

He  had  himself  expressly  stated  that  the  volumes  on  Birds  were  “ put 
forward  merely  as  supplementary  to  the  several  excellent  works  already 
published  on  British  Ornithology.”  Viewed  merely  in  that  light,  they 
were  welcomed  as  a very  desirable  addition  to  the  stores  left  by  preceding 
writers.  When  considered  apart  from  other  works,  and  simply  as  an  ex- 
ponent of  what  was  known  to  Mr.  Thompson  respecting  the  Birds  of  Ire- 
land, the  philosophic  mind  found  in  its  pages  fresh  food  for  speculation, 
especially  concerning  those  great  laws  which  regulate  the  distribution  of 
animal  life.  The  pains-taking  care  of  its  author  was  visible  on  every 
page  ; and,  if  some  reader  should  now  and  then  have  wished  that  dates, 
localities,  and  names  were  of  less  frequent  occurrence,  by  others  these  de- 
tails were  regarded  as  very  desirable.  To  the  future  explorer  of  the  Na- 
tural History  of  Ireland,  such  evidence  will  be  of  the  highest  value.  It 
will  satisfy  him  that  Thompson  has  furnished  a true  record  of  the  Irish 
Birds,  as  known  to  him  and  his  correspondents.  From  the  basis  thus 
established,  he  may  proceed  to  rear  his  structure  with  perfect  confidence 
that  he  builds  on  a good  foundation,  and  that,  if  his  own  observations  be 
correct,  and  embrace  a sufficiently  wide  range,  he  may  contrast  the  then 
existing  Birds  of  Ireland  with  the  species  which  now  belong  to  it. 

It  was  during  the  time  Mr.  Thompson  was  engaged  preparing  this 
work  for  the  press,  that  he  became  interested  in  the  welfare  of  “ The 
Belfast-Man  ” — Francis  Davis — author  of  “ Poems  and  Songs,”  published 
in  Belfast,  in  1847.  They  were  composed,  as  the  preface  informs  us, 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XX111 


“amid  the  monotonous  din  of  the- work-shop,”  the  vocation  in  which  Mr. 
Davis  was  then  engaged  being  that  of  a muslin  weaver,  “ an  employment 
not  very  remarkable  for  its  remunerative  qualities.”  He  now  fills  the  re- 
sponsible situation  of  Librarian  and  Secretary  to  the  Working  Classes’ 
Association  at  Belfast ; and,  on  being  applied  to  by  one  of  the  Editors  of 
the  present  volume,  most  kindly  forwarded  the  following  letter  respecting 
his  intercourse  with  Mr.  Thompson  : — 


TO  ROBERT  PATTERSON,  ESQ. 

Belfast, 

November  22nd,  1854. 

Sir, 

Touching  our  distinguished  townsman,  the  late  William  Thompson, 
Esq.,  and  your  desire  to  know  something  of  the  manner  of  that  gentleman’s  ac- 
quaintance with  me,  I shall  endeavour  to  state  its  origin  and  progression  as 
briefly  as  possible.  Some  time  after  the  publication  of  my  first  volume  of 
verses,  or  towards  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1847,  I was  one  day  employed  at 
my  accustomed  labour,  when  a fellow-workman,  coming  in,  told  me  that  a per- 
son outside  wished  to  speak  with  me.  On  going  to  the  door  of  the  workshop,  I 
was  accosted  by  a gentleman,  who  asked  me  if  my  name  were  Davis,  and  whe- 
ther I was  the  person  who,  under  that  name,  had  lately  published  a volume  of 
poetry.  On  being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  said  that  he  had  for  some  time 
been  making  inquiries  after  me.  He  said  he  had  felt  delighted  to  think  that  a 
Belfast-man,  in  so  humble  a position,  had  won  for  himself  such  favourable 
opinions  as  those  he  had  been  lately  reading  in  the  Athenaeum  and  in  the  Critic. 
He  had  read  my  book  himself,  he  said,  and  was  highly  gratified  by  the  tone  of 
independence  which  characterized  it.  He  asked  me  whether  I considered 
politics  the  more  legitimate  sphere  of  a poet  ? I said  that  was  a subject  I had 
never  thought  upon,  but  that  my  opinion  was,  if  but  one  individual  could  be 
taught,  through  verses,  to  look  more  kindly  upon  those  who  might  think  proper 
to  differ  with  him  in  religion  or  politics,  whole  volumes  of  such  had  not  been 
written  in  vain.  He  seemed  to  be  much  pleased  with  the  reply,  and  said  it  was 
the  duty  of  every  man  to  do  what  good  he  could ; and  if,  when  doing  his  best, 
he  might  happen  to  err,  it  was  only  in  judgment — in  such  cases,  a mere  matter 
of  opinion.  He  then — and  not  till  then — told  me  that  his  name  was  Thompson, 
gave  me  his  address,  mentioned  the  hours  he  was  likely  to  be  at  home,  and  said 
he  would  be  very  happy  at  seeing  me  call  upon  him  as  often  as  I could  make  it 
convenient.  Before  leaving,  he  spoke  of  the  Museum,  the  Botanic  Gardens,  and 
Linen-hall  Library,  asking  me  if  I were  in  the  habit  of  visiting  them.  On  my 
saying  that  I had  never  been  to  any  of  them,  he  asked  me  whether  I would  not 
wish  to  have  the  privilege  of  doing  so  when  I thought  proper.  I said  that  no- 
thing could  be  more  gratifying  to  me : he  then  took  his  departure,  promising 
to  let  me  hear  from  him  the  next  day.  I did  hear  from  him  the  next  day ; 
I received  a circular  entitling  me  to  attend,  on  that  night,  at  a “ Reading  ” 
delivered  to  the  Natural  H.  S.,  of  which  Mr.  Thompson  at  the  time  was  Pre- 
sident. On  the  same  night,  I received  from  his  hands  the  authority  of  the  dif- 
ferent Committees  to  visit  the  Museum,  the  Linen-hall  Library,  and  the  Botanic 
Garden,  at  any  time  I thought  proper.  From  that  time  till  the  time  of  his  death, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  to  me,  not  merely  a friend  and  patron,  but  & father — a kind 
and  indulgent  father.  For  two  or  three  years  before  I had  seen  Mr.  Thompson, 
my  health  had  been  gradually  on  the  decline,  and,  in  a few  months  after  our  first 
interview,  I became  so  reduced  in  bodily  strength  that  I was  compelled  to  give 
up  my  ordinary  occupation,  to  which  Mr.  Thompson  never  afterwards  would 
allow  me  to  speak  of  returning.  A situation  more  suited  to  my  constitution,  he 
reasoned,  would  “ turn  up  to  me  some  time.”  Alas  ! his  words,  though  pro- 
phetic, he  did  not  live  to  see  fulfilled. 


XXIV 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


It  would  be  impossible  in  the  space  I have  at  present  assigned  myself  to  give 
more  than  a faint  idea  of  Mr.  Thompson’s  friendship  to  me,  and  exertions  in  my 
behalf,  during  a period  of  some  five  years.  I can  never  forget  his  kindly  greet- 
ing and  good-bye  when  we  met  and  when  we  parted — his  judicious  counsels, 
and  friendly  criticisms  on  any  writings  I subjected  to  him,  after  having  turned 
to  literature  as  a profession — and  the  total  absence  of  anything  like  a manifested 
feeling  of  superiority,  either  in  intellect  or  position. 

It  is  almost  needless  to  say,  that  a person  circumstanced  as  I was  during  the 
greater  portion  of  the  time — if  not  the  whole  of  the  period— I had  the  honour  of 
his  acquaintance,  had  to  be  obliged  to  him  for  more  than  advice.  At  one  time 
out  of  employment;  at  another,  unable  for  it;  and,  again,  depending  on  the 
sometimes  uncertain  earnings  of  a contributor  to  the  columns  of  a London  peri- 
odical, I may  have  known  difficulties ; but,  if  so,  it  was  ever  my  own  fault.  His 
purse  was  as  open  to  me  as  his  smile ; and  a rebuke — such  a rebuke  as  only  such 
a man  could  give — when  I at  any  time  questioned  the  propriety  of  accepting,  on 
the  grounds  of  such  a shadowy  prospect  of  return. 

From  upwards  of  forty  letters,  by  Mr.  Thompson,  in  my  possession,  I might 
produce  more  than  as  many  illustrations  of  the  preceding— of  the  amiability  and 
benevolence  of  him  who,  while  he  never  forgot  what  was  necessary  in  the  gen- 
tleman and  the  scholar,  always  remembered  that  he  was  a man. 

This  much  and  more,  on  my  part,  is  due  to  his  memory  ; you  will,  therefore, 
please  to  use  it  as  you  may  think  proper. 

I have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 

FRANCIS  DAVIS. 

From  the  year  1847,  Mr.  Thompson’s  health  was  somewhat  uncertain, 
and  at  times  required  a good  deal  of  care ; it  was,  in  fact,  gradually  giv- 
ing way  under  the  attacks  of  an  insidious  disease  of  the  heart,  to  which 
he  ultimately  fell  a victim  ; and  circumstances  of  a private  nature  occur- 
red, which  brought  with  them  much  mental  anxiety.  Yet,  with  these 
sources  of  disquietude  preying  upon  him,  he  continued  his  attendance  at 
the  committee  meetings  of  all  those  local  Societies,  in  whose  progress  he 
felt  an  especial  degree  of  interest ; and  the  Society  for  Promoting  Know- 
ledge, the  School  of  Design,  the  Natural  History  and  Philosophical 
Society,  and  the  Botanic  Garden,  continued  to  have  the  advantage  of  his 
services. 

In  1851,  at  the  Ipswich  meeting  of  the  British  Association  for  Science, 
a deputation,  of  which  Mr.  Thompson  was  one,  attended,  and  it  was  un- 
animously agreed  that  the  meeting  for  1852  should  be  held  at  Belfast. 

From  this  time  forward,  Mr.  Thompson  was  in  frequent  communica- 
tion with  influential  members  of  the  Council  of  the  Association ; and  in 
January,  1852,  he  was  deputed  by  the  Committee,  in  Belfast,  to  proceed 
to  London,  attend  a meeting  of  the  Council  there,  on  the  31st,  and  con- 
clude the  needful  preliminary  arrangements. 

This  being  done,  he  spent  a few  days  with  his  London  friends,  and  was 
preparing  for  his  return  home,  when,  on  Sunday,  the  15th  of  February, 
whilst  walking  in  one  of  the  public  streets,  he  was  seized  with  dizziness 
in  the  head.  He  was  able,  however,  to  walk  to  the  residence  of  his  friend, 
Dr.  Lankester,  who  was  speedily  in  attendance.  The  doctor  observed  on 
one  side  of  the  face  evident  indications  of  slight  paralysis,  and  accompa- 
nied him  home.  He  saw  him  again  in  the  evening,  and  applied  remedies 
for  the  removal  of  a difficulty  of  swallowing.  Next  morning,  Dr.  Lankes- 
ter, not  finding  him  better,  wished  for  additional  medical  advice,  and  Mr. 
Lane,  an  eminent  surgeon,  was  accordingly  called  in.  In  the  evening, 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XXV 


Mr.  Busk,  of  Greenwich,  whose  name  ranks  high,  both  as  a naturalist  and 
a surgeon,  arrived,  and  the  three  medical  gentlemen  saw  their  patient  so 
late  as  ten  o’clock  on  Monday  night.  At  eight  o’clock  next  morning  Dr. 
Lankester  was  summoned  to  his  bed-side,  and  found  on  his  arrival  that  he 
had  breathed  his  last ! His  death  took  place  on  the  day  he  had  intended 
leaving  London  on  his  route  homewards. 

He  died  remote  from  home  ; but  it  was  consolatory  to  know  that, 
during  his  brief  illness,  he  had  received  every  possible  care  and  attention 
from  the  inmates  of  the  house  where  he  lodged,  and  was  watched  over 
by  his  kind  and  valued  friends,  Mr.  Yarrell,  Professor  Edward  Forbes, 
Dr.  Lankester,  and  Mr.  Busk. 

A letter  from  Dr.  Lankester  to  a mutual  friend  reached  Belfast  on 
Wednesday  evening,  and  announced  the  unexpected  and  melancholy 
event.  The  sensation  which  the  intelligence  excited  it  is  impossible  to 
describe  ; the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  following  paragraph,  taken 
from  the  Belfast  Mercury,  of  February  21st,  were  universally  felt: — 

(i  Death  of  William  Thompson,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Natural 
History  and  Philosophical  Society  of  Belfast,  &c. — A meeting  of  the 
above-named  Society  was  held  at  the  Museum,  on  the  evening  of  Wednesday 
last,  and  before  the  members  had  separated,  a letter  had  been  received  by  one  of 
them,  announcing  that  their  respected  and  distinguished  President  was  no  more. 
Next  day,  this  melancholy  event  became  generally  known  throughout  town,  and 
all  seemed  to  feel  that  Belfast  had  lost  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  her  sons.  In 
private  life,  our  lamented  fellow-townsman  occupied  a position  no  less  honour- 
able than  his  standing  in  scientific  circles.  His  kindness  of  heart,  lofty  princi- 
ples, and  generous  sympathies,  made  him  universally  beloved  and  respected.” 

Another  of  the  Belfast  Papers,  established  about  a month  afterwards, 
took  occasion  to  introduce  into  its  first  number  a review  of  the  three 
volumes  of  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland,  then  published,  and  gave  ex- 
pression to  the  following  observations  respecting  the  author : — 

“ It  is  to  us  a source  of  sad  reflection  that,  at  the  very  commencement  of  our 
career,  we  should  have  to  perform  the  painful  task  of  adverting  to  the  loss  of  a 
fellow-townsman,  whose  untiring  labours  in  the  investigation  of  the  Natural 
History  of  our  country  had  earned  for  him  a wide-spread  fame,  and  whose  spot- 
less life,  dedicated  to  the  advancement  of  every  ennobling  pursuit,  had  won  the 
respect  and  love  of  all  who  enjoyed  the  high  privilege  of  intercourse  with  him. 
The  study  ofNatfiral  History  has  been  justly  recommended,  as  ‘an  exercise  for 
the  mind,  a suggester  of  thought,  and  the  fountain  of  a high  philosophy,  pro- 
moting the  great  cause  of  humanity  and  love.’  Its  effect  on  the  subject  of  our 
brief  memoir  accords  with  the  recommendation  ; for  seldom  has  any  man  en- 
joyed, within  his  own  circle,  more  universal  respect  whilst  living,  and  never  wras 
the  loss  of  a fellow-citizen  or  friend  more  keenly  felt.  Many  who  owed  their 
first  acquaintance  with  him  to  the  similarity  of  their  tastes  and  pursuits,  regard- 
ed him  with  a warmth  of  affection  which  even  the  ties  of  kindred  seldom  im- 
part ; and  we  do  not  believe  that  one  human  being  entertained  towards  him  a 
hostile  feeling.  The  same  gentleness  of  disposition  which  led  him  to  regard  his 
fellow-man  with  kindness,  he  also  evinced  towards  the  whole  animal  creation, 
as  his  writings  amply  testify.”  — Belfast  Mercantile  Journal  and  Statistical 
Register,  No.  1,  March  30th,  1852. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  1852,  the  Saturday  succeeding  Mr.  Thomp- 
son’s death,  a notice  of  the  event  appeared  in  the  Athenceum  and  in  the 
Literary  Gazette.  Each  journal  contains  some  information  which  the 
other  does  not ; both,  therefore,  are  given,  as  conjointly  they  convey  a 
correct  idea  of  the  opinion  entertained  of  Mr.  Thompson  by  men  of 


XXVI 


MEMOIR  OE  THE  LATE 


science  in  the  metropolis.  On  one  point  there  is  a seeming  discrepancy 
in  the  two  journals,  one  mentioning  the  Report  of  the  Fauna  of  Ireland 
as  having  been  brought  forward  at  Glasgow,  the  other  at  Cork.  Both 
are  correct ; the  Report  on  the  Vertebrata  having  been  presented  at  the 
former  meeting  ; that  on  the  Invertebrata  at  the  latter. 

“We  have  to  record  the  death  of  Mr.  William  Thompson  of  Belfast,  which 
took  place  very  suddenly  in  London,  on  Tuesday  morning  last.  Mr.  Thompson 
had  been  visiting  our  metropolis  chiefly  with  a view  to  making  arrangements  for 
the  approaching  meeting  of  the  British  Association  in  Belfast, — of  which  he  had 
been  appointed  by  the  council  a Vice-President.  Mr.  Thompson  was  well 
known  on  various  branches  of  Natural  History,  and  one  of  his  works,  ‘The 
Birds  of  Ireland,’  we  reviewed  so  lately  as  September  last.  [Athen.  No.  1236.] 
He  devoted  himself  principally  to  zoology — though  all  branches  of  Natural  His- 
tory and  Comparative  Anatomy  received  a share  of  his  attention.  Science  is 
indebted  to  him  for  the  ardour  with  which  he  investigated  the  zoology  of  his  na- 
tive country,  and  the  large  number  of  his  papers  in  the  annuals  and  magazines 
of  Natural  History  attest  his  great  diligence  in  this  respect.  He  was  an  early 
friend  of  the  British  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science ; and,  at  the 
meeting  held  at  Glasgow,  delivered  in  a Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland.  He 
constantly  attended  its  meetings ; and,  subsequently  to  his  Report  in  1840,  he 
contributed  many  papers  on  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland.  It  was  owing  to 
his  efforts  that  the  Natural  History  section  was  so  remarkably  successful  when 
the  Association  met  at  Cork.  His  investigations  on  the  Zoology  of  Ireland  were 
subservient  to  a great  work  which  he  had  planned  on  the  Natural  History  of 
that  island,  and  which,  had  his  life  been  spared,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  he 
would  have  completed.” — Athenaeum . 

“ WILLIAM  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 

“ It  is  our  painful  duty  to  record  the  death  of  this  eminent  and  amiable  Irish 
naturalist.  He  had  come  to  London  to  attend  a meeting  of  the  council  of  the 
British  Association,  to  assist  in  making  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the 
forthcoming  gathering  in  the  town  of  Belfast,  of  which  he  was  so  distinguished 
an  ornament.  On  this  day  week  we  conversed  with  him  when  in  good,  though  not 
robust,  health  and  spirits,  little  anticipating  that  before  three  days  we  should  be 
writing  his  biography.  He  died  suddenly,  after  a short  and  slight  indisposition, 
in  his  lodging  in  Jermyn  Street.  Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  the  year  1805,  and 
from  his  earliest  youth  was  warmly  attached  to  scientific  and  literary  studies. 
For  the  last  fifteen  years,  or  longer,  his  name  has  been  constantly  before  the 
world  of  science  in  connexion  with  arduous  researches  on  the  Natural  History  of 
Ireland.  The  very  numerous  memoirs  published  by  him,  chiefly  in  scientific  pe- 
riodicals, and  latterly  more  especially  in  the  ‘ Annals  of  Natural  History,’  of  which 
publication  he  was  a warm  admirer  and  supporter,  extend  in  their  subjects  over 
all  departments  of  zoology,  and  several  are  devoted  to  botanical  investigations.  He 
was  constantly  on  the  watch  for  new  facts  bearing  on  the  Natural  History  of  his 
native  island,  which,  assuredly,  could  boast  of  no  more  truly  patriotic  son  than 
himself.  At  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at  Cork,  he  was  appointed 
President  of  Section  D,  and  conducted  the  proceedings  of  his  department  with  a 
judgment  and  suavity  that  made  them  eminently  successful.  On  that  occasion 
he  read  an  elaborate  Report  on  the  4 Fauna  of  Ireland,’  since  published  in  ex- 
tenso  in  the  Association  4 Transactions  ; ’ and  it  was  his  intention  to  have  com- 
municated a continuation  to  the  present  day  of  that  Report  at  the  Belfast  meet- 
ing. He  did  not  confine  his  inquiries  to  Irish  subjects,  but  added  considerably 
to  our  knowledge  of  the  Natural  History  of  several  parts  of  England  and  Scot- 
land ; and  when  Professor  E.  Forbes  proceeded  to  the  ZEgean  at  the  invitation 
of  Captain  Graves,  Mr.  Thompson,  himself  an  intimate  friend  of  the  distinguish- 
ed officer  just  named,  accompanied  him,  and  devoted  the  short  time  he  was 
in  the  Archipelago  to  interesting  zoological  observations,  since  published,  chiefly 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XXV11 


on  the  migration  of  birds.  His  love  of  ornithology  was  indeed  intense,  and 
the  results  of  his  labours  in  that  department  are  narrated  with  full  and  charming 
details  in  the  volumes  that  have  been  published  of  his  great  work  on  ‘ The  Na- 
tural History  of  Ireland.’  His  name  is  associated  with  many  discoveries,  and 
numerous  species  of  new  creatures  have  been  named  after  him.  His  reputation 
stood  equally  high  on  the  continent  and  in  America,  and  he  had  been  elected 
an  honorary  member  of  several  foreign  societies.  Entirely  devoid  of  any  envious 
feeling,  loving  to  cooperate  with  others,  and  to  assist  in  furthering  their  re- 
searches, truthful  and  energetic,  he  spared  neither  time,  labour,  nor  pains,  to 
help  in  every  possible  way  all  who  were  engaged  in  kindred  pursuits.  He  num- 
bered among  his  intimate  friends  and  correspondents  all  (we  may  say  almost 
without  exception)  the  eminent  naturalists  of  the  day,  and  equally  all  those  who 
might  be  little  known  but  were  of  good  promise.  His  love  of  the  fine  arts  was 
only  second  to  his  love  of  science,  and  for  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  most 
active  promoters  of  tasteful  pursuits,  and  especially  of  painting,  in  Ireland.” — 
Literary  Gazette. 

An  obituary  notice  respecting  him — one  of  their  earliest  and  most  con- 
stant contributors — appeared  in  the  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural 
History,  for  March,  1852,  p.  246,  which,  after  the  previous  quotations  from 
other  London  periodicals,  it  seems  unnecessary  to  quote. 

{From  the  Lublin  University  Magazine,  April,  1852.) 

“ It  was  only  last  month  that  we  devoted  a portion  of  our  pages  to  a review 
of  ‘ The  Birds  of  Ireland,’  by  William  Thompson ; and  we  then  indulged  in 
pleasing  anticipations  of  what  we  had  yet  to  expect  from  the  labours  of  the 
author.  A sadder  task  now  devolves  upon  us  ; the  hopes  we  had  then  fondly 
cherished,  are  destined  never  to  be  realized  ; — the  accomplished  naturalist,  the 
high-minded  man,  the  warm-hearted  friend,  has  ceased  from  his  earthly  labours ; 
and  it  now  only  remains  for  us  to  bid  memory  take  the  place  of  hope.  There 
were  few  more  pleasing  features  in  his  character  than  the  interest  he  always 
took  in  the  success  of  the  several  literary  and  scientific  institutions  of  his  native 
town.  Imbued  with  a deep  and  genuine  patriotism,  and  fully  recognising  in  such 
institutions  the  means  of  elevating  the  moral  and  physical  condition  of  his  fellow- 
countrymen,  he  spared  neither  time  nor  labour  in  the  promotion  of  their  wel- 
fare; and  his  purse  was  always  freely  open  in  their  cause.  Utterly  free  from 
envy,  he  was  always  ready  to  help  onwards  in  the  same  paths  of  science  the  less 
experienced  searcher  after  truth ; and  many  a living  naturalist  owes  whatever 
success  has  subsequently  attended  his  career,  to  the  encouragement  thus  cor- 
dially given.  ‘ The  love  of  truth  and  the  love  of  his  country  were  inseparably 
blended  with  his  nature,  and  became  the  leading  influences  in  his  simple  and 
unostentatious  life.’  ” 

When  the  British  Association  for  Science  assembled  in  Belfast,  on  the 
1st  of  September,  1852,  William  Ogilby,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Natural 
History  Section,  at  the  opening  of  the  business,  paid  a just  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  his  departed  friend,  and  proposed  a resolution,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted,  to  the  effect  that  the  members  of  the  section  de- 
sired to  put  on  record  their  deep  regret  at  the  loss  both  science  and 
humanity  had  sustained  by  his  sudden  and  premature  death. 

Mr.  Thompson  differed  from  the  generality  of  naturalists,  in  the  wide 
range  of  his  research.  He  gave  attention  not  only  to  the  long  series  of 
vertebrate  and  invertebrate  animals  (excepting  Insecta  and  Infusoria),  but 
also  to  the  vegetable  kingdom  in  all  its  various  forms.  Some  depart- 
ments of  Cryptogamic  botany  gave  exercise  to  his  powers  of  observation, 
as  shown  by  his  paper  “ On  a minute  Alga,  which  colours  Ballydrain 
Lake,”  and  more  especially  by  the  number  of  localities  contributed  by 
him  to  his  friend  Professor  Harvey’s  splendid  work,  the  “ Phycologia 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 


xxviii 

Britannica.”  The  “ Hortus  siccus  ” formed  by  Mr.  Thompson,  and  now  in 
the  Belfast  Museum,  is  of  itself  an  enduring  evidence  of  his  industry  and 
research. 

For  many  years  prior  to  his  death  he  was  in  the  habit  of  giving  every 
aid  in  his  power  to  those  who  were  preparing  for  publication  works  on 
certain  departments  of  either  Zoology  or  Botany.  His  specimens  and  his 
notes  were  ever  freely  given  for  such  purposes.  There  are  few  authors  of 
such  works  in  these  kingdoms  who  have  not  gratefully  acknowledged 
their  obligations  to  him ; and  some  distinguished  continental  naturalists 
have  expressed  their  thanks  for  favours  of  a similar  kind. 

In  connexion  with  his  labours  it  is  a natural  inquiry,  what  was  the 
number  of  his  various  published  papers  ? where  and  when  did  they  ap- 
pear ? what  were  their  subjects?  what  was  the  extent  of  each?  It  is 
fortunate  that  to  all  these  queries  a satisfactory  reply  can  be  given,  for  a 
list  in  his  own  hand-writing,  found  after  his  death  among  his  MSS.,  gives 
the  desired  information.  The  list  is  published  in  the  Appendix  to  the 
present  volume,  and  extends  to  nearly  100  papers,  exclusive  of  “ The  Na- 
tural History  of  Ireland,”  which,  however,  embodied  much  of  the  mate- 
rial dispersed  throughout  his  previous  writings. 

Another  inquiry  naturally  arises  from  a glance  over  the  titles  of  these 
publications.  Many  of  them  contained  notices  of  species  new  to  the 
Irish  Fauna;  some  of  them  species  unrecorded  as  British,  and  a few  of 
them  animals  previously  undescribed,  or,  to  use  his  own  words,  “ new  to 
science.”  The  papers  embody  not  only  his  own  observations,  but,  as  has 
been  already  stated,  those  of  many  individuals  in  different  parts  of  Ireland 
with  whom  he  was  in  correspondence.  How  many  species,  it  may  be 
asked,  was  he  the  means  of  recording  as  additions  to  the  Irish  Fauna  ? 
The  total  number  is  between  900  and  1000.  It  cannot  be  stated  with 
perfect  accuracy,  for  some  species  are  what  are  termed  “ critical,”  and 
with  regard  to  some,  Mr.  Thompson’s  own  views  underwent  a change. 
But  this  does  not  materially  affect  the  result,  and  he,  therefore,  stood  in 
the  proud  position  of  having  made  known  nearly  a thousand  species  of 
animals  living  in  Ireland  or  on  its  coasts,  whose  existence  there  was  pre- 
viously unrecorded.  Our  admiration  of  the  assiduous  labour  by  which 
this  was  accomplished  is  enhanced  by  the  consideration  that,  during  the 
latter  portion  of  his  life,  it  was  carried  on  amid  the  weakness  and  suffer- 
ing attendant  on  failing  health.  But  the  result  remains,  forming  a last- 
ing addition  to  our  stores  of  knowledge,  and  a monument  to  him  as  a man 
of  science,  more  imperishable  than  the  “ storied  urn  or  animated  bust  ” of 
the  sculptor. 

Let  us  now  turn  from  the  consideration  of  Mr.  Thompson  as  a man  of 
science,  to  those  manifestations  of  his  habits  of  mind,  his  peculiarities  of 
taste,  and  his  modes  of  action,  which  may  serve  to  indicate  to  those  who 
knew  him  not,  what  “ manner  of  man  ” he  was. 

To  a stranger  introduced  to  him  when  he  was  attending  one  of  the 
London  Societies,  or  presiding  at  one  of  the  meetings  in  the  Museum  at 
Belfast,  he  would  have  appeared  courteous,  but  formal,  polite,  but  re- 
served ; willing  to  listen,  and  ready  to  impart  information,  if  required. 
But  a stranger  would  not  suspect  that  under  that  cold  exterior  there 
lurked  a quick  perception  of  the  ludicrous,  and  a truly  Irish  enjoyment  of 
humour.  And  none  but  intimate  friends  could  be  aware  how  deeply  the 
poetic  element  was  interwoven  in  the  tissues  of  his  existence.  Shakspeare 
ever  continued  his  prime  favourite ; and  a volume  of  extracts  from  his 
plays  was  his  constant  travelling  companion ; but  Milton,  Burns,  Byron, 


WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


XXIX 


Shelley,  Moore,  Wordsworth,  Montgomery,  and  Tennyson,  were  all  in 
turn  admired,  and  the  peculiar  beauties  of  each  justly  appreciated. 

His  delight  in  the  Fine  Arts  has  already  been  noticed,  and  also  his 
enjoyment  of  the  beautiful  or  the  sublime  in  natural  scenery.  To  travel 
with  him  was  to  see  things  in  a new  aspect,  and  to  derive  pleasure  from 
what  would,  but  for  him,  have  been  unnoticed.  The  distant  trees  became 
individualized  under  his  glance,  and  their  characteristic  foliage  made 
manifest.  The  flight  and  peculiar  note  of  every  bird  were  known,  so  that, 
if  either  the  flap  of  a pinion  was  observed,  or  a remote  call  was  heard, 
the  species  -was  at  once  named.  The  tintings  of  the  hills  were  pointed 
out,  and  the  beam  of  sunlight  on  the  heath  or  the  mountain  dwelt  on 
with  the  delight  of  an  artist. 

It  perhaps  belongs  to  the  inherent  infirmity  of  man’s  nature  that  the 
very  faculties  which,  from  their  nicety,  are  the  source  of  such  refined  and 
elevated  pleasures,  should  also,  under  other  circumstances,  give  rise  to 
discomfort  or  annoyance.  Such  was  Mr.  Thompson’s  case.  He  felt  an- 
noyed by  matters  which  other  men  would  have  passed  by  unheeded. 
Discords  of  colour  pained  his  eye,  as  discordant  sounds  would  have  grated 
on  his  ear. 

His  methodical  and  business-like  habits  rendered  him  a valuable  mem- 
ber of  any  public  committee.  The  same  regularity  was  apparent  in  all 
his  actions,  joined  with  a constant  attention  to  neatness,  and  a desire  to 
have  nothing  wasted  or  uselessly  frittered  away.  He  never  obtruded  his 
opinions  ; and  no  man  could  be  more  unwilling  to  give  utterance  to  a re- 
mark that  might  give  pain  to  another.  But  when  one  of  those  with 
whom  he  was  really  intimate  sought  his  advice,  it  was  given  with  the 
utmost  candour.  He  had  the  rare  moral  courage  to  speak  not  only  the 
truth,  but  the  whole  truth,  as  it  appeared  to  his  mind.  The  sincerity 
with  which  he  expressed  himself  on  such  occasions  gave  great  weight  to 
the  sound  and  excellent  opinion  which  he  pronounced.  One  instance  of 
this  may  here  be  mentioned.  A friend  had  been  preparing  a little  Natu- 
ral History  work  for  publication.  The  volume  was  completed,  and  its 
author  had  taken  some  pains  in  writing  an  elaborate  preface,  explanatory 
of  his  views.  This  was  sent  to  Mr.  Thompson  for  revision,  and  was  re- 
turned with  some  pencil-marks  and  a brief  note : — “ I never  saw  any- 
thing of  your  writing  I liked  so  little.”  The  consequence  was  that  the 
unfortunate  preface  was  put  into  the  fire,  and  one  shorter  and  better 
suited  to  the  character  of  the  work  was  substituted. 

His  thoughtful  consideration  was  shown  in  many  little  touching  ways 
towards  those  whom  he  numbered  among  his  friends.  The  “ trivial  fond 
records  ” that  might  be  furnished  from  such  sources  would  show  the  ge- 
nuine kindness  of  his  nature,  even  better  than  things  of  greater  moment. 
They  spring  from  actions  the  most  unstudied  and  spontaneous  ; they  ori- 
ginate in  the  heart  rather  than  in  the  head.  Who  -would  suppose  that 
such  a man,  in  order  to  give  pleasure  to  the  children  of  a friend,  would 
carefully  lay  aside  each  little  illustration  that  catalogues  or  specimen- 
pages  might  contain,  and  then,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  envelope  in  which 
they  were  deposited  became  filled,  send  them  to  his  friend’s  residence  ? 
Yet  such  was  the  simple  fact. 

Mr.  Thompson  died  unmarried,  in  his  forty-seventh  year,  and  was  in- 
terred in  the  family  burial-ground  at  Belfast.  The  members  of  the  Na- 
tural History  and  Philosophical  Society,  over  which  he  so  long  presided, 
determined  on  erecting  a memorial,  the  nature  of  which  is  best  explained 
by  some  extracts  from  the  circular  which  was  then  issued  : — 


XXX 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE  WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 


“ At  a special  meeting  held  in  the  Museum,  on  the  10th  March,  1852,  a 
series  of  resolutions  was  unanimously  adopted,  expressive  of  the  feelings  enter- 
tained by  the  members  as  to  the  great  loss  they  had  sustained  by  the  death  of 
their  late  president,  Wm.  Thompson,  Esq.  A committee  was  then  appointed 
to  consider  the  most  suitable  mode  of  doing  honour  to  his  memory.  This  com- 
mittee, after  careful  consideration,  reported  that  the  most  appropriate  memorial 
of  Mr.  Thompson  would  be  a separate  room  to  be  added  to  the  Museum,  and 
be  called  the  ‘ Thompson  Room,’  in  which  should  be  placed  the  private  collec- 
tions which  he  had  bequeathed  to  the  Museum.  This  method  of  testifying  the 
Society’s  estimation  of  Mr.  Thompson  would  have  the  double  advantage  of  per- 
petuating his  name  within  the  Museum,  and  of  preserving  for  reference  a large 
portion  of  those  specimens  to  which  he  alludes  in  his  writings  on  the  Natural 
History  of  Ireland.  This  report  of  the  committee  was  unanimously  agreed  to, 
and  the  council  were  authorized  to  have  it  carried  into  immediate  effect.” 

The  necessary  funds  were  speedily  subscribed,  and  the  “ Thompson 
Room  ” erected  accordingly. 

A striking  likeness  of  Mr.  Thompson  appeared  in  1849,  in  the  series  of 
scientific  portraits,  published  at  the  expense  of  Mr.  George  Ransome,  at 
that  time  Honorary  Secretary  to  the  Ipswich  Museum.  By  the  kind  per- 
mission of  that  gentleman,  the  frontispiece  of  the  present  volume  has  been 
copied  from  the  former  portrait,  by  the  same  talented  artist  by  whom  the 
original  had  been  taken. 

Several  of  the  leading  naturalists  of  the  day  have  at  different  times 
marked  their  estimation  of  Mr.  Thompson’s  character  and  labours,  by 
dedicating  to  him  some  undescribed  species  of  animal  or  plant.  The 
touching  yet  appropriate  words  employed  by  Professor  Bell,  when  giving 
to  a small  marine  animal,  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  the  name  of  his  departed 
friend,  may  form  an  appropriate  conclusion  to  this  little  Memoir  : — * “ I 
have  a melancholy  gratification  in  dedicating  this  species,  by  name,  to  a 
gentleman  who,  for  many  years,  was  justly  considered  as  the  representative 
of  the  Zoology  of  Ireland,  and  whose  acute  discrimination  and  persevering 
enthusiasm  in  his  favourite  pursuit  were  only  equalled  by  the  liberal  and 
unselfish  feeling  with  which  he  placed  his  treasures  in  the  hands  of  his 
fellow-labourers,  whenever  he  believed  the  interests  of  science  would  be 
thereby  furthered.  The  specimen  from  which  the  above  description  is 
taken  was  placed  in  my  hands,  by  my  lamented  friend,  only  a very  few 
days  before  his  untimely  death  deprived  the  science  of  Ireland  of  one  of 
its  most  distinguished  ornaments,  and  society  of  as  kind  and  true-hearted 
a man  as  ever  lived.” — p.  373. 


* The  species  is  Pagurus  Thompsoni,  dredged  at  50  fathoms,  entrance  of  Bel- 
fast Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Vide  Bell’s  “ History  of  British  Stalk-eyed  Crus- 
tacea.” 


CONTENTS 


Vertebrata  : 

PAGE 

Mammalia  ......  1 

Reptilia  ......  61 

Pisces  .......  69 

MOLLUSCA : 

Cephalopoda  ......  269 

Pteropoda  . . . . . 271 

Gasteropoda  . . . . . *271 

Brachiopoda  . . . . . . 331 

Lamellibranchiata  .....  332 

Tunicata  ......  359 

Articulata  : 

Insecta  ......  365 

Crustacea  .......  368 

Cirripeda  ......  414 

Annelida  . . . . . . 419 

Radiata  : 

Echinodermata  ......  436 

Acalepha  .....  . 446 

Zoophyta  . . . . . . .451 

Foraminifera  . . . . . . 477 

Amorphozoa  ......  480 


XXX11 


CONTENTS. 


APPENDIX. 

PAGE 

I.  Synonyms  of  Mollusca  . . ...  . 485 

II.  Additions  to  the  Fauna  of  Ireland  . . . 489 

III.  List  of  Mr.  Thompson’s  Publications  . . .491 

IV.  List  of  Species  named  after  the  late  Wm.  Thompson,  Esq.  494 

V.  Fishes  of  Lough  Neagh  and  Lake  Geneva  . . 494 


CLASS  MAMMALIA. 


SECTION  I.— MAMMALIA  TERRESTRIA. 


ORDER  I.— CHEIROPTERA. 

Family  Vespertilionidce. 

The  Common  Bat  or  Pipistrelle,  Vespertilio  Pipistrellus,  Geoff. 

This  is  the  common  bat  of  Ireland,  and  is  abundant  from  North  to 
South. 

I have  examined  specimens  from  all  quarters  of  the  island,  since  the 
publication  of  the  Rev.  L.  Jenyns’  paper,  in  the  16th  vol.  of  the  Linnsean 
Transactions,  on  the  subject  of  the  common  bat  of  Pennant. 

The  common  Irish  species  had  been  previously  considered  the  Vesper- 
tilio Murinus  of  Linnaeus,  and  of  recent  continental  authors.  It  is,  how- 
ever, the  V.  Pipistrellus , as  described  by  Mr.  Jenyns,  and  figured  by 
Geoffroy  in  the  Ann.  Mus.  d’  Hist.  Nat. ; and  is,  consequently,  identical 
with  the  common  bat  of  England. 

In  the  summer  evenings,  I have  more  than  once  stood  still  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  bat,  and  looked  with  much  interest  on  its  pursuit  of 
moths,  for  the  capture  of  which  it  is  so  admirably  fitted.  But  I have 
also  been  occasionally  surprised  at  the  length  of  time  required  to  effect 
the  seizure  of  a single  insect,  even  when  the  bat  was  apparently  using  its 
best  exertions  for  that  purpose. 

A female  of  this  species,  which  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman  retained  for  some 
weeks  in  captivity,  had,  when  taken  (in  the  month  of  July),  a young  one 
clinging  to  the  teat,  which  position  it  retained  until  its  death,  two  days 
afterwards.  Living  flies  or  moths,  when  put  into  the  cage,  were  seized 
by  the  parent  bat  with  her  mouth.  She  did  not  make  use  of  the  claws 
in  catching  or  holding  them.  After  seizing  such  food,  the  bat  bent  her 
head  downwards,  apparently  with  the  view  of  preventing  the  escape  of 
the  prey,  every  portion  of  which  was  eaten,  the  wings  not  excepted.  This 
captive  drank  plentifully  of  water,  offered  on  the  end  of  a feather,  and, 
when  catching  at  food,  made  a slight  screaming  noise.  After  being  ac- 
customed to  be  fed,  she  uttered  a kind  of  chirp,  when  expecting  anything. 
Scraps  of  raw  beef  or  mutton  were  eaten  readily,  if  quite  fresh  and  juicy, 
but  not  otherwise. 

B 


2 


VESPERTILIONIDAS. 


In  the  North  of  Ireland  this  species  is  seen  abroad  throughout  mild 
winters,  as  frequently  noted  in  my  journal,  from  which  the  following 
memoranda  are  extracted : — 

On  9th  December,  1832,  between  two  and  three  o’clock,  p.  m.,  the  day  being 
fine,  but  rather  dark  and  cloudy,  one  of  these  bats  flew  closely  past  me,  and  con- 
tinued within  view  for  a considerable  time,  during  which  it  was  pursued  by  a 
pair  of  wagtails  ( Motacilla  Yarrellii),  evidently  to  its  great  annoyance. 

On  the  3rd  and  21st  January,  1834,  I also  saw  two  others,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Belfast,  at  half-past  four  o’clock,  p.  m.  The  thermometer,  at  two  o’clock 
on  those  days,  respectively,  was  52°  and  51°  of  Fahrenheit. 

6th  December,  1850. — A bat  of  this  species  was  observed  flying  through  one 
of  the  streets  in  Belfast,  at  twelve  o’clock,  noon.  The  day  was  very  fine  and 
mild,  with  bright  sunshine. 

The  &eddish  Grey  Bat,  Vespertilio  Natter  eri,  Kuhl. 

An  individual  of  this  species  is  recorded  by  Mr.  F.  M‘Coy  as  having 
been  obtained  near  Dublin. — Vide  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xv.  p.  270. 

This  is  one  of  the  species  which  I thought  would  probably  be  added  to 
our  catalogue,  from  the  circumstance  of  my  having  found  a specimen 
among  the  ruins  of  Harlech  Castle,  Merionethshire,  as  noticed  in  the  Pro- 
ceedgs  Zool.  Soc.  1837.  It  had  previously  been  obtained  only  in  the 
East  and  South-East  of  England. 

Daubenton’s  Bat,  Vespertilio  Daubentonii,  Leisler, 

Is  only  known  as  Irish  from  a specimen  obtained  by  the  Ordnance  col- 
lectors, in  the  County  of  Londonderry.  The  species  was  determined  by 
Mr.  Jenyns. 

Long-Eared  Bat,  Plecotus  auritus , Geoff., 

Is  common  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the  island.  Specimens  from 
North,  East,  and  South  have  come  under  my  examination. 

Dr.  It.  Ball  considers  this  species  more  common  about  Youghal  than 
the  pipistrelle ; and  Mr.  T.  F.  Neligan  was  of  the  same  opinion  with  re- 
spect to  Kerry. 

When  the  roofs  of  old  houses  are  being  repaired  or  taken  down,  in  the 
North  of  Ireland,  numbers  of  these  bats  are  often  discovered.  The  pipis- 
trelle frequents  similar  places,  but  is  probably  less  gregarious,  as  I have 
not  known  it  to  be  found  so  plentifully  under  similar  circumstances, 
although  it  is  more  frequently  seen  flying  about.  The  roofs  of  houses 
have  been  referred  to,  by  some  writers,  as  being  uniformly  resorted  to  by 
the  long-eared  bat.  I have,  however,  known  several  of  this  species  to  be 
taken  from  the  crevices  of  an  old  stone  wall,  in  the  course  of  its  removal, 
although  many  houses  were  in  the  vicinity. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1833, 1 obtained,  from  an  aperture  in  the  roof 
of  an  uninhabited  house,  a long-eared  bat,  which  did  not  exhibit  any 
symptom  of  torpidity.  When  placed  in  a room  lighted  from  the  North, 
it  flew  to  the  top  of  the  cage  in  which  it  was  confined,  and  turning  its 
back  to  the  window,  clung  by  its  feet  to  one  of  the  wires,  with  the  head 
downwards  and  wings  approaching  each  other,  so  as  nearly  to  meet  in 
front.  Small  fragments  of  raw  meat,  when  offered  to  it,  were  invariably 
rejected  with  a scream,  and,  when  left  in  the  cage,  were  afterwards  found 
untouched.  This  bat  lived  but  a few  days,  and  after  death  retained  the 
same  position  in  its  cage  as  above  described. 


THE  HEDGEHOG. 


ORDER  II.— RESTED. 

( Ferae  Insectivorce.) 

The  Hedgehog,  Erinaceus  Europceus,  Linn., 

Is  found  in  suitable  localities  throughout  Ireland. 

With  respect  to  the  carnivorous  propensities  of  the  hedgehog,  the 
following  note  Was  communicated,  by  Mr.  R.  Davis,  jun.,  to  The  Zoologist 
for  1846  (p.  1293) : — 

“ Some  years  ago  I had  three  or  four  hedgehogs  which  I kept  in  a garden,  of 
which  they  had  the  range  ; in  the  same  garden  I also  had  several  rabbits.  After 
they  had  been  together  for  some  days,  I found  that  a rabbit  was  killed  every  night, 
the  remains  of  the  skin  and  the  bones  only  being  left.  This  I supposed  to  be 
done  by  my  neighbours’  cats,  and  prepared  to  wage  war  on  them  accordingly ; 
but,  to  my  surprise,  on  peeping  into  the  garden  one  morning,  I saw  a hedgehog 
busy  at  work,  with  his  nose  buried  in  the  fresh-cut  throat  of  an  expiring  rabbit : 
and,  from  further  observations,  I had  no  doubt  that  the  hedgehog  had  been  guilty 
of  all  the  murders.  All  the  hedgehogs  I have  had  seemed  to  become  “ pos- 
sessed,” and  died  in  that  state ; each  one,  about  three  days  before  its  death,  was 
seized  with  apparent  insanity,  and  continued  to  run  backwards  and  forwards  in 
a semicircular  path  it  had  beaten  in  the  grass  before  its  house  from  morning 
till  night,  and  probably  in  the  night  too  ; they  appeared  to  run  as  if  for  life,  and 
evidently  ran  the  life  out  of  themselves,  as,  after  about  three  days  of  it,  they  be- 
came exhausted  and  died,  though  previously  they  had  appeared  to  be  in  excel- 
lent health.” 

A writer  on  the  hedgehog,  in  The  Gardener s’  Chronicle  of  18th  July, 
1846  (p.  480),  states  that,  attracted  by  the  cries  of  a leveret,  he  hastened 
to  the  spot,  and  found  it  struggling  to  release  itself  from  the  jaws  of  a 
hedgehog.  Another  correspondent  to  the  same  number  of  that  periodical 
mentions  the  circumstance  of  one  of  these  animals  killing  and  eating  five 
young  chickens  in  the  course  of  a night.  Minute  particulars  are  given 
in  both  instances. 

An  article,  contributed  by  Dr.  R.  Ball,  to  The  Irish  Penny  Journal 
(1840-41),  contains  a very  full  account  of  the  habits  and  peculiarities  of 
the  hedgehog.  One  of  these  animals,  kept  in  confinement  by  that  gen- 
tleman, partook  of  a great  variety  of  food,  including  “ bread  and  milk, 
earth-worms,  frogs,  mice,  sparrows,  and  various  other  animal  matters.” 
Another  captive  of  the  same  species  was  supplied  by  Dr.  Ball  with 
whiskey  mixed  with  sugar,  in  expectation  that  this  regimen  would  have 
the  effect  of  taming  the  animal : — 

“ The  spirit  soon  showed  its  power,  and,  like  other  beasts  that  indulge  in  it, 
he  was  anything  but  himself ; and  his  lack-lustre  leaden  eye  was  rendered  still 
less  pleasing  by  its  inane,  drunken  expression.  He  staggered  towards  us  in  a 
ridiculous  get-out-of-my-way  sort  of  manner ; however,  he  had  not  gone  far  be- 
fore his  potation  produced  all  its  effects — he  tottered,  then  fell  on  his  side  ; he 
was  drunk  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word ; he  could  not  even  hold  by  the  ground. 
We  could  then  pull  him  about,  open  his  mouth,  twitch  his  whiskers,  &c. ; he 
was  unresisting.  There  was  a strange  expression  in  his  face  of  that  self-con- 
fidence which  we  see  in  cowards  when  inspired  by  drinking.  We  put  him  away, 
and  some  twelve  hours  afterwards  found  him  running  about,  and,  as  was  pre- 
dicted, quite  tame,  his  spines  lying  so  smoothly  and  regularly  that  he  could  be 
stroked  down  the  back  and  handled  freely.  We  turned  him  into  the  kitchen  to 
kill  the  cockroaches,  and  know  nothing  further  of  him.” 


4 


SORICID.E. 


The  Mole,  Talpa  Europcea,  Linn., 

Is  not  indigenous  to  Ireland. 

It  is  singular,  when  entering  Scotland  and  Wales,  at  the  nearest  ports 
to  Ireland,  to  see  mole-hills  in  both  those  countries,  almost  as  soon  as  we 
land.  They  are  very  numerous  along  the  coast  of  Ayrshire,  just  opposite 
Antrim ; and  I have  remarked  them  close  by  the  roadside  in  Anglesea, 
near  to  Holyhead,  which  I mention  on  account  of  the  western  position. 

12th  Dec.,  1838. — I examined  the  stomach  of  a mole,  and  found  it  en- 
tirely filled  with  earthworms.  One  or  two,  which  were  quite  perfect,  were 
of  the  short  thick  species,  with  the  yellow  band  round  the  body. 

At  Aberarder,  about  16  miles  from  the  town  of  Inverness,  I remarked 
burrows  of  the  mole. 

Shrew,  or  Shrew-mouse,  Sorex  rusticus,  Jenyns. 

This  is  the  common  shrew  of  Ireland,  from  North  to  South. 

My  descriptive  notes  on  the  species,  made  from  numerous  specimens, 
are  not  here  required,  as  Mr.  Jenyns  has  fully  treated  of  it  in  the  Ann. 
Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  423,  and  vol.  vii.  p.  263. 

All  the  shrews  from  different  localities  in  Antrim  and  Down — from  the 
Counties  of  Donegal,  Fermanagh,  and  Armagh,  and  from  Youghal,  County 
Cork,  which  have  come  under  my  examination  (with  the  exception  of 
one  specimen  of  the  Sorex  tetragonurus,  to  be  hereafter  noticed),  are  of 
this  species,  which  is  the  shrew-mouse  of  Ireland.  It  is  found  from  the 
low  grounds  to  lofty  mountain-tops,  where  these  are  clothed  with  verdure. 
Rutty  calls  it  the  Erdshrew  or  Grassmouse. 

The  Common  Shrew  (of  Great  Britain),  Sorex  tetragonurus, 

Herm. 

I have  seen  but  one  native  specimen  of  this  shrew,  which  was  procured 
by  the  Ordnance  collectors,  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway. 

In  the  soricidce , as  in  some  other  Mammalia,  we  find  a singular  differ- 
ence to  prevail  between  those  inhabiting  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  re- 
spectively, the  common  species  of  each  island  being  rare  in  the  other. 
As  Sorex  tetragonurus  is  the  common  one  in  Great  Britain,  so  is  Sorex 
rusticus  in  Ireland.  I have  found  the  S.  tetragonurus  dead  about  Leaming- 
ton, Warwickshire,  and  have  received  it  from  different  parts  of  Ayrshire. 
A specimen  from  the  latter  locality  differed  so  much  in  colour  from  others 
in  my  possession,  that  I was  disposed  to  believe  it  S.  castaneus,  Jenyns, 
Chari.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  3,  581 ; but,  indeed,  this  species  can  hardly  be 
considered  as  satisfactorily  established. — See  Annals,  vol.  vii.  p.  267. 

From  different  parts  of  Ayrshire  I have  received  specimens  of  Sorex 
fodiens,  along  with  the  S.  tetragonurus.  One  of  the  former  was  caught 
by  a cat,  and  brought  into  the  house,  where  it  came  under  my  notice  in  a 
recent  state. 

Its  stomach  was  filled  with  insects  and  their  larvae. 

Richard  Chute,  Esq.,  of  Blennerville,  County  Kerry,  informed  me  that 
he  caught,  on  the  mountain  above  that  village,  a beautiful  cream-coloured 
shrew-mouse,  in  the  summer  of  1840.  It  was  larger  than  the  common 
shrew,  and  he  felt  satisfied  (without  reference  to  colour)  that  it  was  of  a 
different  species.  The  specimen  was  not  preserved. 


THE  BADGER. 


5 


ORDER  III.— FERyE. 

The  Badger,  Meles  taxus , Flem., 

Still  maintains  its  ground  throughout  the  island,  perhaps  in  every 
county. 

Templeton  mentioned  it  as  “nearly  extinct” — a remark,  no  doubt, 
made  correctly  in  reference  to  certain  localities  where  he  had  previously 
known  it  to  occur.  But  I have  been  surprised  to  find  the  tenacity  with 
which  it  still  clings  to  old  haunts,  even  amidst  encroaching  cultivation, 
and  where  the  surrounding  districts  have  become  more  populous.  So  re- 
cently as  the  year  1844  I have  been  assured  of  the  existence  of  this  spe- 
cies within  four  miles  of  the  town  of  Belfast,  on  each  side  of  the  bay ; and 
in  the  year  1845  I saw  four  out  of  five  specimens  obtained  at  Florida,  in 
the  County  of  Down,  one  of  which  (an  old  female)  weighed  25  lbs. 

A sporting  friend  informs  me,  that  when  he  was  fox-hunting,  some 
years  ago,  at  Mountainstown  (County  Meath),  two  badgers  were  killed 
by  the  hounds,  in  a cover. 

With  reference  to  the  food  of  this  animal,  I may  mention  that  several 
of  my  correspondents  have  supplied  me  with  proofs  of  its  carnivorous 
propensities.  One  gentleman,  who  kept  a young  badger  in  confinement, 
reports  that  it  was  very  fond  of  rats,  mice,  and  birds,  and  that  it  devoured 
a pet  blackbird  which  he  highly  prized.  At  Tollymore  Park  (County  of 
Down),  and  Glenarm  Park  (County  of  Antrim),  w'here  badgers  are  numer- 
ous, they  are  sometimes  taken  in  traps  baited  with  rabbits ; and  I was 
informed  by  a gamekeeper,  at  the  latter  place,,  that  they  are  destructive 
to  young  rabbits  in  the  nest,  and,  in  such  cases,  do  not  make  use  of  the 
rabbits’  entrance,  but  delve  out  a circular  hole  immediately  above  the 
nest.  From  the  peculiar  foot-print  of  the  badgers,  always  to  be  seen 
about  these  holes,  he  knew  that  they  were  the  depredators. 

I have  also  heard  of  the  skulls  of  sheep  (supposed  to  have  perished  in 
the  mountains)  and  the  bones  of  birds  being  found  abundantly  in  rocky 
places  where  badgers  were  located,  and  where  foxes  did  not  exist. 

In  1848,  Dr.  Fleming  mentioned  to  me  that  a badger  which  he  kept 
was  omnivorous ; in  addition  to  other  luxuries,  it  sucked  eggs  and  ate 
young  birds.  An  experienced  gamekeeper  states,  as  the  result  of  his  ob- 
servation, that  this  species  lives  chiefly  on  insects  and  the  roots  of  plants, 
but  that  it  is  also  partial  to  the  refuse  of  foxes’  earths. 

A full  and  excellent  account  of  the  badger  will  be  found  in  St.  John’s 
Wild  Sports,  &c.,  chap.  xxxi. 

Pennant  remarks,  that  “ Naturalists  once  distinguished  the  badger  by 
the  name  of  the  swine-badger  and  the  dog-badger,  from  the  supposed  re- 
semblance of  their  heads  to  those  animals,  and  so  divided  them  into  two 
species ; but  the  most  accurate  observers  have  been  able  to  discover  only 
one  kind — that  whose  head  and  nose  resemble  those  of  the  dog.” 

Dr.  R.  Ball  informs  me,  that  in  some  parts  of  the  South  of  Ireland  the 
distinction  of  dog  and  pig  badger  is  still  retained. 

The  Otter,  Lutra  vulgaris,  Erxleb, 

Is  still  found  in  such  localities  throughout  Ireland  and  along  the  coasts 
as  it  can  inhabit,  in  spite  of  man. 

These  retreats  are  so  numerous  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  de- 
tail. Sea-caves  and  holes  among  the  rocks  are  resorted  to  by  the  otter, 
along  the  northern  coast,  where  there  is  no  river  in  the  neighbourhood  ; 


6 


FELIDJE. 


and  some  of  my  southern  correspondents  have  made  the  same  observation, 
in  reference  to  their  districts.  A gentleman  residing  in  an  inland  situ- 
ation considers  that  the  species  is  there  on  the  increase,  in  consequence 
of  the  measures  now  adopted  to  preserve  the  fish  in  rivers,  and  also  owing 
to  the  withdrawal  of  rewards  for  otters’  heads. 

The  size  and  weight  of  the  individuals  that  have  come  under  my  own 
inspection,  in  a recent  state,  varied  much.  The  largest  one  was  a male, 
killed  in  October,  1847,  near  Drumbridge,  on  the  river  Lagan,  a few 
miles  from  Belfast,  and  which  is  preserved  in  the  Belfast  Museum.  Its 
dimensions  were : — 

Feet.  'Inches. 

Length  of  head  and  body  . . .27 

— of  the  head  . . . 0 5|- 

— of  the  tail  ....  1 6^ 

Girth  at  chest 1 6| 

— at  belly 18 

Weight,  21  lbs.  Several  others  have  been  killed  near  the  same  locality. 

Mr.  Ogilby  was  at  one  time  of  opinion  that  the  Irish  otter  was  spe- 
cifically distinct  from  the  English,  and  he  named  the  former,  provision- 
ally, Lutra  Roensis. — See  Zool.  Proc.  for  1834  (page  111).  He  does  not, 
however,  now  consider  them  distinct. 

In  1845  I compared  specimens  from  Annan  with  Irish  otters  sent  to 
Sir  William  Jardine  from  Limerick,  and  found  them  to  differ  in  the 
larger  size  of  the  skull  of  the  latter  and  its  proportions ; but  in  no  ex- 
ternal characters  was  there  any  marked  difference.  Dr.  It.  Ball,  who 
states  that  otters  are  very  numerous  in  the  South  of  Ireland,  supplied  me 
with  the  following  note,  in  September,  1836  : — I saw  Lutra  Roensis  in 
the  Zoological  Museum,  London.  I have  never  seen  an  Irish  otter  that 
was  not  like  it,  nor  did  I ever  see  one  like  the  specimen  placed  beside  it, 
marked  as  the  common  otter,  so  that  I am  inclined  to  think  we  have  not 
the  variety  (it  does  not  seem  more)  common  in  England,  and  perhaps 
they  have  not  ours.”  The  same  gentleman  also  remarks,  that  French 
otters  differ  more  from  English  than  the  latter  do  from  Irish  ones.  In 
April,  1850,  Mr.  Robert  Langtry  obtained  a white  otter  at  Islay,  which 
he  caused  to  be  preserved,  and  sent  for  safe  keeping  to  the  Belfast  Mu- 
seum, where  it  yet  remains.  There  is  not  a coloured  spot  on  any  part  of 
this  specimen.  The  stomach  of  a female,  which  was  sent  to  a taxidernist 
in  Belfast,  contained  several  full-grown  specimens  of  the  three-spined 
stickle-back,  and  these  only. 

When  at  Florence  Court,  in  1840,  I was  informed  that  Lord  Belmore 
had,  for  a long  time,  a tame  otter,  which  was  trained  to  catch  fish.  It  did 
not  invariably  bring  them  to  its  master’s  feet,  although  it  played  its  part 
in  this  respect  very  well. 

Newspaper  paragraphs  announcing  the  destruction  of  otters  in  various 
parts  of  Ireland  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Mr.  St.  John,  in  his  Wild  Sports,  &c.  (chap,  xii.),  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  the  otter. 

The  Weasel,  Mustela  vulgaris , Linn. 

I have  never  met  with  this  animal  in  Ireland,  nor  do  I consider  that  the 
species  has  yet  been  satisfactorily  proved  to  be  native,  although  it  may 
be  so.  The  stoat,  which  passes  under  the  name  of  weasel  in  this  country, 
is  common  throughout  the  island ; and  from  the  circumstance  of  Temple- 
ton having  noted  the  weasel  as  “ common,”  and  the  stoat  as  “ rare,”  I am 


THE  STOAT. 


led  to  believe  that  by  weasel  he  meant  stoat.  Macgillivray  tells  us  (Brit. 
Quad.  p.  164)  that  the  weasel  “ is  generally  distributed  in  Ireland,”  but 
no  authority  is  given.  Mr.  J.  Y.  Stewart  notes  both  the  weasel  and  stoat 
as  occurring  in  County  Donegal ; and  two  skins  of  the  true  weasel  were 
given  to  me,  in  1842,  which  were  said  to  have  been  obtained  at  Tor  Head 
(County  Antrim).  Information  from  Tipperary  and  Kerry  is  in  favour  of 
its  being  found  there,  but  no  proof  has  been  afforded ; and  correspond- 
ents in  various  localities,  to  whom  the  species  is  known  as  distinct  from 
the  stoat,  are  of  opinion  that  the  former  is  not  indigenous  to  Ireland.  It 
is,  I understand,  common  in  some  of  the  counties  of  Scotland  which  lie 
nearest  to  Ireland.  Both  the  weasel  and  stoat  are,  according  to  my 
friend  Mr.  Robert  Langtry,  found  at  Dunskey,  Wigtonshire.  The  agent 
there  told  Mr.  L.  that,  seeing  a weasel  ( Mustela  vulgaris)  in  pursuit  of  a 
rabbit,  he  sat  down  and  watched  the  issue.  The  rabbit  had  superior 
speed,  but  the  enemy  followed  by  scent ; and  after  dislodging  it  several 
times  from  burrows,  eventually  killed  it. 

The  Stoat  (commonly  called  Weasel  in  Ireland), 

Mustela  Erminea,  Linn., 

Is  abundant  throughout  Ireland. 

It  varies  considerably  in  size,  but  is  generally  about  10  inches  long  in 
head  and  body ; tail  (to  tip  of  hair),  5^  to  5f  inches.  Macgillivray  (Brit. 
Quad.  p.  156)  enters  particularly  into  the  question  of  the  difference  of  size 
in  the  stoat.  He  believes  them  all  to  be  of  one  species. 

Common  as  this  animal  is  in  Ireland,  I have  never  seen  or  heard  of  a 
white  one  being  taken  in  winter.  Towards  the  end  of  our  most  severe 
winters  in  the  north,  I never  saw  any  change  of  fur  in  these  animals. 
Yet  in  the  part  of  Scotland  nearest  to  Ireland,  where  the  difference  of 
climate  from  that  of  the  opposite  coast  must  be  most  trivial,  the  stoat 
becomes  white  every  winter ; and  even  southwards,  to  Cornwall,  in  Eng- 
land, it  is  occasionally  seen  in  this  attire  (Couch,  in  Bell’s  Brit.  Quad.  p. 
151).  On  24th  March,  1838,  I watched  a stoat  for  a long  time  near  Bel- 
fast. It  had  not  a white  spot  upon  it,  though  the  winter  had  been  re- 
markably severe. 

A friend,  who  has  occasionally  resided  at  shooting  quarters  in  Scotland, 
informed  me,  on  9th  December,  1838,  that  a few  days  previously  he  saw 
two  stoats,  which  had  been  killed  at  Glenappe  (Ayrshire),  and  which 
were  nearly  all  white.  There  had  been  scarcely  any  frost  or  snow  during 
the  winter. 

The  same  gentleman  also  saw  three  of  these  animals  taken  in  the  early 
part  of  January,  1839,  near  Ballintrae,  all  of  which  were  pure  white,  with 
the  exception  of  the  tips  of  their  tails,  and  some  portions  of  the  face 
Although  a veteran  sportsman,  he  had  never  seen  one  even  approaching 
to  white  in  Ireland.  On  27th  January,  1846,  a stoat,  killed  in  Wigton- 
shire, was  brought  for  my  inspection.  It  was  wholly  white,  except  a 
patch  of  brown  on  each  side  of  the  face,  and,  of  course,  the  lower  half  of 
the  tail,  which  was  black.  The  winter  had  been  remarkably  mild,  with 
no  frost  or  snow,  although  there  was  abundance  of  rain  and  storm. 

The  gamekeeper  at  Tollymore  Park  (County  Down)  informed  me,  in 
June,  1838,  that  he  had  on  two  occasions  seen  nests  of  this  species.  In 
one  were  about  a dozen  mice — a young  rabbit  and  a young  hare — also 
all  the  feathers  and  tail  of  a young  woodcock.  In  the  other  he  found 
six  or  seven  mice,  in  addition  to  other  things.  They  were  packed  regu- 
larly on  the  top  of  each  other — “ all  laid  the  one  way  ” — in  beautiful  ar- 


8 


FELLDiE. 


rangement.  In  both  instances  the  quarry  were  all  dead.  This  is  contrary 
to  the  views  of  a writer  in  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History. 

In  proof  of  the  swimming  powers  of  the  stoat,  I may  mention  an  anec- 
dote which  I have  learned  from  a trustworthy  source : — A respectable 
farmer,  when  crossing  in  his  boat  over  an  arm  of  the  sea,  about  one  mile 
in  breadth,  which  separates  a portion  of  Islandmagee  (a  peninsula  near 
Larne,  County  Antrim)  from  the  mainland,  observed  a ripple  proceeding 
from  some  animal  in  the  water;  and,  on  rowing  up,  found  that  it  was  a 
“ weasel,”  which,  he  had  no  doubt,  was  swimming  for  Islandmagee,  as  he 
had  seen  it  going  in  a direct  line  from  the  shore  ; and  it  had  reached  the 
distance  of  a quarter  of  a mile,  when  overtaken.  The  poor  animal  was 
cruelly  killed,  though  its  gallant  swimming  might  have  pleaded  in  favour 
of  its  life. 

I have  seen  the  stoat  scampering  over  a very  uneven  wall  of  loose 
stones  almost  as  rapidly  as  on  level  ground,  and  have  admired  its  ex- 
tremely graceful  movements.  That  its  agility  renders  it  a dangerous 
enemy  to  the  feathered  tribes  appears  from  the  following  note : — On  2nd 
September,  1851,  the  gamekeeper  at  Tollymore  Park  (County  Down) 
showed  me  a Portugal  laurel,  bordering  on  a walk  in  the  pleasure-ground, 
near  the  house,  on  the  exposed  side  of  which  he  was  attracted,  some  years 
ago,  by  the  loud  cries  of  a song-thrush ; and,  on  going  near  the  scene,  he 
saw  a stoat  descending  the  tree  with  a young  bird.  He  instantly  shot  the 
depredator ; and,  on  examining  the  nest,  found  that  the  stoat  had  killed 
a couple  of  the  young,  and  partly  demolished  the  nest.  Two  other  young 
ones  were,  however,  still  safe,  and  he  had  no  doubt  that  they  were  brought 
to  full  maturity  by  their  parents.  The  site  of  the  nest — about  eight  feet 
from  the  ground — was  pointed  out  to  me. 

In  July,  1850,  a cat  was  observed,  at  Holywood  House,  in  the  County 
of  Down,  in  the  act  of  killing  a full-grown  stoat,  which  she  brought  to 
her  kittens  : they  ate  freely  of  it. 

In  1845  a stoat  was  brought  to  Mr.  Davis  of  Clonmel,  which  he  gave 
to  a friend,  in  whose  house  it  became  quite  domesticated,  and  was  greatly 
admired  for  the  extreme  lightness  and  elegance  of  its  movements,  and 
also  for  its  ceaseless  activity.  At  first  it  was  kept  in  a cage,  whence  it 
escaped,  and  murdered  a jay  in  the  same  room  ; after  this  it  was  not  con- 
fined, but  ranged  at  will  through  a large  shop,  a cellar,  and  two  ware- 
rooms,  and  never  evinced  any  wish  to  leave  them.  Here  it  became  quite 
tame,  and  obviously  preferred  some  members  of  the  family  to  others.  Its 
frolics  in  the  shop  were  very  amusing.  Sometimes  it  would  scamper 
along  the  counter ; at  others,  run  up  a lady’s  back  until  it  reached  her 
bonnet ; but  its  greatest  delight  seemed  to  be  giving  battle  to  two  old 
stuffed  magpies,  twining  round  their  necks,  pulling  out  their  feathers,  and 
occasionally  tumbling  with  one  from  the  shelf  on  which  they  were  kept. 
It  was  fed  for  several  months  on  bread  and  milk  varied  with  fleshmeat ; 
its  teeth  had  been  purposely  broken,  and  consequently  it  was  not  well 
able  to  kill  mice. 

Polecat,  Mustela  putorius,  Linn. 

The  polecat  is  not  positively  known  as  an  Irish  species  to  any  natural- 
ist, gamekeeper,  or  other  person  familiar  with  it,  whom  I have  question- 
ed on  the  subject. 

It  is  said  to  inhabit  the  wild  woods  of  Kerry ; and  I have  received 
notes  of  the  capture,  in  several  other  counties,  of  animals  supposed  to  be 
of  this  species,  but  their  identity  has  not  been  satisfactorily  proved.  Two 


THE  MARTEN. 


9 


which  were  killed  many  years  ago  at  Rosemount,  Greyabbey  (County 
Down),  seem,  from  accurate  description,  to  have  been  polecats. 

As  regards  their  distribution  in  Scotland,  I may  add  that  on  oth  Sep- 
tember, 1839,  I saw  several  which  were  taken  at  Ballantrae ; and  in 
1842  I was  credibly  informed  that  they  were  killed  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Loch  Cor. 


The  Common,  or  Beech,  Marten,  Martes  fuina,  Bell. 

The  Pine  Marten,  Martes  abietum , Ray. 

The  marten  is  found  over  the  island,  in  suitable  localities. 

All  the  native  specimens  which  have  come  under  my  own  notice  were 
yellow-breasted  ( Martes  abietum ),  with  the  exception  of  one,  which  had 
the  breast  white  [M.  foina),  and  was  killed  in  the  County  of  Antrim. 
The  difference  of  colour  attributed  to  these  animals  appears  to  me  of  no 
value  as  a specific  character,  as  in  course  of  shedding  their  fur  they  be- 
come parti-coloured,  the  breast  as  well  as  the  body  presenting,  at  the  same 
time,  the.  colours  of  the  beech  and  the  pine  marten.  Mr.  Eyton  has  pub- 
lished, in  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  (Dec.,  1840 — p.  290),  some  valuable 
remarks  on  the  Brit^h  martens,  tending  to  prove  that  they  are,  in  reality, 
of  but  one  species.  He  states  that  the  young  animal  has  the  yellow 
breast  attributed  to  the  pine  marten ; and  the  adult,  the  white  breast 
of  the  common  “ species.”  I had  also,  long  since,  remarked  that  the  yel- 
low colour  of  the  breast  gave  place  to  white.  This  view  would  satisfac- 
torily explain  why  the  yellow-breasted  one  (M.  abietum ) should  appear  to 
be  the  more  common  with  us,  as  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  animals 
that  fall  victims  to  man  are  those  which  have  not  arrived  at  full  maturity. 

As  martens  may  be  expected  to  become  gradually  more  scarce  with  the 
improvement  of  the  country,  I shall  notice  the  localities  in  which  I have 
had  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  occurrence  — well-wooded  demesnes 
chiefly — but  it  is  probable  that  every  county  in  Ireland  possesses  this 
animal. 

In  the  following  notes,  it  is  generally  uncertain  which  of  the  species  or 
varieties  is  meant : — 


County 


of  Donegal  . . . . J.  V.  Stewart,  Esq.,  notes  the  yellow-breasted 

marten  in  his  catalogue  of  the  mammalia  of 
this  county. 

Londonderry  . . Castledawson,  and  near  Toome  Bridge. 

Antrim Glenarm  Park;  Glenariff;  Shane’s  Castle 


Park  ; vicinity  of  Larne  ; Tullamore  Lodge ; 
Castle  Dobbs  ; and  Malone  House,  within 
4 miles  of  Belfast.  A pair  of  martens  were 
discovered,  some  years  ago,  in  possession  of 
a magpie’s  nest  at  the  place  last  named. 

Down Hillsborough  Park ; Tollymore  Park ; Donard 

Lodge  ; and  Belvoir  Park,  where  a marten 
inflicted  a severe  bite  on  the  hand  of  a boy 
who  unexpectedly  found  it  in  a magpie’s 
nest  which  he  intended  to  rob. 

Armagh  ....  Lord  Gosford’s  demesne ; Tandragee  and 
Churchhill. 

Fermanagh  . . . Florence  Court. 

Longford  ....  Carrickglass. 

Galway  ....  Connemara. 

Tipperary  ....  Woods  about  Clonmel. 


10 


FELIDAE. 


County  of  Cork Youghal  (Dr.  R.  Ball) ; Barry’s  Court ; woods 

near  Bandon ; Dunmanaway,  &c.  (Dr. 
Harvey  in  Cork  Fauna.) 

— Kerry  ....  Common  in  this  county,  especially  at  the  Lakes 
of  Killarney. 

“ In  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  we  find  the  Lord-deputy  Strafford  writing  from 
Dublin  to  Laud,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  regarding  some  martens’  skins: — 
‘ Before  Christmas  your  Lordship  shall  have  all  the  marten  skins  I can  get,  either 
for  love  or  money ; yet  not  to  the  number  I intended.’  ...  4 As  the  woods  do 
decay,  so  do  the  hawks  and  martens  of  this  kingdom.’  ...  4 A good  one  of 
them  is  as  much  worth  as  a wether.’  ” * 

The  following  anecdote  was  communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  Edward  Benn, 
in  September,  1840 : — A shoemaker  at  Cushendall  got  a young  marten, 
which  he  partially  tamed  until  it  grew  up.  It  then  fled  from  him,  but 
afterwards  returned  to  the  house  in  the  evenings,  and  concealed  itself,  in 
order  to  catch  the  fowls  which  the  cottagers  were  in  the  habit  of  housing 
at  night.  The  culprit  was  caught  by  a man  under  his  bed,  but  again 
made  its  escape,  and,  having  become  very  troublesome,  it  was  ultimately 
killed.  The  same  gentleman  informed  me  that  in  Glenariff  the  marten 
is  supposed  to  eat  nuts,  cracking  them  on  the  tree,  ’Ifnd  leaving  a part  of 
the  shell  behind,  and  that  he  had  known  an  instance  of  an  imprisoned 
marten  gnawing  a hole  through  a shop-door  in  Hercules  Street,  Belfast, 
and  thus  obtaining  its  liberty.  Mr.  Wm.  Berry,  formerly  gamekeeper  at 
Donard  Lodge,  informed  me,  in  August,  1851,  that,  within  his  recollec- 
tion, a farmer  in  that  neighbourhood  had  fourteen  out  of  twenty-one 
lambs  killed  in  one  night,  and  that  the  destroyers  had  contented  them- 
selves with  sucking  the  blood  of  their  victims.  On  the  following  night 
the  remaining  seven  were  similarly  treated,  and  a couple  of  martens  were 
seen  taking  their  departure  from  the  scene  of  devastation.  Their  domicile 
was  soon  afterwards  found  in  a magpie’s  nest,  at  Tollymore  Park. 

Dr.  Scouler  has  brought  together  the  following  notes  upon  this  and  the 
allied  species,  in  the  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  of  Dublin 
(1837) : — - 

“ Martens. — Under  this  head  I shall  include  the  different  vermiform  carnivorae, 
which  are  natives  of  Ireland.  It  appears  that  Ireland  still  possesses  all  the  spe- 
cies of  this  group,  which  are  natives  of  England,  and,  consequently,  that  none  of 
them  has  been  extirpated ; but  they  are  now  much  less  abundant  than  formerly, 
as  will  appear  from  the  following  quotations : — Even  so  late  as  the  sixteenth 
century,  martens’  skins  appear  to  have  been  an  article  of  commerce  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Ulster.  Peter  Lombard,  in  his  work  entitled  De  Regno  Hibernice  Insula 
Sanctorum , after  mentioning  the  wild  boar  and  the  wolf  as  common  in  Ulster, 
has  the  following  observations  : — 4 Praecipue  martes,  quorum  pelles  plurimum 
estimantur , et  in  universum  in  animalium  magna  pars  est  sita  devetiarum  hujus 
regionis.’  f At  a subsequent  period,  when  the  forest  begun  to  be  cut  down,  and 
agriculture  was  more  attended  to,  the  marten  tribe  was  regarded  as  vermin,  and 
various  laws  were  enacted  to  encourage  their  destruction.” 

We  require  proof  of  our  possessing  all  the  English  species.  [Vide  the 
foregoing  observations  on  the  polecat  and  weasel.] 

In  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  iv.  p.  139,  will  be  found  a 44  notice  of 
an  uncommonly  tame  and  sensible  pine  marten  ; ” and  the  species  is  well 
described  in  the  44  Journal  of  a Naturalist,”  p.  129. 


'*  Larne  Literary  and  Agricultural  Journal  for  February,  1839. 
f Peter  Lombard  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1560 ; died  at  Rome,  1625. 


THE  WILD  CAT. 


11 


The  Wild  Cat,  Fells  catus,  Linn., 

Cannot  be  given  with  certainty  as  a native  animal. 

I have  received  communications  from  correspondents  mentioning  the 
existence  and  occasional  capture  of  wild  cats,  in  various  parts  of  Ireland, 
but  I do  not  consider  that  we  have  yet  sufficient  data  for  including  Felis 
catus  in  the  Irish  catalogue.  As  remarked  by  Bell,  in  his  “ History  of 
British  Quadrupeds,”  p.  179, — “In  stating  the  localities  and  estimating 
the  numbers  of  this  species,  it  is  necessary  to  guard  against  confounding 
with  it  the  numerous  instances  of  escaped  domestic  cats  returning  to  a 
state  of  almost  absolute  wildness,  breeding  in  the  woods,  and  feeding  on 
birds  and  small  quadrupeds.  These,  though  far  less  powerful  than  the 
true  wild  cat,  are  very  destructive  to  game  of  every  description,  and,  still 
retaining  some  traces  of  their  old  domesticity,  they  often  revisit  the  farm- 
yard and  carry  off  the  poultry.”  In  reference  to  the  same  subject,  A.  E. 
Knox,  Esq.,  in  his  work  entitled  “ Game  Birds  and  Wild  Fowl ; their 
Friends  and  their  Foes,”  adds : — “ Gamekeepers  need  not  be  told  that  a 
more  incorrigible  poacher  does  not  exist  than  a common  cat  which  has 
been  bred  in  the  woods,  or  which,  although  originally  an  efficient  mouser 
and  a useful  occupant  of  the  barn,  has  gradually  acquired  the  habits  of  a 
vagrant.  The  strength  and  size  which  a male  cat  will  sometimes  attain, 
under  such  circumstances,  is  extraordinary,  although  he  never  arrives  at 
the  proportions  of  his  irreclaimable  congener.” 

The  following  memoranda  will  put  the  reader  in  possession  of  the  prin- 
cipal evidence  which  has  come  under  my  observation  in  favour  of  the  ex- 
istence of  the  true  wild  cat  in  Ireland  : — 

In  Bell’s  “ British  Quadrupeds,”  above  quoted,  it  is  stated,  in  reference 
to  the  distribution  of  this  species  over  the  British  Islands,  that  it  “ is  now 
almost  entirely  restricted  to  Scotland,  some  of  the  woods  in  the  North  of 
England,  the  woody  mountains  of  Wales,  and  some  parts  of  Ireland”  No 
further  particulars  as  to  localities  are  given. 

Sir  Wm.  Jardine  informed  me,  by  letter  dated  23rd  October,  1837,  that 
the  wild  cat  is  found  in  Erris  (Co.  Mayo),  and  that  a specimen  obtained 
there,  within  a few  years  previously,  was  then  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  St. 
Clair  O’Malley,  Lord  Lucan’s  agent.  This  information  was  derived  from 
Sir  William’s  brother,  when  stationed  with  his  regiment  in  the  West  of 
Ireland. 

The  author  of  “ Wild  Sports  of  the  West  ” (letter  33)  describes  wild  cats 
as  killed  in  Erris,  and  properly  distinguishes  them  from  tame  cats  run  wild. 

A.  E.  Knox,  Esq.,  in  his  work  already  quoted,  says  (p.  253), — “Al- 
though comparatively  rare  in  Ireland,  the  species  still  exists  among  some 
of  the  mountains  of  Connaught.”  I have  since  learned  from  that  gentle- 
man that  Maxwell’s  “Wild  Sports  of  the  West”  was  his  authority. 

J.  V.  Stewart,  Esq.,  has  included  the  wild  cat  in  his  catalogue  of  the 
mammalia  of  Donegal. 

Mr.  W.  Andrews  stated,  in  1842,  that  in  the  glens  of  Caragh  (Co.  Kerry) 
it  is  known  to  the  peasantry,  who  call  it  by  an  Irish  name,  signifying 
11  hunting  cat.” — (See  Saunders'  Newsletter , Dec.,  1842.)  Mr.  14.  Chute, 
of  Blennerville,  in  that  county,  was  not,  however,  aware  of  the  existence 
of  this  animal  in  1846,  although  he  had  no  doubt  that  it  “was  a native 
at  one  time,  particularly  about  Caragh  Lake.” 

In  the  “Larne  Journal,”  Feb.,  1839,  p.  29,  it  is  stated  that  “the  wild 
cat  is  found  in  Tollymore  Park,  near  Sleive  Donard,  and  is  also  said  to 
frequent  the  caves  on  the  shore  at  Ballintoy ; ” but,  on  questioning  Mr. 


12 


FELID2E. 


Creighton,  Lord  Roden’s  gamekeeper  at  the  former  locality,  he  informed 
me  that  he  had  never  seen  this  species  in  Ireland. 

The  largest  cat  I ever  saw  (it  weighed  10  lbs.  9 oz.)  was  shot  in  a wild 
state,  at  Shane’s  Castle  Park  (Co.  Antrim),  in  Dec.,  1847,  and  sent  to 
Belfast  for  the  purpose  of  being  preserved.  This  specimen  was  Felis 
catus  in  everything  but  the  form  of  the  tail,  which  was  not  bushy  at  the 
end,  and  in  the  fur  being  finer  in  texture.  It  was  as  strong  in  every  re- 
spect as  that  animal,  but  of  a lighter  grey  colour  than  a F.  catus  from 
Invernesshire,  with  which  it  was  compared.  Throughout  the  entire  body, 
legs,  and  tail,  it  had  all  the  black  markings  of  the  true  wild  cat.  The 
animal  appeared  to  be  a genuine  hybrid  between  Felis  catus  and  the 
domestic  cat. 

My  relative  Robert  Langtry,  Esq.,  on  returning  to  Belfast  from  Aber- 
arder,  Invernesshire,  in  the  middle  of  October,  1842,  brought  me  two 
wild  cats  ( Felis  catus),  an  old  and  a young  animal,  which  had  been  killed 
a few  days  previously.  The  story  of  their  capture  is  as  follows : Mac- 
gregor,  one  of  his  keepers,  observed  a great  quantity  of  the  feathers  and 
other  remains  of  many  grouse  about  a “ water-break  ” in  his  beat,  and  five 
of  these  birds,  in  excellent  condition,  just  killed,  and  wanting  the  head 
and  neck,  but  otherwise  quite  uninjured,  so  that  they  were  taken  to  his 
master  and  served  up  at  table.  Suspecting  that  wild  cats  were  the  cul- 
prits, he  set  traps  for  them,  and  caught  these  two.  He  expected  to  cap- 
ture two  or  three  more,  as  the  young  generally  keep  with  their  parents. 
It  was  supposed  that  the  wild  cats  would  not  have  made  any  further  use 
of  the  grouse  off  which  they  had  taken  the  heads.  These  had  probably 
been  eaten. 

The  Fox,  Vulpes  vulgaris,  Briss. 

The  fox,  like  the  otter,  is  still  found  in  suitable  localities  throughout 
the  island,  wherever  it  can  remain  in  spite  of  man.  In  many  parts  of  the 
country  this  species  is  abundant,  but  in  no  district  of  which  I am  aware 
have  so  many  been  taken  as  on  the  mountains  in  the  south  of  the  County 
of  Down.  The  keeper  at  Tollymore  Park,  situated  in  this  district,  in- 
formed me,  in  August,  1851,  that,  since  he  came  there,  in  1827,  he  had 
killed  upwards  of  400  foxes  in  the  neighbourhood.  A little  dog  (the 
stuffed  remains  of  which  he  still  possesses)  was  at  the  death  of  131  in  the 
space  of  six  or  seven  years.  The  poor  dog  was  drowned  when  crossing 
the  river  in  the  park,  during  a great  flood. 

When  visiting  Dunfanaghy,  and  the  neighbouring  mountains  of  Done- 
gal, on  27th  June,  1852,  a fox-earth,  said  to  contain  two  old  and  five 
young  ones,  and  situated  above  a small  lake  at  the  base  of  Rosheen,  was 
pointed  out  to  me.  Two  cubs,  almost  full-grown,  were  out  sporting  them- 
selves, and  I lay  for  a long  time,  at  the  distance  of  seventy  or  eighty 
yards,  observing  their  gambols.  They  were  playful  as  young  kittens,  and 
very  graceful  in  their  movements.  At  first  they  amused  themselves  about 
the  mouth  of  the  earth,  but  afterwards  went  quite  away  from  it.  A little 
further  on  I saw  an  old  fox. 

Professor  Stevelly  informed  me,  in  September,  1851,  that  he  frequently 
saw,  at  Col.  Hodder’s,  Hoddersfield  (Co.  Cork),  between  the  years  1815 
and  1819,  a pet  fox,  which  was  regularly  fed  with  the  fox-hounds,  and 
went  out  pretty  constantly  with  them  in  pursuit  of  wild  foxes,  taking  as 
much  pleasure  in  the  sport  as  the  hounds  did.  This  fox  frequently  went 
away  for  upwards  of  a week  at  a time,  but  always  returned  of  his  own 
accord  back  to  Hoddersfield. 


THE  WATER  VOLE. 


13 


OKDEB  IV.—GLIBES. 

Genus  Arvicola. 

Of  this  genus  we  know  nothing  as  Irish,  and  this  is  not  to  be  regretted, 
though  they  do  not  intrude  upon  the  dwellings  of  man,  like  the  species 
of  the  genus  Mus. 

Four  species  of  the  Arvicolce  are  found  in  Great  Britain,  viz. — 

The  Water  Vole,  Arvicola  amphibius,  Desm., 

Said  to  be  found  there  pretty  generally.  I have  remarked  it  to  be  very  common 
about  Leamington,  in  Warwickshire,  on  the  banks  of  the  Learn  and  the  canals. 
The  black  variety  (A.  ater,  Macgillivray)  taken  at  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  was 
sent  to  me  by  my  friend  John  Sinclaire,  Esq.,  in  August,  1842.  It  was  found 
dead  on  the  highway ; and  another  was  taken  about  the  same  time  in  a mole- 
trap — contents  of  stomach,  vegetable  matter  only.  From  the  last-named  local- 
ity Mr.  Sinclaire  also  sent  me  the  ordinary  animal,  which  is  much  more  com- 
mon. I make  this  observation  in  consequence  of  the  remark  of  Mr.  Macgillivray, 
that,  in  some  of  the  more  northern  counties  of  Scotland,  the  black  variety  takes 
the  place  of  the  other. 

J.  V.  Stewart,  Esq.,  gives  this  species  in  his  catalogue  of  the  mammalia  of 
the  County  of  Donegal ; but,  in  my  opinion,  erroneously. 

The  Field  Vole,  Arvicola  agrestis,  Brit.  Authors, 

I have  found  dead  on  roads  in  the  north  and  south  of  England — about  Newcas- 
tle-upon-Tyne, and  in  the  Isle  of  Wight.  It  has,  in  some  seasons,  proved  ex- 
tremely destructive  in  England. 

The  Bank  Vole,  Arvicola  pratensis,  Baillon. — A.  riparia,  Yarrell. 

[See  observations  on  this  species,  in  Chari.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  p.  585; 
and  in  Ann.  Nat.  Hist,  vol.  vii.  pp.  274  and  276.] 

Arvicola  neglecta , Thomp. 

I had  the  pleasure  of  adding  this  species  to  the  list  of  British  animals. 

My  notes  on  the  species  were  communicated  to  the  Rev.  Leonard  Jenyns, 
and  published  in  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vii.  p.  270  (1841). 

So  early  as  October,  1829,  my  relative  Robert  Langtry,  Esq.,  called  my  at- 
tention to  this  species  in  his  shooting  quarters,  around  Megarnje  Castle  (Perth- 
shire) ; but,  as  I had  not  then  studied  the  mammalia,  specimens  of  it  were  not 
preserved.  The  same  gentleman,  being  some  years  afterwards  requested  to  look 
out  for  and  preserve  any  of  these  animals  that  might  occur  to  him,  found  the 
species  on  his  moor  at  Aberarder,  in  the  north  of  Invernesshire ; and,  on  his  re- 
turn thence,  in  1838,  brought  me  a specimen.  A few  others  were  seen,  but 
were  destroyed  by  the  dogs ; and  in  the  following  year  he  supplied  me  with  a 
dozen  of  them,  of  various  sizes,  from  that  locality.  They  are,  however,  by  no 
means  numerous. 

To  my  notes,  published  by  Mr.  Jenyns,  I would  only  add,  that  the  upper 
incisor  teeth  in  adult  males  and  females  were  one  line  and  half  long — lower 
incisors,  two  lines  and  a quarter. 

In  February,  1846,  Mr.  Langtry  informed  me  that  the  first  individuals  of  this 
species  which  he  saw  were  found  in  the  room  where  the  dead  game  was  kept, 
in  Megamie,  and  one  or  two  were  found  dead  about  the  door  of  the  castle. 

I am  not  aware  of  any  British  specimens  of  this  animal  having  been  noticed 
excepting  the  above ; and,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  being  overlooked,  the 
name  of  Neglecta  was  given  to  the  species — a name  which  Prince  Buonaparte 
does  not  seem  to  approve  of ; * but  which  appears  to  me  not  only  unobjection- 
able, but  good,  as  indicating  a fact  in  connexion  with  the  species. 


* Reports  on  the  Progress  of  Zoology  and  Botany. — Ray  Soc.,  1841-42. 


14 


MURIDvE. 


The  Arvicola  neglecta  is  believed  by  M.  de  Selys-Longchamps  to  be  the  Mus 
agrestis  of  Linnaeus,  a species  found  in  Sweden. 

The  Squirrel,  Sciurus  vulgaris,  Linn. 

Rutty  remarks  that  the  squirrel  is  “ said  to  have  been  found  in  Lut- 
terel’s  Town;”  and  there  is  a tradition  that  this  animal  was  common  in 
Ireland  before  the  destruction  of  the  native  woods. 

In  O’Flaherty’ s West  or  H’lar  Connaught  (1684),  the  squirrel  is 
amongst  the  animals  enumerated  as  then  inhabiting  that  district. 

The  following  extract  from  a letter,  dated  Edgeworthstown,  16th  July, 
1848,  received  by  my  friend  Robert  Patterson,  Esq.,  from  the  venerable 
Maria  Edgeworth  (then,  as  she  signed  herself,  in  her  82nd  year),  is  con- 
clusive as  to  the  recent  existence  of  this  species  in  some  parts  of  Ireland : — 

“ I can  assure  you  that  squirrels  are  to  be  found  in  Ireland,  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  and  in  my  neighbourhood;  at  Castle  Forbes,  the  seat  of  the  Earl  of 

Granard ; and  at  Carrickglass,  the  seat  of  Baron  Lefroy As  we  were 

driving  through  the  woods,  at  Carrickglass,  yesterday,  a lady  in  the  carriage 
looked  up  and  saw  something  darting  up  the  stem  of  a tree.  It  was  a squirrel, 
new  to  her,  as  she  was  from  Cork.  In  your  next  edition  [Mr.  Patterson’s 
“ Zoology  for  Schools  ” is  the  work  here  alluded  to]  I request  you  will  enlarge 
your  assertion  respecting  squirrels  in  Ireland,  and  not  confine  their  existence  to 
the  County  of  Wicklow.  They  not  only  are  to  be  found,  but  abound,  in  many 
places  in  Ireland,  too  numerous  here  to  mention.” 

The  gamekeeper  at  Donard  Lodge,  having  formerly  lived  at  Castle 
Forbes  (County  Longford),  I inquired  from  him,  in  August,  1851,  whe- 
ther he  had  seen  squirrels  in  the  latter  demesne ; to  which  he  replied, 
that  when  he  was  resident  there,  in  1836  and  1837,  they  were  abundant, 
and  that  they  were  also  numerous  in  the  adjoining  demesne  of  Carrick- 
glass, but  he  had  not  known  of  their  existence  elsewhere.  They  were 
well  known  to  have  been  introduced  at  Castle  Forbes,  but  at  what  period 
he  could  not  state.  He  added,  that  the  late  Lord  Forbes,  imagining  that 
these  animals  did  injury  to  the  young  shoots  of  the  trees,  offered  to  give 
him  one  shilling  a-head  for  them,  and  that  numbers  were  killed.  On  one 
occasion  he  shot  twenty-five  within  the  space  of  an  hour.  After  being 
fired  at,  they  became  very  wary. 

A gentleman  who  resided  for  many  years  near  Newtonmountkennedy 
(County  Wicklow)  informed  me,  in  1851,  that  they  were  plentiful  in  that 
locality. 

Tunbridge  Wells,  October  4,  1847. — Squirrels. — My  friend  Mr. 
W.  Ogilby  and  I saw  several  to-day  in  this  neighbourhood,  and  all  on 
beech  trees,  eating  the  mast ; oaks,  covered  with  acorns,  adjoined  the  beech 
trees,  but  no  squirrels  were  on  them.  Mr.  O.  remarked  to  me  that  he  ob- 
served, when  here  last  year,  that  they  were  never  on  oak  trees,  but  that 
he  saw  them  frequently  extracting  seed  from  the  cones  of  the  spruce  fir. 

Common  Dormouse,  Myoxus  avellanarius,  Desmar. 

The  dormouse  is  not  indigenous  to  Ireland.  Rutty  observes  that  “ a 
vulgar  error  has  prevailed,  mentioned  in  Johnston’s  Historia  Animalmm, 
that  the  dormouse  was  not  found  in  Ireland.”  A sort  of  description  fol- 
lows, but  by  no  means  proving  the  animal  to  be  the  dormouse. 

Harvest  Mouse,  Mus  minutus,  Pallas. — {M.  messorius,  Shaw.) 

This  species  cannot  be  given  with  certainty  as  a native  of  Ireland.  The 
only  information  received  by  me  from  any  part  of  the  country  which 


THE  LONG-TAILED  FIELD  MOUSE. 


15 


would  lead  to  the  supposition  that  the  animal  exists  here  is  contained  in 
the  following  extract  from  my  journal: — 

“ May  12,  1838. — Mr.  Adams,  gamekeeper  at  Shane’s  Castle  Park  (Co. 
Antrim),  mentioned  to  me  what  he  had  heard  of  a remarkably  small  kind  of 
mouse  and  its  nest,  the  description  of  which  would  apply  to  this  species.  The 
nest  was  built  nearly  as  high  from  the  ground  as  the  narrator’s  knees,  and  was 
suspended  between  stalks  of  wheat,  in  a field  of  this  grain  : the  old  animals 
scarcely  bent  the  stalks  of  wheat  when  running  up  them.  The  observer,  a 
schoolmaster  and  farmer,  resident  within  a mile  of  Shane’s  Castle,  related  the 
above  to  Mr.  Adams,  as  an  extraordinary  fact  which  had  come  under  his  notice 
last  autumn.” 

Long-tailed  Field  Mouse,  Mus  sylvaticus,  Linn. 

This  species  is  commonly  distributed  throughout  the  island. 

In  gardens  at  a short  distance  from  Belfast,  I have  known  them  to 
commit  very  extensive  depredations  on  the  early  crops  of  peas  and  beans. 
Although  annoying,  it  was  at  the  same  time  amusing,  to  observe  how 
completely  they  had  carried  off  every  bean  of  the  first  crop.  These  had 
been  planted  in  double  rows,  and  above  every  bean  there  was  a cylindri- 
cal hole  excavated,  by  which  the  mice  had  gained  access  to  it.  Traps 
made  of  a single  brick  were  successfully  used  for  their  destruction. 

In  reference  to  the  partiality  shown  by  this  species  for  beans,  Pennant 
remarked,  that  “ in  some  places  they  are  called  bean  mice,  from  the  havoc 
they  make  upon  beans,  when  first  sown.” 

I have  known  one  instance  of  the  capture  of  a long-tailed  field  mouse 
inside  of  an  inhabited  dwelling-house,  near  Belfast.  The  specimen  was 
sent  to  me,  and  I compared  it  minutely  with  Bell’s  description  (Brit. 
Quad.).  It  was  much  more  dull  in  colour  than  any  I had  before  seen, 
but  was  the  true  Mus  sylvaticus. 

In  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vii.  p.  268,  Mr.  Jenyns  published  the 
following  note : — 

“ Mus  sylvaticus? — I have  two  or  three  times  had  submitted  to  my  examin- 
ation specimens  of  a mouse  found  on  the  tops  of  the  Irish  mountains,  either  be- 
longing to  this  species  or  very  closely  allied  to  it;  but  those  which  I have  seen 
have  been  in  too  bad  condition  (merely  dried  skins)  to  enable  me  to  decide  this 
point.  One  of  these  was  taken  in  the  County  of  Kerry,  at  an  elevation  of  2500 
feet  above  the  sea-level.  The  only  respects  in  which  they  appear  to  differ  from 
the  M.  sylvaticus  are  in  being  of  a darker  colour,  smaller,  and  with  some  of  the 
relative  proportions  rather  less  ; but  it  must  be  left  for  those  who  have  an  op- 
portunity of  examining  a large  number  in  a recent  state  to  say  whether  there 
are  any  real  grounds  for  believing  them  to  be  distinct.  On  the  whole,  I am 
inclined  to  think  that  they  are  only  a small  variety  of  that  species,  somewhat 
modified  in  its  character  from  the  peculiar  locality  which  they  inhabit.” 

The  specimens  referred  to  in  the  above  extract  passed  through  my 
hands,  and  I had  previously  come  to  the  same  conclusion  as  Mr.  Jenyns. 

At  Fort  William,  within  a few  miles  of  Belfast,  two  nests  of  this  species 
of  mouse  were,  within  the  space  of  a fortnight,  found  in  one  of  the  bee- 
hives, the  mice  having  entered  by  the  same  aperture  as  the  bees.  Num- 
bers of  these  intruders  were  caught  in  traps  placed  below  the  hives,  and 
also  close  to  the  bees’  entrance.  In  winter  the  mice  often  broke  into 
the  hive,  and  ate  the  honey-comb. 

The  Common  Mouse,  Mus  musculus,  Linn., 

Is  too  well  known  to  require  anything  to  be  said  as  to  its  distribution. 


16 


MURIDJE/ 


Many  years  ago,  I noted  that  numerous  specimens,  sent  to  me  from 
stack-yards  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  were  larger,  lighter  in  colour,  and 
more  handsome  than  those  found  in  houses.  The  Rev.  L.  Jenyns  has 
since  published  the  following  remark  in  his  “ Observations  in  Natural 
History  ” (1846),  p.  74  : — 

“ The  colours  of  the  common  mouse  are  naturally  extremely  bright,  and  can 
hardly  be  judged  of  from  individuals  found  in  houses,  which  contract  more  or 
less  of  a dingy  hue  from  the  dirt  of  buildings  and  the  nature  of  the  recesses 
they  frequent.  To  see  these  colours  in  perfection,  we  should  have  recourse  to 
mice  found  in  stacks,  which  are  often  so  remarkable  for  their  bright  yellow  tinge, 
that  I once  thought  they  might  prove  to  be  of  a distinct  species.  This  is  due 
to  an  annulus  of  yellow  surrounding  each  hair  on  the  upper  parts,  a little  below 
the  extreme  tip,  which  in  the  domestic  mouse  is  rarely  noticeable.” 

The  Black  Rat,  Mus  rattus,  Linn. 

This  rat,  which  once  prevailed  from  North  to  South  of  the  island,  is  now 
almost  wholly  extinct  everywhere.  It  is  not  considered  indigenous  to 
Great  Britain  any  more  than  the  common  brown  rat,  Mus  decumanus 
(Bell’s  Brit.  Quad.).  Both  are  believed  to  have  been  introduced  to 
Europe  from  the  East. 

I have  received  notes  of  the  occurrence  of  black  rats  at  Ballyheigne 
Castle  (County  Kerry) ; Youghal  (County  Cork) ; and  Crowhill  (County 
Armagh) ; but  have  no  proof  that  they  were  of  this  species.  Seven  or 
eight  of  the  latter  were  killed  at  Talaght,  near  Dublin,  in  February,  1834, 
one  of  which  I saw  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection. 

Colonel  Portlock  informed  me,  in  1840,  that  a specimen  of  the  Mus 
rattus  was  sent  to  the  Ordnance  Museum,  from  Portglenone  (Co.  Antrim), 
by  the  late  Archdeacon  Alexander,  who  stated  that  they  were  tolerably 
abundant  there. 

In  December,  1842,  Mr.  Edward  Benn,  of  Glenravel,  forwarded  to  me 
one  of  these  animals  killed  in  his  neighbourhood ; and  Dr.  Harvey,  in 
the  Fauna  of  Cork,  p.  2,  notes,  regarding  the  species : — “ In  old  build- 
ings, in  the  northern  parts  of  the  city  of  Cork,  near  Garryclonne,  &c., 
rare.”  There  is  no  doubt  of  these  being  the  true  Mus  rattus , and  not 
black  varieties  of  M.  decumanus , which  are  sometimes  mistaken  for  it,  as 
Dr.  Harvey,  in  a letter  to  me,  observed,  that  “they  were  much  smaller, 
more  delicate  in  the  limbs,  and  altogether  strikingly  different  from  the 
brown  rat.” 

Mus  Hibernicus,  Thompson. 

I made  the  following  communication,  on  this  species,  to  the  Zoological 
Society  of  London,  in  1837,  in  the  proceedings  for  which  year  it  was 
published : — 

“ Mus  Hibernicus— (Irish.  Rat). — On  questioning  a person,  some  years  ago, 
respecting  a black  rat  which  he  had  seen  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  my  curiosity 
was  excited  ,by  the  statement  that  it  had  a white  breast.  In  autumn  last,  a 
similar  description  was  given  me  of  one  that  had  been  caught,  some  time  before, 
in  Tollymore  Park  (County  of  Down).  Mr.  R.  Ball,  of  Dublin,  informs  me 
that  black  rats,  with  the  breast  white,  have  been  reported  to  him  as  once  com- 
mon about  Youghal  (County  of  Cork),  though  they  are  now  very  rare  or  perhaps 
extinct.  But  until  April  last,  when  a specimen  was  sent  from  Rathfriland 
(County  of  Down)  to  the  Belfast  Museum,  I had  not  an  opportunity  either  of 
seeing  or  examining  the  animal.  This  individual  differs  from  the  M.  rattus,  as 
described  by  authors,  and  also  from  specimens  preserved  in  the  British  Museum, 


THE  BLACK  RAT. 


17 


and  in  the  collection  of  this  society,  in  the  relative  proportion  of  the  tail  to  that 
of  the  head  and  body  ; in  having  shorter  ears,  and  in  their  being  better  clothed 
with  hair,  as'  is  the  tail  likewise  ; and  in  the  fur  of  the  body  being  of  a softer 
texture.  The  difference  in  colour  between  the  M.  rattus  and  the  present 
specimen  is,  that  the  latter  exhibits  a somewhat  triangular  spot  of  pure  white 
extending  about  nine  lines  below  the  breast,  and  has  the  fore-feet  of  the  same 
colour. 

“ The  following  is  a comparison  of  this  specimen  with  the  M.  rattus,  as 
given  by  Mr.  Jenyns.  The  same  dimensions,  with  the  very  trivial  difference 
of  the  ears  being  half  a line  less,  appear  in  Mr.  Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds. 

M.  Hibernicus.  M.  Rattus. 
in.  lines.  in.  lines. 

Length  of  the  head  and  body  . . . . .76.74 

head 1 10  . 1 It) 

• ears 0 9.0  11|- 

tail 5 6 . 7 11 

from  the  base  of  the  ear  to  the  snout  . .16 

from  the  tarsal  joint  to  the  end  of  the  toes  1 6 

These  differences  incline  me  to  consider  this  animal  distinct  from  M.  rattus, 
and,  being  unable  to  find  any  species  described  with  which  it  accords,  I propose 
to  name  it  provisionally  M.  Hibernicus.  Should  future  investigation  prove  it 
to  be  a variety  only  of  M.  rattus,  it  can  be  so  considered  under  the  present  ap- 
pellation.” 

The  following  information  has  been  since  obtained : — In  March,  1838, 
Robert  Langtry,  Esq.,  informed  me  that,  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  years 
previously,  eighteen  of  these  animals  were  killed,  along  with  a great 
many  common  rats,  during  the  “ taking-in  of  a stack ” of  grain,  at  Fort 
William,  near  Belfast.  There  were  three  generations  of  them,  viz. — two 
adults,  several  well  grown,  but  apparently  not  mature,  and  a number  of 
young  ones. 

They  were  nearly  all  killed  by  himself,  and  neither  before  nor  since 
were  any  seen  about  the  place.  He  described  the  animals  &o  accurately, 
as  to  white  breast,  &c.,  that  there  is  not  a shadow  of  doubt  relative  to 
his  correctness.  The  presence  of  three  generations  of  this  animal,  in  the 
same  stack,  with  a great  number  of  the  Mils  decumanus , speaks  I think 
decisively  against  the  latter  species  destroying  them. 

Mr.  Edward  Benn,  wTho  has  frequently  heard  of  the  capture  of  black 
rats  with  white  spots  on  their  breasts,  had  it  always  described  to  him  as 
being  shorter  in  the  tail  than  a second  species  of  black  rat,  also  described 
to  him,  and  which  was,  perhaps,  Mns  rattus,  a specimen  of  which,  as 
already  mentioned,  he  procured  for  me,  in  December,  1842.  This  gentle- 
man had  learned  that  black  rats  with  white  spots  on  the  breast  were,  at 
one  time,  not  uncommon  about  a flour-mill  at  Carrickfergus. 

In  August,  1843,  I questioned  the  gamekeeper  at  Tollymore  Park  on 
the  subject  of  this  species,  and  he  stated  that  he  got  a black  rat  there, 
about  fourteen  years  before  that  date.  It  had  a white  breast ; its  tail, 
he  was  certain,  was  shorter  than  that  of  the  common  rat ; and  he  felt  sure 
that  it  could  not  have  been  a variety  of  the  common  species,  for  various 
reasons  which  he  explained. 

Were  there  not  a difference  in  form,  I should  bring  this  animal  under 
Mus  rattus,  as  a variety ; but,  as  those  who  have  seen  it  all  describe  it  to 
have  a shorter  tail  than  that  species,  I still  retain  it  under  the  above  pro- 
visional name.  What  is  stated  of  this  animal  leads  me  to  consider  it  as 
at  least  a permanent  variety  of  Mus  rattus. 

[Note. — The  following  memoranda  were  made  by  Mr.  Thompson,  after 
c 


18 


MURIDA2. 


the  foregoing  remarks  had  been  written.  The  two  specimens  re- 
ferred to  in  these  memoranda  are  now  in  the  Belfast  Museum. — Ed.] 

“ March  1st,  1850. — Mus  rattus? — M.  Hibernicus. — A very  large  rat  of  this 
species  (large  even  for  M.  decumanus)  was  brought  me  to  look  at  to-day,  in  the 
flesh.  It  was  killed  at  Cogry  Mills,  near  Doagh  (County  Antrim).  Its  weight 
is  1 lb.  3 oz. ; it  is  a male.  It  is  wholly  black,  except  a white  elongate  marking, 
an  inch  and  half  long,  upon  the  breast,  and  a little  white  on  the  toes. 

in.  lines. 

Length  from  snout  to  base  of  tail  . . .110 

of  tail,  which  is  imperfect  . . . .83 

head 2 8 

ears  .......  0 lOf 

“ March  1st,  1851. — Black  Rat,  with  white  spot  on  breast. — A very  fine  one 
was  sent  me  by  Mr.  Wm.  Marshall,  of  Barn  Cottage  (near  Carrickfergus) ; its 
weight,  13^oz.  avoirdupois/’ 

The  Brown  or  Common  Rat,  Mas  decumanus,  Pall. 

This  animal,  although  not  aboriginal,  is  now,  unfortunately,  too  well 
known  to  be  much  dwelt  on.  It  is  said  to  have  been  unknown  in  Eng- 
land before  1730  (Pennant,  Jenyns,  and  Magill.) ; and  not  to  have  been 
introduced  into  Paris  until  twenty  years  later.  Rutty,  howrever,  in  Jiis 
Natural  History  of  Dublin,  states  that  the  species  “ first  began  to  infest 
these  parts  about  the  year  1722/’  Its  native  country  is  not  positively 
known. 

White  varieties  of  the  common  rat  have  occasionally  come  under  the 
inspection  of  some  of  my  correspondents,  as  well  as  of  myself.  In  August, 
1838,  I examined  an  entirely  white  specimen,  in  the  possession  of  a gen- 
tleman in  Belfast,  the  eyes  of  which  were  of  the  ordinary  black  colour. 
Thomas  Walker,  jun.,  Esq.,  of  Belmont  (County  Wexford),  informed  me, 
in  1837,  that  “ white  rats  were  rather  common  in  the  kennel  there.  They 
had  pink  eyes ; but  in  shape  and  hair  were  different  from  the  common 
rat ; the  body  long  and  narrow ; and  the  hair  long  and  wiry,  like  that  of 
a rough  terrier.” 

At  Holywrood  House  (County  Down),  a pear-tree  wTas  pointed  out  to 
me,  in  June,  1842,  from  which,  it  was  stated,  about  a bushel  of  pears  had 
been  taken  by  rats,  in  the  previous  summer.  The  branches  were  spread 
against  the  garden  "wall  in  such  a position  as  to  be  easily  accessible ; and 
there  was  a rat-hole  at  the  distance  of  about  ten  yards,  with  a well-beaten 
path  leading  to  the  tree.  The  depredators  scooped  out  the  inside  of  the 
fruit,  leaving  the  rind ; and  did  this  leisurely,  as  the  mangled  remains 
were  left  at  the  foot  of  the  tree. 

Two  of  my  friends,  who  have  been  in  the  habit  of  keeping  ferrets,  in- 
formed me,  in  1849,  that  the  presence  of  these  animals  did  not  deter  rats 
from  frequenting  the  places  where  they  were  kept.  On  one  occasion  (at 
Loughanmore,  County  Antrim),  rats  ate  through  two  or  three  small 
wooden  rails  to  get  at  the  food  of  the  ferrets,  several  of  which  w'ere,  at 
the  time,  lying  at  the  upper  end  of  the  same  box,  about  four  feet  from 
where  the  food  was. 

I have  also  been  told  that  rats  feed  upon  frogs’  spawn,  but  cannot 
vouch  for  the  fact. 

John  Sinclair,  Esq.,  states,  as  the  result  of  his  examination  of  many 
broods  of  young  rats,  that  a great  proportion  of  them — not  less  than 
three-fourths — were  males. 


THE  HARE. 


19 


The  Common  Hare  of  Great  Britain,  Lepus  timidus,  Linn., 

Is  not  found  in  Ireland. 

The  Irish  Hare,  Lepus  Hibernicus,  Bell. 

The  Alpine  Hare,  Lepus  variabilis,  Pallas. 

The  following  paper  was  communicated  by  me  to  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  in  May,  1838,  and  was  published  in  the  Transactions,  vol. 
xviii.  part  2 : — 

“ On  the  Irish  Hare  ( Lepus  Hibernicus). — The  Earl  of  Derby  was  the  first 
to  call  the  attention  of  English  zoologists  to  the  differences  existing  between  the 
common  hare  of  Great  Britain  and  that  of  Ireland;  and,  for  the  purpose  of 
having  the  matter  duly  investigated,  he,  in  April,  1833,  transmitted  specimens  of 
the  Irish  hare  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  who  exhibited  them  at  a meeting  of  the  Linnsean 
Society.  In  the  month  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  this  gentleman  introduced 
the  subject  to  the  Zoological  Society,  at  the  same  time  pointing  out  some  of  the 
more  prominent  characters  which  distinguish  the  two  animals.  With  regard  to 
the  specific  difference  of  the  Irish  hare,  Mr.  Yarrell  did  not,  on  either  occasion, 
offer  an  opinion.  Mr.  Jenyns,  in  his  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals, 
published  in  1835,  introduced  the  Irish  hare  as  a variety  of  the  Lepus  timidus , 
with  the  remark,  that  it  ‘ might  almost  deserve  to  be  considered  a distinct 
species.’  Mr.  Bell,  in  his  work  on  British  Quadrupeds,  completed  in  1837, 
judging  from  external  character,  brought  it  forward,  for  the  first  time,  as  a differ- 
ent animal  from  the  common  hare  of  England.  In  a communication  to  the 
Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany  for  August,  1837,  Mr.  Eyton  stated  that, 
from  an  investigation  of  the  anatomical  characters  of  the  Irish  hare,  he  detected 
such  differences  as  ‘ would  probably  distinguish  it  as  a species  distinct  from  the 
common  hare,  did  no  other  characters  exist’  (vol.  ii.  p.  283). 

“ Having  thus  looked  retrospectively  to  the  Irish  hare,  from  the  first  simple 
announcement  of  the  characters  in  which  it  differs  from  the  Lepus  timidus , until 
from  internal  as  well  as  external  evidence  it  is  considered  specifically  different, 
it  may  be  thought  unnecessary  to  treat  further  on  the  subject,  but  the  sequel 
will,  I trust,  show  that  it  has  not  yet  been  entirely  exhausted. 

“ The  very  erroneous  idea  prevails  in  some  quarters  that  the  hare  of  Ireland 
was  not  known  to  differ  from  that  of  England,  until  the  subject  was  introduced 
in  London,  in  the  year  1833.  Respecting  the  former  animal  Mr.  Bell  observes, 
that  ‘ it  is  certainly  a very  remarkable  circumstance  that  it  should  have  remain- 
ed unnoticed  until  so  late  a period,  and  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact 
that  it  is  the  only  hare  found  in  Ireland,  and  that  therefore  the  opportunity  of 
comparison  did  not  frequently  occur’  (p.  342).  The  difference  between  the 
hare  of  Ireland  and  that  of  England  and  Scotland  has,  however,  though  not 
committed  to  the  press,  been  long  known  in  this  country  to  the  oldest  sportsmen, 
dealers  in  animal  skins,  and  such  other  persons  as  had  the  opportunity  of  ex- 
amining them.*  Yet,  strange  to  say,  to  naturalists  generally,  what  is  here 


* On  account  of  the  difference  between  these  animals  in  the  two  countries, 
the  late  David  Ker,  Esq.,  upwards  of  thirty  years  ago,  had  some  hares  brought 
from  England,  and  turned  out  on  the  largest  of  the  three  Copeland  Islands,  off 
the  coast  of  Down,  where,  however,  they  did  not  much  increase,  and  long  since 
became  extinct.  About  twenty  years  ago,  a sporting  friend,  when  visiting  the 
Island  of  Islay,  off  the  coast  of  Argyleshire,  killed  several  individuals  of  the 
Irish  hare,  as  well  as  of  the  indigenous  one ; and,  on  pointing  out  the  former  to 
some  persons  resident  in  the  island,  was  informed  that  they  were  not  any 
novelty,  as  the  species  had  been  introduced  from  Ireland  by  the  chief  proprietor 
of  the  island,  but  at  what  period  I have  not  learned.  It  may  be  in  reference  to 
these  that  Daniel,  in  his  Rural  Sports,  observes,  with  respect  to  the  size  of 
hares  in  different  parts  of  the  British  Islands,  that  “ the  smallest  are  in  the 
Isle  of  Islay.”  In  a journal  kept  by  that  distinguished  naturalist  the  late  John 
c 2 


20 


LEPOllIDJE. 


quoted  from  the  British  Quadrupeds  correctly  applies ; the  subject  having;  been, 
for  the  first  time,  introduced  to  the  scientific  world  at  the  period  to  which  allu- 
sion has  been  made. 

“ With  the  club  of  the  Linnman  Society  I happened  to  dine  upon  the  day  on 
which  the  specimens  were  received  from  Lord  Derby  (then  Lord  Stanley),  and 
on  the  evening  of  which  the  subject  of  the  Irish  hare  was  first  brought  forward. 
On  being  questioned  by  the  chairman,  I had  then  the  pleasure  of  stating,  as  a 
fact  well  known  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  all  the  external  and  likewise  the  culi- 
nary differences *  * existing  between  the  hares  of  the  two  countries  ; but,  at  the 
same  time,  added,  that  we  regarded  the  hare  of  Ireland  only  as  a very  distinct 
and  well-marked  variety  of  Lepus  timidus.  Further  than  this,  as  has  been  already 
noticed,  Mr.  Yarrell  and  Mr.  Jenyns  did  not  go,  Mr.  Bell  being  the  first  to 
characterize  it  as  a species. f That  it  really  is  such,  I became  at  once  satisfied, 
on  a very  minute  examination  of  Scotch  and  Irish  specimens  towards  the  end  of 
1833.  About  this  time  my  friend,  Mr.  Yarrell,  requested  from  me  the  fullest 
information  on  the  animal,  preparatory  to  his  drawing  up  a paper  on  it,  and  for 
him  such  facts  as  I was  conversant  with  were  reserved,  knowing,  as  I did,  that 
in  such  truly  able  hands  the  subject  must  be  judiciously  treated.  In  furtherance 
of  the  inquiry,  I had,  at  that  time,  the  pleasure  of  transmitting  him  a specimen 
of  the  animal,  and  of  presenting  others  to  the  British  Museum.  In  consequence 
of  Mr.  Yarrell  having  now  relinquished  this  intention,  I am  induced  to  bring 
together  here  such  particulars  of  the  history,  &c.,  of  this  animal  as  are  known 
to  me. 

“ In  consulting  the  Mammalogie  of  Desmarest,  and  Synopsis  Mammalium  of 
Fischer,  the  two  latest  general  works  upon  the  subject,  I find  that  there  is  not 
any  species  of  Lepus  described,  corresponding  to  the  hare  of  Ireland,  nor  is  there 
such  in  any  other  work  to  which  I have  had  access.  The  species  known  on  the 
continent  of  Europe  are  but  two  in  number,  both  of  which,  the  Lepus  timidus 
and  Lepus  variabilis,  are  natives  of  the  British  Islands.  Between  these  species 
only,  and  the  hare  of  Ireland,  does  it  seem  necessary  to  draw  any  comparison. 
Considered  in  connexion  with  them,  it  holds,  in  several  points  of  view,  both  as 
to  form  and  colour,  such  as  the  relative  length  of  ears  to  head,  length  of  tail,  in 
assuming  a white  garb  (though  not  periodically),  &c.,  an  intermediate  place. 
The  habits  of  the  Alpine  hare,  together  with  the  localities  to  which  it  is  re- 
stricted, are  very  different  from  those  of  the  Irish  species ; the  latter  animal,  in 
these  respects,  exactly  agreeing  with  the  Lepus  timidus. 

“ Specimens  of  the  hare  of  Ireland  and  of  Scotland,  from  the  approximating 
counties  of  Down  and  Wigton,  and  examined  in  a recent  state,  presented  the 
following  differences  : — J 


Templeton,  in  which  criticisms  on  the  works  he  read  and  observations  on  pass- 
ing events,  as  well  as  on  objects  of  natural  history,  are  recorded,  I find  the  fol- 
lowing note  under  date  of  Jan.  10,  1807.  With  reference  to  the  different  quality 
of  the  fur  in  hares  mentioned  in  Lessep’s  Travels  in  Kamtschatka,  it  is  remarked 
* — “It  is  known  that  the  Scotch  hares  have  a fine  wool  fit  for  making  hats, 
while  the  fur  of  the  Irish  hare  is  not  accounted  of  any  use.” 

* The  Scotch  and  English  hares  are,  at  every  age,  and  for  all  culinary  pur- 
poses, generally  esteemed  superior  as  food  to  the  Irish. 

f In  the  article  “ Hare,”  published  in  the  British  Cyclopaedia  of  Natural 
History  (1836),  it  is  likewise  so  mentioned, — vol.  ii.  p.  705.  In  a note  contri- 
buted by  the  late  E.  T.  Bennet,  in  his  edition  of  White’s  Selborne  (1837),  it  is 
remarked  that  “ Ireland  has  also  its  peculiar  hare,” — p.  128. 

I The  males  were  obtained  in  February  ; the  females  in  December.  The 
latter  are  in  both  species  generally  larger  than  the  males. 


THE  HARE. 


21 


Irish 

Hare. 

Scotch 

Hare. 

MALE. 

FEMALE- 

MALE. 

FEMALE. 

Wei 

ght, 

Weight, 

Weight, 

Weight, 

51b.  3oz. 

71b.  44oz. 

61b.  8oz. 

61b.  9 ^oz. 

in. 

line 

in. 

line 

in. 

line 

in. 

line 

Length  of  head  and  body  to  upper  base  of  tail 
— from  nose  to  point  of  middle  claw  of 

20 

0 

24 

6 

22 

6 

21 

0 

hind-leg  when  stretched  out  . 

27 

2 

30 

0 

— of  head,  measured  with  compasses  . 

— of  head,  from  anterior  base  of  ear, 

4 

8 

4 

9 

measured  as  last  .... 
— of  head  from  forehead,  on  a line  with 
anterior  base  of  ears,  following  its 

4 

0 

4 

0 

curve  to  the  nasal  slit 

5 

0 

5 

0 

5 

0 

5 

0 

— of  ears  posteriorly,  including  fur 

4 

5 

4 

9 

10 

— of  ears,  from  anterior  base 

4 

2 

4 

3 

4 

1* 

4 

— of  tail,  including  hair 

4 

0 

4 

3 

5 

0 

— of  tail,  to  end  of  fleshy  portion 

2 

0 

2 

6 

3 

0 

3 

6 

— of  whiskers 

— from  shoulder,  in  a straight  line,  to  end 

of  hairs  which  extend  a little  be- 

3 

14 

6 

3 

6 

4 

0 

4 

6 

yond  middle  nail  .... 
— from  sole  of  fore-foot  to  back,  in  a 

0 

12 

0 

13 

0 

straight  line 

FORE  EXTREMITIES. 

11 

0 

Length  of  radius  . .... 

4 

1 

4 

9 

4 

2 

4 

9 

— from  carpel  joint  to  end  of  middle  claw 

2 

9 

3 

3 

2 

9 

3 

1 

— of  middle  toe  and  claw  .... 

HIND  EXTREMITIES. 

Length  from  knee-joint  to  end  of  middle  claw, 

1 

5 

1 

7 

1 

4 

1 

4 

in  a straight  line  .... 

11 

0 

10 

3 

10 

9 

It 

0 

— of  tibia 

5 

0 

6 

0 

5 

4 

6 

0 

— of  heel  to  point  of  middle  claw 

5 

6 

5 

6 

5 

1 

5 

0 

COLOUR  OF  IRISH  HARE. 

(. Female  Specimen.') 

Top  and  sides  of  head  of  a tolerably 
uniform  dull  reddish-brown,  except  an 
oval  spot  just  before  the  eye,  and  of 
about  its  size,  being  somewhat  paler, 
and  close  round  the  eye,  where  it  is 
very  dull  white ; of  this  colour  also  is 
the  under  surface  of  the  head. 

Ears  presenting  anteriorly  a mixture 
of  black  and  reddish-grey  ; posteriorly 
greyish,  becoming  gradually  paler  to 
the  margin,  which,  for  two-thirds  from 
the  base,  is  white;  extreme  tip  (about 
six  lines)  black,  which  colour  extends 
down  the  posterior  margin  for  about 
one-third  the  length  of  ear. 

Back  and  upper  portion  of  sides,  dull 
reddish-grey  ; under  surface  of  neck 


COLOUR  OF  SCOTCH  HARE. 

( Female  Specimen.) 

Upper  surface  of  head  dark-reddish 
brown  ; a white  spot  about  the  size  and 
form  of  the  eyes  just  before  them ; a 
whitish  mark  originating  at  anterior 
point  of  upper  surface  of  the  eye,  be- 
coming broader  posteriorly,  and  ex- 
tending more  than  half  way  from  the 
eye  to  the  base  of  the  ear. 

Ears  presenting  anteriorly  a mixture 
of  black  and  reddish-grey  ; medial  por- 
tion pure  reddish-brown,  which  colour 
does  not  appear  in  the  ears  of  the  Irish 
species ; posteriorly,  from  base,  for 
about  two-thirds  their  length,  whitish, 
thence  to  tip  black,  of  which  colour  a 
narrow  marginal  line  extends  down- 
wards to  middle  of  ear. 

Back  and  upper  portion  of  sides  mot- 
tled with  a pale-reddish  colour  and 


* Another  male  of  this  species,  and  of  similar  size,  examined  at  the  same  time* 
had  the  ears  thus  measured — four  inches  two  lines  in  length. 


22 


LEPORID^E.’ 


pale  grey  ; lower  parts , from  between 
the  fore-legs  to  tip  of  tail,  white,  ex- 
cept at  inner  base  of  hind-legs,  which 
are  of  a very  pale  grey  ; upper  portion 
of  tail  * white,  with  a few  black  hairs 
towards  the  base,  giving  that  part  a sul- 
lied or  impure  tinge. 


Fore-legs  dull  reddish-brown  in  front 
and  outer  sides ; inner  and  hinder  por- 
tion white,  which  colour  comes  forward 
transversely  on  the  outer  sides  of  the 
legs,  just  above  the  foot,  which  is  brown. 
Sides  of  hinder  legs  greyish,  tinged  an- 
teriorly wdth  yellowish -brown ; of  this 
colour  a stripe  extends  from  the  tarsal 
joint  to  the  middle  foe,  and  is  bounded 
on  both  sides  by  white ; entire  base  from 
tarsal  joint  to  toe-claws  dull  greyish- 
brown,  inner  portion  of  same  part  whit- 
ish ; this  varied  marking  more  or  less 
conspicuous  in  different  individuals. 

Lips  greyish ; whiskers  uniformly 
white  or  black,  or  of  both  colours; 
irides  dark  hazel. 


black,  the  former  predominating;  to- 
wards the  lower  portion  of  the  sides 
the  pale  reddish-brown,  or  rich  cinna- 
mon colour,  only  appears,  and  this  alone 
prevails  on  both  sides  of  the  neck,  and 
on  its  lower  portion ; entire  under  sur- 
face, from  between  the  fore-legs  to  the 
tip  of  tail,  white,  except  at  inner  base 
of  hind-legs,  where  a pale  cinnamon  co- 
lour prevails. 

Fore-legs  dark  reddish-brown  in  front 
and  outer  sides ; inner  and  hinder  por- 
tion a very  pale  red  and  white  inter- 
mixed. Kind-legs,  to  tarsal  joint,  of  a 
grey  and  very  pale  red  combined  ; from 
thence  to  middle  toe  reddish-brown, 
which  colour  becomes  gradually  paler 
posteriorly ; inner  portion  of  same  part 
whitish. 


Lips  blackish;  whiskers  uniformly 
white  or  black,  or  of  both  colours ; 
irides  dark  hazel. 


“ From  this  comparative  description  it  appears  that  the  Lepus  timidus  dis- 
plays greater  diversity  of  colour  in  the  head,  ears,  and  body,  than  Lepus  Hiber- 
nicus,  and  that  the  latter  exhibits  greater  variety  in  the  disposition  of  colours 
on  the  legs. 

“ On  looking  to  the  visceral  anatomy,  along  with  my  friend,  Dr.  J.  L.  Drum- 
mond, the  following  measurements  were  made  : — 


Irish  Hare. 

Scot.  Hare. 

MA 

LE. 

MALE. 

Weight, 

Weight, 

51b. 

3oz. 

61b.  2oz. 

feet 

inch. 

feet 

inch. 

Length  of  small  intestines  from  stomach  to  ccecum  . 

12 

10 

14 

0 

— of  ccecum  from  termination  of  the  ileum  . 

1 

6i 

2 

0 

— of  colon 

4 

5 

4 

8 

— of  rectum 

3 

0 

3 

0 

“ In  the  following  table,  a comparative  view  is  presented  of  the  osteological 
characters  of  the  two  species  : — 


* It  is  singular  that  this,  the  most  obvious  of  all  the  differences  in  colour  be- 
tween the  two  species,  should  have  been  quite  unnoticed  by  the  several  authors 
who  have  written  on  the  Irish  hare,  more  especially  as  the  colour  of  the  tail  is 
always  one  of  the  few  leading  characters  given  of  Lepus  timidus,  both  by  British 
and  continental  authors.  On  questioning  some  of  the  Belfast  dealers  in  hares  as 
to  their  means  of  knowing  the  two  species,  I found  that  the  difference  of  colour 
in  the  tail  was  one  of  their  marks  of  distinction — with  every  external  character, 
indeed,  they  are,  and  always  have  been,  quite  familiar. 


THE  HARE. 


23 


Irish  Hare. 

Scot.  Hare. 

MALE. 

FEMALE. 

FEMj 

\ LE. 

Original  Wt. 

Original  Wt. 

Original  Wt. 

51b. 

3oz. 

71b.  4*oz. 

71b.  4oz. 

in. 

line. 

in. 

line. 

in. 

line. 

Length  of  head 

3 

6 

3 

8 

3 

9 

Breadth  of  head  above  the  meatus  auditorii 

1 

2 

1 

H 

1 

1 

— at  the  zygomata  . 

1 

9 

1 

101 

1 

101 

Distance  between  the  superciliary  ridges  . 

1 

2k 

1 

3 

1 

2k 

Length  of  humerus 

3 

9 

3 

10 

3 

10 

— of  radius 

3 

10 

4 

01 

4 

3a 

— of  ulna 

— from  base  of  radius  to  lower  extre- 

4 

7 

4 

8k 

4 

11 

mity  of  metacarpus 

1 

4 

1 

6 

1 

6 

— of  second  finger  and  nail 

1 

4 

1 

8 

1 

7 

— of  femur 

4 

6 

4 

8 

4 

10* 

— of  tibia 

5 

n 

5 

3 

5 

7 

— of  os  calcis 

— from  base  of  os  calcis  to  lower  ex- 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

tremity  of  metatarsus 
— of  second  toe  and  claw,  measured  in 

2 

4 

2 

3 

2 

5 

a straight  line  .... 

— from  upper  extremity  of  os  calcis  to 

1 

10 

2 

H 

2 

0 

lower  extremity  of  metatarsus 

3 

7 

3 

6 

3 

6 

— of  scapula 

2 

10 

3 

2 

3 

2 

Breadth  of  scapula 

1 

6 

1 

101 

1 

101 

Length  of  pelvis  .... 

3 

4 

3 

7 

3 

101 

“ This  table,  which  exhibits  a comparison  of  two  female  specimens  of  equal  size 
and  weight,  shows  a very  different  result  from  that  arrived  at  by  Mr.  Eyton,  who 
observes,  that  the  skeleton  generally  of  the  Irish  hare  is  larger  than  that  of  the 
English ; that  the  lateral  processes  of  its  lumbar  vertebrse  are  longer,  its  sca- 
pula and  ribs  broader,  and  its  cranium*  larger ; but  in  all  these  characters  an 
equality  is  presented  by  the  individuals  under  consideration,  f Mr.  Eyton  fur- 
ther adds,  that  the  Irish  is  distinguished  from  the  common  hare  by  ‘ the  greater 
length  of  the  humerus,  in  proportion  to  that  of  the  ulna but  in  these  indi- 
viduals the  humerus  is  equal  and  the  ulna  of  the  Lepus  timidus  of  superior 
length.  As  remarked  by  Mr.  Eyton, — ‘ in  the  numbering  of  the  vertebrae  and 
ribs  (twelve  in  number)  they  do  not  differ,  except  as  to  the  caudal  ones,  which  in 
the  Irish  hare  are  thirteen,  and  in  the  English  sixteen ; the  sacral  in  both  ai'e  four, 
the  lumbar  seven,  the  dorsal  twelve,  and  cervical  seven  ; making  the  total  num- 
ber in  the  Irish  hare  forty-three,  and  in  the  common  hare  forty-six.5  The 
teeth  appear  in  all  respects  similar  in  both  species.  The  orbits  are  somewhat 
more  of  an  oval  form  in  the  Irish  than  in  the  common  hare. 

“ The  most  obvious  characters  of  form  between  the  common  and  Irish  hare 
are  the  superior  length  of  ears  and  tail,  % and  the  less  rounded  head  of  the  former 
animal : those  of  colour  have  been  before  noticed.  The  specific  characters  I pro- 


* Although  this  can  hardly  be  called  larger,  there  is  some  difference  in  form 
between  it  and  that  of  Lepus  timidus. 

f Although  the  lumbar  vertebrae  are  not  in  reality  longer  in  the  Irish  species, 
yet  from  taking  a more  horizontal  direction  they  so  appear  when  the  animal  is 
viewed  with  its  head  towards  the  spectator. 

X The  greater  length  of  these  parts  gives  an  erroneous  idea  of  superior  size  to 
the  Lepus  timidus,  when  there  is  an  equality  in  the  length  of  its  head  and  body, 
and  in  weight.  Mr.  Bell  and  Mr.  Eyton,  judging,  it  may  be  presumed,  from  the 
individuals  examined  by  them,  describe  the  Irish  as  larger  than  the  common 
hare  ; but  the  difference  in  size  is,  I consider,  dependent  on  locality,  as  both 
species  differ  remarkably,  in  this  respect,  in  the  barren  and  mountainous  parts 
of  the  country,  and  in  the  rich  demesnes  of  the  valley,  where  they  are  protected. 
In  general,  I should  say  the  Lepus  timidus  is  the  larger  animal. 


24 


LEPOKIDjE. 


pose  fox’  the  Irish  hare  are : Fur  above  uniform  dull  reddish-grey ; tail  whitish 
above  ; ears  and  tail  shorter  than  head. 

“ The  description  of  colour  which  has  been  drawn  up  does  not  apply  to  the 
Irish  hare  at  every  age,  and  here  is  an  important  difference  between  this  and  its 
approximate  species.  The  Lepus  timidus  sometimes,  though  rarely,  becomes 
white,  like  various  other  animals ; the  Lepus  variabilis  annually  appears  so  at  the 
beginning  of  winter,  throughout  which  it  so  continues.  The  Lepus  Hibernicus, 
on  the  other  hand,  assumes  this  colouring  with  age.  This  inference  I was  at  first 
inclined  to  draw  from  the  fact,  that  it  was  only  in  preserves,  or  where  they  were 
unmolested,  that  I remarked  them  to  be  parti-coloured,  or  almost  pure  white ; 
their  enemies,  where  they  are  not  protected,  being  so  numerous,  as  to  prevent 
the  attainment  of  their  natural  term  of  life.*  To  the  same  effect  I have  the  evi- 
dence of  Mr.  Adams,  a most  intelligent  gamekeeper,  who  states,  that  hares 
turned  out  young  into  a demesne,  in  the  County  of  Down,  and  marked  by 
a piece  being  taken  out  of  their  ears,  regularly  became  white  in  the  hinder  parts, 
during  the  fifth  spring  ; in  the  sixth,  this  colour  extended  over  the  sides ; in  the 
seventh,  they  were  all  white  but  the  head  ; and  in  the  eighth,  he  thinks  pure 
white.  In  all  these  stages  but  the  last  they  have  occurred  to  myself.  In  a park, 
in  the  County  of  Antrim,  he  has  made  similar  l'emarks,  though  without  the  pre- 
cise datum  afforded  in  the  first  instance.  Hei’e  he  judges  from  hares  frequenting 
particular  haunts  gradually  presenting  the  white  appearance  just  described,  and 
which  I am  inclined  to  believe  is  occasioned  by  a change  of  colour  in  the  existing 
fur.  About  the  month  of  February,  the  whiteness  of  garb  exhibited  from  the  fifth 
to  the  eighth  year  begins  to  appear,  and  is  borne  through  March  and  April, 
when  the  annual  change  of  fur  takes  place,  and  the  white  is  thrown  off  for  that 
of  ordinai'y  colour. 

“ In  the  Belfast  Museum,  there  is  a specimen  (from  Shane’s  Castle-Park, 
County  of  Antrim)  which  retains  the  ordinary  colour  only  on  the  upper  portion 
of  the  head  and  front  of  the  ears,  the  tips,  as  in  the  Alpine  hare  in  winter  gai’b, 
retaining  their  blackness.  The  entire  of  the  remainder,  except  a small  portion  at 
the  base  of  the  fore-legs,  tinged  with  pale  fawn  colour,  appears  of  a pure  white  ; 
but,  on  close  examination,  exhibits  along  the  back,  and  on  the  breast,  unchanged 
in  coloui*,  some  long  black  hairs  ;f  the  lips  are  whitish. 

“ Within  one  week,  in  the  month  of  October,  1829,  I had  the  opportunity  of 
observing  the  three  species  of  British  hare  in  their  native  haunts  ; the  Lepus 
Hibernicus  about  Belfast;  the  Lepus  timidus  towards  the  base  of  the  higher 
Grampians,  at  Glenlyon,  in  the  north-west  of  Perthshire  ; and  the  Lepus  variabilis 
about  the  summits  of  the  same  noble  mountains.  Of  the  Alpine  hai'e,  some 
individuals,  which  were  killed  in  the  last  week  of  this  month,  had  not,  in  any 
degree,  changed  the  colour  of  their  dark  summer  fur,  whilst,  at  the  same  time, 
others  were  almost  entirely  white.  J The  motion  and  general  appearance  of  these 
animals,  when  not  much  alarmed,  their  place  of  refuge  being  at  hand,  seemed 
intermediate  between  those  of  the  common  hare  and  l’abbit ; but  when  they  had 
wandered  from  the  summits  of  the  mountains,  where  no  sheltering  crevices  of 
rocks  were  nigh,  and  their  strength  was  put  forth  by  the  pursuit  of  the  shepherd’s 
dogs,  they  exhibited  very  considerable  speed. 


* In  the  note  by  Mr.  Bennet,  of  which  part  has  been  already  quoted,  it 
is  remarked,  but  without  any  reason  being  assigned  for  it,  that  the  Irish 
hare  is  “ apt  to  become  white,  in  winter,  when  kept  in  pai'ks  or  other  enclosures,” 

p.  128. 

f These  “ long  hairs,”  which  have  been  described  as  altogether  wanting  in  the 
Irish  species,  exist  in  every  specimen  I have  examined,  but  are  extremely  few  in 
number,  compai'ed  with  those  in  the  common  hare. 

J Although  I am  well  aware  that  there  is  often  a considerable  difference  in  the 
period  at  which  individuals  of  the  same  species  put  on  such  a change,  yet  I 
would  suggest  to  the  attention  of  persons  who  have  the  means  of  investigation, 
to  ascertain  whether  the  Alpine  hare  be  white,  in  winter,  from  the  first  year  of 
its  existence. 


THE  HARE. 


25 


u The  Lepus  Hibernicus  is,  in  a wild  state,  easily  distinguished  from  the  Lepus 
timidus,  by  its  shorter  ears,  differently  coloured  fur,  and  by  the  whiteness  of  the 
upper  surface  of  its  tail.  The  last-named  distinction  can  rarely  be  observed 
except  in  parks  where  the  animals  are  preserved,  and  where,  admitting  of  a 
near  approach,  they  move  gently  off ; but  in  such  places  the  difference  is  very 
obvious. 

“ Some  sporting  friends,  who,  from  coursing  much,  both  in  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land, have  had  ample  opportunities  of  observing  the  difference  between  the  two 
species  before  greyhounds,  consider  that  in  an  open  country  the  Irish  hare  goes 
off  faster  from  the  dogs  than  the  Scotch,  and  is  thus  less  likely  to  be  killed  at 
the  first  dash  : in  other  respects  their  speed  is  equal.  This  was  remarked  in 
similar  ground  in  both  countries,  and  with  the  same  greyhounds.  It  has  like- 
wise been  stated  by  these  gentlemen,  that,  when  wounded  by  the  gun,  the  Scotch 
is  more  easily  captured  than  the  Irish  species.  It  is  probable  that  under  both 
circumstances  the  difference  may  be  owing  to  the  hare  in  the  Irish  counties,  in 
which  my  friends  sport,  being  more  persecuted,  and  consequently  more  on  the 
alert  against  her  enemies;  and  I speak  from  personal  knowledge  of  both 
countries. 

“With  respect  to  the  points  of  economy  to ’which  allusion  has  not  already 
been  made,  and  to  habits  generally,  there  is  a very  great  similarity  between  the 
two  species.  Thus  the  places  selected  for  the  4 form’  are  the  same,  as  are  those 
for  the  reception  of  the  young ; the  number  of  the  latter,  except  in  extraordinary 
cases,  being  four  or  five.  By  intelligent  gamekeepers  both  are  considered  to 
produce  five  times  in  the  course  of  the  year.  When  the  parent  has  been  killed, 
I have  seen  the  young  extracted  with  their  eyes  full  open,  and  within  the  first 
hour  of  their  untimely  birth  able  to  run  about.  Towards  the  end  of  their  third 
week,  the  leverets  are  said  to  be  independent  of  their  parent ; and  at  this  time, 
what  Daniel,  in  his  Rural  Sports,  remarks  of  the  English  hares,  equally  applies 
to  the  Irish, — that  ‘ when  we  meet  with  one  young  hare  we  are  almost  certain  of 
finding  more  within  a small  distance.’ 

“ The  Irish  hare  changes  its  quarters  according  to  the  weather,  leaving  situ- 
ations exposed  to  cold  winds  for  more  sheltered  places. 

“ In  the  choice  of  food  I am  not  aware  of  any  difference  between  the  two 
species.  In  the  severity  of  winter,  when  the  Irish  hares  betake  themselves  to 
the  flower-garden,  the  delicate  leaves  of  the  pink  or  carnation  are  especial 
favourites;  in  the  kitchen-garden,  parsley  and  the  more  tender  varieties  of  cab- 
bage, young  plants  of  the  cauliflower  and  broccoli  being  preferred  to  any  of  the 
coarser  kinds ; and  in  young  plantations,  consisting  of  an  average  number  of 
species  of  deciduous  forest  trees,  I have  particularly  remarked  their  predilection 
for  the  oak,  not  another  species  being  touched  until  the  whole  of  these  had  been 
first  barked. 

“ Mr.  Bell  observes  that  the  English  hare  ‘ swims  well,  and  takes  the  water 
readily,  not  for  the  purpose  of  escaping  from  pursuit  merely,  but  for  the  sake  of 
obtaining  a plentiful  supply  of  food.’  This  applies  equally  well  to  the  Irish 
hare,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  clause  of  the  sentence,  for  which  I cannot 
vouch,  though  I have  no  doubt  of  its  accuracy  also,  a friend,  when  quietly 
angling,  having  once  observed  a hare,  that  was  quite  undisturbed,  enter  and  swim 
across  a deep  pool  of  a mountain-stream,  though  by  going  a very  short  way 
lower  down  she  could  have  passed  in  the  usual  manner. 

“ When  collecting  marine  productions,  in  company  with  Mr.  Hyndman, 
about  the  entrance  to  Strangford  Lough,  in  January,  1835,  we,  at  different 
times  in  one  day,  started  two  hares  that  were  lying  very  far  out  upon  low  rocks, 
upon  which  marine  plants  only  vegetated.;  and  had  one  of  them  remained  undis- 
turbed for  only  a few  minutes,  longer,  she  would,  without  resorting  to  swimming, 
have  been  cut  off  from  the  mainland  until  the  tide  had  ebbed,  the  rocks  being 
insulated  for  at  least  the  half  of  every  twelve  hours. 

“Were  such  instances  as  the  one  mentioned  of  the  hare  swimming  across 
the  stream,  rather  than  go  a short  way  about,  general  (which  they  are  not  as- 
serted to  be),  it  would  seem  that,  when  undisturbed,  this  animal  has  less  aver- 


26 


LEPORID^E. 


sion  to  swimming  than  to  leaping,  as,  by  his  disinclination  to  the  latter  exertion, 
by  far  the  greater  portion  killed  in  the  higher  grounds  of  Ireland  fall  victims. 
When  a few  stones  are  removed  from  the  base  of  the  loose  mountain-walls, 
though  their  entire  height  be  very  inconsiderable,  the  hare  will  take  advantage 
of  the  opening,  rather  than  leap  the  wall ; a habit  so  universally  known,  that 
by  snares  placed  in  these  apertures  they  are  easily  secured,  and  chiefly  when 
going  to,  or  returning  from,  their  feeding  ground.  On  this  habit  a difference 
was  observed  by  a person  employed  as  gamekeeper  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Belfast,  and  who  had  previously  served  in  the  same  capacity  in  Scotland.  This 
man  remarked,  with  some  surprise,  that  in  a field  where  hares  were  generally 
numerous,  and  which  was  separated  from  a plantation  where  they  were  pre- 
served by  a mill-race,  over  which  was  a wooden  pipe,  that  they  invariably, 
when  disturbed,  ran  for  and  crossed  over  it,  rather  than  leap  the  race,  which 
the  Scotch  hare  would  have  done.  Although  it  has  been  thought  proper  to  men- 
tion such  trivial  facts,  yet  no  stress  is  laid  upon  them,  as  we  find  many  animals 
very  much  influenced  by  immediate  circumstances. 

“ In  the  descriptions  of  the  Lepus  timidus  I have  read,  there  is  not  any  notice 
of  their  herding  together,  when  numerous ; but  the  intelligent  gamekeeper  be- 
fore alluded  to  states,  that  in  Northamptonshire  he  has  frequently  seen  them, 
when  driven  out  of  a plantation,  congregate  together,  to  the  number  of  about 
thirty,  in  the  open  ground.  Where  the  Irish  hares  abound,  their  gregarious  pro- 
pensity is  a marked  character.  In  several  demesnes  in  the  North  of  Ireland, 
when  they  were  carefully  preserved,  they,  on  becoming  plentiful,  herded  to- 
gether like  deer,  and  thus  have  I repeatedly  seen  from  one  to  three  hundred 
moving  together  in  one  body  like  these  animals.  In  all  these  demesnes  they 
eventually  increased  to  such  an  extent  as  to  prove  most  destructive  to  the  plant- 
ations, &c.,  and  were  consequently  destroyed  in  great  numbers;  from  a demesne 
in  the  County  of  Down  they,  on  several  occasions,  have  been  sent  into  Belfast 
by  the  cart-load.  This  herding  together  is  not  the  result  of  what  might  be  per- 
haps considered  semi-domestication  in  the  demesne  or  park ; as,  in  a perfectly  free 
and  wild  state,  when  permitted  to  increase,  they  exhibit  the  same  social  and 
gregarious  habit.”  * 

After  the  preceding  paper  was  written,  I had  opportunities — in  the 
month  of  September,  1842,  spent  in  shooting-quarters,  at  Aberarder,  in 
Inverness-shire— of  occasionally  meeting  with  the  Alpine  hare  on  the 
mountains,  and  of  examining  several  individuals  which  were  shot;  and  I 
subsequently  saw  numbers  of  them  in  Aberdeen  and  Edinburgh. 

In  these  specimens  I could  not  perceive  any  material  difference  in  form 
from  that  of  the  Irish  hare ; and  the  dissimilarity  in  colour  consisted  only 
in  a different  shade  of  grey.  This  I did  not  consider  of  any  value  as  a 
specific  character,  having  observed  that  the  general  hue  of  the  Alpine 
hares  varied  in  Scottish  localities  at  the  same  season,  and  that  the  bluish- 
grey  tint  was  sometimes  assumed  by  the  Irish  hare.  In  the  succeeding 
winter  I examined,  osteologically,  specimens  from  Scotland  and  Ireland, 
and  found  no  greater  differences  than  I had  seen  existing  between  Irish 


* “ A sporting  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  for  seven  or  eight  years  kept  a 
number  of  native  hares  in  a large  yard  in  the  town  of  Belfast,  chiefly  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  up  a sufficient  supply  for  his  hunting-ground,  and  in  this  he 
was,  from  the  first,  successful,  as  the  females  produced  three  times  in  the  year. 
The  males,  perhaps  from  an  undue  proportion  relatively  to  the  females,  fought 
so  violently,  that,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  a few  of  them  were  emasculated,  and,  in 
consequence,  grew  to  an  amazing  size.  The  same  gentleman  kept  one  of  these 
hares  for  several  years,  fastened,  like  a dog,  by  a chain  and  collar.  Those  which 
had  their  liberty  in  the  yard  (which  was  extensive)  never  became  tame;  but 
when  taken  young,  and  pains  are  bestowed  upon  them,  they  exhibit  considerable 
docility,  and  have  been  taught  to  play  tricks,  such  as  to  beat  a drum,  &c.” 


THE  HAliE. 


27 


specimens  contrasted  with  each  other.  At  the  meeting  of  the  British 
Association,  held  at  Cork,  in  1843,  I briefly  stated  the  foregoing  circum- 
stances, as  noticed  in  the  report  of  that  year’s  proceedings  (p.  68  of  Trans, 
of  the  Sections),  from  which  the  following  is  extracted : — 

“ Mr.  Thompson  exhibited  specimens  of  the  Alpine  hare  ( Lepus  variabilis ) 
from  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  of  the  hare  of  Ireland  ( Lepus  Hibernicus ), 
for  the  purpose  of  showing-  that  the  species  are  identical.  Of  this  fact  he, 
judging  from  the  external  characters,  satisfied  himself  last  autumn,  when  in  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  subsequently  proved  it,  by  a comparison  of  the  ana- 
tomical characters  of  the  two  supposed  species.” 

The  difference  in  habit  between  the  latter  is  certainly  very  remark- 
able, and  will,  by  some  naturalists,  be  considered  sufficient  to  mark  them 
as  distinct — the  one  being  generally  an  Alpine  species,  and  the  other 
being  distributed  over  Ireland,  from  the  sea-side  to  the  mountain-tops — 
but  without  a marked  difference  in  structure  I am  not  content  to  note 
them  as  distinct. 

A female  Alpine  hare,  shot  at  Aberarder,  on  21st  September,  1842,  and 
which  I had  preserved,  weighed  6 lb.  2 oz.  One  shot  next  day  weighed 
6^  lbs.  These  hares  had  no  appearance  of  whiteness  in  their  fur ; nor  had 
others  which  I saw  in  the  market  of  Aberdeen,  in  the  first  week  of  Octo- 
ber. Their  colour  was  dark  bluish-grey.  The  keeper  at  Aberarder  said 
that  the  Alpine  hares  are  often  larger  than  the  specimens  I have  referred 
to  ; and  that  in  winter  he  sees  them  everywhere  over  the  actual  moun- 
tain-ground, but  never  on  the  plain,  though  it  is  but  a step  from  the  one 
to  the  other.  I have,  however,  been  assured  by  Mr.  Simpson,  who  had 
charge  of  a sheep-farm  for  several  years,  in  the  south-east  of  Caithness, 
that  he  often  saw  Alpine  hares  in  the  turnip  fields  in  the  low  grounds. 

When  in  the  Isle  of  Skye,  in  1850,  I found  that  the  Alpine  hare 
(L.  variabilis)  was  not  known  to  exist  there.  The  L.  timidus  had  been 
introduced  to  parts  of  the  island. 

In  the  work  of  A.  G.  Keyserling  and  Professor  J.  H.  Blasius,  upon  the 
vertebrate  animals  of  Europe  (“  Die  Wirbelthiere  Europas,  von  A.  G. 
Keyserling  and  Professor  J.  H.  Blasius,  Erstes  Buch,  1840”),  it  is  re- 
marked that  Lepus  Hibernicus  (Bell)  is,  according  to  the  statements  given 
up  to  the  present  time,  not  different  from  the  summer  garb  of  the  Lepus 
variabilis , and  does  not  become  white  in  winter  : — “ Anmerk.  Lepus 
Hibernicus , Bell,  Brit.  Quad.,  p.  341,  ist  nach  den  bisherigen  Angaben 
von  der  Sommertracht  des  L.  variabilis  nicht  unterschieden ; sol  in  winter 
nicht  weiss  werden.”  In  that  part  of  the  work  devoted  to  specific  charac- 
ters, pp.  30,  31,  L.  variabilis  and  L.  timidus  are  included,  but  the  term 
Hibernicus  does  not  occur. 

For  these  particulars  I am  indebted  to  my  friend  Mr.  Yarrell. 

With  reference  to  the  degree  of  importance  which  should  attach  to  the 
variations  of  colour  observable  in  Alpine  hares,  the  following  remarks  of 
Mr.  Bell  (Brit.  Quad.  p.  346)  should  be  borne  in  mind.  Speaking  of 
the  Alpine  hare,  he  says : — “ I have  retained  the  name  variabilis , given 
to  this  species  by  Pallas,  although  that  of  Brisson,  albus,  has  the  priority. 
The  latter  name,  however,  could  not,  with  propriety,  have  been  retained, 
as  it  refers  to  a character  which  is  only  inflicted  upon  the  animal  by  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  climate  and  temperature ; there  can  be  no 
doubt  that,  were  it  to  remain  in  a mild  temperature  during  the  winter , the 
ivhite  colour  would  never  appear ; as  is,  indeed,  proved  by  the  fact,  that 
when  the  winter  is  unusually  mild,  the  coat  never  assumes  a pure  un- 
mixed whiteness.”  The  same  author  describes  the  Irish  hare  as  “ of  a 


28 


LEPORID.E. 


uniform  reddish-brown  colour  on  the  back  and  sides.”  I have  already 
shown,  however,  that  it  is  subject  to  considerable  variation  in  this  re- 
spect, and  I have  now  to  add  the  following  memoranda  on  the  same  sub- 
ject:— 

Mr.  It.  Davis,  in  a communication  dated  9th  September,  1837,  informed 
me,  that  on  the  4th  of  April,  in  that  year,  a hare,  “ of  almost  a pure 
white  colour,”  was  killed  near  Mitchelstown.  “ The  face,  under  side  of 
paws  up  to  knee,  and  a few  very  small  spots  on  each  side,  were  of  the 
natural  colour,  and  a number  of  dark  grey  hairs  occurred  along  the  mid- 
dle of  the  back.”  On  the  9th  Feb.,  1842,  the  same  gentleman,  writing 
from  Clonmel,  added,  “ I got  this  day  a hare  with  the  lower  half  of  the 
back,  and  a patch  between  the  ears,  white,  and  the  other  parts  of  a much 
lighter  colour  than  ordinary.  Hares  seem  subject  to  much  variety  of 
colour.”  During  the  second  week  of  February,  1842,  I saw  about  half  a 
dozen  hares  from  Shane’s  Castle-Park  (County  Antrim),  which  were  partly 
white,  especially  the  hinder  portions,  and  about  the  head  and  ears. 

Diehard  Chute,  Esq.,  of  Blennerville  (County  Kerry),  remarked,  in 
notes  which  he  supplied  to  me  some  years  ago,  that  he  had,  during  one 
winter  (about  1842)  observed  a great  number  of  white  hares  in  that 
county,  owing,  as  he  supposed,  to  the  severity  of  the  season.  He  had 
remarked  them  to  be  much  whiter  in  some  years  than  others,  as,  indeed, 
I have  myself  done.  This  does  not  accord  with  my  theory,  that  the 
whiteness  is  assumed  with  age. 

About  the  middle  of  January,  1845,  Edmund  M‘Donnell,  Esq.,  of 
Glenarm  Castle  (County  Antrim),  presented  to  the  Belfast  Museum,  in  a 
fresh  state,  the  whitest  Irish  hare  I have  ever  seen — even  whiter  than  a 
winter  Alpine  one  obtained  in  the  same  season.  It  was  killed  on  his 
grounds.  Mr.  M‘Donnell  stated  that  this  hare  had  been  for  some  time 
known  to  the  people  of  the  district  in  which  it  lived,  and  that  they  had 
abstained  from  injuring  it,  not  on  its  own  account,  but  because  they  con- 
sidered that  it  would  be  unlucky  to  do  so. 

On  8th  March,  in  the  same  year  (1845),  J.  Crichton,  Lord  Doden’s 
gamekeeper,  at  Tollymore  Park  (County  Down),  gave  me  the  following 
information “ We  have  a great  number  of  white  hares  on  the  moun- 
tain ; some  of  them  snow-white.” 

In  December,  1847,  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman  saw  a white  hare  at  Masse- 
reene  deer-park  (County  Antrim).  He  Avas  informed,  in  reply  to  his  in- 
quiries, that  it  had  been  first  observed  during  the  previous  winter,  and 
had  assumed  in  spring  the  ordinary  brown  colour,  though  of  a rather 
lighter  shade,  so  as  to  individualize  it  amongst  others.  It  frequented  the 
same  place,  and  its  identity  was,  therefore,  unquestioned. 

A hare  which  was  entirely  of  a sooty  black  colour  w'as  seen  by  Mr.  J. 
R.  Garrett,  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  Glennon,  taxidernist,  Dublin,  in  January, 
1850.  It  had  been  recently  sent  from  the  County  of  Kildare  to  be  pre- 
served. 

Fleming  and  Bell  have  described  the  lips  of  the  Alpine  hare  of  Scot- 
land as  being  always-  black.  My  own  observations,  however,  accord  more 
closely  with  those  of  Mr.  Macgillivray,  viz. — “lips  and  chin  brownish- 
white.” 

Rutty,  who  published  his  Natural  History  of  the  County  of  Dublin  in 
1772,  was  aware  of  the  difference  in  quality  between  the  furs  of  the 
English  and  Irish  hares.  In  vol.  i.  p.  280  of  that  work,  he  says  : — 

“ Lepus  — The  Hare. — The  finer  and  under  part  of  the  hair,  next  to  the  skin, 
is  used  in  making  hats,  being  mixed  Avith  rabbits’  hair,  and  the  wool  of  vigogne. 


THE  HARE. 


29 


from  Peru ; and  it  is  exported,  though  reckoned  far  inferior  to  the  English,  and 
fit  only  for  the  coarser  hats.” 

In  1843  I was  informed  by  a friend  resident  in  Glasgow  that  the  skins 
of  the  common  or  lowland  hare  ( Lepits  timidus ) were  worth,  in  that  city, 
fivepence  each,  while  those  of  the  Alpine  hare  (. Lepus  variabilis ) were  only 
worth  twopence  each.  As  an  article  of  food,  also,  the  Alpine  species  was 
considered  much  inferior,  being  not  “ gude  for  soup,  but  puir  fusionless 
things ! ” 

•The  following  paragraph,  which  I extract  from  The  Glasgow  Herald, 
of  19th  January,  1849,  shows  how  this  species  may  increase  in  numbers, 
when  undisturbed : — 

“ White  Hares. — A landed  gentleman  connected  with  this  county,  but  at 
present  located  in  a different  part  of  Scotland,  says, — I have  not  yet  seen  noticed 
in  any  of  the  journals  the  immense  increase  of  white  hares  which  has  taken 
place  within  a year  or  two  on  the  Grampian  mountains.  A few  days  since,  a 
gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  told  me  that  it  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  to 
see  five  or  six  hundred  of  them  during  a single  day’s  sport.  Near  the  close  of 
the  grouse  season,  a friend  who  has  shootings  on  the  Earl  of  Airlie’s  property, 
amidst  the  fastnesses  alluded  to,  went  out  for  the  purpose  of  killing  a few  brace 
of  birds.  I believe  he  found  muirfowl  very  scarce ; but  during  the  lapse  of  two 
hours  he  shot  twenty-eight  white  hares,  and,  if  inclined,  might  have  easily 
trebled  the  number.  Unlike  the  furred  game  of  a different  colour,  the  white 
mawkins,  when  started  from  their  forms,  make  a circuit,  and  then  return  to  the 
spot  previously  quitted— a great  advantage,  of  course,  to  sportsmen  aware  of  this 
peculiar  habit.  From  fecundity  in  breeding  they  have  become  vermin,  and  as 
such  very  annoying  to  the  shepherds,  some  of  whom  won  not  far  from  the  sheep- 
walks  where  old  Norval  of  yore  ‘ fed  his  flocks,  a frugal  swain.’  Their  glutton- 
ous powers  are  further  complained  of;  and,  as  they  uniformly  reive  the  best  of 
the  pastures,  competition  so  formidable  is  expected  to  tell  on  the  condition  of 
the  hirsels,  when  marketing  time  comes  round.  Feathered  game  shun  the 
haunts  where  the  reivers  congregate ; and  parties,  I know,  who  have  shootings 
adjoining,  one  and  all  declare  they  can  get  nothing  now  but  white  hares.” — 
Dumfries  Courier. 

The  usual  number  of  young  borne  by  the  Irish  hare  seems  to  be  three  ; 
but  I have  learned  from  two  gamekeepers,  on  whom  I can  place  reliance, 
that  they  have,  although  rarely,  observed  four.  And  my  friend  Thomas 
Sinclaire,  Esq.,  on  one  occasion,  in  the  month  of  May,  took  six  young 
ones  out  of  an  Irish  hare,  which  weighed  81b.  before  being  opened. 

The  following  note  on  “ remarkable  change  of  habit  in  the  hare  ” ap- 
peared in  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  v.  p.  262  : — 

“ April  22,  1842. 

“My  Dear  Lord, — I send  you  the  story  of  the  hares  I told  at  Florence  Court. 
Major  Bingham  is  the  proprietor  alluded  to;  and  my  father  related  the  story,  in 
a lecture  for  the  Zoological  Society  on  the  instinct  of  animals. — Most  truly  yours, 

“ S.  G.  Otway. 

“ To  the  Earl  of  Enniskillen.” 

“ A considerable  landed  proprietor  has  a large  tract  of  sandhills  within  the 
muljet,  which  tract  (open  as  it  is  to  all  the  Atlantic  storms)  has  been  found 
to  have  been  greatly  impaired  by  the  introduction  of  rabbits,  who,  by  their  bur- 
rowing and  disturbing  the  bent-grass,  gave  facilities  to  the  wind  to  operate,  and 
so  the  sandhills  were,  year  after  year,  changing  their  position,  encroaching  on  the 
cultivated  ground.  To  remedy  this,  he  determined  to  destroy  the  rabbits,  and, 
in  their  place,  introduced  hares,  which,  he  knew,  or  thought  he  knew,  would 
not  burrow  ; but  here  he  was  mistaken  ; for  the  animal  soon  found  that  it  must 
leave  the  district,  or  change  its  habit ; for  if,  on  a winter  night,  it  attempted  to 


30 


LEPORIDiE. 


sit  in  its  accustomed  form,  it  would  find  itself  buried,  perhaps  twenty  feet,  in  the 
morning,  under  the  blowing  sand,  as  under  a snow-rath.  Accordingly,  the  hares 
have  burrowed ; they  choose  out  a thin  and  high  sandhill,  which  stands  somewhat 
like  a solidified  wave  of  the  sea.  Through  this  Puss  perforates  a hoi’izontal  hole, 
from  east  to  west,  with  a double  opening ; and  seating  herself  at  the  mouth  of 
the  windward  orifice  she  there  awaits  the  storm ; and  as  fast  as  her  hill  wastes 
away  she  draws  back,  ready  at  all  times  to  make  a start,  in  case  the  storm  rise 
so  as  to  carry  off  the  hill  altogether.” 

The  Rabbit,  Lepus  cuniculus,  Linn., 

Is  common  over  the  island. 

This  animal  passes  under  the  names  of  burrow  and  bush  rabbit,  in  the 
North  of  Ireland : the  former  term  being  applied  to  those  which  burrow 
in  the  ground,  in  the  ordinary  manner  ; and  the  latter,  to  such  as  live  in 
“ forms,”  like  the  hare,  among  bushes  or  underwood.  Dr.  R.  Ball  in- 
forms me,  that  he  has  long  been  aware  of  the  difference  of  habit  and  ap- 
pearance between  burrow  and  bush  rabbits,  in  the  County  of  Cork  ; and 
the  Rev.  G.  F.  Dawson,  in  a short  communication  published  by  him  in 
the  “ Zoologist,”  vol.  iii.  p.  903,  refers  to  the  bush-rabbit  or  stubb-rabbit,  as 
distinguished  in  Bedfordshire.  The  departure  from  their  usual  habits  is, 
I conceive,  only  resorted  to  by  rabbits  where  the  soil  is  unsuited  to  bur- 
rowing. 

My  friend  Mr.  W.  Ogilby  informs  me  that  he  has  frequently,  in  the 
North  of  Ireland,  witnessed  the  partiality  of  both  hares  and  rabbits  for 
Swedish  over  other  kinds  of  turnips,  the  former  being  selected  even 
when  a field  of  the  latter  intervened. 

Captain  Kennedy,  of  Finnart  (Ayrshire),  told  me,  in  1843,  that,  within 
twrelve  months,  upwards  of  four  thousand  rabbits  were  killed  on  his  pro- 
perty there  a few  years  previously.  All  the  rabbits  I saw  (about  a 
dozen)  one  evening,  in  driving  through  Glenappe,  and  on  Captain  K.’s 
property,  were  jet  black. 

Howitt,  in  his  “ Book  of  the  Seasons  ” (August),  describes  a fight,  wit- 
nessed by  him.  between  a rabbit  and  a large  weasel,  in  which  the  latter 
was  worsted.  He  supposed  that  it  had  been  intending  an  attack  on  the 
young  rabbits  in  the  burrow,  when  it  was  met,  several  times,  by  the 
parent,  and  repelled. 

Mr.  W.  Darragh  (Curator  of  the  Belfast  Museum)  once  had  a domesti- 
cated male  rabbit,  which  not  only  partook  of  cooked  flesh-meat,  but 
greatly  preferred  this  food  to  any  vegetables ; it  was  in  the  habit  of 
w'atching  for  a bone,  just  as  a dog  would  do,  and  of  gnawing  it  in  like 
manner,  when  obtained.  This  rabbit  evinced  no  fear  of  dogs  or  cats  ; 
and  was  so  courageous  as  to  attack  any  one  who  pointed  a finger  or  stick 
at  it.  It  showed  great  fondness  for  music,  stationing  itself  close  to  the 
performer,  and  sitting  erect  in  a very  ludicrous  attitude. 

The  Red-Deer,  Cervus  elaphus,  Linn. 

“ Oh,  Forest-king!  the  fair  succeeding  morns 
That  brighten  o’er  these  hills  shall  miss  your  crest 
From  their  sun-lighted  peaks  ! ” * 

This  species,  once  abundant  over  Ireland,  is  now  confined  to  the  wilder 
parts  of  Connaught,  as  Erris  and  Connemara ; and  to  a few  localities  in 
the  south,  more  especially  the  vicinity  of  the  Lakes  of  Killarney. 

* Lines  applied  to  the  red-deer,  in  Mrs.  Norton’s  “ Child  of  the  Islands.” — 
Autumn , Canto  ix. 


THE  RED  DEER. 


31 


When  on  a tour  through  the  West  and  South  of  Ireland,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1834,  I was  informed  that  there  were,  at  that  time,  only  twenty- 
five  red-deer  in  Connaught — thirteen  of  these  in  Connemara,  and  twelve 
in  the  barony  of  Erris.  My  informant  added,  that,  in  the  previous  year, 
two  full-grown  animals  (one  a stag)  were  shot  with  one  ball.  Dr.  Har- 
vey * in  a letter  dated  6th  October,  1840,  remarked,  in  reference  to  this 
species,  that  it  “ was,  and,  I believe,  still  is,  in  small  numbers  in  the  Gal- 
tee  mountains,  County  Tipperary.” 

Mr.  George  Jackson,  Lord  Bantry’s  gamekeeper,  at  Glengariff,  stated, 
in  a communication  which  I received  from  him  in  February,  1850,  that 
there  were  still  some  red-deer  there,  which  were  encouraged  as  much  as 
possible. 

In  Payne’s  “ Brife  Description  of  Ireland”  (1589),  already  quoted,  we 
learn  that  a person  might  buy  “ a fat  Pigge,  one  pound  of  Butter,  or  ii. 
gallons  of  new  milke,  for  a penny  ; a reede  deare,  ivithout  the  s/cinne,  for 
ii  s.  vi  d. ; a fat  Beefe  for  xiii  s.  iiii  d. ; a fat  mutton  for  xviii  d.” 

“ The  Co.  of  Maio  * * * is  rich  in  cattle,  deer,  hawks,  and 
honey.” — Camden’s  “Britannia”  (Gough’s  edition),  vol.  iii.  p.  585. 

In  the  same  work  (p.  644)  it  is  stated,  that  the  mountains  adjacent  to 
Lough  Esk  (County  Donegal)  “ abound  with  red-deer” 

The  following  extract  is  from  a report  of  a meeting  of  the  Geological 
Society  of  Dublin,  held  on  8th  November,  1843  : — 

“ Mr.  C.  W.  Hamilton  submitted  to  the  notice  of  the  society  a magnificent 
series  of  the  horns  of  the  red-deer  ( Cervus  elaphus),  from  Ballinderry  Lake, 
County  Westmeath.  One  pair  of  gigantic  proportions,  having  nineteen  tynes, 
possessed  also  the  unusual  quality  of  being,  in  huntsman’s  parlance,  ‘ Doubly 
Royal,’  or  giving  indication  of  a double  palmation  near  their  terminations an 
occurrence  of  a rare  kind,  and  the  result  of  very  advanced  age  in  the  animal. 
The  lake  in  which  these  interesting  remains  were  found  is  marshy  and  shallow  ; 
and  when,  on  a bright  day,  the  tourist  gazes  down  into  the  clear  water,  he  sees 
beneath  him,  protruding  from  the  sedgy  bottom,  not  the  e Round  Towers  of  other 
days,’  but  the  proud  antlers  of  the  ancient  and  lordly  red-deer,  as  much  an  ob- 
ject of  wonder  and  admiration  as  those  structures  of  human  hands  which  have 
outlived  the  ruin  qf  empires.  Projecting  into  the  lake  is  a low  promontory  of 
marshy  land,  the  soil  of  which,  when  turned  up  by  the  spade,  is  found  to  con- 
tain vast  numbers  of  antiques,  both  of  stone  and  bronze,  as  well  as  bones  and 
teeth,  with  fragments  of  the  horns  of  the  red-deer.  At  either  side  of  this  pro- 
montory is  a row  of  massive  piles  or  stakes,  extending  into  the  lake,  below  its 
surface,  and  converging  to  a point  somewhere  about  its  centre.  These  subaque- 
ous stakes  can  be  traced  until  the  deepening  of  the  water  blots  them  from  the 
view.  From  the  fact  of  the  antiques  being  found  associated  with  the  remains  of 
the  deer,  it  is  clearly  proved  that  these  animals  were  coeval  with  the  earlier 
settlers  on  our  island,  who  used  the  bronze,  which  has  been  considered  as  similar 
to  that  ascribed  to  the  Phoenicians.  From  the  appearance  of  the  stakes  extend- 
ing into  the  lake,  Mr.  Hamilton  proposed  an  ingenious  theory  to  account  for  the 
accumulation  of  the  bones.  He  supposes  the  double  row  of  these  piles  to  have 
formed  a snare,  used  by  the  early  hunters  to  entrap  the  deer  ; and  their  making 
it  extend  into  the  lake  was  a mode  of  construction  induced  by  a long  practical 
experience  of  the  fact,  that  these  animals  are  much  more  easily  subdued  when 
immersed  in  water,  while  swimming,  than  when  encountered  on  land,  even 
though  attacked  by  that  powerful  breed  of  dog  then  existing, — the  Irish  hound. 
The  stakes  were  probably  at  first  elevated  above  the  level  of  the  water,  but  have 
been  decomposed  by  the  action  of  the  atmosphere  and  other  causes.  In  the 
same  way,  supposing  a numerous  drove  of  animals,  congregated  by  a cordon  of 
hunters,  to  the  margin  of  the  lake,  and  driven  into  its  treacherous  waters,  many 
would  be  destroyed  by  drowning ; and  their  carcasses,  sinking  to  the  bottom, 
would,  after  a time,  be  decomposed,  and  their  bones  and  antlers  be  entombed  in 


32 


CERVIDJE. 


the  mud  ; others  might  he  captured,  and  the  most  useful  portions  of  the  animals 
reserved  for  food,  while  the  head  and  horns  would  be  either  buried,  or  flung  into 
the  ever  ready  waters;  others,  again,  would  be  feasted  on  by  the  well-appe- 
tized  hunters,  and  the  refuse  thrown  away.  Suppose  a recurrence  of  such 
scenes,  through  the  lapse  of  perhaps  ages  (for  this  locality  may  have  been  a 
favourite  resort  of  the  huntsmen),  and  such  an  accumulation  of  bones,  horns, 
and  antique  ornaments,  as  at  present  found,  is  easily  accounted  for.”* 

In  December,  1847,  I got  a very  fine  horn  of  the  red-deer,  dug  out  of 
solid  sand,  four  feet  beneath  its  surface,  in  the  excavation  then  being 
made  for  a new  channel  in  Belfast  harbour.  Other  horns  of  the  same 
species  were  also  found  there  about  the  same  time.  The  cut  was  made  in 
the  line  of  what  was  supposed  to  have  been  the  original  channel  of  the 
river  Lagan. 

The  Fallow-Deer,  Cervus  dama,  Linn. 

Smith  in  his  History  of  Kerry  notices  herds  of  fallow-deer  as  frequent- 
ing the  “ mountains  ” in  that  county.  These  being  the  haunts  not  of  this 
animal,  but  of  the  stag  or  red- deer  (C.  elaphus),  the  latter  was  probably 
the  species  alluded  to,  especially  as  in  the  index  to  the  volume  appears 
“deer,  red  or  fallow.”  For  a long  period  the  fallow-deer  certainly  has 
not  been  found  in  any  part  of  Ireland  where  it  could  be  called  truly  wild. 

A horn  of  this  species  which  I possess  (through  the  kindness  of  Edward 
Benn,  Esq.,  of  Glenravel,  County  Antrim)  is  stated  to  have  been  dug  up 
from  a considerable  depth  in  a bog,  in  his  neighbourhood,  but  minute 
particulars  respecting  it  could  not  be  obtained.  It  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  observe  here,  that  the  C.  dama  is  now  well  known  to  inhabit 
Greece,  in  a wild  state.  Lord  Derby  for  some  years  possessed  a pair  of 
these  animals,  of  the  common  spotted  variety,  which  were  brought  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  Axinon  by  Lord  Nugent,  and  which,  as  I am  in- 
formed by  my  friend  Mr.  Ogilby,  who  examined  them  attentively  during 
a visit  to  their  noble  owner,  differ  in  no  respect  from  the  common  fallow- 
deer  of  our  parks.  Moreover,  as  remarked  by  the  same  gentleman,  the 
universal  application  of  the  word  dama  to  this  animal,  in  the  Italian, 
French,  Spanish,  and  other  modern  languages  derived  from  the  ancient 
Latin  (added  to  the  fact  of  the  animal  being  still  found  in  the  forests  of 
Italy,  where  there  are  no  parks  or  enclosures),  points  it  out  as  the  beast 
of  chase  so  frequently  mentioned  under  the  same  name  by  the  Roman 
poets.  Mr.  Ogilby  likewise  remarks,  that  it  is,  in  all  probability,  the 
Platyceras  of  Pliny,  or  rather  of  the  Greeks,  from  whom  he  copied.  It 
is  said,  in  a note  to  the  second  edition  of  the  Regne  Animal , to  have  been 
found  in  the  woods  of  Northern  Africa. 

In  the  communication  from  Mr.  G.  Jackson,  Glengariff,  referred  to  in 
treating  of  the  preceding  species,  he  added,  “ there  is  an  abundance  of 
fallow-deer,  which  are  all  at  large  through  the  woods  and  adjacent  moun- 
tains. They  had  become  so  numerous  as  to  do  great  injury  to  the 
farmers,  and  my  time  has  been  taken  up  shooting  the  does.” 

On  10th  February,  1838,  two  friends  accompanied  me  to  Shane’s  Castle- 
Park  (County  Antrim),  and  we  were  told  by  the  game-keeper  that  there 
were  then  about  three  hundred  head  of  fallow-deer  in  it.  A bushel  of 
beans  was  daily  given  to  them,  near  the  same  hour,  at  which  time  many 


* Dr.  Ball  considers  that  the  accumulation  of  red-deer  remains  in  Ballinderry, 
may  be  accounted  for  by  the  animals  having  fallen  through  in  attempting  to  pass 
over  the  ice  when  the  lake  was  frozen. 


THE  FALLOW-DEER. 


33 


of  them  congregated  around  the  place  where  they  were  fed.  We  accom- 
panied the  keeper  to  see  them  feeding,  and,  whilst  walking  along,  he 
hallooed  as  the  huntsman  does  to  his  hounds.  The  deer  came  tripping 
from  every  quarter,  and  it  was  extremely  beautiful  to  see  them  come  filing 
along.  On  looking  in  the  direction  from  which  most  of  them  came,  and  see- 
ing such  a multitude,  I was  reminded  of  Halliday’s  description  (in  the  United 
Service  J ournal)  of  some  of  tho  herds  of  antelopes  in  South  Africa. 

The  keeper  threw  the  beans  about,  as  if  sowing  broad-cast,  and  the 
deer  followed  us — the  nearest  being  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  yards  dis- 
tant. The  old  males  occasionally  butted  at  each  other,  and  attracted  our 
attention  by  the  rattling  of  their  horns  one  against  the  other.  The 
severe  cold  of  that  season  (1838)  had  not  been  fatal  to  any  of  the  deer  ; 
but  during  the  previous  winter,  which  was  very  wet,  great  numbers  died. 

When  on  a visit  at  Florence  Court,  in  October,  1840,  I learned  that 
many  of  the  deer  died  there,  in  the  course  of  the  last  wet  winter, 
although  they  had  plenty  of  food. 

The  destruction  of  a wounded  fallow-deer,  by  his  companions,  in  the 
deer-park,  near  Belfast,  is  referred  to  in  a foot  note  on  page  277  of  the  3rd 
volume  of  the  present  work.  Vide  “ Birds  of  Ireland.” 

Some  observations  on  the  red-deer  and  fallow-deer  will  be  found  in  Dr. 
Scouler’s  paper,  from  which  I have  given  an  extract  in  reference  to  the 
marten. 

The  Hoe-Deer,  Cervus  Capreolus,  Linn. 

I have  not  been  able  to  learn  that  this  species  ever  inhabited  Ireland  ; 
nor  have  I known  of  its  horns  having  been  disinterred  from  our  bogs. 


EXTINCT  ANIMALS 

OF  THE 

CLASS  MAMMALIA. 


(Terrestria.) 


The  Bear,  TJrsus  Arctos,  Linn. 

I am  not  aware  of  any  written  evidence  tending  to  show  that  the  bear 
was  ever  indigenous  to  Ireland,  but  a tradition  exists  of  its  having  been  so. 
It  is  associated  with  the  wolf  as  a native  animal  in  the  stories  handed 
down  through  several  generations  to  the  present  time. 

[See  observations  by  Dr.  It.  Ball,  in  reference  to  the  skulls  of  bears 
found  in  Ireland.  Trans.  It.  I.  Academy,  10th  Dec.,  1849. — Ed.] 

The  Wolf,  Canis  Lupus,  Linn. 

As  Dr.  Scouler  has  brought  together  the  facts  bearing  on  the  wolf 
(Journal  Geol.  Soc.  Dub.  vol.  i.  p.  225),  I shall  use  his  words  : — “ Great 
numbers  of  wolves  formerly  existed  in  Ireland,  and  they  maintained  their 


34 


MAMMALIA. 


ground  in  this  country  for  a longer  period  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
empire.  Campion,  whose  History  of  Ireland  was  published  in  1570,  in- 
forms us  that  wolves  were  objects  of  the  chase.  ‘They’  (the  Irish)  ‘are 
not,’  he  says,  ‘ without  wolves  or  greyhounds  to  hunt  them ; bigger  of  bone 
and  limme  than  a colt.’  A century  later  they  appear  to  have  been  equally 
abundant,  for  we  find  by  the  journals  of  the  House  of  Commons  that  in 
1662  Sir  John  Ponsonby  reported  from  the  Committee  of  Grievances,  that 
a bill  should  be  brought  in  to  encourage  the  killing  of  wolves  and  foxes. 
Effective  measures  for  this  purpose  appear  to  have  been  taken,  and  the 
wolf  was  at  last  extirpated  about  the  year  1710.  Dr.  Smith,  in  his  History 
of  Kerry,  when  speaking  of  certain  ancient  enclosures,  observes  that 
‘ many  of  them  were  made  to  secure  cattle  from  wolves,  which  animals 
were  not  finally  extirpated  till  the  year  1710,  as  I find  by  presentments  for 
raising  money  for  destroying  them  in  some  old  grand-jury  books.’  ” 

Three  places  in  Ireland  are  commemorated,  each  as  having  had  the  last 
Irish  wolf  killed  there,  viz.  one  in  the  south ; another  near  Glenarm ; 
and  the  third  (Wolfhill)  three  miles  from  Belfast. 

That  noble  race  of  domestic  animals  the  Irish  wolf-dog,  so  successfully 
used  in  the  pursuit  of  wolves,  has,  since  no  longer  required,  been  neglected, 
and  must  now,  I fear,  be  called  extinct.  In  reference  to  this  animal, 
Dr.  Scouler  gives  the  following  notice  (p.  266) : — 

“The  wolf-dog  must  now  be  included  in  the  list  of  lost  animals,  although 
the  date  of  its  disappearance  is  within  the  memory  of  people  still  living.  This 
race  appears  to  have  been  unknown  to  the  Romans,  although  that  people  appear 
to  have  put  a high  value  on  British  dogs.  Oppian,  who  has  given  a good  de- 
scription of  the  Scotch  terrier,  does  not  notice  the  Irish  wolf-dog.  Perhaps  the 
Irish  wolf-dog  is  alluded  to  by  Symmachus,  a writer  of  the  4th  century,  who  in- 
forms us  that  seven  Irish  hounds  (Septem  Scotii  Canes)  were  exhibited  in  the 
circus  at  Rome,  where  they  excited  admiration  on  account  of  their  strength  and 
fierceness.  The  Irish  wolf-dog  was  a very  distinct  race  from  the  Scotch  hound 
or  wolf-dog,  which  resembled  the  Irish  breed  in  size  and  courage,  but  differed 
from  it  by  having  a sharper  muzzle  and  pendent  ears.” 

[Notes  from  Scrope’s  Art  of  Deerstalking.] 

Irish  Wolf-dog,  Irish  Greyhound,  Highland  Deerhound,  and  Scotch  Greyhound 

are  the  same. — p.  334.  See  also  pp.  341,  342,  for  proof  of  Irish  wolf-dog  and 

Irish  greyhound  being  the  same. 

“ It  appears  froin  Symmachus  that  in  the  fourth  century  a number  of  dogs,  of 
a great  size,  were  sfent  in  iron  cages  from  Ireland  to  Rome.  * * It  is  not  im- 

probable that  the  dogs  so  sent  were  greyhounds,  particularly  as  we  learn  from  the 
authority  of  Evelyn  and  others  that  the  Irish  wolf-dog  was  used  for  the  fights  of 
the  bear-garden  ” (p.  335). 

“Judging  also  from  the  drawing  of  Lord  Altamont’s  dogs  given  by  Mr. 
Lambert  (Linnean  Transactions,  vol.  iii.),  and  from  the  measurement  taken  by 
him  in  1790,  it  is  evident  that  these  wolf-dogs,  as  they  are  called,  bore  no  re- 
semblance whatever  to  the  Irish  greyhound,  as  described  by  Holinshed,  with 
Avhich  also  they  hunted  wolves,  as  is  apparent  from  their  broad  pendulous  ears, 
hanging  lips,  hollow  backs,  heavy  bodies,  smooth  hair,  straight  hocks,  drooping 
tails,  and  party  colour;  but  were  in  all  probability  a remnant  of  the  old  Irish 
bloodhound,  which  was  frequently  used  for  tracking  wolves,  and  which,  at  a 
later  period,  might  have  been  mistaken  for  a species  then  in  that  country  nearly, 
if  not  altogether,  extinct.” 

Buffon  mentions  his  having  seen  an  Irish  greyhound  in  France,  “ which 
appeared,  when  sitting,  to  be  about  five  feet  high,  and  resembled  in  figure  the 
Danish  dog,  but  greatly  exceeded  him  in  stature.  He  was  totally  white,  and 


EXTINCT  SPECIES. 


35 


of  a mild  and  peaceable  disposition.” — (Quoted  by  Scrope,  p.  342.  See  also 
Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds,  p.  241.) 

[For  further  information  relative  to  the  former  abundance  of  wolves  in 
Ireland,  and  the  means  adopted  to  prevent  the  export  of  “ wolf- 
dogges,”  see  O’Flaherty’s  West  or  H-Iar  Connaught,  published  by 
the  Irish  Archaeological  Society,  and  the  Editor’s  notes. — Ed.] 

The  Ox,  Bos  Taurus , Linn. 

The  remains  of  a race  of  oxen,  believed  to  be  peculiar  to  Ireland,  are 
found  in  our  bogs.  The  distinguishing  characters  are,  “ the  convexity  of 
the  upper  part  of  the  forehead,  its  great  proportional  length,  and  the 
shortness  and  downward  direction  of  the  horns.” 

[See  an  abstract  of  a paper  by  Dr.  It.  Ball,  “ On  the  remains  of  Oxen 
found  in  the  bogs  of  Ireland,”  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Academy,  January  28th,  1839. — Ed.] 

Dr.  Scouler,  in  his  paper  already  quoted,  after  referring  to  several  of 
the  extinct  animals,  adds  : — “ If  we  now  compare  the  account  of  the  ex- 
tinct animals  of  Ireland  with  the  history  of  those  which  have  disappeared 
from  Britain,  we  will  find  several  remarkable  deficiencies  in  the  Irish  list. 
No  mention  has  been  made  of  the  bear,  the  beaver,  the  wild  ox , or  the 
fallow-deer ; and  if  animals  so  remarkable  from  their  size  and  habits  have 
escaped  all  notice  on  the  part  of  the  older  writers,  the  legitimate  conclu- 
sion appears  to  be,  that,  like  the  adder  and  the  blind-worm,  they  were 
not  indigenous  to  the  country.  * * Two  races  of  oxen  were  formerly 
inhabitants  of  Britain ; the  one  of  great  size,  whose  horns  are  found  in 
bogs,  but  of  whose  existence  we  have  no  traditionary  evidence.  These 
horns  have  attracted  attention  for  a long  time,  and  a very  good  figure  of 
them  is  given  by  Gesner,  who  obtained  his  specimen  from  England.  It 
is  remarkable  that  no  indication  of  the  former  existence  of  this  race  of 
oxen  in  Ireland  has  yet  occurred,  nor  could  I obtain  any  evidence  that 
they  have  ever  been  found  in  the  bogs  of  this  country.” 

The  second  and  smaller  race  is  still  pastured  in  England,  and  was 
abundant  in  the  Scotch  forests  at  no  very  remote  period,  but,  like  the 
greater  race,  we  have  yet  no  evidence  that  it  ever  was  a native  of  this 
country. 

The  Elk,  Cervus  Aloes , Linn. 

A horn  of  the  true  elk  ( C . Aloes),  as  noticed  by  me  in  the  “Proceedings 
of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  ” for  1837,  p.  53,  was  some  years 
since  presented  to  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Belfast.  It  was  given 
to  the  donor  by  a relative  residing  at  Stewartstown  (County  Tyrone),  who 
attached  much  value  to  it  as  a singular  relic  dug  out  of  a peat-bog  on  his 
own  property  in  that  neighbourhood.  That  it  was  so  obtained  I am  as- 
sured there  cannot  be  a doubt.  The  horn  is  that  of  a very  old  animal, 
and  quite  perfect.  On  removing  the  paint  with  which  it  was  besmeared, 
the  horn  certainly  presented  a fresh  appearance ; but  might  not  this  be 
attributed  to  the  well-known  preservative  property  of  the  soil  in  which  it 
is  said  to  have  been  found  P There  is  not,  that  I am  aware  of,  any  record 
of  this  animal  having  ever  existed  in  a wild  state  in  the  British  Isles ; 
but  as  it  inhabited  a wide  range  of  latitude  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
it  is  within  the  bounds  of  probability  to  believe  that  it  may  have  been  a 
native  species. 

d 2 


36 


PHOCIDiE. 


The  Wild  Boar,  Sus  Scrofa,  Linn. 

This  animal  was  at  one  period  common  in  Ireland,  but  has  long  since 
become  extinct. 

In  reference  to  this  species,  Dr.  Scouler  remarks  (p.  226) : — 

“ The  wild  boar  was  formerly  the  most  abundant  of  the  wild  animals  of  Ire- 
land. According  to  Giraldus  Cambrensis,  they  occurred  in  vast  numbers,  but 
they  were  a small,  deformed,  and  cowardly  race.  They  continued  to  be  plenti- 
ful down  to  the  17th  century.  I have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the  date  of 
their  extinction.” 

e Tusks  of  this  species  dug  up  in  our  bogs  are  often  of  goodly  dimen- 
sions. 


The  Gigantic  Irish  Deer  or  Fossil  Elk. 

Cervus  Megaceros. 

— Iiibernicus,  Desm. 

Megaceros  — Owen. 

We  have  not  discovered  amongst  Mr.  Thompson’s  MSS.  any  notes  respecting 
this  extinct  animal ; but  the  reader  will  find  full  information  on  the  subject  in 
Professor  Owen’s  “ History  of  British  Fossil  Mammalia  and  Birds,”  and  the 
several  works  there  quoted. 

“ Remarks  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Fossil  Elk,”  by  Dr.  Scouler,  ap- 
peared in  the  Journ.  of  the  Geol.  Society  of  Dublin,  vol.  i.  p.  197,  with  refer- 
ences to  other  authorities. 

Professor  Owen’s  work  likewise  contains  a notice  of  the  discovery  of  fossil 
teeth  of  a species  of  Horse  in  Ireland. — Ed.] 


SECTION  II— MAMMALIA  AQUATICA. 


The  Common  Seal,  Phoca  vitulina , Linn., 

Is  frequent  in  suitable  localities  around  the  coast.  Dr.  Ball,  in  a paper 
“ on  the  species  of  seals  inhabiting  the  Irish  seas,”  published  in  the  Royal 
Irish  Academy’s  Transactions  for  1838,  gives  interesting  information  on 
this  species.  The  following  is  an  extract : — 

“ On  the  30th  of  September  last  I received  fipm  my  friend  Mr.  Yates  a living 
specimen,  taken  two  days  before  at  Lissadell,  County  Sligo.  It  appeared  in 
perfect  health,  was  about  three  feet  eight  inches  in  length,  and  its  short  muzzle, 
high  forehead,  and  large  eyes,  strongly  distinguish  it  from  Halichcerus.  When 
wet,  it  is  almost  black,  variegated  with  whitish  slate  colour,  and  is  somewhat 
lighter  on  the  breast  than  on  the  other  parts  : when  dry,  it  is  of  a light,  pearly, 
grey  colour.  ' It  had,  when  I received  it,  a portion  of  long  fawn-coloured  hair 
on  its  flanks,  evidently  the  remains  of  a more  general  coat,  but  this  fell  off  in  a 
few  days.  On  turning  this  seal  out  on  the  grass  at  the  Zoological  Gardens  it 
advanced  fearlessly  on  the  person  nearest  to  it,  and  was  not  to  be  turned  aside, 
though  pretty  smartly  struck  with  a heavy  cloth.  Its  mode  of  battle  is,  when 
within  a proper  distance,  to  turn  on  its  side,  and  scratch  with  its  uppermost 
fore-paw,  which  it  is  able  to  extend  considerably,  and  use  with  great  power  and 


THE  COMMON  SEAL. 


37 


rapidity.  It  seldom  attempts  to  bite  ; and  I have  not  observed  it  snarl  in  the 
unpleasant  manner  uniformly  practised  by  all  the  Halichoeri  I have  seen  in  cap- 
tivity. It  has  a singular  and  effective  mode  of  progression,  accomplished  by 
convulsive  starting  jumps  as  it  lies  on  its  side,  with  its  fore-paws  on  its  breast, 
and  its  hind  ones  closely  pressed  together.  Its  ordinary  motion,  a sort  of  gallop, 
is  tolerably  rapid,  and  the  poAver  of  continuing  it  is  considerable,  as  was  evidenced 
by  its  having  passed  over  rough  ground,  to  a distance  of  at  least  a mile  and  a 
half,  on  escaping  one  night  from  the  place  in  which  it  was  confined.  This  ani- 
mal refused  food  for  twenty-tAvo  days  after  its  original  capture,  but  has  since 
fed  freely  on  Avhiting*  (Gadus  Merlangus),  which  is  swallowed  Avhole,  the  head 
merely  being  fii’st  a little  bruised.  It  knoAvs  the  keeper,  and  can  distinguish  at 
a distance  whether  he  has  fish  Avith  him  or  not.  Its  attention  seems  always  alive 
to  passing  objects,  and  Avhen  a bird  alights  in  its  cage  the  attempt  to  capture  it 
is  quite  laughable  : the  seal  commences  by  fixing  its  eyes  on  it  with  all  the  ap- 
parent earnestness  of  a pointer  dog,  then  makes  a plunge  head  foremost,  and,  on 
the  bird  escaping,  exhibits  very  evidently  its  disappointment.  A specimen 
similar  to  that  just  described  Avas  killed  with  small  shot  in  the  river  Liffey,  not  far 
from  the  Custom-house,  by  one  of  the  Coast  Guard  Service,  on  the  23rd  of 
October  last.  In  its  stomach  were  some  half-digested  fish,  AAdiich  appeared  to  be 
the  sand-launce  ( Ammodytes  Lancea).  I have  been  informed  that  seals  are  not 
unfrequent  in  this  river,  whither  they  are  supposed  to  follow  herrings.” 

Seals  have  been  becoming  gradually  more  scarce  of  late  years  in  Bel- 
fast Bay,  Avhere  a portion  of  the  coast  on  which  doubtless  they  were  once 
numerous  bears  the  name  of  Craig-a-vad, — i.  e.  the  Seal’s  Bock. 

In  parts  of  the  neighbouring  Strangford  Lough  and  also  at  Carlingford 
they  are  still  abundant. 


The  Bev.  George  M.  Black,  in  a letter  which  I received  from  him, 
dated  24th  October,  ’49,  says ; — “ I am  sometimes  interested  and  amused, 
when  occasionally  sailing  along  the  coast  in  summer  in  a small  pleasure 
boat,  by  a seal  noiselessly  putting  its  head  out  of  the.Avater,  perhaps  with- 
in ten  yards  of  me,  and  looking  at  me  Avith  its  glazy  eyes — then  as  sud- 
denly disappearing.  A small  island  at  the  entrance  of  Carlingford 
Lough  is  a favourite  haunt  of  theirs.  They  are  frequently  fired  at,  but 
unless  4 killed  dead'  as  we  say  in  Ireland,  are  seldom  got,  as  they  are  rarely 
ds  from  the  water,  which  they  make  their  way  into  as  quickly  as 


When  visiting  the  neighbourhood  of  Carlingford  on  9th  Sept.  1836,  I 
was  informed  that  the  abundance  of  seals  there  was  owing  chiefly  to  a 
prejudice  amongst  the  fishermen  that  it  is  unlucky  to  kill  them.  One  of  this 
craft  who  rowed  our  party  across  the  bay  stated,  that  a man  once  killed  a 
seal  which  was  entangled  in  his  herring-net,  and  that  he  never  caught  so 
much  as  “ a maze”  of  herrings  afterwards!  (See Edmonston’s  remarks  in 
Wernerian  Memoirs,  vol.  viii.  part  1.) 

In  June,  1832,  during  a visit  to  Horn  Head  (County  Donegal),  I was 
told  that  seals  are  killed  there  by  night  with  the  aid  of  torch-light.  They 
are  found  in  dry  eaves  and  despatched  with  clubs.  Many  years  ago 
— perhaps  forty,  prior  to  the  last-mentioned  date — the  servants  of  Mr. 
Stewart  of  the  Horn  are  said  to  have  killed  forty  in  this  manner  on  one 
night.  At  all  events  the  number  was  so  great  that  a song  was  composed 
in  commemoration  of  the  fate  of  the  seals.  The  gamekeeper  informed 
me  that  he  had  known  four  men  to  kill  twenty-four  seals  here,  within  two 
hours,  in  the  caves  at  low  water. 

This  mode  of  killing  seals  is  similar  to  that  adopted  on  the  coast  of 


* It  is  alloAved  6 lbs.  of  fish  per  diem , but  would  eat  much  more. 


33 


phocid^:. 


Caithness  at  the  time  of  Pennant,  and  circumstantially  described  by  him 
in  his  British  Zoology,  vol.  i.  p.  124. 

In  Maxwell’s  “ Wild  Sports  of  the  West,”  Letter  7,  a story  is  told  of  a 
seal  which  had  been  taken  when  young  in  Clew  Bay,  and  domesticated 
in  the  kitchen  of  a gentleman  whose  house  was  situated  on  the  sea-shore. 
There  it  remained  for  four  years,  and  so  great  was  its  attachment  to  this 
habitation  that  it  returned  three  times  after  having  been  as  frequently 
committed  to  the  deep,  at  a considerable  distance  from  the  shore,  with 
the  view  of  banishing  it.  On  the  last  of  these  occasions  it  had  been 
cruelly  deprived  of  sight,  but,  notwithstanding  this,  the  jjoor  animal  con- 
trived to  find  its  way  back  on  the  eighth  night  after  its  expulsion.  The 
same  writer  adds  the  following  note  : — In  January,  1819,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Burnt  Island,  a gentleman  completely  succeeded  in  taming  a 
seal.  Its  singularities  attracted  the  curiosity  of  strangers  daily.  It  ap- 
peared to  possess  all  the  sagacity  of  the  dog,  and  lived  in  its  master’s 
house  and  ate  from  his  hand.  In  his  fishing  excursions  this  gentleman 
generally  took  it  with  him  ; upon  which  occasions  it  afforded  no  small 
entertainment.  When  thrown  into  the  water  it  would  follow  for  miles 
the  track  of  the  boat,  and  although  thrust  back  by  the  oars,  it  never 
relinquished  its  purpose ; indeed,  it  struggled  so  hard  to  regain  its  seat 
that  one  would  imagine  its  fondness  for  its  master  had  entirely  overcome 
the  natural  predilection  for  its  native  element. 

At  Ballantrae  (Ayrshire),  on  29th  August,  1839, 1 purchased  a seal  of 
this  species  which  had  been  just  captured  in  the  salmon  nets  ; — a very  rare 
occurrence.  One  of  the  fishermen,  who  had  formerly  served  in  a Green- 
land whaler,  stated  that  in  the  north  he  had  seen  three  hundred  seals 
killed  in  one  day,  and  that  they  distinguished  five  kinds  by  colour.  The 
young  ones  they  had  taken  alive,  and  had  kept  for  a few  days  on  board, 
but  it  had  been  always  found  necessary  to  despatch  them,  in  consequence 
of  their  noise  at  night  preventing  the  sailors  from  sleeping. 

Some  interesting  notes  relative  to  seals  upon  the  western  coast  of  Ire- 
land in  the  seventeenth  century  will  be  found  in  O’Flaherty’s  West  or 
H-Iar  Connaught. — Butty  also  mentions  the  seal. 

The  Grey  Seal,  Halichoerus  Gryphus,  Ball, 

Has  been  found  around  the  coast  generally. 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Ball  for  distinguishing  this  species  as  a native 
of  the  British  seas.  Mr.  Bell,  in  his  History  of  British  Quadrupeds,  p. 
279,  et  seq.,  gives  full  and  valuable  notes  respecting  this  animal,  supplied 
to  him  by  Dr.  Ball,  and  the  latter  gentleman  has  given  further  informa- 
tion on  the  same  subject  in  his  paper  already  referred  to  in  connexion 
with  the  common  seal.  From  this  paper  I extract  the  following  note  con- 
tributed by  myself. 

“January  31st,  1837. 

“ George  Matthews,  Esq.  of  Springvale,  in  the  county  of  Down,  informed  me 
to-day  that  about  three  weeks  ago,  when  setting  out  to  shoot  wild-fowl  near 
Bally  waiter,  accompanied  by  an  attendant,  they  observed  an  old  and  young  seal 
upon  the  rocks,  at  such  a distance  from  the  sea  as  induced  them  to  commence  pur- 
suit in  the  hope  of  intercepting  them  on  their  return  to  it.  In  this  they  were  so 
far  successful  as  to  capture  the  young  one,  which  they  fastened  to  the  rock,  hoping 
that  its  cries,  which  they  compared  to  those  of  a calf,  might  attract  the  parent 
within  gun-shot.  They  then  concealed  themselves  to  the  windward  of  the  old 
one,  and  for  about  an  hour  and  a half  saw  it  emerge  at  the  distance  of  from 
four  to  five  hundred  yards  at  least  once  every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  but  oc- 


THE  GREY  SEAL. 


39 


casionally  much  more  frequently.  Seeing  that  it  came  no  closer  to  the  land, 
they  changed  their  position  to  leeward,  which  they  had  no  sooner  done  than  its 
nearer  approach  was  apparent ; and  when  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  yards  from  the  shore,  my  friend  fired  at  it  writh  a musket  charged  with 
a single  ball,  which,  after  passing  through  its  head,  was  remarked  to  strike  the 
water  forcibly  about  forty  yards  further  on.  Life  was  not  quite  extinct  when  it 
was  rowed  up  to.  When  brought  ashore  milk  was  extracted  from  its  mamma. 
This  animal  was  of  a uniform  whitish  grey  colour,  with  darker  spots ; it  weigh- 
ed 3 cwt.  and  18  lbs.,  but  when  in  good  condition  would  probably  have  been  4 
cwt.  On  skinning  it  two  pellets  were  taken  from  near  the  hinder  extremity, 
and  a grain  of  large  shot  from  the  head ; it  had  frequently  been  fired  at  before, 
and  from  superiority  of  size  had  for  many  years  been  a well-known  character 
on  the  coast,  and  was  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Old  Skull,  in  consequence 
of  its  favourite  resort  being  a rock  called  Skull-Martin.  The  young  one  was 
at  least  three  feet  in  length,  and  was  estimated  to  weigh  60  lbs.  It  was  of  a 
canary  colour  on  the  back ; the  remainder  paler,  without  spot  or  mark,  except 
the  muzzle,  which  was  black ; its  hair  was  long  and  silky. 

“Major  Mathews  states  that  many  years  since  he  has  seen  from  two  to  three 
hundred  seals  together  on  the  rocks  near  Springvale,  where  they  are  now  scarce, 
not  from  having  been  destroyed,  but  from  the  neighbourhood  having  become  so 
much  more  populous  that  the  rocks  they  frequented  are  daily  traversed  by  per- 
sons collecting  the  edible  seaweeds  ( Rhodomenia  palmata.  Porphyria  vulgaris), 
and  limpets  ( Patella  vidgaris).  They  are  still  very  numerous  in  the  rocks  a 
little  further  southward,  where,  in  the  perhaps  somewhat  exaggerated  language 
of  the  country,  they  are  said  to  be  seen  ‘ in  droves  like  sheep.’  Major  Mathews 
remarks,  that  when  he  has  fired  at  seals  looking  towards  him  they  always  dived 
from  the  flash  of  the  gun,  and  that  he  was  only  successful  in  shooting  them  when 
their  eyes  were  turned  from  him. 

“ From  the  description  both  of  the  young  and  adult  animals  above  noticed,  I 
had  little  doubt  that  they  were  your  Halichoerus  griseus  or  Gryphus ; and  as 
their  carcases  still  lay  on  the  beach  where  they  were  skinned  at  Springvale, 
about  twenty  miles  distant,  I had  them  brought  to  Belfast,  when,  by  the  aid  of 
your  lithographed  drawings,  my  supposition  respecting  their  species  was  confirm- 
ed by  actual  inspection.  I presented  them  to  our  Natural  History  Society 
[Belfast],  in  whose  Museum  the  skeletons  of  both  are  now  in  part  preserved. 
Here  is  also  a specimen  of  the  Phoca  vitulina,  which  was  shot  December  28th, 
1831,  in  the  river  Lagan,  at  some  distance  above  the  Long  Bridge  at  Belfast ; 
the  tide,  however,  flows  beyond  the  place  where  it  was  killed.  Some  years  be- 
fore, a seal  was  obtained  in  the  same  locality,  and  in  a deep  pool  beneath  one  of 
the  arches  of  the  bridge  just  mentioned.  Our  friend  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman  on 
one  occasion  saw  two  young  seals,  most  probably  of  the  common  species.” 

Mr.  St.  John  has  devoted  the  29th  chapter  of  his  “ Wild  Sports  and 
Natural  History  of  the  Highlands  ” to  an  excellent  account  of  seals  and 
seal-hunting.  His  observations  relative  to  individual  seals  being  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other  reminded  me  of  “ Old  Skull  ” of  Skull-Mar- 
tin. He  says  : — “ An  old  seal  has  been  known  to  frequent  a particular 
range  of  stake-nets  for  many  years,  escaping  all  attacks  against  him,  and 
becoming  both  so  cunning  and  so  impudent  that  he  will  actually  take  the 
salmon  out  of  the  nets  (every  turn  of  which  he  becomes  thoroughly  in- 
timate with)  before  the  face  of  the  fishermen,  and  retiring  with  his  ill- 
gotten  booty  adds  insult  to  injury  by  coolly  devouring  it  on  some  adjoin- 
ing point  of  rock  or  shoal,  taking  good  care,  however,  to  keep  out  of  reach 
of  rifle-ball  or  slug.”  And  again  : — “ Scarcely  any  two  seals  are  exactly 
of  the  same  colour  or  marked  quite  alike,  and  seals  frequenting  a par- 
ticular part  of  the  coast  become  easily  known  and  distinguished  from 
each  other.” 

In  October,  1844,  during  a visit  at  Twizell  House,  I was  informed  by 


40 


CETACEA. 


Mr.  Selby  that  the  common  seal  ( Phoca  vitulino ) is  now  scarce  at  the 
Fern  Islands, — the  grey  seal  ( Halichcerus  Gryphus ) being  the  species 
most  numerous  there.  The  latter  animal  is  that  which  he  formerly  con- 
sidered the  Phoca  barbata.  He  stated  that  they  prey  on  female  Lump- 
Suckers,  rejecting  the  skins,  and  that  the  surface  of  the  water  exhibits  the 
oil  which  has  escaped  from  the  fish.  (See  Richardson’s  Faun.  Bor.  Amer. 
on  this  subject.) 

Mr.  George  Ransom  of  Ipswich  informed  me  by  letter  dated  3rd 
December,  1851,  that  a specimen  of  the  grey  seal  weighing  770  lbs.  was 
lately  captured  on  the  Fern  Islands  off  the  Northumberland  coast  by  Mr. 
Robert  Pattison  of  Bedford,  and  is  the  largest  he  ever  saw.  It  was  sent 
to  the  Ipswich  Museum.  One  sent  thence  to  the  British  Museum  weigh- 
ed 742  lbs. 

On  30th  April,  1851,  Mr.  Robert  Warren,  jun.,  mentioned  his  having 
lately  shot  a young  seal  on  the  coast  of  Mayo.  It  measured  four  feet 
from  the  nose  to  the  extremities  of  the  hinder  feet,  and  weighed  70  lbs. 
The  blubber  was  about  an  inch  thick,  and  when  melted  produced  nine 
bottles  of  oil, — six  of  them  as  clear  as  any  that  could  be  bought.  He 
added : — “ Seals  are  pretty  numerous  about  the  bay  [Killala],  and  at  low 
water  they  frequent  a sand-bank  opposite  to  Killala.  On  a fine  day  from 
twenty  to  thirty  may  be  seen  on  it  basking  in  the  sun.  They  always  keep 
close  to  the  water,  and  on  the  least  alarm  scramble  into  it  with  astonish- 
ing speed.  They  are  of  various  shades  of  colour ; black,  grey,  reddish- 
brown,  and  fawn.  A few  days  ago  I saw  two  of  a beautiful  light  fawn 
colour  approaching  white.”  Mr.  Robert  Taylor,  who  visited  the  same 
locality  in  May,  1851,  supplied  me  with  the  following  note: — “On  the 
22nd  I saw  twenty- three  together  on  the  coast  about  Bartra  Island,  Killala 
Bay,  and  going  from  the  Island  to  Kilcummin  Head  on  the  24th  we  saw 
upwards  of  a dozen.  They  are  very  wary,  and  it  is  almost  impossible  to 
get  a shot  at  them.  Some  are  very  large,  fully  twice  the  size  of  the  last 
shot  one,  which  weighed  one  hundredweight  three  quarters  and  twenty- 
one  pounds.” 

In  Dr.  Ball’s  paper  already  quoted  he  expressed  his  opinion,  that  in 
addition  to  the  two  species  of  seal  which  I have  noticed  there  is  at  least 
one  other  on  the  coasts  of  Ireland,  but  he  had  not  been  able  to  obtain 
specimens. 

Dr.  Ball  informs  us  that  from  The  circumstance  of  a specimen  of  the 
Phoca  cristata  having  been  captured  in  the  Orwell  River  at  Ipswich  in 
1847,  as  noticed  by  Dr.  W.  B.  Clarke  of  Ipswich  in  the  Annals  of 
Natural  History,  he  is  of  opinion  that  the  Irish  seals  above  referred  to 
were  of  that  species,  and  that  the  seal  seen  by  Captain  MTlree,  and  to 
which  he  referred  in  his  paper  above  alluded  to,  was  clearly  of  that 
species. 

'i  


CETACEA. 

The  Common  Dolphin,  Delphinus  Belpliis,  Linn., 

Is  found  on  the  coast  from  north  to  south  of  at  least  the  more  easterly 
half  of  the  island. — I have  not  heard  of  its  occurrence  on  the  western 
coast.  Templeton  notices  it  as  common,  alluding,  it  may  be  presumed,  to 
the  north-east  coast : — heads  of  this  species,  without  labels  indicating  lo- 
calities attached  to  them,  are  in  the  Belfast  Museum,  some  of  which  are 


THE  COMMON  DOLPHIN. 


41 


probably  from  this  quarter.  The  dolphin  seems  to  be  of  rare  occurrence 
on  the  Dublin  coast,  as  Dr.  Jacob  informed  me  in  January,  1839,  that  in 
the  course  of  many  years  he  could  obtain  but  one  specimen.  Dr.  It.  Ball 
considers  it  as  not  uncommon  on  the  southern  coast,  and  it  is  named  in 
the  Cork  Fauna  of  Dr.  Harvey. 

The  following  notes  were  made  by  me  on  the  Mediterranean  when  on 
board  H.  M.  S.  Beacon  in  1841 : — 

April  1 Qth.  A herd  of  dolphins,  in  size  and  colour  like  the  common 
species,  kept  rolling  about  near  our  vessel  in  the  Straits  of  Messina. 

May  Mh.  Egean  Sea.  A round-backed  species  of  Delphinus  with  a 
large  dorsal  fin,  to  which  the  sailors  gave  the  name  of  Porpoise,  rolling 
near  the  ship ; three  passed  with  amazing  velocity,  close  under  the  bow 
where  I was  standing. 

May  5th.  Several  of  them  near  the  ship  when  we  were  close  to  Syra ; 
two  rolling  about  with  their  young  so  near  to  them  that  the  dorsal  fins  of 
the  two  individuals  in  each  case  appeared  to  belong  to  one  animal : — they 
thus  exhibited  themselves  rising  to  the  surface  and  going  down  again 
several  times  with  as  much  regularity  as  a pair  of  horses  in  harness.  May 
not  their  appearance  in  this  manner  have  given  rise  to  the  fable  of  their 
drawing  the  chariot  of  Amphitrite  across  the  sea  ? 

May  13 th.  Dardanelles  ; saw  the  same  species  at  Koum  Kali. 

May  \*lth.  Bosphorus ; several  of  the  same,  going  northwards  towards 
the  Black  Sea.  This  Delphinus  was  not  either  of  Risso’s — D.  ylobiceps,  or 
D.  Risso.  Cuv.  Hist.  Nat.  L.  Ear.  Merit! . tome  iii.  p.  23,  pi.  1,  f.  1,2. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  no  species  of  Delphinus  (Linn.)  appeared  in 
the  open  sea  between  Marseilles  and  Malta  or  thence  to  the  Levant. 

The  Bottle-nosed  Dolphin,  Delphinus  Tursio , Fabr., 

Can  only  be  noticed  positively  as  having  twice  occurred. 

Dr.  J.  E.  Gray,  in  a paper  on  British  Cetacea,  published  in  the  Annals 
of  Nat.  Hist,  for  February,  1846  (vol  xvii.  p.  84),  mentioned  having  in 
his  possession  a drawing  of  one  made  by  Mr.  It.  Templeton  from  a speci- 
men caught  on  the  south  coast  of  Ireland;  and  on  15th  Sept.,  1851,  Dr. 
It.  Ball  wrote  tome  as  follows : — “ I got  a fine  specimen  of  Delphinus  Tursio 
taken  here  [Dublin]  about  the  5th  inst., — the  only  one  I ever  saw.  I 
have  made  a cast  of  it.”  * 

In  M‘Skimmin’s  History  of  Carrickfergus  it  is  observed,  under  the  title 
Bal&na  : — “ A very  large  fish  is  sometimes  seen  by  the  fishers,  which  they 
call  a Bottlenose.” — It  is  uncertain,  however,  what  species  this  may  be. 

Only  three  individuals  of  the  D.  Tursio  are  noticed  in  Bell’s  British 
Mammalia  (1837)  as  having  occurred  on  the  coast  of  Great  Britain, — one 
of  these  was  taken  on  the  coast  near  Berkeley  (Hunter),  another  in  the 
river  Dort  (Montagu),  and  the  third  in  the  river  at  Preston  (Jenyns)  : — 
a few  years  before  1835,  when  the  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals 
was  published,  a fourth  individual  is  mentioned  in  the  latter  work  as  taken 
in  the  Thames. — The  following  paragraph  from  the  Preston  Pilot  was 
copied  into  the  Northern  Whig  of  Sept.  26th,  1840. 

“ A Dolphin.  The  inhabitants  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  quay,  at  Lan- 
caster, were  thrown  into  an  unwonted  state  of  activity  and  excitement  early  on 
Sunday  last  by  the  vagaries  of  a large  sea-monster,  which  was  jumping  about, 
and  spouting  out  jets  of  water,  in  the  river  Lune,  a little  below  the  old  bridge. 
As  soon  as  it  got  sufficiently  light,  all  who  could  lay  their  hands  on  a gun  were 


* Three  others  have  since  occurred.  R.  Ball,  June,  1852. 


42 


CETACEA. 


firing  away  as  fast  as  they  could  get  re-loaded,  and  the  owners  of  boats,  armed 
with  harpoons,  lances,  and  scythes,  were  lying  in  wait  for  him  in  all  directions 
to  give  him  a warm  reception,  as  soon  as  he  should  show  himself  above  water. 
After  about  three  hours’  hunting,  he  was  shot  in  the  head  by  a marksman  posted 
at  the  old  bridge,  when  he  immediately  spouted  an  immense  jet  of  blood,  and  a 
man,  being  near  at  the  same  time  in  a boat,  struck  him  with  a harpoon,  and  after 
some  little  further  trouble  he  was  landed,  and  proved  to  be  a large  specimen  of 
the  Delphinus  Tursio,  measuring  about  twelve  feet  and  a half  in  length,  and 
weighing  fifteen  hundredweight, — a fish  whose  appearance  in  our  latitude  is  a 
very  rare  occurrence ; indeed  there  are  only  some  four  or  five  instances  on  re- 
cord of  this  fish  having  been  seen  in  England,  two  of  which  have  been  taken 
near  Lancaster,  the  one  under  notice,  and  another  some  years  ago  in  Morecambe 
Bay.” 

The  Porpoise,  Phoccena  communis , Lesson,  Delphinus  Phoccena,  Linn., 
Appears  to  be  common  around  the  coast. 

It  is  so  on  the  northern  and  north-east  coast.  Putty  noted  it  in  1772 
as  frequent  on  the  Dublin  coast,  whence  Dr.  Jacob  has  often  procured 
specimens.  In  Smith’s  History  of  Cork  the  following  appears  : — 

“ Phocsena,  Rondeletii  de  Piscib.  i.  473;  Johnston  de  Piscib.  155;  JRaij  Sy- 
nop.  Piscib.  13 ; and  D.  Tyson,—  The  Porpoise.  This  is  in  all  the  havens  about 
the  coast.  There  is  a good  figure  of  it  in  Willoughby’s  History  of  Fishes,  Tab.  A. 
fig.  2.*  Great  numbers  of  them  were  a few  years  ago  left  on  the  strand  of 
Ballycotton.  They  pursue  smaller  fish  and  devour  them.  I have  seen  an  army 
of  porpoises,  as  it  were,  guarding  the  mouth  of  Youghall  harbour,  where  they 
made  great  havoc  among  shoals  of  salmon  which  were  then  entering  the  Black- 
water  River,  and  even  chased  some  on  shore.” 

Dr.  Ball  considers  it  as  rather  common  on  the  southern  coast. 

Mr.  John  Nimmo  informed  me,  in  1837,  of  its  being  common  in  the 
summer  months  at  Roundstone,  Connemara.  Summer  is  named  by 
writers  j-  as  the  season  of  its  occurrence  on  our  northern  coasts,  and  at 
this  period  it  has  come  under  my  own  notice.  When  crossing  to  the 
Copeland  Islands,  off  the  coast  of  Down,  in  three  different  years,  in  the 
month  of  June,  porpoises  were  seen,  and  sometimes  within  thirty  yards  of 
our  boat.  These  remarks  are  made  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Bell’s  observa- 
tion respecting  Great  Britain,  namely,  that  “ it  certainly  frequents  our 
coasts,  more  particularly  late  in  the  autumn  and  in  the  spring.”  Brit, 
Quad.  p.  474.  Porpoises  have  of  late  years  been  seen  so  far  up  Belfast 
Bay  as  Conswater  Beach,  within  half  a mile  of  the  town. 

I have  seen  the  remains  of  the  porpoise  on  the  beach  at  Ballantrae, 
Ayrshire,  and  have  the  following  note  in  my  journal  in  reference  to  that 
locality : — 

“March  16th,  1846. — Mr.  Sinclaire,  who  came  from  Ballintrae  to-day, 
informs  me  that  about  thirty  porpoises  from  three  to  six  feet  in  length 
have,  during  the  great  take  of  herrings  there  within  the  last  two  or  three 
weeks,  been  taken  in  the  nets  ; he  saw  their  bodies  on  the  beach.” 

In  Harris’  History  of  the  County  Down,  published  in  1744,  it  is  re- 
marked at  page  242  : — 

“ There  has  been  no  considerable  fishery  for  herrings  in  this  bay  [Carrickfer- 
gus]  since  the  fleets  were  there  at  the  Revolution.  Yet  they  are  often  forced  in 
by  shoals  of  porpoises,  of  which,  about  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  years  ago, 
more  than  forty  came  up  into  it,  and  were  pursued  into  shallow  water  by  a 


* A good  figure  of  the  Porpoise.  W.  T. 
f M'Skimmin’s  Carrickfergus ; I.  D.  Marshall’s  Rathlin. 


THE  GRAMPUS. 


43 


ship’s  crew,  who  fired  at  them  till  they  lodged  them  in  the  Ouze  about  White- 
house,  when,  the  tide  retiring,  they  were  all  taken,  and  yielded  great  quantities 
of  oil.  A suit  was  commenced  by  the  Earl  of  Donegal  for  the  royalty  of  these 
large  fish  against  the  captors ; which  at  length,  after  great  expense,  was  carried 
in  favour  of  the  royalty.” 

A fisherman  at  Newcastle  (County  Down)  informed  me  in  October,  1851, 
that  porpoises  are  numerous  on  that  part  of  the  coast,  and  are  frequently 
taken  in  the  herring-nets.  He  had  seen  young  ones  of  not  more  than  ten 
pounds’  weight  following  the  parent. 

The  Grampus,  Phoccena  Orcci,  F.  Cuv.,  Delphinus  Orca,  Fabr., 
Visits  the  coast. 

Templeton  states  that  it  “ appears  on  the  coast  of  Ireland  along  with  the 
herring : ” Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall,  that  it  is  “ met  with  in  great  numbers 
[about  Rathlin]  during  summer,  and  is  said  to  be  very  mischievous,  and 
not  unfrequently  to  endanger  boats, — an  observation  indicating  that  the 
true  grampus  is  alluded  to.  In  M‘Skimmin’s  History  of  Carrickfergus 
it  is  said  to  be  “ an  occasional  visitor  during  summer  ; ” and  “ a very 
large  fish  called  the  herring-hog,  seen  in  pursuit  of  others,  especially  of 
the  herring,  with  a larger  dorsal  fin,”  and  hence  imagined  by  this  writer 
to  be  the  fin-backed  whale,  is  probably  the  grampus : he  mentions  one 
as  cast  ashore  at  Kilroot.  In  M‘Skimmin’s  first  edition,  1811,  he  notes 
the  “ herring-hog,  said  to  be  a very  large  fish,  often  upwards  of  twenty 
feet  long,”  p.  184. 

The  Cetacea  mentioned  in  Sampson’s  History  of  Londonderry  as  visiting 
that  coast  are  the  porpoise  and  the  grampus. 

I am  enabled  to  state  that  this  species  occurs  on  the  north-east  coast, 
from  the  examination  of  a cranium  which  came  under  my  notice  in  1839, 
when  it  was  presented  by  Dr.  Drummond  to  the  Belfast  Museum.  The 
animal  had  been  taken  at  Donaghadee  ten  or  twelve  years  before  that 
time.  This  cranium  is  thirty-two  inches  and  a half  in  extreme  length,  and 
sixteen  inches  and  a quarter  in  height;  it  perfectly  agrees  with  that 
represented  in  Cuvier’s  Oss.  Foss.  pi.  223,  f.  3 ; edit.  1834. 

In  Rutty’s  Dublin  it  is  remarked  under  Grampus , “ that  forty-six 
were  said  to  have  been  cast  upon  our  coast  in  March,  1716;”  but  these 
were  more  probably  Delp.  melas.  The  grampus  is  included  in  the  Fauna 
of  Cork.  The  following  paragraphs  appeared  in  the  Cork  Reporter,  and 
were  copied  into  the  Northern  Whig,  a Belfast  newspaper,  at  the  dates  men- 
tioned. 

“ Shoal  of  Grampuses. — About  ten  o’clock  on  Sunday  a shoal  of  grampuses, 
about  sixty  in  number,  entered  our  harbour,  and  continued  their  course  until 
they  reached  Horsehead,  where  they  turned.  They  were  chased  by  all  the  boats 
in  the  harbour,  and  several  shots  were  fired  at  them.  The  scene  was  indeed 
extraordinary ; the  strange  visitors  rolled  and  tumbled  about,  and  spouted  up 
the  water  to  a considerable  height.  The  tide  was  on  the  ebb,  and  the  young 
monsters,  finding  themselves  hotly  pursued,  made  for  the  harbour,  which  they 
passed  at  about  twelve  o’clock.  Several  were  taken,  one  of  them  weighing  over 
three  tons.”  N.  Whig,  July  31,  1841. 

“ Shoal  of  Whales. — Bantry  Bay  has  been  the  scene  of  great  excitement, 
high  enjoyment,  and  most  valuable  occupation  to  the  people  of  this  locality,  this 
week,  in  consequence  of  a very  large  shoal  of  whales — grampus  species — which 
entered  that  harbour  on  Monday,  and  found  their  wray  to  the  romantic  bay  of 
GlengarifF  on  Tuesday — the  evening  of  which  day  found  all  kinds  of  boats, 
weapons,  and  missiles  iii  requisition  for  the  attack  on  the  herd.  An  immense 
number  were  secured,  — a correspondent  states  three  hundred,  the  value  of 


44 


CETACEA. 


which  he  computes  at  £1500.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  spirit-stirring 
character  of  the  whole  scene,  enhanced  as  it  was  by  the  beautiful  weather,  and 
splendid  scenery  of  the  bay.”  N.  Whig,  May  21,  1844. 

The  latter  at  least  must,  I consider,  apply  to  the  D.  melas. 

Since  the  preceding  was  written  I find  that  a cranium  of  D.  melas 
(twenty-three  inches  and  a quarter  in  length  and  thirteen  inches  in  height) 
in  the  Belfast  Museum  was  presented  as  that  of  a “ grampus,  one  of  a 
number  cast  ashore  at  Youghal,”  thus  showing  that  this  name  is  sometimes 
applied  in  the  south  to  the  other  species. — A herd  of  not  less  than  a 
hundred  grampuses  mentioned  to  me  by  Mr.  John  Nimmo,  in  1837,  as 
having  been  once  seen  by  him  in  Roundstone  Bay,  Connemara,  were  pro- 
bably the  allied  species,  and  of  whose  occurrence  on  the  western  coast  we 
have  had  ocular  demonstration. 

On  4th  or  5th  February,  1848,  two  individuals  of  some  kind  of  Cetace- 
ous animals  entered  the  bay  of  Belfast  and  came  near  the  quays  of  that 
town,  above  Mr.  Thompson’s  embankment.  They  were  first  observed  at 
“ grey  dawn  ” by  men  engaged  in  removing  the  beacon  lights,  some  way 
below  Connswater,  and  who  rowed  up  towards  the  animals,  mistaking 
them  for  a yawl  adrift.  On  a near  approach,  however,  they  were  not  a 
little  surprised  by  the  spouting  up  of  a large  jet  of  water  which  would 
have  half  filled  their  boat,  and  by  the  disappearance  of  the  object  of  their 
curiosity.  After  a little  time  the  latter  again  came  to  the  surface,  and, 
several  boats  having  arrived,  a general  pursuit  ensued,  in  the  course  of  which 
a number  of  shots  were  fired,  but  apparently  without  effect.  One  boat,  in 
which  were  several  men  from  the  guard  ships  and  armed  with  boat-hooks, 
was  rowed  between  the  two  Cetaceans,  who  had  become  partially  aground 
and  were  so  close  together  that  there  was  scarcely  room  for  the  boat  to  pass. 
The  boat-hooks  and  oars  were  freely  used  in  stabbing  the  poor  animals  and 
tearing  off  pieces  of  their  blubber,  which  caused  them  to  “ grunt  like  pigs,”  as 
the  narrator  expressed  it,  but  the  flowing  tide  soon  enabled  them  to 
retreat  into  deeper  water,  and  the  assailants,  finding  them  afloat,  were 
glad  to  escape  as  speedily  as  possible.  The  boat  which  passed’  between 
them  was  twenty-four  feet  long,  and  the  animals  were  described  as  being 
at  least  thirty  feet  in  length,  both  as  they  extended  beyond  the  boat  astern 
and  stern.  They  had  one  back-fin  each  about  two  feet  and  a half  high, 
and  thought  to  be  nearer  to  the  head  than  to  the  tail.  The  head  was 
considered  to  resemble  in  form  that  of  the  porpoise,  according  to  the 
figure  in  Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds  which  was  shown  to  the  parties,  and 
the  eyes  were  full  and  large. 

Another  informant  stated  that  when  he  saw  the  animals  he  thought  they 
were  a “ lighter  sinking.” 

The  captain  of  a small  tug-steamer  plying  in  the  bay  gave  chase  for 
upwards  of  a mile,  and  was  able  to  pass  the  animals  by  putting  on  “ full 
steam,”  but  he  abandoned  the  pursuit,  as  he  could  not  follow  into  shallow 
water  so  as  to  make  the  prize  his  own.  The  noise  of  the  paddles  and  of 
blowing  off  the  steam  appeared  to  occasion  great  alarm.  On  the  following 
morning  the  same  captain  observed  the  “ whales  at  Holywood  bank,  and 
renewed  the  chase  as  far  as  Cultra,  in  the  direction  of  the  open  sea.  The 
engineer  of  this  steamer  corroborated  the  captain’s  statements,  and  they 
also  concurred  in  saying  that  at  first  they  thought  there  were  two  animals, 
but  on  a close  approach  they  considered  that  there  was  only  one,  as  the 
two  bodies  appeared  to  be  joined  at  the  inner  sides,  so  far  as  visible. 
The  two  together  were  as  broad  as  the  deck  of  the  steamer — about  four- 
teen feet — and  they  rose  simultaneously  in  the  water,  their  backs  suggest- 


THE  CATNG  WHALE. 


45 


ing  the  idea  of  “ a double-roofed  house.”  They  inclined  to  float  lazily  on 
the  surface  when  not  disturbed ; and  when  they  disappeared  underneath 
it  was  only  for  a short  time.  Water  was  blown  from  the  front  of  the  head 
when  the  latter  was  above  the  sea,  and  in  a forward  direction  along  the 
surface— not  upwards. 

All  parties  who  saw  the  animals  agreed  that  they  were  neither  bottle- 
nosed  whales  nor  dolphins  ; and  I have  no  doubt,  everything  considered, 
that  they  were  grampuses. 

When  at  Newcastle  (County  Down)  in  October,  1851,  I was  informed 
by  fishermen  that  the  grampus  is  seen  there  every  summer,  and  is  called 
the  “ Herring  Hog.”  They  identified  the  species  on  my  showing  them 
the  figures  in  Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds. 

The  Ca’ing  Whale,  Phoccena  melas,  Bell,  Delphinus  melas,  Traill., 

Is  of  not  very  unfrequent  occurrence  on  the  ocean-coasts  of  Ireland. 

I am  not  aware  of  their  having  visited  the  eastern  line  of  coast,  the 
favoured  one  of  the  Hyperoodon.  Some  years  since,  in  the  Annals  of 
Natural  History  (vol.  v.),  I noticed  the  D.  melas  as  follows : — 

“This  species  is  stated  by  Dr.  Ball  of  Dublin  to  be  occasionally  driven 
ashore  in  large  herds  on  the  southern  coast  of  Ireland,  and  to  be  of  frequent  oc- 
currence in  the  month  of  June  at  Youghal.  Here  a herd  of  seventy-five  came 
ashore  a few  years  ago,  of  which  the  average  size  was  from  11  to  18  feet,  but 
one  individual  had  attained  to  22  feet  in  length.  When  visiting  the  South 
Islands  of  Arran  (off  the  coast  of  Clare),  in  June,  1834,  accompanied  by  Dr. 
Ball,  a portion  of  a skeleton  of  a Pamelas  was  found  by  us  on  the  beach.  On 
this  gentleman  revisiting  the  same  islands  in  the  following  summer,  he  saw  the 
remains  of  a herd  of  these  animals  lying  where  they  had  perished : the  inhabit- 
ants speak  of  them  as  common.” 

Since  the  preceding  appeared,  the  following  newspaper  paragraphs  have 
come  under  my  notice. 

“ The  Ca’ing  Whale. — A shoal  of  the  above  came  into  the  bay  at  Ardmore 
on  Friday,  and  many  were  captured  by  the  poor  people  in  the  neighbourhood.” 
— Copied  from  the  Cork  Standard  into  the  Northern  Whig,  July  4th,  1840. 

“Capture  of  Whales. — On  Sunday  morning  an  immense  shoal  of  large 
fish  was  observed  by  Mr.  William  Murphy  and  others  of  Carracloe,  disporting 
off  that  coast.  After  the  lapse  of  some  time,  two  boats  manned  by  willing  and 
athletic  hands  pushed  out  in  pursuit,  armed  with  guns,  &c.  The  second  shot 
having  taken  effect  on  one  of  those  novel  visitors  to  our  shore,  it  immediately 
uttered  a fearful  cry  and  rushed  towards  the  Wexford  bar,  followed  by  all  its 
comrades.  The  pursuers  continued  firing  and  making  much  noise,  and  finally 
succeeded  in  driving  them  on  shore  near  the  Raven  Point,  where  they  made 
thirty-eight  captives.  They  proved  to  be  that  description  of  the  whale  tribe 
known  by  the  name  of  the  “ bottle-nose,”  and  vary  in  length  from  ten  to  twenty- 
eight  feet,  and  in  weight  from  five  cwt.  to  four  tons.  The  captors  are  busily 
engaged  in  saving  the  blubber  and  other  unctuous  parts,  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
tracting the  oil,  which  promises  to  be  abundant.” — Copied  from  the  Wexford 
Independent  into  the  Belfast  Commercial  Chronicle,  July  8th,  1840. 

“Extensive  Capture  of  Whales  in  Lough  Swilly.- — On  Wednesday 
morning  last  a large  shoal  of  whales  of  the  bottle-nosed  species  were  observed 
making  their  way  into  Lough  Swilly, — probably  in  pursuit  of  herrings.  The 
fishermen  of  the  island  of  Inch,  Rathmullen,  and  the  adjacent  coasts  immedi- 
ately mustered  in  force,  and  succeeded  in  embaying  the  gigantic  fish  till  the  tide 
receded,  and  left  them  struggling  on  the  sand,  where,  in  a short  time,  no  fewer 
than  seventy-three  were  despatched,  one  of  which  weighs  four  tons  and  a half.” 
— Copied  from  the  Northern  Whig,  July  24th,  1840. 


46 


CETACEA. 


Although  the  term  “ bottle-nosed  ” is  applied  to  the  species  in  the  last 
two  paragraphs,  the  circumstances  of  these  whales  visiting  the  coast  in 
the  height  of  summer  in  large  herds,  and  attaining  the  size  described, 
induce  me  to  consider  them  the  species  under  consideration  rather  than 
either  the  bottle-nosed  whale  ( Hyperoodon ) or  bottle-nosed  dolphin 
(Delph.  Tursio).  Not  more  than  two  of  the  former  are  knowm  to  have  ap- 
peared together,  at  least  in  the  British  seas ; and  the  latter  has  come 
singly  and  that  very  rarely,  nor  is  it  known  to  attain  more  than  about 
half  the  size  of  some  of  the  individuals  which  were  captured.  Some  of 
the  notices  under  Grampus  also  more  probably  apply  to  D.  melas. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Belfast  Natural  History  and  Philosophical  Society, 
held  on  29th  October,  1851,  Professor  Dickie,  of  Queen’s  College,  Belfast, 
read  a paper  entitled  “ Notes  of  the  Capture  of  Whales  at  Dunfanaghy 
[County  Donegal],  in  July,  1851,”  of  which  the  following  is  an  abstract : — 

“ On  the  afternoon  of  July  20,  1851,  a mrmber  of  small  whales  were  seen  en- 
tering the  bay  of  Dunfanaghy.  Boats  were  manned,  and  means  employed  to 
drive  them  up  the  estuary.  They  were  eventually  stranded  in  a small  bay, 
about  a quarter  of  a mile  above  the  town,  close  by  the  bridge.  The  unfortunate 
animals  were  there  assailed  by  a large  number  of  the  people,  armed  with  mus- 
kets, axes,  &c.  They  were  soon  slaughtered,  and  no  fewer  than  sixty-nine  car- 
cases remained  to  reward  the  captors  for  the  labour  of  the  day.  A week  after 
this  occurrence  the  lecturer  visited  the  scene  of  capture,  but  could  find  only  a 
few  fragments  of  jaws,  the  carcases,  after  flensing,  having  been  cut  up,  and  either 
buried  or  drifted  out  to  sea.  The  largest  individuals  were  described  as  having 
been  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet  in  length ; there  were  both  males  and  females, 
the  exact  numbers  of  each  could  not  be  ascertained.  The  females  were  with 
young,  and  the  mammae  full  of  milk.  Four  of  the  sixty-nine  were  described  as 
much  smaller  than  the  others,  of  a different  colour,  and  having  long,  slender 
snouts,  the  jaws  with  numerous  small  teeth.  Of  these  four  he  (Dr.  Dickie) 
was  unable  to  procure  any  relics.  There  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  larger  indi- 
viduals were  examples  of  Delphinus  melas ; this  opinion  was  confirmed  on  ex- 
amination of  a skull.  The  habits  of  the  animals  might  alone  have  led  to  the 
same  conclusion.  The  four  smaller  individuals  were,  most  likely,  examples  of 
the  common  dolphin,  there  being  no  other  British  species  to  which  they  could 
be  referred ; their  size,  shape,  colour,  and  form  of  the  head,  &c.,  appear  to  con- 
firm this  idea.” 

The  Ca’ing  "Whale  is  the  species  often  taken  in  such  numbers  in  the 
northern  Scottish  Islands.  Several  interesting  descriptions  of  it  have 
been  published  and  are  well  known,  so  that  I shall  only  refer  to  the  last 
which  has  become  known  to  me.  This  appeared  in  the  Edinburgh 
Philosophical  Journal  for  July,  1844,  and  was  entitled  a ‘‘Notice  of  the 
employment  of  the  flesh  of  small  whales  for  feeding  cattle  in  the  Faroe 
Islands.  By  W.  C.  Trevelyan,  Esq.” 

A gentleman  who  presented  jaws  and  teeth  of  this  species  to  the  Bel- 
fast Museum,  in  December,  1848,  stated  that  in  the  autumn  of  that  year 
he  had  seen  one  of  them,  twrenty-five  feet  in  length,  lying  on  the  north- 
eastern shore  of  Scotland,  where,  he  said,  these  animals  are  of  common 
occurrence  in  herds  of  from  twenty  to  thirty,  and  that  they  were  there 
known  by  the  name  of  “ Driver  Whales,”  from  the  circumstance  that  when 
one  of  them  is  driven  on  shore  the  rest  follow. 

The  Bottle-nosed  Whale,  Hyperoodon  Butzkopf,  Lacep. 

The  following  notes  upon  this  species  were  contributed  by  me  to  the 
Annals  of  Natural  History  for  February,  1840,  vol.  iv.  page  375. 

“In  Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds,  &c.,  published  in  1837,  the  latest  work 


THE  BOTTLE-NOSED  WHALE. 


47 


treating  of  our  Cetacea,  it  is  observed,  with  reference  to  the  two  indi- 
viduals of  this  species  recorded  by  Dale  and  Hunter,  that  ‘ these  are  the 
documents  upon  which  alone  we  have  to  depend  as  to  the  occurrence  of 
the  Hyperoodon  on  the  British  shores.’  The  works  of  Jenyns  * * * § and  Jar- 
dine  f do  not  contain  any  reference  to  other  British  specimens.  More 
recently  Mr.  Thompson  of  Hull  has,  in  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History 
for  1838  (p.  221),  described  a whale  of  this  species  which  was  stranded 
near  that  town  in  1837,  and  whose  skeleton  is  preserved  in  the  Hull  Lite- 
rary and  Philosophical  Society. 

The  first  particular  record  known  to  me  of  the  occurrence  of  the  Hy- 
peroodon in  Ireland  is  contained  in  the  Dublin  Philosophical  J ournal  for 
March,  1825,  vol.  i.,  where  Dr.  Jacob  (now  Professor  of  Anatomy  and 
Physiology  in  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  in  Ireland)  very  fully  and 
ably  describes  a specimen  dissected  by  him  ; and  at  the  same  time,  after  a 
due  examination  of  its  anatomy,  treats  of  the  place  the  genus  should  occupy 
among  the  Cetacea.  J The  individual  which  formed  the  subject  of  the 
essay  “ was  stranded  at  Killiney,  a few  miles  from  Dublin,  in  the  month  of 
September  [1824?].”  Its  perfect  skeleton  is  preserved  in  the  Museum  of 
the  College  of  Surgeons  in  Dublin.  In  Mr.  Templeton’s  Catalogue  of 
Irish  Vertebrate  Animals, $ the  Hyperoodon  is  mentioned  as  occasionally 
met  with. 

From  Dr.  Jacob  I learned  in  November  last  [1839]  that  within  twenty- 
five  years  he  has  known  four  bottle-nosed  whales  to  be  stranded  within  a 
short  distance  of  Dublin — of  these  all,  except  the  one  particularly  de- 
scribed by  him,  were  taken  at  Howth,  near  the  entrance  of  the  bay  : on 
one  occasion  two  of  them  occurred  at  the  same  time.  [These  were  seen 
by  Dr.  Ball,  and  he  thinks  in  1829  or  1830.  W.  T.] 

Early  in  the  month  of  August,  1836,  two  Hyperoodons  were  stranded 
at  Dunany  Point,  near  Dundalk.  A friend,  who  saw  the  specimens  when 
quite  recent,  described  them  to  me  as  bottle-nosed  whales,  and  on  my 
sending  to  him,  for  the  purpose  of  identification,  outlines  of  the  individuals 
figured  by  Dale  and  Hunter,  he  stated  that  the  form  of  Dale’s  figure  re- 
presented them  well.  The  larger  of  these  animals  was  17  feet  in  length 
and  14L  in  girth ; the  other  was  somewhat  smaller.  Having  been  stranded 
on  the  property  of  his  relative  Lady  Bellingham,  their  heads  were  for- 
tunately reserved  for  my  friend  Dr.  Bellingham  of  Dublin.  I had  lately 
an  opportunity  of  examining  both  of  these  specimens,  one  of  which  is  in 
the  Museum  of  the  School  of  Anatomy,  Peter  Street ; the  other  in  that  of 
the  Royal  Dublin  Society.  In  the  latter  collection  is  the  head  of  a second 
Hyperoodon,  which  in  all  probability  was  one  of  those  already  alluded  to 
as  obtained  at  Howth,  but  I could  not  ascertain  the  locality  whence  it  had 
been  received  : it  is  similar  in  size  to  the  smaller  of  the  Dundalk  speci- 
mens, and  a very  few  inches  less  than  the  larger,  the  measurements  of  which 
are  as  follow  : 


* Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals,  1835. 

fi  Naturalist’s  Library,  vol.  on  Whales,  1837. 

+ The  name  Hyperoodon  is  objected  to  by  Dr.  Jacob  as  expressing  what  the 
animal  does  not  possess — teeth  in  the  palate,  this  part  having  been  as  smooth  as 
the  rest  of  the  month  in  the  specimen  he  dissected.  Ceto-diodon  was  proposed 
by  Dr.  Jacob  as  a generic  name,  and  Hunteri  was  applied  by  him  to  the  species. 
This  elaborate  memoir,  though  published  in  1825,  is  unnoticed  in  any  of  the  above- 
cited  works. 

§ Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.,  New  Series. 


48 


CETACEA. 


ft.  in. 

Length  from  occiput  to  end  of  snout  . . .46 

Breadth  of  cranium  ......  24 

Height  of  ditto 2 0 

The  crania  of  the  four  Hyperoodons  preserved  in  Dublin  are,  I conceive, 
referrible  to  one  species,  and  are  similar  to  those  represented  in  Cuvier’s 
“Ossemens  Fossiles,”  pi.  225,  f.  19 — 23,  ed.  1834;  F.  Cuvier’s  “Histoire 
Nat.  des  Cetaces,”  pi.  9 ; and  Bell’s  “ Brit  Quad.  ” &c.  p.  496.  From  what 
has  been  already  published  on  the  subject  any  further  remarks  on  these 
specimens  seem  to  be  unnecessary.  As  supplementary  to  what  appears 
in  Mr.  Bell’s  work,  it  may  be  added,  with  reference  to  a specific  character 
about  which  there  has  been  some  obscurity,  that  in  the  individuals  par- 
ticularly described  by  Dr.  Jacob  and  Mr.  Thompson  of  Hull  two  teeth 
were  present  in  the  lower  jaw ; but  in  neither  instance  were  they  apparent 
in  the  recent  animal,  but  were  detected  only  when  the  gum  was  cut  into 
in  the  preparation  of  the  skeleton. 

Having  heard  on  the  20th  September  last  [1839]  that  a whale  had  been 
captured  at  Ballyholme  Bay,  near  Bangor  (County  Down),  on  the  16th,  I 
immediately  set  out  for  the  place,  accompanied  by  a scientific  friend,  Mr. 
Hyndman.  A small  portion  only  of  the  animal  then  remained  on  the 
beach,  the  head,  tail,  and  entire  skin,  with  the  blubber,  having  been  re- 
moved. This  whale  was  seen  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  September  in 
shallow  water  not  far  from  the  shore,  and  a boat  with  the  small  comple- 
ment of  t'hreei  “ hands  ” gave  chase.  Fire-arms  were  discharged  at  it,  but 
these  apparently  not  having  any  effect,  its  assailants  bound  a rope  to  a 
pick-axe  and  drove  this  rude  but  successful  substitute  for  a harpoon  into 
the  animal,  and  about  the  same  time  managed  to  throw  a loop  of  a rope 
round  its  body  above  the  tail,  and  thus  with  some  little  difficulty  brought 
it  captive  to  the  shore.  Its  length  was  stated  to  have  been  24  feet,  the 
breadth  of  tail  6,  the  girth  at  the  thickest  part  perhaps  from  18'To  20  feet ; 
the  weight  was  estimated  at  about  5 tons.  The  entire  upper  surface  was 
of  a blackish  grey  colour,  the  under  parts  somewhat  paler.  The  stomach 
is  said  to  have  contained  the  remains  of  shells,  and  what  was  described  to 
be  like  the  “ feet  of  fowls  ” — these  I have  little  doubt  were  portions  of  the 
arms  or  feet  of  cuttle-fish  * ( sepiadce ).  Although  it  was  late  in  the  even- 
ing when  this  whale  was  brought  ashore,  its  captors  at  once  commenced 
taking  off  the  blubber,  so  that  unfortunately  no  person  who  would  have 


* Dr.  Jacob  says  of  the  Hyperoodon  he  dissected,  that  the  oval  cavity  into 
which  the  oesophagus  opened  “ contained  a large  quantity  of  the  beaks  of  cuttle- 
fishes, perhaps  two  quarts.”  Again,  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Museum  of  the 
Royal  College  of  Surgeons  in  Ireland,  p.  161,  there  appears — “ Cuttle-fish-bills 
found  in  the  stomach  of  a Balcena  rostrata?”  Apprehending  that  this  rather  re- 
ferred to  the  Hyperoodon  than  the  Balcena,  I wrote  to  Dr.  Jacob  respecting  it, 
and  learned  in  reply  that  the  “ cuttle-bills  ” so  mentioned  were  those  taken  from 
the  former  species  by  him — this  is  noticed  merely  to  prevent  error.  In  the 
specimen  of  Balcena  rostrata  dissected  by  Dr.  Jacob  the  remains  of  herrings 
only  were  detected.  ( Dublin  Phil.  Journ.  Novr.  1825,  p.  343.)  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Barclay  remarks  of  the  round-headed  porpoise  ( Delphinus  melas ),  that  “ its 
favourite  food  seems  to  be  cuttle-fish,  of  which  great  quantities  are  generally 
found  in  the  stomach.”  ( Bell’s  Brit.  Quad.  485.)  In  this  species  my  friend 
Dr.  Ball  has  likewise  observed  the  remains  of  these  cephalopods  In  Mr. 
Hyndman’s  possession  are  the  beaks  of  cuttle-fish  taken  from  the  stomach  of 
a whale  (but  of  what  species  I have  not  learned)  captured  on  the  coast  of  Wa- 
terford some  years  ago.  The  consumption  of  these  animals  by  at  least  two 
species  of  our  Cetacege  would  thus  seem  to  be  considerable. 


BOTTLE-NOSED  WHALE. 


49 


felt  a scientific  interest  in  the  spectacle,  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
animal  in  a perfect  state.  During  the  progress  of  cutting  up,  on  the  day 
after  its  death,  the  body  was  still  warm  and  smoking. 

To  the  intelligent  farmer  whose  property  this  whale  became  I showed 
all  the  figures  of  Cetacea  in  Mr.  Bell’s  work,  when  he  at  once,  from  the 
narrow  elongated  snout,  and  head  arising  abruptly  from  it,  identified  the 
specimen  with  the  Hyperoodon,  objecting  only  to  the  snout  not  being 
represented  so  long  comparatively  as  in  the  real  animal.  To  another 
respectable  farmer  who  had  got  its  head  I exhibited  these  figures,  and  he 
also  singled  out  the  Hyperoodon,  considering  the  figure  of  Dale’s  speci- 
men as  more  characteristic  of  the  general  form  of  the  animal  than  that 
of  Hunter’s  : the  tail  of  the  latter,  however,  being  the  better  liked.  The 
gape  or  opening  of  the  mouth  was  remarked  to  be  thus  or  “ like 
the  letter  f”  teeth  none,  the  snout  shaped  like  a bottle : it  was  similarly 
described  by  our  first  informant.  In  a newspaper  paragraph  respecting 
this  whale  it  was  stated  that  “ the  blubber  produced  140  gallons  of  oil, 
which  were  computed  to  be  worth  £20  sterling.” 

In  connexion  with  the  occurrence  of  this  Hyperoodon  on  the  coast  of 
Down,  a novel  and  interesting  fact  is  to  be  recorded — that  there  evidently 
was  a migration  or  simultaneous  movement  of  these  Cetacea  towards  the 
British  shores  during  the  last  autumn,  several  individuals  having  within 
a very  few  weeks  been  obtained  in  England  and  Scotland,  as  well  as  Ire- 
land ; but  all  upon  a limited  range  of  coast  bounding  the  Irish  Sea  and 
its  vicinity.  The  first  capture  known  to  me  is  that  of  the  individual 
already  recorded.  In  the  Northern  Whig,  published  at  Belfast  on  the 
26th  September,  it  was  stated  that  “ A bottle-nosed  whale,  20  feet  long, 
■was  last  week  left  on  the  beach  at  Flimby,  near  Cockermouth.”  In  the 
Belfast  News-Letter  of  October  1st  appeared  the  following  notice, — 
“ A whale  captured  near  Liverpool. — On  Tuesday  last  a whale  wras  left 
by  the  receding  tide  on  East  Hoyle  bank,  and  speedily  captured  by  the 
fishermen.  Its  length  is  24  feet ; its  girth  round  the  centre  of  the  body 
13  feet.”  * Although  this  is  not  called  the  bottle-nosed  species,  it  seems 
to  me  a fair  presumption  so  to  consider  the  specimen,  as  its  dimensions 
accord  with  the  other  individuals  taken  about  the  same  time,  and  of  which 
one  was  obtained  on  the  coast  of  the  adjacent  county  of  Cumberland.  In 
the  Belfast  Commercial  Chronicle  of  October  21st  was  this  para- 
graph, copied  from  the  Stranraer  Advertiser  : — 

“ Capture  of  Whales  in  Lochryan. — On  Tuesday  morning  last,  15th  of  October,  f 
a very  unusual  appearance  presented  itself  in  Kirkcolm.  Two  monsters  of  the 
deep,  of  the  bottle-nosed  description  of  whale,  had  come  round  the  Scaur  and 
embayed  themselves  ; the  receding  tide  swept  its  treacherous  waters  from  under 
them,  and  finding  themselves  grounded  their  mighty  exertions  were  truly  terrific, 
yet  unavailing  for  their  extrication.  Mr.  Robertson  of  Clendry  was  the  first  who 
took  notice  of  the  errant  strangers,  and  arming  himself  and  retainers  with  pitch- 


* In  connexion  with  this  paragraph  it  was  observed — “ On  Friday  two  young 
whales  were  got  in  the  Clyde — the  one  on  the  beach  at  Roseneath,  the  other 
above  Dumbarton  or  West  Ferry.”  Unfortunately  no  particulars  are  given  that 
would  lead  to  a knowledge  of  the  species.  About  the  same  tinge  it  was  men- 
tioned in  the  newspapers  that  a whale  proceeding  southward  had  passed  close 
to  one  of  the  packets  plying  between  Holyhead  and  Dublin. 

f About  four  weeks  previous  to  this  time  a friend  informed  me  that  upon 
two  successive  days  a whale  (which  he  saw)  appeared  off  Ballantrae  (Ayrshire) 
some  miles  north  of  Lochryan ; on  the  second  day  it  was  about  two  miles  to  the 
south  of  where  it  was  seen  on  the  preceding,  and  was  still  advancing  southwards. 

E 


50 


CETACEA. 


forks  and  knives,  repaired  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  commenced  the  terrible 
onslaught.  The  dying  agonies  of  the  mighty  monsters  were  truly  tremendous. 
Desperate  from  the  repeated  thrusts  of  the  opponents,  and  from  their  inextric- 
able position,  their  powerful  tails  were  wrought  with  astonishing  effect.  The 
water  (of  which  there  was  yet  a quantity  around  them)  was  lashed  into  foam 
and  agitation,  the  crested  waves  stretching  to  an  incredible  distance,  while  high 
in  air  the  water  ascended  in  one  unbroken  sheet.  From  their  blow-holes  the 
crimsoned  water  was  sent  in  a jet,  imposingly  grand,  to  a great  height.  After 
similar  and  protracted  writhings,  with  a kind  of  snort  or  roar,  their  fury  sub- 
sided, and  in  a short  time  all  was  still.  They  were  towed  to  the  shore  amidst 
the  gaze  of  numerous  and  wondering  spectators,  a large  number  of  whom  ar- 
rived hourly  to  inspect  them.  A number  of  men  were  then  employed  to  cut  off 
the  blubber,  of  which  there  were  thirteen  barrels,  loading  five  carts.  The  di- 
mensions of  the  largest  fish  were  24  feet  4 inches  in  length,  and  16  feet  at  the 
thickest  part  in  circumference ; the  smaller  one  about  16  feet  long,  and  thick  in 
proportion.  The  tail  of  the  largest  was  6|  feet  in  breadth.” 

It  is  very  probable  that  other  paragraphs  to  the  same  effect  may  have 
appeared  in  the  newspapers,  especially  as  those  here  introduced  I observed 
merely  on  a casual  perusal  of  some  of  those  published  in  a provincial  town. 
It  is  rarely  that  such  notices  are  of  any  service  to  the  naturalist,  but  the 
very  peculiar  form  of  the  head  of  the  animal  under  consideration  (whence 
it  has  received  the  name  of  the  Bottle-nosed  Whale),  taken  in  connexion 
with  the  dimensions  stated,  leaves  no  doubt  in  any  instance  here  quoted 
that  the  Hyperoodon  is  alluded  to.  Were  the  size  of  the  individual  de- 
scribed about  one  half  of  what  is  reported,  then  would  there  be  a doubt 
whether  the  captives  might  not  have  been  the  Bottle-nosed  Dolphin  ( Del - 
phinus  Tursio , Fabr.),  a much  smaller  species,  having  the  snout  prolonged 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Hyperoodon , and  which  is  occasionally  taken  on 
the  British  coast. 

The  three  Hyperoodons  recorded  to  have  occurred  on  the  English  shores 
appeared  singly.  The  two  particularly  described  by  M.  Baussard  * were 
taken  in  company  at  Honfleur,  and  considered  a mother  and  her  young — 
the  one  was  23,  the  other  12,  feet  in  length.  Of  the  seven  individuals 
captured  on  the  Irish  coast,  they  on  two  occasions  appeared  in  pairs  ; and 
in  one  of  the  three  instances  here  copied  from  newspapers  two  of  these 
whales  were  secured  at  the  same  time.  It  would  be  interesting  to  know 
whether  those  which  have  so  appeared  were  male  and  female — at  all 
events  it  would  seem  that  the  species  is  not  gregarious. 

So  very  little  of  the  history  of  the  Hyperoodon  is  known,  that  it  is  hoped 
even  the  few  particulars  here  recorded  may  prove  an  acceptable  contri- 
bution.” 

And  in  the  Annals  for  March,  1846,  vol.  xvii.  p.  150,  I added  the 
following  notice : — 

“In  a paper  published  in  the  Annals  for  February,  1840  (vol.  iv.  p. 
375),  I noticed  seven  Hyperoodons,  the  first  of  which  had  previously  been 
most  fully  described  by  Dr.  Jacob  of  Dublin  as  having  been  obtained  on 
a limited  portion  of  the  coast  of  Ireland,  comprised  in  less  than  the  north- 
ern half  of  the  eastern  line  of  coast,  or  merely  from  the  Bay  of  Belfast  to 
that  of  Dublin  inclusive.  An  eighth,  about  24  feet  in  length,  examined 
by  Dr.  G.  J.  Allman,  was  obtained  at  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye,  on  the 
Dublin  coast,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1842.  I have  now  to  record  the  oc- 
currence of  a ninth  individual  procured  within  the  same  range  of  coasts. 


F.  Cuv.  Hist,  de  Cet.  pp.  242,  249. 


BOTTLE-NOSED  WHALE. 


51 


Its  capture  was  thus  noticed  in  one  of  the  Belfast  newspapers,  the  Banner 
of  Ulster,  on  Friday,  Oct.  31,  1845 : — 

‘ A Whale  in  Belfast  Lough. — On  the  morning  of  Wednesday  last  [29th  Oc- 
tober, 1845]  the  services  of  the  coast-guard  stationed  atCultra  Point  were  called 
into  active  requisition  by  the  appearance  of — not  a smuggler — but  something 

* very  like  a whale,’  ploughing  the  waters  a few  hundred  yards  from  the  pier. 

* * * * Without  loss  of  time  a boat  was  manned  by  four  or  five  of  the 

coast-guard  armed  with  harpoon,  cutlass,  carbine,  and  hatchet,  resolved  to  make 
the  stranger  pay  dearly  for  his  visit.  * * * After  a good  deal  of  man- 

oeuvring the  men  succeeded  in  bringing  their  boat  alongside  the  enemy,  and 
then  commenced  their  assault  upon  him  without  mercy  * * * and  after 

a little  show  of  opposition  he  attempted  to  make  off,  but  his  endeavours  were 
fruitless.  After  receiving  two  or  three  shots,  and  a good  many  strokes  with  the 
harpoon,  a grappling-iron  was  thrown  over  him  and  the  boat  was  rowed  shore- 
wards  amid  the  huzzas  of  the  spectators,  with  the  poor  whale  vanquished  and 
weltering  in  his  blood,  which  dyed  the  waters  ; and  soon  the  retreating  tide  left 
him  high  and  dry  upon  the  beach.  * * * It  exhibited  great  tenacity  of  life, 

having  survived  six  hours  after  being  brought  to  land,  though  cut  and  hacked  in 
an  extreme  degree.  * * * On  Wednesday  and  yesterday  crowds  of  persons 

flocked  from  this  town  and  other  places  to  see  it,  where  it  lies  on  the  shore  at  Cultra.” 


I was  absent  from  home  at  the  time,  but  my  friend  Mr.  James  Bryce, 
F.  G.  S.,  ever  active  and  energetic,  hastened  to  the  beach  where  the  animal 
was  lying,  took  the  measurements  of  it  in  detail,  and  subsequently  repeated 
them  under  more  favourable  circumstances  in  the  yard,  in  the  town  of 
Belfast,  to  which  the  animal  was  brought  for  exhibition,  and  where  it  at- 
tracted a large  number  of  visitors  for  several  days.  Mr.  Bryce  had  at  this 
time  careful  drawings  made  of  the  Hyperoodon  by  his  relative  Mr.  It. 
Young,  which,  together  with  his  own  notes,  have  been  kindly  placed  in 
my  hands.  I happened  to  return  home  just  in  time  to  see  the  animal  be- 
fore it  was  cut  up  on  the  8th  of  November.  It  is  a male.  Mr.  Bryce’s 
description  is  as  follows  : — 

Feet  Inches 


Length,  measured  in  a straight  line  from  snout  to  tail 
- measured  along  the  dorsal  curve 


Height,  greatest 

Girth,  greatest 11 

Breadth  of  forehead 3 

Length  of  rostrum  or  snout 

of  mouth  to  rictus 1 

Depth  of  each  jaw  at  point 

Eye  from  point  of  snout 3 

Blow-hole,  from  point  of  snout  (following  dorsal  profile)  . 3 

, in  length  (slightly  crescentic  points  directed  towards  j 


the  head : it  and  the  eyes  in  the  same  vertical  plane) 

Pectoral  fins  from  base  of  snout 

fins,  space  between  them  .... 

fins  in  length,  from  base  at  upper  side  to  point 

■ fins  in  breadth 


•1 


Dorsal  fin  distant  from  caudal  fin,  estimated  from  a straight  line ) g 

drawn  from  snout  to  tail j 

Dorsal  fin,  length  at  base 1 

fin  in  height  (points  backward) 1 

Caudal  fin,  greatest  length 1 

fin,  greatest  breadth 5 

fin,  greatest  thickness 

Aperture  anterior  to  vent  in  length 1 

of  vent  in  length 


7 

0 

11 

6 

3 

0 

6 


52 


CETACEA. 


‘ The  marking  at  each  side  from  behind  the  lip,  extending  under  the  chin  in 
the  direction  of  the  belly,  is  fourteen  inches  in  length  ; in  breadth  it  is  two 
inches  anteriorly  and  nine  inches  posteriorly.*  Colour,  when  quite  recent,  of  a 
blackish  lead  hue,  and  the  skin,  which  was  exquisitely  thin,  beautifully  polished 
like  patent  leather,  and  more  especially  so  on  the  tail  and  caudal  fin  : it  was 
merely  of  a lighter  shade  beneath,  and  not  white.  No  teeth  visible.’ 

Although  no  teeth  could  be  seen  when  the  animal  was  entire,  the  re- 
moval of  the  fleshy  portion  of  the  lower  jaw  exposed  four  of  them  towards 
its  extremity.  They  are  loose  in  their  sockets,  and  so  deeply  sunk  in  the 
groove  as  not  to  be  apparent  above  the  bone  when  the  jaw  is  viewed  in 
profile.  Though  loose,  the  two  front  teeth  may  be  stated  as  lines  from 
the  extremity  of  the  jaw,  and  the  hinder  pair  as  9 lines  distant  from  them. 
So  much  has  already  been  written  on  the  teeth  of  this  species  that  I shall 
content  myself  with  merely  calling  attention  to  the  very  small  size  of  the 
anterior  pair  in  the  present  individual,  a male  upwards  of  twenty-three 
feet  in  length,  compared  with  those  represented  in  Owen’s  Odontography, 
pi.  88,  fig.  1,  although  the  Hyperoodon  to  which  the  latter  belonged  is 
said  to  have  been  immature,  p.  347.  The  stomach  of  the  Irish  specimen 
was  quite  empty.  It  was  believed  that  this  animal,  which  was  in  the 
highest  condition,  would  have  been  about  five  tons  in  weight ; it  produced 
above  ninety  gallons  of  oil : the  entire  skeleton  has  been  preserved  for  the 
Belfast  Museum. 

Baussard’s  figure  of  the  Hyperoodon  (as  repeated  in  F.  Cuvier’s  Hist. 
Nat.  Cetaces,  pi.  17,  fig.  1)  would  with  some  corrections  represent  this 
specimen  ; but  it  has  seemed  to  me  desirable  to  have  an  outline  of  it  en- 
graved from  the  drawing  already  alluded  to,  zoologically  corrected  by 
myself  (pi.  4,  fig.  2).  The  difference  between  Baussard’s  and  the  Irish 
specimen  will  be  seen  to  consist  in  the  latter  being  less  elongate ; in  its 
dorsal  fin  being  smaller  and  placed  considerably  further  back ; in  its  eye 
being  round  instead  of  oval,  like  the  human  eye,  and  in  its  being  deficient 
in  the  ornament  of  eyebrows ; also,  in  the  spiracle  being  placed  in  the  same 
vertical  plane  with  the  eye. 

In  my  paper  before  alluded  to  (p.  379)  a simultaneous  movement  or 
migration  of  Hyperoodons  to  the  Irish  Sea  is  recorded  to  have  taken  place 
in  the  autumn  of  1839,  not  more  than  two  however  appearing  in  company. 
In  connexion  with  this  fact,  I have  on  the  present  occasion  only  to  notice 
the  autumnal  appearance  of  the  species  in  another  year,  and  the  occurrence 
of  these  individuals  on  the  same  day,  though  in  localities  widely  separated, 
the  one  being  taken  in  Belfast  Bay  and  the  other  in  the  Firth  of  Forth. 
Just  as  I reached  Edinburgh  on  the  31st  of  October,  and  was  conversing 
with  Dr.  P.  Neill — who  had  likewise  borne  his  part  in  describing  British 
Whales — the  body  of  a Hyperoodon  to  our  astonishment  appeared  in  view, 
and,  as  we  learned,  was  about  to  be  taken  to  the  Zoological  Garden,  and 
exposed  to  the  atmosphere  during  winter.  The  blubber  and  soft  parts  had 
previously  been  removed,  the  latter  having  been  anatomically  examined 
by  Mr.  John  Goodsir,  and  “ preparations  ” of  them  made  for  the  University 
Museum,  where  the  skeleton  itself  will  eventually  be  placed.  This  is  said 
to  be  the  first  known  occurrence  of  the  species  on  the  eastern  coast  of 


* These  are  evidently  the  same  as  the  “ two  diverging  furrows,”  described  as 
“ under  the  throat,”  in  the  Physeter  bidens  of  Sowerby ; they  were  said  in  the 
Irish  specimen  under  consideration  to  have  resembled  the  liealed-up  deep  wounds 
in  the  stem  of  a large  tree. 


BOTTLE-NOSED  WHALE. 


53 


Scotland.  From  the  gentleman  just  named  and  Dr.  Melville,  his  most 
able  assistant  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Anatomy,  &c.,  in  Edinburgh 
University,  I have  learned  that  this  whale,  killed  in  the  Firth  of  Forth  on 
the  29th  of  October,  4 measured  28^  feet  in  a line  from  the  tip  of  the  snout 
to  the  middle  of  the  caudal  fin,  not  following  the  curvature,  but  as  if  a 
plumb-line  were  dropped  from  one  point  to  the  other.  It  was  a female, 
and  was  accompanied  by  a young  female  (nine  feet  long  measured  in  the 
same  way)  which  was  still  sucking:  the  mammae  of  the  mother  were 
distended  with  milk,  which  appeared  very  rich  in  butter,  and  tasted  pleas- 
antly.’ Dr.  Melville  adds,  that  he  4 forgot  to  ascertain  the  point  at  which 
the  triangular  process  of  skin  under  the  throat  commenced  posteriorly,  but 
anteriorly  it  reached  to  the  middle  of  the  lower  jaw ; the  large  teeth  were 
not  visible,  being  hid  under  the  gum  in  both.’  We  have  another  instance 
of  a mother  and  her  young  being  taken,  in  those  described  by  Baussard  as 
stranded  at  Honfleur.  I am  not  aware  of  the  occurrence  of  any  of  these 
whales  upon  our  coast  in  the  autumn  or  winter  just  passed,  excepting  the 
three  noticed  in  this  communication.” 

In  connexion  with  the  foregoing  notes  as  to  the  food  of  the  Hyperoodon 
and  other  whales  it  should  be  stated,  that  the  stomach  of  the  adult  ani- 
mal killed  in  the  Firth  of  Forth  (October,  1845)  contained  a vast  number 
of  the  beaks  of  cuttle-fishes,  perhaps  what  would  fill  two  quarts.  I saw 
these  in  the  University,  and  specimens  were  subsequently  sent  to  me. 

Mr.  F.  D.  Bennet,  in  his  Narrative  of  a Whaling  Voyage  round  the 
Globe,  observed  respecting  the  spermaceti  whale  that  “ their  ordinary 
food  is  the  cuttle-fish  or  4 squid’  (Sepia),  many  kinds  of  which  are  re- 
jected from  the  stomach  of  the  whale  when  the  latter  is  attacked  by  the 
boats,  as  well  as  after  death  and  during  the  process  of  removing  the  blub- 
ber.” Yol.  ii.  p.  175. 

The  same  author  says  at  p.  236  of  the  Delpliinus  Perona,  a sp.  attaining 
six  feet  in  length,  and  seen  by  him  only  in  the  higher  south  latitudes,  that 
in  every  individual  he  examined  44  the  stomach  was  distended  by  a vast 
number  of  calmars  or  flying  squid  (. Loligo ).” 

Since  the  publication  of  my  note  respecting  the  Hyperoodon  taken  in 
Belfast  Bay  (October,  1845),  1 have  learned  that  two  of  them  appeared  to- 
gether at  Cultra.  They  were  seen  going  up  the  bay  past  Holywood  in 
company  but  not  close  together,  the  one  being  to  one  side  of  and  a little 
way  behind  the  other.  On  returning  back  towards  the  mouth  of  the  Bay, 
the  one  which  was  taken  grounded  itself,  and  the  other  got  off. — They 
returned  outwards  in  the  manner  described.  The  in-shore  one  met  with 
its  death — it  made  a great  attempt  in  resistance,  until  overpowered. 

March  9,  1846. — I took  the  following  measurement  of  the  Hyperoodon 
belonging  to  the  Belfast  Museum  and  described  by  me  in  Ann.  Nat.  Hist, 
for  March,  1846  : — 

ft.  in . 

Length  of  cranium  from  occiput  to  end  of  snout  .4  0£  * 

Breadth 2 1^ 

Height 1 11^ 

Distance  between  bony  crests  of  superior  maxillaries  0 5 

These  bony  crests,  five  inches  apart  at  nearest  point  of  contact,  are  very 
thick : they  gradually  thicken  from  the  summit  downwards — from  about  f 
one  inch  above  to  four  inches  and  a half  at  thickest  part. 

* This  is  not  positive,  a little  being  broken  off  the  extremity  : I made  allow- 
ance for  this  in  the  above. 

f I say  about,  as  the  bone  slopes  away  on  either  side* 


54 


CETACEA. 


The  following  paragraph  which  appeared  in  the  Derry  Sentinel  (Janu- 
ary, 1842),  may  have  related  to  this  species  : — 

“ Whale  caught  at  Newtown-Cunningham. — A bottle-nosed  whale,  about 
twelve  feet  in  length,  was  caught  last  week  at  the  embankment  near  Newtown- 
Cunningham.  It  has  been  purchased  by  Captain  Coppin  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
tracting the  oil,  and  we  believe  may  be  seen  at  his  establishment  on  the  Strand 
road.” 

The  Spermaceti  Whale,  Physeter  macroceplialus,  Linn., 

Has  been  taken  on  the  ocean  coasts  of  the  island. 

In  the  Philosophical  Transactions  for  1695-6,  Dr.  Molyneux  remarks, 
“ Nor  is  the  kind  of  whale-fish  that  * * affords  the  true  spermaceti  a 

stranger  to  the  coast  of  Ireland  that  respects  America.  This  we  may  properly, 

I think,  * * call  the  Cetus  dentatus,  from  its  large  solid  white  teeth  fixed  only 

in  the  lower  jaw,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  species  that  gives  the  whalebone 

* * of  which  kind  likewise  there  have  been  three  or  four  stranded  in  my  time, 
but  on  the  eastern  coast  of  this  country  that  regards  England. 

There  have  been  three  of  this  kind  \_Cetus  dentatus~\  taken  to  my  knowledge  in 
the  space  of  the  six  years,  all  on  the  western  coast  of  this  country ; one  near 
Coleraine  in  the  County  of  Antrim,  another  about  Shipharbour  in  the  County 
of  Donegal,  and  a third  in  Aug.,  1691,  71  feet  long  (exceeding  that  discovered 
by  Clusius  19  feet),  towards  Ballyshannon,  where  Lough  Erne  discharges  its 
waters  into  the  western  ocean.”  Vol.  xix.  p.  508. 

In  Smith’s  History  of  Cork,  published  in  1750,  it  is  observed  that  a whale, 
“ which  I take  by  the  account  I heard  of  it  to  be  the  Balcena  major , or  sper- 
maceti whale,  Ray,  Synop.  Pise.  15,  was  a few  winters  ago  cast  on  shore  near 
Castlehaven,  and  towards  60  feet  long.”  Yol.  ii.  p.  299. 

Arthur  Young  in  his  Tour  in  Ireland,  made  in  the  years  1776 — 1779, 
remarks  that, 

“ In  all  the  bays  on  the  coast  [of  Donegal]  in  March  and  April  there  are 
many  whales,  the  bone  sort;  they  appear  on  the  coast  in  February,  and  go  off  to 
the  northward  the  beginning  of  May;  sometimes  they  are  in  great  plenty,  and 
in  November  to  February  there  are  many  spermaceti  whales ; * this  is  what 
induced  Thomas  Nesbit,  Esq.,  of  Kilmacredon,  to  enter  into  a scheme  for  estab- 
lishing a fishery  on  the  coast,  and  in  executing  it  was  the  inventor  of  the  gun- 
harpoon.  Mr.  Nesbit  first  used  the  gun-harpoon  for  killing  whales  in  the  year 
1756  * * * [In  this  year]  one  whale  was  caught  by  the  hand-harpoon 

* * * In  1761,  with  the  gun-harpoon,  he  killed  three  whales  and  got  them 

all ; after  which  he  every  year  killed  some,  except  one  year,  when  he  killed  forty- 
two  sun-fish  f in  one  week,  each  of  which  yielded  from  half  a ton  to  a ton  of  oil. 
Mr.  Nesbit  has  since  given  it  up,J  not  from  want  of  success  in  the  mode  of  taking 
the  whales,  but  from  being  put  by  his  partners,  for  want  of  knowledge  in  the 
business,  to  useless  expenses.  From  many  experiments  he  brought  the  opera- 
tion to  such  perfection,  that  for  some  years  he  never  missed  a whale,  nor  failed  of 

* At  the  beginning  of  August,  1845,  a large  whale  was  seen  by  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  others  between  Horn  Head  and  Tory  Island  off  Donegal. 

f Basking  shark.  Selachus  maximus , Cuv. 

X The  following  paragraphs  appeared  in  1776,  copied  in  1839,  from  a book 
of  extracts  made  by  Dr.  Aquila  Smith : — “ A large  Whale.  By  letters  from 
the  Co.  Donegal  we  have  an  account  that  Mr.  Thos.  Nesbit  killed  and  brought 
into  port,  the  11th  inst.,  a large  whale ; and  as  many  others  now  appear  on  the 
coast,  there  is  reason  to  hope  for  a successful  season  in  that  fishery.” — Freeman’s 
Journal , May  17,  1776. 

“We  hear  from  Port  in  the  Co.  of  Donegal  that  Mr.  Thos.  Nesbit  had 
brought  in  a'  whale  there  which  measured  63  feet  in  length.” — Freeman’s 
Journal , June  10,  1776. 


HIGH-FINNED  CACHALOT. 


55 


holding  her  by  the  harpoon : he  had  for  some  time  ill  success,  from  firing  when 
too  near,  for  the  harpoon  does  not  then  fly  true,  but  at  14  or  15  yards’  distance, 
which  is  what  he  would  choose,  it  flies  straight ; has  killed  several  at  25  yards.” 

Other  interesting  particulars  are  given,  and  it  is  finally  remarked : — 

“ I have  been  the  more  particular  in  giving  an  account  of  this  undertaking, 
because  the  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of  Arts,  &c.  in  London  has  long  since 
given  premiums  for  the  invention  of  the  gun-harpoon,  supposing  it  to  be  ori- 
ginal.” P.  157. 

In  Rutty’s  Natural  History  of  the  County  of  Dublin  it  is  stated  that 
one  of  these  whales — 

“ was  cast  upon  our  coast  in  the  year  1766,  and  the  sperma  was  taken  from  it 
and  refined  here  in  Dublin.”  Vol.  i.  p.  369. 

In  1837  Dr.  R.  Ball  mentioned  to  me  that  he  had  often  heard  of  an 
immense  whale  which  was  taken  or  cast  ashore  at  Youghal  about  seventy 
years  before  that  time.  It  was  said  to  have  been  seventy  feet  in  length, 
and  its  height  so  great  that  his  grandfather,  a tall  man,  when  on  horse- 
back beside  the  whale,  held  up  his  whip,  and  the  top  of  it  could  not  be 
seen  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  animal.  The  spermaceti-was  said  to 
have  been  carried  away  in  buckets-full. 

Mr.  John  Nimmo  of  Roundstone,  Connemara,  informed  me  in  1837, 
that  a spermaceti  whale  was  driven  ashore  about  fifteen  years  previously 
in  a sandy  bay  near  that  village.  Mr.  Martin,  on  whose  property  it  was 
stranded,  was  stated  to  have  realized  £50  by  the  spermaceti. 

High-finned  Cachalot,  Physeter  Tursio,  Linn. 

In  the  Annals  of  Natural  History  for  November,  1846,  vol.  xviii.,  p.  310, 
I published  the  following  communication  relative  to  this  species  : — 

“ I am  happy  to  be  enabled  to  join  my  friend  Professor  Bell  (see  British  Mam- 
malia, p.  512)  in  maintaining  the  existence  of  this  species,  which  Cuvier,  from 
the  unsatisfactory  nature  of  the  data  respecting  it,  believed  to  be  fictitious  : — 
even  yet  no  proper  description  or  figure  has  been  published. 

Professor  Bell  comes  to  his  conclusion  on  information  to  which  Cuvier  had  not 
access,  and  which  was  communicated  to  him  by  Mr.  Barclay  of  Zetland.  The 
occurrence  of  the  species  on  the  coast  of  Ireland  was  made  known  to  me  by 
Capt.  Thomas  Walker,  who  replied  as  follows  to  a letter  requesting  the  fullest 
information  on  the  subject: — ‘ Kilmore,  Bridgetown,  Wexford,  July  28,  1846: 
— As  to  the  high-finned  Cachalots,  I saw  them  myself  about  seven  years  ago,  and 
only  know  them  to  have  been  so  from  the  descriptions  in  works  of  natural  history 
which  I consulted  to  find  out  what  they  were.  There  were  either  five  or  seven 
of  them — I now  forget  which  number,  but  I think  the  latter,  and  two  of  them 
were  much  larger  than  the  rest,  apparently  about  twenty-five  feet  long,  from 
comparing  them  with  the  length  of  the  boat  in  which  I was.  When  first  I saw 
one  I thought  it  was  a cot  [small  flat-bottomed  boat]  at  anchor  with  her  tarred 
sail  made  up  to  the  mast ; more  then  rose,  and  they  crossed  in  a long  file  the 
bows  of  my  boat  so  close,  that  I put  about  the  boat  (though  of  seven  tons  burden) 
fearing  they  would  upset  her.  When  I put  about  they  were  not  more  than 
three  or  four  yards  from  me  : the  back  fin  appeared  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  high, 
and  had  either  before  or  behind  it  (I  cannot  now  recollect  which)  a round  white 
spot  on  the  back  ; all  the  rest  of  the  body  that  showed  was  black  like  a porpoise. 
I did  not  see  the  head  or  tail,  nor  more  than  a portion  of  the  back  ; they  went 
steadily,  not  rolling  like  a porpoise.’ 

There  certainly  is  no  proof  here  that  the  species  noticed  was  a Physeter , but 
that  it  was  what  has  been  called  the  High-finned  Cachalot  does  not  in  my 
opinion  admit  of  doubt.  In  Templeton’s  Catalogue  of  the  Vertebrate  Animals 


56 


CETACEA. 


of  Ireland,  the  Physeter  Tursio  is  noticed,  but  merely  in  the  following  words  : 
— £ Thrown  ashore  on  the  western  coast  occasionally.’  ” 

On  the  1 5th  Nov.  1846,  Major  Walker  wrote  me  that  “ the  round  white 
spot  either  before  or  behind  the  back  fin  and  quite  close  to  it  was  not  an 
accidental  mark,  as  it  appeared  in  all — either  five  or  seven — of  them.”  He 
remarks,  “ The  great  height  and  narrowness  of  the  back  fin  led  me,  on 
first  perceiving  it,  to  believe  that  it  was  a fishing  cot  with  the  black  tarred 
sail  made  up  to  the  mast.”  * And  in  a subsequent  letter  the  same  gentle- 
man mentioned  that  he  had  met  the  captain  of  a Sunderland  vessel  to 
whom  the  high-finned  cachalot  was  known,  and  who  confirmed  his  recol- 
lection as  to  the  narrowness  and  great  height  of  the  fin. 

The  Common  Whale,  Balcena  Mysticetus,  Linn., 

Is  said  to  have  been  taken  on  the  coast  on  different  occasions,  but  no 
description  to  enable  a correct  judgment  to  be  arrived  at  respecting  the 
species  has  come  under  my  inspection. 

The  simple  fact  of  this  and  the  Balcenoptera  producing  whalebone  has 
led  to  both  species  being  referred  to  under  one  name. 

I shall  give  some  notices  which  may  possibly  apply  to  this  species. 

“ Here  [at  Slime  Head  ‘ the  furthest  into  the  sea,  and  most  western  point  of 
those  parts’]  a great  whale  was  cast  in,  the  last  day  of  December,  1650 ; and 
another  about  forty  years  before.” — O' Flaherty's  H-'  lar  Connaught , written  in 
1684,  p.  109. 

“Large  Whale. — There  was  lately  killed  on  the  N.  W.  coast  of  this  king- 
dom, in  the  Bay  of  Enver  near  Donegal,  a large  whale,  62  feet  long,  15  feet  deep 
as  it  lay,  its  tongue  filled  eleven  hogsheads.  The  whalebone  is  computed  to  be 
worth  8 or  900  pounds.  The  blubber  filled  62  rum  puncheons.” — Repository  of 
the  Medico-Philosophical  Society,  f No.  29.  M.S.  in  Library  of  R.  I.  Academy.]; 

In  May,  1838,  I wras  informed  by  my  venerable  friend  the  late  Dr. 
McDonnell  of  Belfast,  that  he  had  heard  on  good  authority  of  the  occur- 
rence upwards  of  forty  years  previously  of  two  large  whales — one  of  them 
seventy  feet  long — on  the  northern  coast  of  Antrim.  Within  the  last 
twelve  years  a portion  of  a small  whale  taken  at  Portstewart  was  sent  him, 
and  from  his  description  of  this  animal  I considered  it  to  have  been  B. 
Mysticetus. 

Mr.  John  Nimmo  of  Boundstone  (Co.  Galway)  saw  the  remains  of  what 
he  termed  a baleen  whale  on  Deer  Island  in  1837 ; the  blubber  was 
boiled  and  the  oil  extracted : it  was  claimed  by  the  lord  of  the  soil,  Mr. 
Martin. 

Either  the  B.  Mysticetus  or  Balcenoptera  will  be  found  included  with  the 
spermaceti  whale  in  extracts  which  I have  made  from  the  writings  of  Dr. 
Molyneux  and  Arthur  Young. 

The  following  notices  of  whales,  the  species  of  which  must  remain  un- 
known, may  be  introduced  here. 

In  1782  or  1783  a very  old  gentlemen  of  my  acquaintance  saw  a whale, 
seventy  feet  in  length,  on  the  beach  of  Glenarm  Bay — it  may  be  the  same 


* In  the  paper  as  already  published  there  was  a wood-cut  exhibiting  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  High-finned  Cachalot,  as  seen  by  Capt.  Walker. 

f This  Society  existed  from  1756 — 1784  ; the  last  date  in  the  Repository  is 
March  2,  1772. — Aq.  Smith. 

X Copied  from  a book  of  extracts  lent  me  for  the  purpose  by  Dr.  Aquila 
Smith  of  Dublin,  Nov.  1839. 


COMMON  WHALE. 


57 


individual  that  Dr.  M‘Donnell  alluded  to.  Portions  of  the  skeleton  were 
preserved  for  a long  time  at  Glenarm  Castle.  Mr.  Templeton,  as  I learn 
from  his  journal,  saw  these  in  July,  1808,  and  was  told  that  the  animal 
had  whalebone  in  its  jaws.  He  adds  that  “ the  one  caught  near  Larne 
was  a young  animal  of  the  same  species,”  alluding,  it  is  presumed,  to  that 
taken  about  the  last-named  year. 

Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall  was  told  at  the  island  of  Rathlin  in  1834  that  the 
B.  Mysticetus  is  occasionally  seen  in  the  channel  between  the  island  and 
Batty  Castle,  though  of  late  years  very  rarely.  Part  of  the  skeleton  of 
one  was  then  to  be  seen  on  the  shore  of  Church  Bay  in  the  island. 

Dr.  Michael  Ferrar  recollects  that  about  the  year  1810,  when  he  was  a 
boy,  he  was  put  into  the  mouth  of  a whale  which  was  pulled  up  close  to 
the  quay  at  Larne. 

Large  whales  are  not  very  unfrequently  still  seen  from  the  more  north- 
ern coast  of  Antrim,  but  of  what  species  we  are  ignorant.  During  a 
period  of  six  weeks  in  the  summer  of  1837,  one — or  what  was  considered 
to  be  the  same  individual — was  frequently  seen  off  Drumnasole,  though 
sometimes  not  appearing  for  a week. 

“ Capture  of  a Whale. — On  Friday  sen.,  while  the  crew  of  one  of  the  Dub- 
lin trawlers  were  fishing  off  Dunmore,  Co.  Waterford,  they  captured  a whale 
measuring  36  feet  in  length  and  7~  feet  in  thickness.” — N.  Whig.  Aug.  24, 1844. 

The  B.  mysticetus  visits  the  coasts  of  Great  Britain  much  less  frequently 
than  formerly. 

The  following  paragraphs,  respecting  the  occurrence  of  whales  on  the 
coast  of  Ireland,  are  taken  from  the  periodical  press. 

“Whales  on  the  South-West  Coast  of  Ireland. — Within  the  last  six 
years,  several  whales  have  been  seen  on  the  Southern  and  Western  parts  of 
this  and  the  County  of  Kerry,  one  of  which  ran  on  shore  near  Glandore,  and  an- 
other, found  floating  at  sea,  was  towed  into  Crookhaven  by  a hooker,  both  pro- 
ducing an  average  quantity  of  oil.  Whales  have  visited  the  coast  during  the 
summer  months,  and  been  frequently  seen.  On  the  29th  of  last  month  five  of 
them  were  observed  at  one  time  sporting  within  the  circumference  of  four  miles 
of  the  revenue  cutter  Badger , when  off  the  Skelligs  Rocks.  ( Cork  Constitution.')  ” 
l — N.  Whig,  May  11,  1850. 

“ A Whale  in  the  Bay  of  Galway. — For  the  last  few  months  a whale  has 
been  disporting  his  bulky  proportions  in  our  bay,  to  the  great  destruction  of 
its  finny  inhabitants,  and  the  surprise  and  terror  of  our  fishermen,  who  look 
upon  their  strange  visitor  as  something  supernatural.  It  is  probable  that  this 
monster  came  to  our  shores  in  pursuit  of  herring  shoals,  and  in  company  with 
the  whale  that  was  captured,  some  time  ago,  on  the  coast  of  Connemara.” — N. 
Whig,  July  24,  1851. 

“ Whales  on  the  West  Coast. — As  a party  of  Sligo  gentlemen  were  yacht- 
ing in  the  early  part  of  the  week,  in  the  bays  of  Sligo  and  Donegal,  they  met  a 
number  of  whales  in  pursuit  of  herrings  and  their  fry.  They  were  of  vast  di- 
mensions, and  at  one  time  no  less  than  six  appeared  above  water,  one,  at  least 
60  feet  in  length,  being  within  50  yards  of  the  Ventura , the  yacht  which  the 
party  were  in.  (Sligo  Journal.)  ” — Belfast  Mercury,  Sep.  27,  1851. 

“ On  Sunday  sen.,  the  carcase  of  a whale  was  hauled  into  Bantry  harbour.  It 
is  supposed  it  had  been  killed  by  a swordfish,  as  a wound,  such  as  would  be 
made  by  one,  was  discovered  in  its  belly.  Its  dimensions  are  ninety -four  feet 
nine  inches  long,  forty-two  feet  girt ; breadth  of  tail,  twenty-four  feet ; length 
of  lower  jaw,  twelve ; breadth  between  the  eyes  (one  of  which  is  broken  by  a 
wound),  fifteen  feet.” — N.  Whig,  Dec.  23,  1851. 

“A  Whale  in  Bangor  Bay,  Co.  Down. — For  more  than  ten  days  previous 
to  the  late  stormy  weather,  a large  whale,  of  about  fifty  or  sixty  feet  long,  and  of 
proportionate  breadth,  has  been  cruising  about  in  the  [Belfast]  lough,  immediately 


58 


CETACEA. 


off  Bangor  Bay,  to  which  locality  he  had  been  probably  attracted  by  the  herring 
fry,  then  swimming  in  every  direction,  pursued  by  a powerful  force  of  seagulls 
of  every  description,  some  gannets,  and  an  immense  body  of  puffins  and  other 
divers ; flocks  of  which  were  dispersed  in  all  directions,  making  unceasing  as- 
saults upon  the  different  shoals  of  fry,  as  they  approach  the  surface.” — N.  Whig, 
Oct.  1,  1846. 

Rorqual,  Balcenoptera  Boops,  Linn,  (sp.) 

Individuals  of  this  genus  Balcenoptera  have  occurred  on  the  ocean  coasts 
of  Ireland. 

In  Scoresby’s  Arctic  Regions  it  is  stated  that  “ three  were  killed  on  the 
north-west  coast  of  Ireland  in  the  year  1762,  and  two  in  1763,  vol.  i.  p. 
483.  Possibly  the  note  from  the  Repository  of  the  Medico-Philosophical 
Society  given  under  Balcena  Mysticetus  may  refer  to  one  of  these.  In 
Smith’s  Cork  (1750)  the  following  note  appeared,  which  is  brought  under 
Balsenoptera  in  Dr.  Harvey’s  Fauna  of  Cork  (1845) : — 

“ Balcena  Rondeletii ; Gesneri  et  aliorum;  Willoughby.  The  Whale.  This 
fish  has  been  cast  up  in  different  places  in  the  West  of  this  county;  several 
years  ago  a prodigious  large  one,  85  feet  long,  was  stranded  at  Crookhaven,  the 
jaw-bones  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen  forming  the  posts  and  arch  of  a gate  at 
Colonel  Beecher’s  seat  at  Affadown.” 

In  the  Freeman’s  Journal,  May  26,  1767,  the  following  paragraph 
appeared : — 

“Whale  85  feet  long.— May  17,  was  killed  near  Castletownsend  in  the 
County  of  Cork  a whale  whose  length  is  85  feet ; from  his  eye,  which  is  not  larger 
than  the  eye  of  an  horse,  to  his  nose  is  19  feet,  and  the  length  of  his  jaw-bone 
is  25  feet.”  * 

Dr.  Jacob  in  the  Dublin  Philosophical  Journal  for  Nov.  1825  (vol.  i.  p. 
342)  gives  a very  full  and  elaborate  description,  accompanied  by  figures, 
of  a female  “ Balcena  rostrata,”  seventy  feet  in  length,  zoologically  and  ana- 
tomically examined  by  him  in  the  month  of  April  of  that  year.  It 
“ was  found  floating  at  some  distance  from  Innisturk,  an  island  about  ten 
miles  southward  of  Newport  Bay,  in  the  County  of  Mayo.”  Dr.  Jacob 
here  enters  fully  into  the  question  of  species,  and  is  disposed  to  believe 
that  Sibbald’s  two  whales  called  Balcena  Boops  and  B.  musculus  by  Linneeus ; 
Hunter’s  “ B.  rostrata  ofFabricius those  described  by  Mr.  P.  Neill  (Wern. 
Mem.  vol.  i.  p.  202),  Scoresby  (Arctic  Regions,  vol.  i.  p.  485),  and  other  au- 
thors, are  of  the  same  species  with  that  which  he  examined.  He  gives  a 
table  of  the  relative  admeasurements  of  the  individuals  described  in  the 
works  just  named. 

The  relative  size  of  the  head  to  the  whole  length  indicates  a Balcenop- 
tera  rather  than  a Balcena  Mysticetus. — In  the  Northern  Whig  of  9 Sept. 
1841,  it  was  stated  that  “ a whale  of  considerable  size  floated  dead  into  the 
Bay  of  Dundrum  on  Friday  last,”  and  it  is  added  that  “ this  is  the  second 
whale  which  has  been  drifted  ashore  in  the  neighbourhood  of  late.” 
Some  years  before  (1836  or  1837  P),  as  I was  informed  by  Mr.  Edward 
Benn,  a large  whale  came  in  among  the  rocks  at  Ardglass,  a few  miles  dis- 
tant from  the  last-named  place.  It  was  imagined  that  the  animal  could 
never  get  to  sea  again,  and  the  people  of  the  village  hastily  collected  all 
their  destructive  implements,  and  fastening  them  to  ropes  drove  them  into 


* Copied  in  1839  from  a book  of  extracts  of  Dr.  Aquila  Smith,  kindly  lent 
me  for  the  purpose.  The  above  dimensions,  positive  and  relative,  indicate  a 
Balcenoptera. 


RORQUAL. 


59 


the  poor  whale,  but  the  tide  coming  in  and  floating  him  off,  he  went  to 
sea,  carrying  with  him  every  rope,  “ pick,”  and  similar  implement  that  Ard- 
glass  contained.  He  had  suffered  badly,  however,  and  was  washed  ashore 
dead,  at  some  distance  from  the  scene  of  action. 

Dr.  Burkitt  of  Waterford  mentioned  in  a letter  to  Dr.  Ball,  dated 
11th  Dec.  1835,  the  recent  occurrence  there  of  two  individuals — one  25, 
the  other  16,  feet  in  length—  of  the  B.  Boops,  and  that  a much  larger  whale, 
supposed  to  be  the  mother,  remained  near  the  shore  for  some  days.  Dr. 
G.  J.  Allman  (now  Professor  of  Zoology,  in  University,  Edinburgh) 
informed  me  in  Nov.  1839  that  in  the  preceding  month  of  September  a 
whale  about  34  feet  in  length  was  cast  ashore  to  the  east  of  Kinsale  Head. 
It  was  in  a very  mutilated  state  when  he  saw  it,  so  that  no  description 
could  be  attempted ; the  plates  of  whalebone  were  observed  to  be  very 
short,  about  nine  inches  in  length,  but  possibly  imperfect,  indicating,  how- 
ever, its  being  of  this  genus. 

In  the  Belfast  Newsletter  of  17  Sept.  1841,  the  following  paragraph  ap- 
peared : — 

“We  mentioned  in  a former  number  that  a large  whale  of  the  true  Balcena 
species  was  drifted  ashore  last  week  at  Annalong,  a sea-coast  village  about  half 
way  between  Newcastle  and  Kilkeel  [County  Down],  It  measured  47  feet  in 
length,  while  the  head  alone,  from  the  top  of  the  nose  to  the  remote  extremity 
of  the  skull,  was  no  less  than  12  feet  in  length.  This  immense  monster  had  evi- 
dently been  driven  from  the. Northern  Sea,  as  it  was  quite  dead  when  discovered, 
and  had  a harpoon  sticking  in  it.  It  has  proved  a rich  prize  to  the  poor  fisher- 
men of  the  district  in  which  it  was  found.  Several  whales,  of  inferior  size  to 
the  one  mentioned  above,  have  been  caught  alive  this  season  about  the  shores  of 
Dundrum  and  the  adjacent  coasts.” 

The  following  paragraph  from  the  Galway  Vindicator,  copied  into  the 
Northern  Whig  of  7th  December,  1843,  probably  relates  to  one  of  these 
whales  as  the  largest  of  our  species,  although  it  is  more  than  doubtful 
that  both  size  and  value  have  been  not  a little  exaggerated. 

“ Whales.t— In  the  course  of  last  week,  an  enormous  dead  whale,  measuring 
157  feet  in  length,  was  stranded  in  fourteen  feet  of  water,  at  Spiddle,  on  the 
western  coast,  about  eight  or  nine  miles  from  this  town,  calculated  to  be  worth 
£1200  ; but  before  Peter  Comyn,  Esq.,  of  Spiddle,  on  whose  property  it  floated 
in,  had  been  aware  of  it,  the  country  people  from  the  adjacent  districts,  as  well 
as  the  inhabitants  of  Spiddle  themselves,  had  it  nearly  cut  up  and  taken  away 
— rendering  it  of  little  comparative  value.” — Galway  Vindicator. 

In  the  following  instance,  supposing  the  descriptions  to  apply  to  the 
same  individual,  we  have  an  exaggeration  of  10  feet  in  a newspaper  para- 
graph. According  to  the  N.  Whig’s  extract  of  21  May,  1844,  from  the 
Southern  Reporter,  it  appeared  that 

“ A huge  whale,  84  feet  long  and  44  in  girth,  weighing  at  least  50  tons,  was 
captured  by  the  fishermen,  at  Glendore,  County  Cork,  on  Sunday  week,  to  whom 
it  will  prove  a rich  prize.” — N.  Whig , May  21,  1844 — From  Southern  Reporter  ? 

But  from  the  Cork  Fauna  we  learn  that 
“ It  measured  74  feet  in  length  and  30  in  girth.  It  was  a male.  Length  of 
head,  about  18  feet;  gape  from  point  of  nose  to  angle  of  mouth,  16  feet.  The 
longest  plates  of  baleen  were  2|  feet,  the  shortest  6 inches.  Tail,  1 8 feet  from 
tip  to  tip.  One  small  thick  dorsal  fin  at  a distance  of  9 feet  from  the  tail.  The 
colour  was  black  above,  and  a mottled  grey  on  the  under  surface.  The  skin  of 
the  belly  and  under  parts  was  thrown  into  very  distinct  longitudinal  folds.  The 
pectoral  fins  were  of  enormous  power,  but  their  measurement  is  not  given.” 

These  particulars  were  supplied  to  Dr.  Harvey  by  George  Armstrong 


60 


CETACEA. 


and  J.  Fitz-Henry  Townsend,  Esqs.,  respecting  a whale  which  got  amongst 
the  rocks  of  Glandor  harbour  in  the  summer  of  1844  and  was  taken. 

Major  Walker  (the  Lodge,  Kyle,  Enniscorthy)  wrote  me  on  28  July, 
1846,  that  a friend  (Mr.  Howlin)  and  his  son  who  sailed  in  their  yacht 
to  Dunmore  at  the  mouth  of  Waterford  harbour  in  the  summer  of  1844, 
told  him  on  their  return  that  the  people  were  exhibiting  a small  whale 
on  the  shore,  and  that  the  white  belly  was  all  in  longitudinal  stripes  or 
plates.  On  looking  to  Bell’s  Cetacea  we  concluded  (Major  W.  remarks) 
that  it  must  be  the  Rorqual. 

“ A whale  caught  on  the  western  coast  of  Ireland. — General  Thomson  of  the 
Little  Killeries,  Connemara,  has  killed  a large  whale  sixty-five  feet  long  and 
twenty-four  feet  broad,  having  a large  fin  on  the  hack  about  ten  feet  from  the 
tail.” — N.  Whiff,  Oct.  3,  1846. 

“ A Whale  caught  in  Strangford  Lough. — We  have  received  the  follow- 
ing from  a correspondent: — On  Wednesday  last,  a whale,  which  is  fully  30  feet 
long,  got  stranded  on  Ringhaddy  Sound.  It  has  a Jin  on  the  bach , towards  the 
tail,  rising  about  twelve  inches.  The  tail  is,  as  near  as  I could  calculate,  about 
six  feet  broad.  Before  the  tide  had  quite  left  the  creature,  a man  drove  a crow- 
bar into  one  of  its  eyes.  This  caused  it  to  writhe  in  agony,  and  drive  mud, 
stones,  and  water  to  a prodigious  height,  completely  drenching  the  individual 
who  inflicted  the  wound  upon  it.  Shortly  afterwards  several  balls  were  fired 
into  its  head ; and  a stick,  three  feet  long  and  as  thick  as  a man’s  wrist,  was 
totally  hidden  in  one  of  its  blowers.” — N.  Whig,  July  1,  1843. 

Dr.  Gordon,  who  had  been  aware  of  the  capture  of  the  whale  referred 
to  in  the  last  paragraph,  informed  me  in  1846  that  he  had  obtained  some 
of  the  whalebone  and  ribs  of  it — one  piece  of  the  former  in  his  possession 
was  15^  inches  long,  of  solid  matter — 18  inches  to  tip  of  hair  like  bristles. — It 
was  6 inches  in  breadth  at  the  base.  The  ribs  measured  5 feet  in  length. 

All  the  species  of  Cetacea  yet  known  as  Irish  (with  the  exception  of 
Physeter  Tursio ) are  figured  in  Bell’s  British  Quadrupeds,  and  all  (with 
the  exception  of  Physeter  Tursio  and  Delphinus  Tursio)  are  likewise  illus- 
trated in  the  Naturalist’s  Library,  Volume  on  Whales. 

The  crania  not  figured  in  the  former  work,  viz.  those  of  Delphinus  Del- 
phis,  Phoccenu  Orca,  P.  Melas,  and  Palcenoptera  Poops,  will  be  found  in 
Cuv.  Oss.  Foss.,  and  those  of  the  first  and  third  of  these  species  are  also 
represented  in  Fred.  Cuv.  Hist.  Cetaces. 

From  the  preceding  notices  it  appears  that  even  the  larger  Cetacea  oc- 
cur on  the  Irish  coasts  not  unfrequently.  I do  not  however  consider  as 
certain  any  species  of  which  the  measurements  have  not  been  given,  so 
as  to  show  the  relative  proportions  of  the  different  parts  of  the  body,  or 
which  have  not  come  under  the  actual  examination  of  the  Zoologist ; and 
unfortunately  for  science  such  investigations  are  seldom  permitted,  as  the 
captors  generally  commence  at  once  to  cut  into  their  victims.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  naturalists  will  for  the  future  attend  more  to  these  animals. 


CLASS  REP  TIL  I A. 


TESTITDINATA. 

The  Loggerhead  Turtle,  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.  vol.  iii.  p.  85,  pi.  23 ; 

Chelonia  Caouana , Schweigger;  Testudo  Caretta,  Linn., 

Has  been  taken  alive  on  the  coast,  as  mentioned  in  the  following  note, 
which  I published  in  the  Annals  of  Natural  History,  vol.  v.  p.  8. 

“ To  the  kindness  of  H.  H.  Dombrain,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  I owe  the  op- 
portunity of  examining  a turtle  of  this  species  hitherto  unnoticed  on  the 
British  shores,  which  was  obtained  on  the  coast  of  Donegal  in  May,  1838, 
and  soon  afterwards  came  into  his  possession.  The  specimen,  about  a foot 
in  length,  was  taken  by  a man  engaged  in  collecting  sea-weed  for  manure, 
and  who,  finding  the  hook  at  the  end  of  the  long  pole  used  for  ‘ haul- 
ing in  the  rack  ’ had  caught  in  something,  carefully  drew  it  towards  him, 
when  the  captive  proved  to  be  a living  turtle,  whose  eye  the  hook  had 
entered.  Dr.  It.  Ball  informs  me  that  a turtle  of  this  specie^,  in  his  col- 
lection, was  taken  alive  in  the  sea  near  Youghal ; but  he  has  been  in- 
clined to  regard  it  merely  as  an  individual  washed  off  the  deck  of  a vessel, 
or  one  that  had  escaped  from  the  cord  which  was  intended  to  secure  it, 
when  (as  is  a common  custom  on  board  ship)  it  may  have  been  committed 
to  the  sea  for  the  benefit  of  a swim.  However,  as  both  the  specimens 
which  have  been  procured  on  the  Irish  coast  are  of  the  same  species,  and 
one  which  according  to  Dumeril  and  Bibron  is  very  common  in  the 
Mediterranean,  and  of  occasional  occurrence  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  they 
may  by  the  natural  influence  of  winds  and  waves  have  been  carried  to 
our  shores.  This  remark  would,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  frequenting 
the  same  seas,  likewise  apply  to  the  much  rarer  species,  the  Leathery  Tur- 
tle, Sphargis  coriacea , which  has  been  taken  on  the  English  coast.  The 
Hawk’s-Bill  Turtle,  Chelonia  imhricata , now  included  in  the  British  Fauna, 
may,  more  probably  than  the  other  two  species,  have  been  washed  off  the 
decks  of  vessels  or  outlived  their  wreck,  its  native  abode  being  so  far  re- 
mote from  the  British  seas  as  the  West  Indies  and  the  Indian  Ocean.”  * 

The  Common  Lizard,  or  Viviparous  Lizard,  Zootoca  vivipara, 
Wagl.  Bell;  Lacerta  agilis , Berkenh.  Jenyns, 

Is  common  in  suitable  localities  throughout  the  island. 

I have  seen  specimens  from  all  quarters ; and  the  result  of  my  examina- 
tions of  several  of  these  appears  in  the  following  note  from  my  Journal : — 


* “All  the  localities  noted  by  Dumeril  and  Bibron,  except  Havanna,  are 
within,  or  bordering  on,  the  Indian  Ocean.” — Erpetologie  Generale,  tome  ii. 
p.  551. 


62 


REPTILIA. 


“ 27th  May,  1837. — Eight  Irish  lizards  which  I have  examined,  and 
varying  in  size  from  to  7 inches,  viz.  six  specimens  from  the  Counties 
of  Down  and  Antrim,  one  from  Dublin,  and  one  from  Cork,  and  also  a 
Scotch  specimen  sent  to  me  from  Portpatrick  by  Captain  Fayrer,  It.  N. 
are  identical  with  Lacerta  agilis  of  Mr.  J enyns,  as  described  in  his  Man. 
Brit.  Vert.  p.  293.  It  should  however  be  observed  that  instead  of  the 
two  middle  rows  of  abdominal  lamellae  bring  merely  ‘ a little  narrower 
than  the  adjoining  ones,’  they  are  in  all  these  specimens  about  one  half 
the  breadth  only  of  the  row  on  either  side.  In  some  the  number  of 
plates  in  the  collar  is  8,  in  others  9 ; and  these  plates  vary  much  in  rela- 
tive size,  being  in  several  specimens  somewhat  uniform  in  this  respect, 
and  in  others  the  central  ones  being  much  the  largest.” 

When  at]  Clifden,  Connemara,  on  24th  July,  1840,  I observed  one  of 
these  lizards  basking  in  the  sun ; and  I have  seen  them  doing  the  same 
near  Yentnor  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

On  examining  several  individuals  of  this  species  received  from  Aber- 
arder  (Scotland)  I made  the  following  note,  in  March,  1846. 

“ I find  these  specimens  differing  in  the  collar  plates  and  in  the  relative 
size  of  those  in  the  abdominal  rows. 

“ Bell’s  description,  (Hist.  Brit.  Repts.  p.  36,)  that  the  collar  plates  are 
nearly  equal,  applies  to  the  most  of  my  specimens,  but  in  one  specimen 
they  gradually  increase  in  size  to  the  centre,  where  is  one  large  scale  double 
the  size  of  that  on  either  side  of  it,  and  in  form  like  two  of  them  joined 
together.  In  most  of  these  specimens  the  middle  and  centre  rows  are 
narrower  than  the  intermediate,  as  Bell  describes ; but  in  the  specimen 
already  alluded  to  the  largest  scales  are  in  the  outer  rows.  At  the  same 
time  this  individual  is  certainly  not  distinct  in  species  from  the  others, 
although  they  differ  trivially  from  each  other  in  the  characters  alluded  to.” 

In  Sep.  1837,  Dr.  Ball  obtained  a black  variety  of  the  common  lizard, 
captured  in  the  County  of  Wicklow,  and  which  he  exhibited  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  British  Association  held  at  Liverpool  in  that  month.  Unfor- 
tunately this  animal  escaped  from  the  box  in  which  he  had  it  confined 
whilst  travelling. 

Of  the  “ Green  Lizard,”  noticed  by  Ray  as  found  in  Ireland,  I know 
nothing.  All  he  says  of  the  species  is  : 

Lacertus  viridis ; the  Green  Lizard,  a colore  ita  dicitur : vulgari  major  est. 
In  Italia  frequentissimi  habentur.  Inveniuntur  etiam  in  Hibernia.  An  La- 
certus Hibernicus  Mus.  Tradescanti .” — Ray,  Synop.  Anim.  Quad.  p.  264.  (1693.) 

Our  common  lizard  being  occasionally  of  a greenish  hue,  may  possibly 
have  led  to  the  mistake,  as  persons  have  in  several  instances  told  me  that 
they  knew  a green  lizard  to  be  a native,  but  this  always  proved  to  be  the 
common  species.  Mr.  Bell  in  his  British  Reptiles  suggests  that  “ a 
green  variety  of  Lacerta  agilis , Linn.,  was  probably  alluded  to : this  is 
more  likely  than  that  the  true  L.  viridis  was  meant ; but  the  L.  agilis , 
Linn.,  has  not  been  distinguished  as  an  Irish  species.”  It  has  but  lately 
been  added  to  the  British  Fauna,  and  from  specimens  obtained  in  the 
South  of  England. 

William  Bottomley,  Esq.,  of  Belfast  has  favoured  me  with  the  following 
note : 

“ Lizards.  In  the  Lazzaretto  in  Ancona  there  were  a number  of 
lizards  living  in  the  holes  in  the  wall.  We  amused  ourselves  with  watch- 
ing them  running  about  in  the  sunshine,  and  found  that  when  we  sang  to 
them  they  came  out  of  their  holes,  and  appeared  to  lose  their  alarm.” 


SERPENTS. 


63 


Turtle. 

The  subjoined  notes  relate  to  Turtles,  the  species  of  which  were  not 
accurately  determined : 

For  some  months  previous  to  December,  1836,  my  relative  Richard 
Langtry,  Esq.,  kept  one  of  these  animals, — supposed  to  be  the  “ Snap- 
ping Turtle,” — living  m a pond  at  Fortwilliam,  near  Belfast.  It  died  on 
the  5th  of  that  month,  and  on  its  being  lifted  out  of  the  water  I observed 
several  specimens  of  Limneus  pereger  stationary  upon  it. — I examined  the 
eggs  taken  from  this  turtle,  and  found  about  70,  measuring  from  one-third 
of  an  inch  to  one  inch  and  a quarter  in  diameter, — many  of  them  of  this 
latter  size.  Besides  these  there  were  numbers — upwards  I should  think 
of  200 — smaller,  down  to  the  size  of  pin-heads. 

In  the  Northern  Whig  of  12th  July,  1849,  the  following  notice  appears : 

“ A fine  young  turtle  was  caught  in  the  Channel,  on  Friday,  contiguous  to 
the  city.  Cork  Constitution .” 

Order  Ophidia  (Serpents). 

Ireland  has  ever  been  free  from  the  presence  of  Ophidian  reptiles.  As 
there  is  no  physical  obstacle  to  their  being  indigenous  to  the  island,  it 
can  only  be  said,  that  as  all  animals  have  geographical  limits  assigned  to 
them,  so  these  have  Great  Britain  as  their  western  boundary,  within  her 
parallel  of  latitude.  Mr.  Bell,  when  about  to  publish  his  History  of 
British  Reptiles,  having  applied  to  me  for  information  respecting  the 
several  species  inhabiting  Ireland,  I supplied  him  with  the  following  note, 
which  he  has  given  in  the  work  just  mentioned  (p.  54). 

“ In  this  order  ( Ophidia ) there  is  not  now,  nor  I believe  ever  was  there,  any 
species  indigenous  to  Ireland. — In  the  Edinburgh  New  Philosophical  Journal  for 
April,  1835  (vol.  xviii.  p.  373),  it  is  remarked,  ‘ We  have  learned  from  good  au- 
thority that  a recent  importation  of  snakes  has  been  made  into  Ireland,  and  that 
at  present  they  are  multiplying  rapidly  within  a few  miles  of  the  tomb  of  St. 
Patrick.’  I never  heard  of  this  circumstance  until  it  was  published,  and  sub- 
sequently endeavoured  to  ascertain  its  truth  by  inquiring  of  the  persons  about 
Downpatrick  (where  the  tomb  of  St.  Patrick  is)  who  are  best  acquainted  with 
these  subjects,  not  one  of  whom  had  ever  heard  of  snakes  being  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood.— Recollecting  that  about  the  year  1831  a snake  ( Natrix  torquata) 
immediately  after  being  killed  at  Milecross  was  brought  by  some  country -people 
in  great  consternation  to  my  friend  Dr.  I.  L.  Drummond,  I thought  this  might 
be  one  of  those  alluded  to,  and  recently  made  inquiry  of  James  Cleland,  Esq.,  of 
Rathgael  House,  Co.  Down,  twenty-five  miles  distant  in  a direct  line  from 
Downpatrick,  respecting  snakes  said  to  have  been  turned  out  by  him.  I was 
favoured  by  that  gentleman  with  the  following  satisfactory  reply : — ‘ The  report 
of  my  having  introduced  snakes  into  this  country  is  correct.  Being  curious  to 
ascertain  whether  the  climate  of  Ireland  was  destructive  to  that  class  of  reptiles, 
about  six  years  ago  I purchased  half  a dozen  of  them  in  Covent  Garden  market 
in  London.  They  had  been  taken  some  time  and  were  quite  tame  and  familiar. 
I turned  them  out  in  my  garden ; they  immediately  rambled  away ; one  of 
them  was  killed  at  Milecross,  three  miles  distant,  in  about  a week  after  its  liber- 
ation, and  three  others  were  shortly  afterwards  killed  within  that  distance  of  the 
place  where  they  were  turned  out ; and  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  remaining  two 
met  with  a similar  fate,  falling  victims  to  a reward  which  it  appears  was  offered 
for  their  destruction.’  ” 

In  reference  to  the  above  communication  Mr.  Bell  remarks  : — 


64 


REPTILIA. 


“ Such  is  the  most  accurate  and  authentic  account  which  I have  yet  obtained 
respecting  this  curious  fact  in  the  geographical  distribution  of  these  animals ; and 
it  certainly  does  not  appear  that  the  failure  of  these  attempts  to  introduce  snakes 
into  Ireland  is  to  be  attributed  to  anything  connected  with  climate  or  other 
local  circumstances,  but  rather  to  the  prejudices  of  the  inhabitants  which  led  to 
their  destruction ; nor  is  there  reason  to  believe  that  their  absence  from  Ireland  is 
other  than  purely  accidental.” 

For  remarks  on  Reptiles  in  Ireland  and  St.  Patrick,  see  the  Irish 
Version  of  Nennius,  p.  218  and  219. — Published  by  Irish  Archeeol.  Society, 
1848. 

The  Blind-worm  or  Slow-worm,  Anguis  fragilis,  Linn. 

I have  taken  this  species  in  Wales  near  Tremadoc.  I saw  one  wanting  the  black 
dorsal  line  entirely. — It  has  been  brought  to  me  in  Ayrshire ; and  when  at 
Aberarder  (Inverness-shire)  I was  told  that  it  was  not  uncommon  there. 

The  Ringed  Snake,  Natrix  torquata,  Ray. 

Mr.  Davis,  writing  from  Clonmel  in  February,  1846,  informed  me  that 
the  ringed  snake  “ has  been  several  times  introduced,  but  seldom  if  ever 
survives  the  first  winter.  Some  hundreds  were  said  to  have  been  liberated 
in  a demesne  near  this  a few  years  ago,  but  not  one  was  to  be  met  with  in 
twelve  months  after.” 

In  the  Isle  of  Wight  it  seems  to  be  particularly  common. 

The  Common  Viper  or  Adder,  Pelius  Berus , Merr. 

I have  occasionally  met  with  this  species  when  shooting  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire. 

I was  told  at  Aberarder  in  1842  that  they  are  found  there,  but  are  scarce, 
the  blind-worm  being  more  common. 

In  August,  1848,  I received  a very  fine  adder  killed  by  my  friend  Robert 
Callwell,  Esq.,  in  the  island  of  Islay,  during  that  month. 

Mr.  Sinclaire  states  that  when  he  was  at  this  island  many  years  ago  with  two 
Irish  friends,  these  gentlemen  amused  themselves  by  shooting  snakes  along  the 
shore, — an  amusement  which  Irishmen  only — having  no  such  “vermin”  at 
home — would  think  of. 

The  Common  Frog,  Rana  temporaria,  Linn. 

This  species  has  for  a long  period  been  disseminated  over  the  island. 
Of  its  having  been  introduced  to  Ireland  there  cannot  be  a doubt. 

In  Gough’s  edition  of  Camden’s  Britannia,  vol.  iv.  p.  234,  “ The  follow- 
ing lines  by  St.  Donatus,  Bishop  of  Etruria,  who  died  anno  Dom.  840,” 
are  given.  They  refer  to  Ireland. 

“ Ursorum  rabies  nulla  est  ibi ; saeva  leonum 
Semina  nec  unquam  Scotica  terra  tulit : 

Nulla  venena  nocent,  nec  serpens  serpit  in  herba, 

Nec  conquesta  canit  garrula  ranalacu.” 

“No  savage  bear  with  lawless  fury  roves, 

No  raging  lion  through  her  sacred  groves ; 

No  poison  there  infects,  no  scaly  snake 

Creeps  through  the  grass,  nor  frog  annoys  the  lake.” 

It  is  stated  in  Rutty’s  Natural  History  of  Dublin  (vol.  i.  p.  290)  that  the 
Frog  “was  brought  into  this  kingdom  in  1699  by  Dr.  Guithers.”  This 
gentleman,  who  was  one  of  the  fellows  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  is  said 


THE  FROG. 


65 


to  have  procured  frog’s  spawn  from  England  and  placed  it  in  a ditch  in  the 
University  Park,  whence  the  species  gradually  spread  over  the  entire 
country.  The  circumstance  is  noticed  in  the  Dublin  Med.  and  Chem. 
Jour.  vol.  v.  N.  15,  p.  481,  as  quoted  in  Edinb.  Phil.  Jour.  vol.  xviii.  p.  372, 
also  in  Bell’s  History  of  British  Reptiles,  p.  86,  where  will  be  found  an  ex- 
tract from  the  writings  of  Swift  in  which  the  introduction  of  these  animals 
is  referred  to.  The  year  1696  is  mentioned  by  the  latter  authorities  as 
that  in  which  Dr.  Guithers  made  the  importation. 

In  Stuart’s  History  of  Armagh  the  following  passage  occurs, — 

“The  first  frog  which  was  ever  seen  in  this  country  made  its  appearance  in  a 
pasture -field  near  Waterford  about  the  year  1630,  and  is  noticed  by  Colgan  in  a 
work  printed  in  1647  [Tria.  Thom.  p.  256].” — Stuart’ s Armagh,  p.  504. 

Dubourdieu,  in  his  History  of  Down,  published  in  1802,  remarks, — 

“ I was  assured  by  an  old  gentleman  of  the  greatest  veracity,  who  died  some 
years  ago  above  the  age  of  eighty,  that  the  first  frogs  he  ever  saw  were  in  a well 
near  Moira,  from  whence  he  brought  some  of  them  to  Waringstowm,  where,  until 
that  time,  they  had  never  been  seen ; the  quickness  with  which  they  multiplied, 
and  the  rapidity  wdth  which  they  spread,  were  surprising.”  P.  316. 

The  following  note,  which  has  been  supplied  to  me  by  a friend,  has  re- 
ference to  the  County  of  Antrim. 

“ My  grandmother,  who  I find  was  born  8th  January,  1726,  used  to  tell 
me,  that  when  a girl  at  school  she  was  taken  some  distance  to  see  a frog 
which  was  exhibited  as  a show.  Her  father  lived  at  Ballycorr  in  this 
county,  so  this  applies  to  the  North  of  Ireland.” 

When  at  Florence  Court,  in  October,  1840,  Lord  Enniskillen  told  me 
that  frogs  brought  from  the  top  of  a neighbouring  hill  thirteen  hundred 
feet  high  had  been  seen  by  an  eminent  Professor  when  there*  who  was 
disposed  to  believe  them  distinct  from  the  common  species.  Lord  E.  had 
some  brought  for  me  from  the  locality,  and  on  comparing  these  with 
specimens  taken  in  the  demesne,  and  subsequently  with  others,  I could  not 
perceive  any  material  difference. 

A frog  taken  in  Ayrshire  and  compared  with  the  Florence  Court 
specimens  (high  and  low  ground)  does  not  to  my  mind  exhibit  specific 
differences  : its  colour  certainly  is  different  from  that  of  others,  it  being 
more  spotted ; but  frogs  differ  greatly  in  this  respect.  It  possesses  the 
“ elongated  patch  of  brown  or  brownish  black  behind  the  eyes,”  which 
Jenyns  and  Bell  consider  the  most  constant  mark  exhibited  in  the  com- 
mon frog. — Bell,  p.  100. 

Aug.  12,  1845. — In  two  pools  in  quarries  about  Sandy  Braes,  County 
Antrim,  I saw  numbers  of  tadpoles  of  true  form,  and  some  others  exhibit- 
ing the  mere  rudiments  of  the  2nd  pair  or  “ hind  legs  : ” others  that  had 
just  put  off  the  tadpole  and  were  veritable  frogs  were  seen  on  the  dry 
margin  of  the  pools,  but  not  one  in  the  water.  Baron  Watershausen  was 
with  me. 

On  11th  October,  1839,  I heard  frogs  croaking  at  Fortwilliam,  near 
Belfast.  I was  within  a short  distance  of  them  and  saw  them. 

Feb.  17,  1850. — Although  the  winter  has  been  very  severe,  and  the 
weather  of  late,  and  to-day,  cold  and  inclement,  I never  saw  a greater 
number  of  frogs  together  than  there  were  in  and  about  a stagnant  pool  on 
the  north  side  of  the  old  Malone  road,  near  to  Lismoyne  entrance  gate. 
They  had  cast  a profusion  of  spawn,  and  appeared  with  their  heads  and 
white  throats  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  multitudinous  croak- 
ing of  several  hundreds  of  them  at  the  same  time  had  a singular  and, 

F 


66 


REPTILIA. 


in  the  gusty  day,  rather  a subdued  sound,  much  resembling,  and  mis- 
taken by  my  companion  (I.  R.  G.)  for,  the  noise  of  a railway  train. 
They  were  stated  by  a little  boy  who  lives  close  by  and  was  observing 
them  with  us,  to  have  been  there  for  five  or  six  days ; not , he  said,  on  this 
day  week. 

Feb.  16,  1851. — The  winter,  unlike  last,  has  been  remarkably  mild; 
happening  with  the  same  companion  to  pass  the  same  spot  to-day,  we  re- 
marked the  frogs  just  as  described  above. 

With  respect  to  the  distribution  of  this  species  over  the  islands  contigu- 
ous to  the  Irish  coast,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  in  1834  I observed  frogs 
in  Achil ; but  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman  informs  me  that  they  are  not  found  in 
Tory  Island  nor  in  the  largest  of  the  Copeland  Islands. 

In  an  article  on  the  Common  Frog,  written  in  a very  pleasing  and  po- 
pular style  by  my  friend  Dr.  R.  Ball,  and  published  in  the  Irish  Penny 
Journal,  Oct.  3,  1840,  after  stating  that  “it  contributes  materially  to  check 
the  increase  of  slugs  and  worms,”  he  says, 

“ I have  often  vindicated  the  frog  from  charges  brought  against  him  by  gar- 
deners. I have  been  shown  a strawberry,  and  desired  to  look  at  the  mischief  he 
had  done.  I have  pointed  out  that  the  edge  where  he  was  accused  of  biting  out 
a piece  was  not  only  dry  but  smaller  than  the  interior  of  the  cavity,  and  it  there- 
fore could  not  be  formed  by  a bite.  I have  then  shown  other  strawberries 
with  similar  wounds,  in  which  small  black  slugs  were  feeding,  and  I have  cutup 
the  supposed  strawberry-devouring  frog,  slain  by  the  gardener,  and  shown  in  his 
stomach,  with  several  earthworms,  a number  of  little  black  slugs  of  the  species 
alluded  to,  but  not  one  bit  of  fruit ; thus  proving,  I hope,  that  the  cultivator  of 
strawberries  ought  for  his  own  sake  to  be  the  protector  of  frogs.”  P.  110. 

The  Common  Toad,  Bufo  vulgaris,  Laur., 

Though  so  common  in  Great  Britain,  is  not  found  in  Ireland. 

I have  observed  toads  to  be  numerous  in  Ayrshire ; and  in  1832  I was 
told  that  they  frequent  Aberarder. 

The  Natter-Jack  Toad,  Bufo  Calamita,  Laur., 

Is  found  in  several  parts  of  the  County  of  Kerry,  where  it  is  believed  to 
be  indigenous. 

In  the  9th  volume  of  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History  (24  Feb.  1836), 
p.  316,  Mr.  J.  T.  Mackay  published  the  following  notice  of  this  animal : — 

“I  have  lately  got  from  Kerry  living  specimens  of  the  Irish  toad,  which  I 
announced  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  to  have  observed  at  Calna- 
fersy,  twelve  miles  from  Killarney,  in  1805.  It  is  not  the  common  English 
toad  [as  announced  at  the  Association  meeting.  W.  T.  ],  but  the  natter-jack 
{Bufo  Rubetra).  * * * It  was  found  by  me  30  years  ago  in  the  place  mentioned, 
where  it  was  known  to  the  peasantry  as  the  black  frog ; and  it  was  inquiring  for 
them  under  this  name  that  led  to  the  discovery.  Mr.  Macgillicuddy,  the  gen- 
tleman who  brought  me  the  living  specimens  about  a month  ago,  informs  me  that 
they  bury  themselves  under  the  dry  sand  in  the  winter,  and  may  be  sometimes 
seen  in  summer  evenings  running  about  like  mice  in  the  houses,  which  they  some- 
times enter.” 

Dr.  Ball  of  Dublin  informed  me  several  years  ago  that  he  had  seen  a 
specimen  of  this  toad  which  was  taken  at  Rosbegh  in  the  year  1836. 
The  person  who  captured  it  stated  that  it  was  one  of  some  hundreds  ob- 
served by  him  in  the  same  locality.  Dr.  Ball  subsequently,  at  the 
Zoological  Gardens,  Phoenix  Park,  turned  out  sixty  of  them;  but  never 
saw  one  of  them  afterwards. 


THE  NEWT. 


67 


Richard  Chute,  Esq.,  of  Blennerville  (County  Kerry),  gave  me  the  follow- 
ing information  by  letter  dated  31  March,  1846  : — 

“ I believe  the  natter-jack  is  indigenous  to  Kerry,  though  there  is  an 
old  tradition  that  a ship  at  one  time  brought  a lot  of  them  and  let  them 
go  at  the  head  of  Dingle  Bay.  This  is  borne  out  by  the  fact  that  it  is 
the  only  part  of  Kerry  that  they  are  to  be  met  in  : a district  extending 
from  the  Sandhills  of  Inch  and  Rosbegh  at  the  head  of  the  bay  (where 
they  are  most  numerous)  to  Carrignaferay,  about  ten  miles  in  length  of 
low  marshy  ground,  and  about  the  same  number  in  breadth.” 

The  Common  Warty-Newt,  Great  Water-Newt, 

Triton  cristatus,  Laur., 

Was  noticed  by  Templeton : to  myself  it  is  unknown. 

The  Common  Smooth-Newt,  or  Eft,  Lissotriton  punctatus,  Bell, 
Although  abundant  in  some  localities,  is  not  universally  distributed  over 
the  island. 

Dr.  Ball  informed  me  in  Sept.  1840,  that  this  species  is  common  about 
Dublin,  but  that  he  had  never  seen  one  at  or  near  Youghal. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  found  them  near  Tuam,  but  not  in  Connemara.  I ob- 
served some  of  these  animals  in  County  Sligo,  and  in  March,  1847,  I saw 
one  which  had  been  obtained  by  Dr.  Allman  near  Roscrea,  said  by  him 
to  be  the  most  southern  locality  known  for  the  species  in  Ireland. 

In  the  Cork  Fauna  of  Dr.  Harvey  no  species  of  newt  appears,  and  I 
was  informed  by  Mr.  Chute  in  1846  that  he  did  not  think  there  were  any 
in  Kerry. 

Rutty,  in  his  Natural  History  of  the  County  of  Dublin,  mentions  the 
“ Water-ask,  or  Arglogher,  Lacertus  aquations  niger ,”  as  “ foundnn  a ditch 
going  to  Milltown.”  This  author’s  “ Lacertus , Eft,  Newt,  or  Ask,”  is 
compounded  of  the  lizard  and  common  newt. 

I have  known  the  latter  to  be  taken  plentifully  by  boys,  in  the  most 
simple  manner,  merely  by  impaling  a worm  on  a crooked  pin,  which  is 
tied  to  a string  and  immersed  in  the  water.  In  this  way  a stagnant  pool 
may  soon  be  thinned  of  its  numbers.  In  White’s  Selbourne,  Letter  17, 
the  following  observation  occurs  : — 

“ It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  Salamandra  aquatica  of  Ray  (the  water  newt 
or  eft)  will  frequently  bite  at  the  angler’s  bait,  and  is  often  caught  on  his  hook.” 

When  looking  for  fluviatile  shells  in  the  vicinity  of  Belfast  (between 
Crawfordsburn  and  Craigavad)  so  early  as  3rd  Sept.  1833,  I found  two  of 
these  newts  secreted  under  large  stones  in  moist  situations. 

They  were  almost  torpid,  and  when  touched  remained  quite  passive. 
On  lifting  one  of  them  up  and  placing  it  in  my  hand,  the  only  appearance 
of  life  which  it  exhibited,  with  the  exception  of  its  eyes  being  open,  was 
a scarcely  perceptible  motion  of  the  limbs.  The  day  being  warm,  I laid  it 
on  a rock  upon  which  the  sun  shone  brilliantly ; and  it  was  highly  interest- 
ing to  observe  the  animal  gradually  recovering  its  powers,  and  eventually 
gathering  sufficient  strength  to  crawl  off  and  again  conceal  itself.  On  the 
26th  of  the  same  month  I perceived  a newt  of  this  species  at  Wolf  hill, 
near  Belfast,  in  a pond  of  spring-water  situated  a few  paces  only  from  the 
source  of  the  spring.  It  was  swimming  in  an  awkward,  wriggling  manner, 
and  pausing  for  a few  minutes  with  its  fore-feet  placed,  as  if  for  rest,  on 
every  fallen  leaf  or  twig  floating  on  the  water,  although  these  substances 
were  occasionally  not  more  than  a foot  apart.  I knew  not  whether  to  at- 
f 2 


HEPTILIA. 


tribute  this  apparent  weakness,  in  the  creature  to  its  being  untowardly 
aroused  from  a partial  torpidity,  like  the  others,  or  to  its  presence  in  the 
cold  spring-water  being  accidental. 

Sept.  23,  1846. — I saw  one  of  these  newts,  in  Dr.  Lankester’s,  London, 
take  a common  house-fly  offered  it  on  the  point  of  a pen,  and  was  told  that 
it  ate  three  of  these  flies  daily ; unless  they  were  alive  it  did  not  care  for 
them.  These  animals  lived  for  months  with  Dr.  L.* 

March,  1846. — Again  looking  over  my  specimens  of  newts  collected 
about  Belfast,  I am  not  satisfied  about  their  species.  They  certainly  do 
not  agree  with  any  of  Bell’s — in  fact  they  do  not  strictly  come  under 
either  his  Triton  or  Lissotriton. 

Their  crest  is  continuous  in  the  male  [Lissotriton). 

They  are  slightly  warty  [Triton). 

They  have  a series  of  distant  pores  along  each  side  [Triton). 

The  upper  lip  overhangs  the  lower  at  the  sides,  which  it  is  described  as 
not  doing  in  L.  punctatus. 

The  general  appearance  of  my  specimens  is  just  that  of  L.  punctatus , 
Bell,  p.  1 32,  but  viewed  critically  they  differ  as  above. 

The  palmated  Smooth-newt,  Lissotriton  palmipes,  Bell. 

In  1841  I published  the  following  note  in  the  Annals  of  Natural  His- 
tory, vol.  vii.  p.  478. 

“ Lissotriton  palmipes , Bell  ? Palmated  smooth-newt.  On  questioning 
Mr.  William  M‘Calla,  of  Roundstone,  Connemara,  (a  most  intelligent  col- 
lector of  objects  of  Natural  History,)  respecting  the  species  of  newts  ob- 
served by  him,  he  replied — ‘I  am  positive  of  there  being  two  species  of 
Triton  in  this  country,  one  of  which  is  the  T.  punctatus  of  Jenyns’s 
Manual,  and  the  rarer  with  us ; the  more  common  species  is  by  far 
larger  and  of  a richer  colour ; it  is  nearly  double  the  size  of  T.  punctatus  ; 
the  crest  is  far  larger  and  is  not  notched ; the  feet  are  webbed.  To  con- 
vince you  that  I have  not  confounded  the  young  and  adult  of  the  same 
species,  I may  state  that  I observed  them  in  the  breeding  season,  and  met 
with  females  of  both  species.’  A fair  inference  from  these  remarks,  I 
think,  is,  that  Lissotriton  palmipes  is  the  animal  alluded  to.  My  corre- 
spondent had  not  seen  Mr.  Bell’s  work  on  British  Reptiles.” 

Mr.  M‘Calla  subsequently  informed  me  that  he  had  not  found  this 
animal  in  Connemara,  but  in  “ the  plain  district  ” of  Galway. 

I have  not  obtained  any  further  information  relative  to  its  existence  in 
Ireland.  It  was  first  distinguished,  at  least  as  British,  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Gray, 
and  was  described  in  Jenyns’s  Manual,  in  1835. 


* A newt  lived  about  nine  years  in  a fern-house  belonging  to  Dr.  Ball ; it  had 
no  access  to  water,  and  never  during  that  time  acquired  the  fins  necessary  for 
properly  assuming  its  aquatic  functions. — Ed. 


FISHES  OF  IRELAND. 


ORDER  I. — AC  A NTFIOPTERY GUI. 

Family  Percid.®. 

The  Perch,  Perea  fluvia tilisf  Linn., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South  of  the  island,  but  is  not  universally  dis- 
tributed through  the  lakes  and  rivers  like  some  other  species.  It  is 
stated  to  have  been  introduced  into  Ireland,  but  this  I am  disposed  to 
doubt,  as  it  is  so  very  widely  distributed.  Great  numbers  are  taken  at 
Lough  Neagh  (in  the  Pollan  nets),  and  also  in  the  River  Shannon. 
Three  of  my  own  friends,  on  one  occasion,  took  sixteen  dozen  of  these 
fishes  in  Ballydrain  Lake,  near  Belfast,  between  breakfast  and  dinner 
hours. 

In  August,  1844,  I saw  a perch  which  was  obtained  in  Belfast  Bay,  a 
mile  below  the  town.  The  water  is  there  almost  purely  salt ; hut,  as  the 
River  Lagan  is  plentifully  stocked  with  this  fish,  and  flows  into  the  estu- 
ary, it  is  probable  that  the  specimen  alluded  to  may  have  been  washed 
down  during  a flood : similar  occurrences  have  been  observed  elsewhere. 
The  perch  is  in  little  esteem  here  as  an  article  of  food. 

The  Basse,*  Labrax  Lupus , Cuv., 

Is  a well-known  fish  on  the  coast its  numbers  decreasing  northwards. 

It  is  probably  found  around  Ireland,  hut  I can  only  give  it  positively 
as  occurring  from  the  coast  of  Londonderry  round  by  the  east  line  of  the 
Island  to  Cork,  inclusive. 

I have  seen  specimens  in  Belfast  market,  which  were  taken  on  the 
coasts  of  Derry,  Antrim,  and  Down,  from  March  to  October — both 
months  included — rarely  more  than  one,  two,  or  three  at  a time,  and  only 
a few  throughout  one  season. 

The  stomach  of  a specimen  taken  in  a salmon  net  at  Coleraine,  in 
June,  1840,  contained  two  fishes,  from  five  to  six  inches  long,  and  of  the 
family  Gadidce.  They  were  so  deep  for  their  length  that  they  must  have 
been  either  Gadus  luscus,  or  G.  minutus.  Lug-worms  ( Lumbricus  marinus) 
are  used  as  bait  for  the  Basse,  and  a few  are  thus  caught  on  lines ; but 
the  greater  number  are  taken  in  the  nets  with  salmon,  sea-trout,  and 
mullet.  In  Belfast  Bay  they  are  most  frequently  caught  with  the  last- 
named  fish,  and  hence  their  local  names  already  mentioned. 

A friend,  who  has  often  eaten  of  this  fish  here,  remarks  that  it  requires 
to  be  fresh  to  be  approved  of,  and  that  on  even  the  second  day  after  cap- 
ture it  is  oily  and  strong. 


* Called  “ White  Mullet,”  and  “ King  of  the  Mullet,”  in  Belfast  Bay. 


70 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


March  21th,  1851. 

I saw  a Basse,  of  14  lbs.  weight,  in  Belfast  market,  that  was  taken  with- 
in a mile  of  the  town.  It  was  in  very  fine  condition,  and  a female,  con- 
taining a vast  mass  of  ova,  smaller  than  the  smallest  clover-seed.  The 
fishmonger  remarked  that  he  had  never  seen  such  a quantity  in  any  fish. 

The  number  of  fin  rays  in  several  specimens  examined  were — 1st  D.  8 
or  9;  2nd  D.  1 + 11  to  13;  P.  16  to  18;  V.  1+5;  A.  3+10  or  11;  C. 
16  or  17. 

The  Lesser  Weever  or  Sting-Fish,*  Trachinus  Vipera,  Cuv., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South,  but  appears  to  be  chiefly  known  along  the 
eastern  and  southern  shores.  Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that,  at  Youghal, 
where  this  species  is  abundant,  it  is  often  taken  in  sprat  nets ; sometimes 
it  is  caught  by  boys,  fishing  with  small  hooks  at  the  quays.  He  has  not 
seen  any  so  large  as  those  mentioned  by  Fleming — 10  to  12  inches  in 
length.  In  reference  to  the  alleged  venomous  quality  of  the  dorsal  spines 
of  this  fish,  Dr.  Ball  made  the  following  observations  in  a public  lecture 
on  “ The  Fishes  of  Ireland,”  delivered  by  him  before  the  Royal  Zoologi- 
cal Society  of  Ireland,  in  Dublin,  in  May,  1849,  from  which  occasional 
extracts  will  be  found  in  the  following  pages : — 

“ The  Trachinus  Vipera  is  much  dreaded  by  fishermen,  who  attribute  poison- 
ous injury  to  the  sting  from  the  spines  of  its  first  dorsal  fin,  which  certainly  has 
an  unpleasant  threatening  aspect ; nevertheless,  I am  induced  to  think  that  the 
difficulties  in  healing  wounds  from  this  and  other  spines  of  fishes  are  not  the  re- 
sults of  virus,  but  rather  of  the  unfavourable  circumstances  under  which  such 
lacerated  punctures  are  inflicted.” 

An  interesting  memoir  on  the  stinging  property  of  this  species  was  pub- 
lished by  Professor  Allman,  in  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist,  for  November,  1840 ; 
and  there  is  an  excellent  account  of  the  stinging  apparatus,  &c.,  in  the 
5th  vol.  (1849)  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Literary  and  Philosophical  So- 
ciety of  Liverpool. 

The  Greater  Weever,  Trachinus  Draco , Linn., 

Has  not  yet  been  discovered  on  our  shores. 

The  Striped  Red  Mullet,  or  Striped  Surmullet,  Mullus 
Surmuletus,  Linn. 

Several  specimens  of  this  fish  have  been  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Andrews, 
off  Yentry  Harbour,  two  of  which  were  presented  by  that  gentleman  to 
the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society,  in  1849.  In  the  Summer  of  1850,  Robert 
Warren,  Esq.,  of  Killiney,  procured  a fish  of  this  species  in  Dublin  Bay, 
and  sent  it  to  Dr.  Ball.  It  is  now  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum. 

Previous  to  the  capture  of  the  specimens  above  mentioned,  I thought 
it  singular  that  there  should  not  be  any  positive  knowledge  of  the  occur- 
rence of  this  species  in  Ireland,  more  especially  on  our  southern  coasts. 
Dr.  Patrick  Browne  included  it  in  his  list  of  Irish  fishes  (1774) ; but  I 
am  not  aware  of  any  other  record  of  it  as  a native  fish. 

* Called  the  Stony  Cobbler  at  Youghal. — Dr.  Ball. 


THE  RED  GURNARD. 


71 


Family  LORICATE 

The  Red  Gurnard,  or  Cuckoo  Gurnard,  Trigla  Pini,  Bloch, 

Is,  probably,  taken  all  around  the  coast.  I have  seen  it  brought  in  by 
fishermen,  at  various  localities,  from  Derry,  in  the  North,  round  the 
eastern  coast,  to  Cork,  in  the  South. 

Early  in  Spring,  and  late  in  Autumn,  this  species  is  most  abundant  in 
Belfast  market ; but  a few  may  be  seen  there  in  every  month  throughout 
the  year.  They  not  uncommonly  reach  15  inches  in  length,  and  some- 
times attain  to  17  inches  here.  Cuv.  and  Val.  remark  (t.  iv.  p.  26)  that 
those  brought  to  Paris  rarely  exceed  a foot  in  length. 

The  stomachs  of  twelve  specimens  which  I examined  at  various  seasons 
contained  the  following  food  : — 1st,  a spider  crab  ; 2nd,  small  crabs  ; 3rd, 
40  small  Crustacea,  one-half  inch  long ; and  a small  crab  ( Portunus 
pusillus  ?) ; 4th,  remains  of  three  small  fishes,  resembling  sand-eels,  a 
crab,  a shrimp-like  crustacean,  and  an  Aphrodita  aculeata ; 5th,  a small 
fish,  and  thirty-five  shrimp-like  crustaceans  ; 6th,  two  small  fish,  one  flat- 
fish, and  a shrimp-like  crustacean ; 7th,  filled  with  shrimp-like  Crustacea ; 
8th,  a crab;  9th,  the  remains  of  small  brachyurous  Crustacea;  10th,  the 
remains  of  Crustacea, a among  which  were  shrimps;  11th,  do.,  do.;  12th, 
the  remains  of  two  small  Pogges  ( Aspidophori ). 

The  form  and  indentations  of  the  snout  of  this  species  are  very  different 
in  individuals  of  similar  size  ; some  being  rounded  off  at  the  edge ; spines 
inconspicuous  ; in  others,  the  spines  very  prominent,  and  a square  ap- 
pearance intermediate  between  that  just  noticed  and  T.  Lyra , yet  all  true 
T.  Pini. 

Of  six  specimens  (three  males  and  three  females)  which  I examined  on 
9th  October,  1838,  the  greatest  breadth  of  snout  and  development  of 
spines  on  it  were  exhibited  on  the  three  smaller  ones,  which  were  males. 
Perhaps  the  males  may  generally  have  the  broader  and  better  armed 
snout. 

The  irides  of  all  these  specimens  were  golden  orange,  and  the  general 
colour  bright  red.  The  ova  seemed  to  the  naked  eye  to  be  very  little 
developed  in  any  of  them. 

A fish  of  this  species  which  I obtained  on  10th  March,  1835,  agreed 
precisely  with  Mr.  Yarrell’s  description  in  the  third  paragraph,  p.  35,  of 
his  work  on  British  Fishes  (1st  Ed.),  except  that  the  lateral  line  is 
not  “ bifurcated  at  the  caudal  end,”  but  terminates  in  a single  line.  It 
was  a female  ; the  roe  being  largely  developed. 

The  different  species  of  gurnards  have  been  much  overlooked,  the  terms 
red  and  grey  being  applied  to  five  or  to  six,  according  as  we  consider  T. 
Cuculus  and  T.  Gurnardus  identical  or  otherwise.  Templeton  saw  that 
there  were  four  sp. ; but,  on  giving  attention  to  the  subject,  I found  that 
there  were  two  more,  not  uncommon  in  the  North,  that  he  had  not  in- 
cluded, viz.  T.  Pini  and  T.  lineata.  In  reference  to  the  numbers  occurring 
on  our  coasts,  the  species  stand  thus  : — 1st,  the  Grey  Gurnard,  Trigla 
Gurnardus  (synonymous  with  T.  Cuculus , Bloch),  is  the  most  numerous ; 
2nd,  the  Sapphirine  Gurnard,  Trigla  ILirundo ; 3rd,  the  Red  or  Cuckoo 
Gurnard,  Trigla  Pini;  4th,  the  Streaked  Gurnard,  Trigla  lineata ; 5th, 
the  Piper,  Trigla  Lyra  ; 6th,  the  Little  Gurnard,  Trigla  pceciloptera. 

I cannot  but  think  that  by  T.  Lyra,  mentioned  by  Templeton  as  “ taken 
with  the  hook  on  our  coast,  but  in  no  great  numbers,”  he  meant  T.  Pini, 


72 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


as  he  omits  this  sp.,  which  is  commonly  brought  to  Belfast  market; 
whereas,  in  the  North,  I have  never  met  with  T.  Lyra. 

August  29,  1850. 

Trigla  Pini,  and  Hirundo.  I saw  one  of  the  former  and  several  of  the 
latter  in  Belfast  market,  and  was  much  struck  with  the  narrowness  of  the 
head  of  the  former,  as  contrasted  with  that  of  the  latter.  The  develop- 
ment of  spines  on  the  snout  of  T.  Hirundo  differ  very  much;  the  largest 
examples  to-day  had  them  least  developed. 

March  19,  1836. 

Specimen  obtained  in  Belfast  market : — Length,  15  inches ; D.  9-18 
(reckoning  two  last  from  same  base  as  1) ; P.  11-3  ; V.  1+6 ; A.  17 ; C. 

11. 

April  13,  1838. 

Do.,  16^  inches  in  length. 

D.  8-18;  P.  11-3;  V.  1+5;  A.  16. 

The  hinder  half  of  this  specimen  was  greyish,  like  the  T.  Hirundo  (of 
which  a small  one  was  taken  with  it),  the  anterior  half,  including  head,  a 
mixture  of  grey  and  scarlet.  It  was  a female,  the  ova  half  the  size  of 
small  clover-seed. 

The  Streaked  Gurnard,  or  Lineated  Gurnard,  Trigla  lineata, 
Gmel.  Don.  Yarr., 

Is  occasionally  taken  from  North  to  South.  When  announcing  this 
species  as  an  addition  to  the  Irish  Fauna,  in  1835  (Zool.  Pro.  p.  79),  I was 
only  able  to  give  the  following  note  respecting  it : — 

“Lineated  Gurnard,  Trigla  lineata,  Linn. — On  the  28th  of  February, 
1835,  Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall,  being  attracted  by  the  peculiar  colour  of  a 
gurnard  in  Belfast  market,  kindly  communicated  the  circumstance  to  me, 
and,  on  inspection  of  the  fish,  I found  it  to  be  the  Trigla  lineata , and 
learned  that  it  had  been  taken  in  Strangford  Lough.  Its  length  is  16U 
inches.  On  the  3rd  of  March  I procured  another  specimen,  but  of  smaller 
dimensions,  from  the  same  locality.” 

Since  the  publication  of  the  above  note,  many  examples  of  this  fish 
have  come  under  my  notice  ; a few  having  been  every  year  captured  on 
various  parts  of  the  coast  of  Down,  but  chiefly  at  Killough.  [One  was 
taken  by  Dr.  Ball  at  Youghal  in  1819.  Ed.] 

The  specimens  noted  by  me  were  taken  during  the  months  of  July, 
August,  October,  December,  January,  February,  and  March. 

Contents  of  Five  Stomachs  examined : — Substance  having  the  appear- 
ance of  vegetable  food,  and  a young  sole,  about  three  inches  in  length  ; 
crabdike  Crustacea  ; fifteen  full-grown  specimens  of  shrimp-like  Crustacea, 
and  three  small  brachyurous  Crustacea,  one  of  them  a full-grown  “ Long- 
horned Crab,”  Penn. ; two  full-sized  Portunus  pusillus,  and  two  or  three 
other  crabs  ; the  remains  (some  almost  perfect)  of  Portunus  pusillus  from 
full  size  down. 

An  example  of  this  fish,  which  I obtained  on  28th  February,  1838,  was 
thus  described  in  a note  which  I made  respecting  it  when  recent : — 

Its  length  is  16^  inches ; B.7;  D. 10+17  (reckoning  two  last,  which 
touch  at  base,  as  2)  ; P.  11  (reckoning  two  first,  which  touch  at  base,  as 
2)  ; and  3 free,  Y.  1-5  ; A.  16  (reckoning  two  last  as  above) ; C.  12  ? 25 

scales  on  each  side  of  the  dorsal  fin ; iris,  blackish  purple,  excepting 
round  the  pupil,  where  it  is  golden. 

Colour : — Head,  back,  and  sides,  as  low  as  midway  between  medial  and 


SAPPHIRINE  GURNARD. 


73 


belly,  grey,  of  various  shades,  very  faintly  tinged  with  pale  red,  and 
varied  with  a few  small  roundish  black  spots ; lower  portion  of  sides 
bright  rose  red  ; under  parts  white,  intermixed  with  red  towards  the  tail. 
D.,  P.,  and  C.  fins  marbled  with  red  and  very  dark  grey  ; V.  white  at  base, 
but  gradually  changing  to  red,  the  extremity  having  a rich  tinge  of  this 
colour.  Anal  fin  all  red,  3 free — P.  coral  red,  for  an  inch  from  tip.  P. 
fins  pass  the  anal  one  inch. 

Yarrell  (Brit.  Fish.,  p.  46)  notices  this  species  as  being  found  “ on  our 
southern,  and  occasionally  on  our  eastern,  coasts.”  In  addition  to  the 
above  Irish  localities,  it  may  be  stated  that,  in  October,  1844,  I saw  in  a 
fishmonger’s  shop,  in  Glasgow,  a T.  lineata,  which  had  been  taken  at 
Ayr.  Jenyns  (p.  340)  says  : — 44  Found  as  far  North  as  Scotland.”  Par- 
nell (p.  15)  remarks  that  it  has  not  been  met  with  in  Scotland. 

The  Sapphirine  Gurnard,  Trigla  Hirundo,  Bloch, 

Is  procured  around  the  coast. 

This  gurnard  is  brought  to  Belfast  market  chiefly  in  the  Spring  and 
Autumn.  It  is  said  to  be  in  best  condition  during  the  months  of  May 
and  June,  and  to  spawn  in  November.  It  is  most  usually  called  the  Red 
Gurnard,  in  common  with  the  two  species  already  treated  of;  but,  when 
of  a greyish  colour,  it  is  named  the  Grey  Gurnard,  and  is  the  only  fish 
known  by  that  designation  in  Belfast  market,  where  the  T.  Gurnardus  is 
always  called  the  Knoud. 

At  Youghal,  the  Sapphirine  Gurnards  are,  according  to  my  friend,  Dr. 
Ball,  distinguished  by  the  name  of  “Tubs,”  which,  Mr.  Yarrell  says,  is 
applied  to  the  gurnards  in  the  South  of  England. — Brit.  Fish.,  p.  48. 
(2nd  Ed.) 

In  October,  1848,  I received  a Sordid  Dragon et  ( Callionymus  Fracun - 
cuius)  which  was  taken  out  of  the  stomach  of  a Sapphirine  Gurnard. 

The  most  usual  mode  of  capture  of  the  latter  fish  is  in  trawl-nets  upon 
sandy  bottoms,  where  flat-fish  are  usually  taken.  I have  not,  however, 
seen  more  than  a dozen  brought  to  Belfast  market  in  a morning,  although 
it  ranks  second  in  numbers  among  the  gurnards  on  the  north-east  coast, 
and  is  the  common  gurnard  of  this  market.  The  usual  price  is  from  Is.  to 
Is.  6d. ; 2s.  6 d.  being  given  for  very  large  ones.  No  distinction  is  made  in 
this  respect  between  the  three  Red  Gurnards. 

This  species  not  uncommonly  attains  to  two  feet  in  length  here,  and  has 
been  taken  of  14  lbs.  weight. 

Although  I was  correct  in  noticing  this  fish  as  an  addition  to  the  Irish 
Fauna  in  the  Zool.  Proc.  for  1835  (p.  79),  the  subsequent  publication  of 
Mr.  Templeton’s  catalogue  showed  that  it  had  been  known  to  him.  I 
have  seen  this  species  in  Autumn  taken  in  salmon-nets  in  Ballantrae, 
Ayrshire ; and  have  observed  others  on  a different  part  of  the  coast  of  this 
County. 

A specimen  in  the  Belfast  Museum  is  21  inches  in  length ; D.  9,  16 ; P. 
10  or  11  ; Y.  1-5;  A.  15;  C.  16  well-developed  rays.  Pectoral  fin,  5^ 
inches  from  base  to  extremity  ; 5 inches  in  diameter,  when  expanded ; 3 
appendages  between  Y.  and  P.  fins  ; lateral  line  not  prickly,  as  described 
by  Donovan.  The  species  is  well  figured  by  this  author  (Brit.  Fish.,  pi.  1) ; 
but,  in  the  present  specimen,  the  spines  on  snout  are  not  so  regular  as  in 
his  figure. 

In  April,  1835,  I examined  the  contents  of  a fishing-boat  at  Howth,  and 
found  that  it  contained,  amongst  a variety  of  other  fishes,  three  kinds  of 


74 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


gurnard,  viz.  T.  Pini,  T.  Gurnardus,  T.  Hirundo.  Four-fifths  of  them  were, 
however,  of  the  last-named  species. 

The  Piper,  Trigla  Lyra,  Linn., 

Is  known  to  me  only  as  a fish  of  the  southern  and  south-western  coast. 

In  Smith’s  Cork  (p.  309),  two  gurnards  are  mentioned ; the  Grey,  and 
“ Lyra  Piper,  or  Red  Gurnard  ; ” but,  as  there  are  other  red  species,  we 
cannot  know  positively  whether  or  not  this  one  was  meant.  However,  it  (as 
well  as  other  red  species)  is,  according  to  Dr.  Ball,  occasionally  taken  at 
Youghal,  where  “ it  is  called  the  Piper,  from  its  music  when  dying.”  This 
gentleman  adds  that  “ it  is  a favourite  dish,  when  stuffed  with  savoury  mat- 
ters and  baked.” 

The  only  Irish  specimens  of  this  fish  which  I have  seen  were  two  that 
were  on  sale,  in  the  town  of  Galway,  in  July,  1840. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  it  is  taien  plentifully  in  Galway  Bay, 
and  at  Roundstone,  but  that  it  does  not  there  attain  the  size  mentioned 
in  Jenyns’s  Manual. 

Yarrell  states  that  this  species  is  “ said  to  have  been  taken  in  Belfast 
Bay  (Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  i.  p.  52)  ; and  Templeton  noted  it  as  found  in  the 
North  of  Ireland  ; but,  as  already  mentioned,  I regard  the  latter  note  as 
referring  to  T.  Pint,  which  is  a common  fish  here,  and  which  is  not  included 
in  Templeton’s  list.  The  former  species  may,  however,  occur  in  the  North. 

The  Grey  Gurnard,*  Trigla  Gurnardus,  Linn. ; T.  Cuculus,  Bloch, 

Is  found  around  the  coast. 

It  is  more  generally  disseminated,  and  much  more  numerous,  than  any 
of  the  other  species  of  gurnard.  Specimens  from  the  northern,  eastern, 
and  southern  shores  are  in  my  possession,  and  I have  notes  of  their  being 
plentiful  on  the  western  coast. 

This  fish  is  chiefly  taken  in  the  Summer  and  Autumn,  and  is  sometimes 
brought  to  Belfast  market  from  the  beginning  of  March  until  the  end  of 
October.  Not  being  in  much  favour  for  the  table  with  those  who  can 
afford  a choice,  it  becomes  a cheap  food  to  the  poorer  people.  Along  the 
northern  coast,  the  grey  gurnards  are  frequently  seen  in  vast  shoals  on 
the  surface,  during  the  Summer  season,  and  are  captured  in  great  num- 
bers. On  such  occasions,  the  price  varies  from  4c?.  a dozen  to  4c?.  a score. 
At  Dundrum,  on  the  coast  of  Down,  where  I have  seen  it  taken,  sand- 
eels  and  the  fat  of  meat  were  successfully  used  as  bait ; and  once,  in  my 
presence,  a slice  cut  off  the  side  of  one  the  moment  it  was  brought  into 
the  boat  had  hardly  reached  the  bottom  before  another  was  taken  with  it. 
This,  I learned,  was  a common  bait ; a piece  of  red  cloth  is  also  used  for 
the  same  purpose.  The  food  that  has  generally  occurred  to  me  in  their 
stomachs  was  Crustacea  (the  distinguishable  species  of  which  were  Portu- 
nus  pusillus,  and  Pandalus  anmdicornis)  and  small  fishes,  chiefly  of  a sil- 
very colour,  as  Ammodytes  and  Clupea.  The  grey  gurnard,  when  taken 
from  the  water,  emits,  before  dying,  a kind  of  snoring  noise,  like  others  of 
the  genus. 

In  four  females  which  I examined  in  the  month  of  October,  the  ova 
were  very  faintly  developed  to  the  naked  eye. 

In  the  Annals  of  Nat.  History  (vol.  i.  p.  348),  I published  the  following 
notice  of  Trigla  Cuculus,  Bloch,  which  had  not  been  previously  known  as 


* Called  “ Knoud  ” in  the  North  of  Ireland.  This  name  is  also  applied  to  the 
species  in  Smith’s  Cork  (1750). 


RED  GURNARD. 


75 

an  Irish  fish,  and  which  I then  considered  as  specifically  distinct  from 
Trigla  Gurnardus : — 

“ Trigla  Cuculus,  Bloch,*  T.  Blochii , Yarr.,  Red  Gurnard. 

Of  this  gurnard,  two  small  specimens,  taken  at  Youghal,  County  Cork, 
early  in  the  Summer  of  1835,  have,  along  with  many  other  fishes  from  the 
same  locality,  been  kindly  submitted  to  my  examination  by  Dr.  Ball  of 
Dublin. 

They  are  respectively  3 and  3^  inches  in  length.  The  number  of  rays 
in  their  fins  are — 

D.  8—19  ; P.  10,  and  3 ; Y.  1|5  ; A.  18,  and  19  ; C.  10  (and  11). 

A black  spot  is  conspicuous  on  the  membrane,  from  3rd  to  5th  ray  of 
1st  D.  fin.  P.  fins  extending  so  far  as  to  be  on  a line  with  the  origin  of 
A.  fin.j-  Dorsal  spines,  27.  Lateral  line  strongly  serrated.  ‘ Whole  body 
rough’  (as  described  by  Montagu,  Wetn.  Mem.  vol.  ii.  p.  459),  in  conse- 
quence of  spinous  scales.  Other  characters — first  D.  ray  slightly  serrated, 
&c.,  as  given  by  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  Hist,  des  Pois.,  t.  iv.  p.  68,  69  : 
in  this  work,  the  relative  length  of  the  1st  and  2nd  rays  of  the  1st  D.  fin 
is  not  mentioned,];  nor  is  it  in  the  descriptions  of  Bloch,  Montagu,  Flem- 
ing, or  Jenyns.  Mr.  Yarrell,  not  having  a specimen  for  examination, 
states,  on  the  authority  of  Risso,  ‘ that  the  first  spinous  ray  of  the  first 
dorsal  fin  is  the  longest’  (Brit.  Fish.  vol.  i.  p.  51),  and  so  figures  it;  but,  in 
both  the  specimens  under  consideration,  the  2nd  ray  of  that  fin  is  longest, 
thus  corresponding  in  this  important  character  with  Pennant’s  figure  of 
the  species.  See  Red  Gurnard,  in  Brit.  Zool.,  vol.  iii.  pi.  57,  Ed.  1776, 
and  pi.  66,  Ed.  1812. 

In  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History  for  September,  1836  (p.  463),  Mr. 
Couch  has  given  ‘ a description  of  the  characteristics  of  a kind  of  Trigla , 
hitherto  confounded  with  T.  Blochii .’  As  it  is  from  the  description  only 
of  this  species  that  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Couch  was  formed,  it  may  be  stated, 
as  affording  additional  evidence  of  the  correctness  of  his  views,  that,  after 
a critical  comparison  of  the  specimens  under  consideration  with  his  de- 
scription, I am  satisfied — although  the  great  disparity  in  size  between  the 

* The  T.  Cuculus , Bl.,  appears  inadvertently  in  Mr.  Templeton’s  catalogue  of 
“ Irish  Vertebrate  Animals”  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  N.  S.,  vol.  i.  p.  409),  the  species 
meant  being  the  T.  Pint,  Bl. 

f These  are  generally  described  as  not  reaching  so  far  as  the  vent,  but  their 
superior  length  in  the  present  instance  is,  probably,  consequent  on  the  specimens 
being  so  young,  as  in  several  other  genera  of  fishes  I have  remarked  the  P.  fins 
in  very  young  individuals  to  be  much  longer  proportionally  than  they  are  in 
adult  specimens. 

j Notwithstanding  the  trouble  taken  by  Cuv.  and  Val.  in  clearing  up  the 
synonyma  of  the  Trigla,  and  which  has  been  so  ably  done,  there  is  still  a little 
confusion  in  one  point  respecting  this  species.  At  p.  70  it  is  remarked  that  Risso 
has  well  described  it;  yet  on  a comparison  instituted  between  the  T.  Cuculus 
and  T.  Gurnardus , there  is  nothing  said  of  a difference  in  the  length  of  the  rays  of 
the  1st  D.  fin.  The  “ exactitude  ” of  Pennant  is,  at  the  same  time,  acknowledged, 
although  he  represents  the  2nd  ray  of  this  fin  to  be  the  longest,  as  Risso  does  the 
1st.  From  this  I should  infer  that  Risso’s  character  of  “ radiis  pinna  dorsali 
anteriore  longissimus”  has  been  overlooked.  And,  besides,  Bloch’s  figure  of 
the  T.  Cuculus , exhibiting  the  1st  and  2nd  rays  of  this  fin  of  equal  length,  is 
criticised  by  Cuv.  and  Val.,  and  no  remark  made  upon  this  discrepancy.  Neither 
in  Bloch’s  description  is  it  stated  that  this  species  differs  from  other  Trigla  in  the 
relative  length  of  these  fin-rays. 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


English  and  Irish  specimens  may  be  considered  insufficient  to  warrant  such 
a conclusion — that  they  are  distinct. 

The  more  prominent  differences  are — in  the  form  of  the  snout ; in  the 
body  of  my  specimens  being  very  much  rougher  than  that  of  T.  Hirundo , 
with  which  Mr.  Couch’s  fish  agrees  in  this  respect ; in  their  lateral  line 
being  strongly  and  acutely  serrated,  although,  in  the  individual  described 
by  this  gentleman,  it  ‘ is  but  faintly,  though  distinctly,  roughened.’ 

Finally,  it  may  be  observed,  with  reference  to  this  last  fish  being  ‘ hitherto 
confounded  with  T.  Blochii ,’  that  the  examination  of  my  specimens  con- 
vinces me  that  the  T.  Cuculus  of  Bloch,  Cuvier,  Pennant,*  Montagu, 
Fleming,  and  Jenyns  represents  but  one  species  ; that  Mr.  Yarrell’s  T. 
Blochii , excepting  what  is  borrowed  from  Risso,  is  also  identical,  and, 
judgingfrom  Mr.  Couch’s  description,  that  his  Trigla  is  a different  species.” 

Dr.  Parnell  having  called  attention  to  the  apparent  identity  of  Trigla 
Cuculus,  Bl.,  with  the  T.  Gurnardus  of  authors,  I communicated  the  follow- 
ing remarks  to  the  Annals  N.  H.  (vol.  ii.  p.  313)  : — - 

“ When  noticing  the  T.  Cuculus  as  an  addition  to  the  Fauna  of  Ireland,  in  the 
first  volume  of  the  ‘ Annals’  + (p.  348),  1 embraced  the  opportunity  of  offering 
some  remarks  on  the  confusion  that  existed  about  the  species.  In  so  far,  the 
observations  then  made  may  not  be  useless ; but  as  it  was  looked  upon  in  the 
ordinary  light  of  being  a species  distinct  from  T.  Gurnardus,  of  which  it  has 
very  recently  been  ’shown  to  be  merely  the  young,  I feel  that  a few  notes  are 
requisite  as  supplementary.” 

In  a paper  on  some  species  of  British  fishes  read  by  Dr.  Parnell  before 
the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  of  Newcastle,  the  author  stated  that 
an  examination  of  a series  of  specimens,  embracing  all  sizes,  had  led  him 
to  the  conclusion  that  T.  Cuculus,  Bl.  (T.  Blochii,  Yarr.),  is  only  the  young 
of  T.  Gurnardus  ; and  to  him  alone,  I believe,  is  this  highly  interesting 
discovery  due,  for  such,  in  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which  it  is  effect- 
ed, I conceive  it  to  be.  X Having  lately  procured  a series  of  specimens, 
that  I might,  for  my  own  satisfaction,  examine  into  this  question,  I shall 
here  give  the  results.  The  following  extract  from  the  Histoire  Naturelle 
des  Poissons  of  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  by  whom  they  are  considered 


* Between  the  figures  and  descriptions  of  Bloch  and  Pennant  there  is  some 
disparity ; the  latter  author  describes  two  spines  on  each  side  of  the  snout,  the 
former  four,  which  number  my  specimens  possess.  Bloch  describes  the  lateral 
line  as  consisting  of  “ ecailles  epaisses,  larges ,”  &c.,  which  mine  exhibit;  whilst 
Pennant  observes  that  “ the  side-line  [is]  nearly  smooth.”  Bloch  again  describes 
the  caudal  fin  as  forked,  and  figures  it  very  much  so ; Pennant  states  that  it  is 
“ almost  even  at  the  end,”  which  it  is  in  the  individuals  under  consideration. 

f One  oversight  was  here  committed.  Mr.  Jenyns  is  mentioned  in  company 
with  other  authors  as  not  having  described  the  relative  length  of  the  first  and 
second  rays  of  the  first  D.  fin  to  each  other;  but,  although  this  is  not  alluded  to 
in  his  Manual,  under  the  head  of  T.  Cuculus  (a  circumstance  which  led  to  the 
remark),  the  relative  differences  only  between  this  species  and  T.  Gurnardus 
being  described,  rendered  any  observation  on  this  point  unnecessary,  when  a 
similarity  was  considered  to  prevail  in  this  character.  For  a similar  reason,  Cuv. 
and  Val.  did  not  particularize  the  relative  length  of  these  rays. 

X In  the  number  of  specimens  of  each  species,  independently  of  the  beautiful 
manner  in  which  they  are  preserved,  Dr.  Parnell’s  collection  of  British  fishes 
stands  quite  unrivalled.  In  these  Triglce  is  a notable  instance  of  the  advantage 
of  a series  of  different  sizes,  the  young  and  old  fish  being  so  different,  that  with- 
out having  traced  the  changes  from  youth  upwards  we  could  hardly  believe  in 
the  modification  which  really  takes  place. 


GURNARDS. 


77 


as  distinct  species,  may  in  the  first  place  be  desirable.  * Leur  tete  est  la 
meme,  ses  granulations  sont  semblables,  les  dentelures  des  lobes  de  leur 
museau  sont  tout  aussi  distinctes,  et  les  points  de  leurs  pieces  operculaires  et 
de  leur  epaule  tout  aussi  aigues ; mais  les  trois  premieres  epines  de  leur  dor- 
sale  n’ont  pas,  comme  dans  le  gurnard  gris,  les  cotes  granules  ou  chagrines  : 
on  ne  voit  qu’une  dentelure  a peine  perceptible  sur  le  tranchant  anterieur 
des  deux  premieres.  Les  cretes  des  ecailles  qui  garnissent  leur  fossette 
dorsale  sont  entieres  et  sans  crenelures,  et  se  terminent  chacune  par  une 
simple  pointe.  Celles  des  ecailles  de  leur  ligne  laterale  ne  sont  pas  non 
plus  crenelees  comme  dans  les  gurnards  gris,  mais  ont  deux  a trois  dents 
de  scie,  dont  une  est  plus  saillante  et  plus  aigue  que  les  autres.  Tout  le 
reste  est  parfaitement  conforme  de  meme  dans  les  deux  especes.’ — Article 
T.  Cuculus,  tome  iv.  p.  68. 

T.  Cuculus. 

No.  1 = 2\  inches  long.  Colour  red,  “ with  a conspicuous  black  spot 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  first  dorsal,”  extending  from  the  3rd  to  the  5th 
ray.  A few  denticles  on  the  1st  D.  ray  only ; all  the  scales  on  the  D. 
ridge  entire,  each  being  a sharp  spine  directed  backwards ; scales  of  the 
lateral  line  not  crenated,  but  consisting  of  a series  of  hooked  spines  simi- 
larly directed. 

Nos.  2 and  3 * = 3 and  3£  inches  long.  Colour  red ; a conspicuous 
black  spot  from  3rd  to  5th  ray  of  first  1).  fin.  Scales  of  D.  ridge  and 
lateral  line  as  in  No.  1 ; no  denticles  on  D.  rays  in  No.  2 ; the  rays  in  No. 
3 imperfect. 

Intermediate  between  T.  Cuculus  and  T.  Gurnardus. 

No.  4=7  inches  long.  Colour  dark  grey ; black  spot  of  first  D.  fin 
very  conspicuous.  Two  anterior  scales  of  D.  ridge  slightly  denticulated  ; 
the  remainder  simple ; scales  occupying  the  anterior  part  of  lateral  line,  for 
about  an  inch  in  extent,  crenated;  remainder  as  in  Nos.  1 — 3;  first  D. 
ray  denticulated,  and  to  a greater  extent  than  in  No.  1. 

No.  5 = 9 inches  long.  Male,  colour  greyish-red ; a conspicuous 
black  spot  on  first  D.  fin.  The  few  anterior  scales  only  of  the  D.  ridge 
slightly  denticulated ; anterior  portion  of  every  scale  on  the  lateral  line 
crenated,  but  each  terminating  in  a hooked  spine.  1st  and  2nd  D.  rays 
denticulated,  points  on  the  1st  increasing  in  number.f 

T.  Gurnardus. 

No.  6 =11  inches  long.  Female,  colour  blackish-grey;  a black  spot 
on  D.  fin.  Scales  on  D.  ridge  all  crenated,  points  directed  upwards ; those 
on  the  lateral  line  all  crenated,  occasional  scales  throughout  its  length 
terminating  in  a hooked  spine.  3 anterior  D.  rays  crenated. 

No.  7 = 11^  inches  long.  Male,  colour  greyish-red;  black  spot  on  1st 
D.  fin.  Scales  throughout  D.  ridge  crenated,  but  nearly  all  of  them  having 
the  terminal  hooked  spine ; scales  on  lateral  line  all  crenated,  but,  as  in  the 
D.  scales,  all  except  those  occupying  the  anterior  inch  terminated  by  a 
spine  ; 1st  and  2nd  anterior  rays  only  of  1st  D.  granulated. 

No.  8 = 13^  inches  long.  Colour  blackish-grey,  with  a slight  tinge  of 
pale-red  over  it ; 1st  D.  fin  generally  dusky.  Scales  of  D.  ridge  crenated, 

* The  specimens  described  as  T.  Cuculus  in  the  Annals,  vol.  i.  348. 

t Since  this  was  procured,  Dr.  Parnell  has  favoured  me  with  a specimen  of 
similar  size,  and  which,  being  in -the  transition  state,  admirably  shows  the 
characters  of  both  species. 


78 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


all  the  points  directed  upwards ; scales  throughout  lateral  line  crenated, 
many  of  them  on  the  hinder  frds  of  its  length  terminating  in  a spine ; 1st 
3 D.  rays  granulated  throughout  almost  their  entire  length  ; 4th  and  5th 
rays  partially  granulated. 

No.  9 = 13^  inches  long.  Female,  colour  dark-grey,  varied  with  yellow ; 
D.  fin  generally  blackish,  but  of  a darker  hue  where  the  black  spot  usually 
occurs.  Scales  on  D.  ridge  crenated  throughout ; points  directed  upwards  ; 
D.  scales  as  in  No.  8 ; 1st  and  2nd  D.  rays  granulated  nearly  throughout 
their  length,  3rd  and  4th  slightly  so  about  the  middle. 

No.  10  =14  inches  long.  Female,  colour  grey,  varied  with  yellow  ; 1st 
D.  fin  with  a black  spot.  Scales  on  D.  ridge  and  lateral  line  as  in  last ; 
four  anterior  rays  of  1st  I),  fin  conspicuously  granulated,  5th  partially  so 
about  the  middle. 

No.  11=15  inches  long.  Female,  colour  dark-grey,  varied  by  yellow  ; 
1st  D.  fin  generally  pale  dusky.*  Scales  on  D.  ridge  and  lateral  line  as 
in  last;  3 anterior  rays  of  1st  D.  fin  strongly  granulated  throughout 
almost  their  entire  length,  4th  and  5th  granulated  for  more  than  half  their 
length,  6th  granulated  on  one  side.  No.  6,  11  inches  long,  was  con- 
siderably darker  in  colour  than  the  three  last. 

Thus  the  T.  Cuculus  may  be  traced  gradually  passing  into  the  T.  Gur- 
nardus, until  this  species  appears  fully  developed.  It  may  further  be  per- 
ceived, that  as  this  fish  increases  in  size  the  granulations  extend  over  the 
rays  of  the  first  dorsal  fin,  and  are  not  confined,  as  described  by  authors, 
to  the  three  or  four  anterior  ones  only.  So  far  as  my  observation  extends, 
the  red  colour  assigned  to  the  T.  Cuculus  is  not  peculiar  to  the  species  at 
any  age ; and  individuals  of  this  hue  may  be  looked  upon  as  occasional 
varieties : — from  2^  up  to  12|  f inches  in  length,  I have  seen  specimens  of 
a reddish  colour.  Considered  relatively  to  the  length  of  body,  the  pectoral 
fins  are  larger  in  young  than  in  adult  individuals  ; in  those  of  considerable 
size  they  often  extend  so  far  as  to  be  on  a line  with  the  vent. 

Sketches  of  the  form  of  the  scales  of  the  dorsal  ridge  and  lateral  line  of 
these  gurnards,  in  their  various  stages,  accompanied  the  foregoing  com- 
munication, but  were  accidentally  overlooked  by  the  Editor,  who,  however, 
inserted  them  in  the  3rd  volume  of  the  Annals,  p.  45. 

For  the  believers  in  T.  Cuculus  as  a distinct  species,  it  may  be  stated 
that  it  has  been  taken  on  the  north-east  coast ; also  at  Dublin  and 
Youghal  (Dr.  Ball) ; and  Mr.  M‘Calla,  in  October,  1840,  stated  that  he  had 
found  at  Boundstone  three  specimens  in  the  stomach  of  a hake,  but  had 
not  seen  it  taken  there  with  a bait : the  black  spot  on  D.  fin  was  present 
in  the  three. 

Mr.  W.  Andrews,  of  Dublin,  by  letter,  dated  26th  March,  1850,  in- 
formed me  as  follows : — 

“ I have  recently  received  numerous  specimens  of  the  young  of  Trigla 
Gurnardus.  Many  of  these  are  identical  with  Yarrell’s  figure  of  T.  Blochii, 
in  every  respect,  save  in  the  spine  of  the  first  dorsal  ray  not  being  the 
longest.  This  I suspect  to  be  an  error,  for  I do  not  think  that  any  of  the 
gurnards  possess  that  peculiarity.  I have  dissected  a great  many  young 
specimens  lately  received,  and  find  that  they  are  of  that  stage  of  growth 


* The  recent  colours  of  all  hut  Nos.  1 — 3 are  here  given, 
f This  specimen  may  he  described  as  tinged  with  red  over  the  ordinary  grey 
colour  which  appears  on  the  back  and  upper  part  of  the  sides  in  T.  Gurnardus  ; 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  sides,  and  to  neaV  the  ventral  profile,  it  was  of  a deep 
rose  colour ; all  the  fins  too  had  reddish  markings. 


THE  LITTLE  GURNARD. 


79 


that  the  parents  must  have  spawned  in  January  and  December.  I have 
obtained  the  young  of  similar  size  in  September  and  October  ; hence  they 
must  spawn  at  different  seasons,  or  twice  in  the  year.  I send  you  a young 
specimen,  which  I have  examined.  You  will  find  that  in  the  spinous 
processes  of  the  head  and  serrations  of  the  dorsal  ridges  it  possesses  all 
the  characteristics  of  the  mature  fish.” 

The  Little  Gurnard,  Trigla  pceciloptera , Cuv.  and  Val. 

In  the  Zool.  Proc.  for  1837, 1 published  the  following  notice  of  an  Irish 
specimen  of  this  fish — the  first  (and  hitherto  the  only)  one  procured  in 
the  British  Islands : — 

* “ Trigla  pceciloptera , Cuv.  and  Yal.  Little  Gurnard. 

Amongst  a number  of  fishes  submitted  to  my  examination  by  Mr.  Ball 
is  a gurnard,  apparently  of  this  species,  which  was  taken  at  Youghal,  I be- 
lieve, along  with  sprats  ( Clupea  Sprattus),  early  in  the  Summer  of  1835. 
In  form  it  agrees  in  every  character  by  which  the  T.  pceciloptera  is  said  to 
be  distinguished  (Cuv.  and  Yal.  Hist,  des  Pois.,  t.  iv.  p.  447).  Judging 
from  its  present  appearance,  I have  little  doubt  that  when  recent  it  would 
in  colour  also  have  corresponded.  Its  length  is  2 inches ; D.  10  (last  ex- 
tremely short) — 15;  P.  10 — 3,  free;  Y.-|-5;  A.  15;  C.  15. 

Second  dorsal  ray  longest ; 25  dorsal  spines ; caudal  fin,  a little  forked; 
lateral  line  spinous.  Thence  to  D.  fin,  and  to  about  an  equal  distance  be- 
low the  line,  rough  with  spinous  scales  (this  is  not  mentioned  by  Cuv.  and 
Yal.) ; lower  portion  of  sides  smooth. 

With  the  T.  aspera,  Viviana,  as  described  in  the  last-quoted  work,  t. 
iv.  p.  77,  and  which  in  length  is  stated  like  the  Tri.  pceciloptera  to  be 
about  4 inches,  the  present  specimen  agrees  in  many  respects,  but  chiefly 
differs  in  the  profile  being  less  vertical,  in  the  anterior  lobes  of  the  snout, 
and  in  the  negative  character  of  wanting  ‘ une  echancrure  transversale  et 
profonde,’  behind  the  posterior  orbital  spine ; nor  with  the  highest  power 
of  a lens  can  any  of  the  anterior  dorsal  spines  be  distinguished  as  ‘ den- 
telee,’  nor  the  first  and  second  rays  of  the  D.  fin  as  serrated,  both  of  which 
characters  are  attributed  to  T.  aspera. 

In  the  course  of  this  examination,  specimens  of  T.  Cuculus , Bl.,  T. 
lineata,  T.  Hirundo,  T.  Pini,  Bl.,  and  T.  Gurnardus,  were  before  me.  T. 
Lyra  was  not  available ; but  the  remarkable  development  of  the  anterior 
lobes  of  the  snout  in  this  species  would  -have  rendered  its  comparison 
with  the  specimen  under  consideration  unnecessary. 

The  T.  pceciloptera  has  previously  been  obtained  only  at  Dieppe,  where 
it  was  discovered  by  M.  Valenciennes.” 

Mr.  Yarrell,  in  his  Hist,  of  Brit.  Fishes,  voL  i.  p.  49,  after  referring  to 
the  above  specimens,  says  : — 

“ M.  Valenciennes,  at  my  request,  very  kindly  sent  me  over  a beautiful  colour- 
ed drawing  of  this  species,  and  comparing  this  representation  with  the  small 
specimen  from  Youghal  which  had  been  intrusted  to  me,  I am  also  induced  to 
consider  it  identical,  and  have  accordingly  given  this  species  a place  among  British 
Fishes.” 


* Since  the  above  was  written  I have  had  an  opportunity  of  comparing  the 
Trigla  here  treated  of  with  two  specimens  of  T.  aspera — one  3§,  the  other  4f, 
inches  long,  which  are  part  of  a collection  of  fishes  sent  last  year  from  Corfu  to  the 
Belfast  Natural  History  Society,  by  Robert  Templeton,  Esq.,  Royal  Art.  This 
comparison  served  strongly  to  confirm  everything  above  stated.  The  T.  aspera 
is  admirably  described  by  Cuv.  and  Yal. 


80 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


The  River  Bull-head,  or  Miller’s  Thumb,  Cottus  Oobio,  Linn., 

Is  not,  so  far  as  I am  aware,  found  in  Ireland. 

The  species  has,  however,  been  recorded  here,  as  appears  by  the  follow- 
ing extracts : — 

“ Gobius  Scorpius,  Father-lasher,  not  common.” 

“ Gobius  Gobio , Miller’s  Thumb,  rather  more  abundant.” — Sampson's  Derry, 
p.  337. 

“ Cottus  Gobio,  Miller’s  Thumb,  Bull-head,  caught  on  the  shore  about  the  rocks 
at  low  water ; it  frequents  the  mouths  of  fresh  waters,  and  varies  in  length  from 
4 to  10  inches — not  eaten.” 

“ Cottus  Scorpius,  Father-lasher. — This  fish  resembles  the  last  and  is  often  con- 
founded with  it : both  are  said  to  be  poisonous.  Their  disagreeable  figures  per- 
haps gave  rise  to  the  report  of  their  bad  qualities.” — M‘Skimmin’s  Carrickferqus , 
p.  359  (3rd  Ed.). 

There  is  nothing  poisonous  in  these  fishes,  as  there  really  is  in  the 
Weever ; but  they  are  both  willing  and  able  to  wound  with  their  spines. 

“ Cottus  Gobio,  Bull-head,”  is  included  in  Dr.  P.  Browne’s  list. 

Yarrell,  perhaps  from  the  information  supplied  to  him  from  these  works, 
sets  down  the  River  Bull-head,  Cottus  Gobio , as  found  at  Belfast  and  Lon- 
donderry (Brit.  Fishes,  p.  71). 

The  Sea  Scorpion,*  Cottus  Scorpius,  Bloch, 

Is  found  from  North  to  South,  and  apparently  around  the  coast,  during 
the  year. 

Contents  of  stomachs  examined  : — Several  Crustacea  ( Gammaridce ) ; a 
full-grown  shrimp,  and  other  Crustacea ; Crustacea,  among  which  were  a 
shrimp  and  many  Idotea  ; the  remains  of  a small  flat-fish — a sole,  appar- 
ently— and  a crab  so  large  that  it  must  have  filled  a fish’s  gape ; the 
remains  of  fish. 

Specimens  which  I have  seen  (dredged  from  deep  and  pure  sea-water,  in 
Strangford  Lough,  and  on  Antrim  coasts)  were  much  larger  than  Yarrell 
mentions  in  reference  to  the  British  Islands.  He  speaks  of  them  “ from 
4 or  5 to  8 inches.”  On  referring  to  notes  made  on  a few  specimens  taken 
in  Belfast  Bay,  far  up  the  estuary,  three  of  them  were  from  10  to  11  inches 
in  length  : two  of  these  are  preserved  in  the  Belfast  Museum. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  called  my  attention  to  the  liver  of  this  species  be- 
ing bright  orange,  and  stated  that  that  of  the  C.  Bubalis  is  of  the  same 
bright  colour. 

On  29th  March,  1838,  I received  a female  C.  Scorp)ius  (taken  in  Bel- 
fast Bay)  which  had  four  spines  on  one  pre-opercle ; on  the  other  it  had 
three,  the  usual  number.  An  extremely  beautiful  specimen,  4%  inches 
long,  taken  in  the  same  locality,  was  brought  to  me  on  20th  February, 
1845  ; for  one-half  of  its  length,  anteriorly,  the  under  parts  were  of  a rich 
rosy  red  colour,  with  numerous  snowy  white  spots,  all  perfectly  circular. 
I sent  it  to  the  Belfast  Museum,  to  be  preserved  in  spirits. 

Cottus  Scorpius  received  and  examined,  December,  1835,  had  the  fin-rays 
as  follow  : — D.  11 — 15  ; P.  15  on  one  side,  16  on  other — both  perfect;  V. 
1 I 3 ; A.  12  ; C.  11 ; with  more  short  ones  than  C.  Bubcilis  examined  same 
day  pre-opercle  ; 3 spines. 

Templeton  remarks : — “ They  are  very  wary,  permitting  the  hand  to  ap- 


* This  species,  as  well  as  the  next,  is  called  “ Miller’s  Thumb  ” in  the  North  of 
Ireland. 


GREENLAND  BULL-HEAD. 


81 


proach  them  within  a couple  of  inches,  before  they  quit  their  station  on 
the  rock,  hut  then  darting  away  with  inconceivable  velocity.” 

The  Father-Lasher,  or  Long-Spined  Cottus,*  Cottus  buhalis,  Euph., 

Is  found  around  the  coast  throughout  the  year. 

In  a brief  notice  of  this  species  which  I contributed  to  the  Zool.  Proc., 
1835,  p.  80,  it  w^as  mentioned  that  of  11  specimens  of  C.  buhalis  and  C. 
Scorpius  examined  by  me,  which  were  obtained  in  the  North-East,  the 
West,  and  the  South  of  Ireland,  and  preserved  without  any  regard  to 
species,  eight  were  of  the  former  and  three  of  the  latter.  My  subsequent 
observations  tend  to  confirm  the  opinion  that  C.  buhalis  is  more  common 
than  C.  Scorpius  on  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

Mr.  Yarrell  attributes  to  this  sp. — C.  buhalis — on  the  English  shores,  a 
greater  length  (“6  to  10  inches”)  than  C.  Scorpius;  but  the  great  num- 
bers of  Irish  specimens  which  have  come  under  my  examination,  indicate 
that  here  it  is  a very  decidedly  smaller  sp. 

None  of  the  numerous  specimens  which  I have  obtained  along  the 
coasts  of  Antrim  and  Down  exceeded  7 inches  in  length. 

This  sp.  seems  to  be  rather  more  of  a marine  fish  than  C.  Scorp.;  the 
largest  specimens  of  the  latter  which  I have  seen  were  from  brackish  water, 
though  I have  taken  it  in  the  purest  sea-water  also. 

C.  buhalis  was  generally  procured  in  rock-pools  (in  bays,  and  on  the  open 
coast),  accessible  at  low  water.  One  specimen  was  captured  with  atherines. 

This  sp.  was  probably  one  of  the  two  alluded  to  in  the  Histories  of 
Derry  and  Carrickfergus,  noticed  under  C.  gobio. 

Donovan’s  fig.  of  C.  Scorpius  represents  C.  buhalis: — Yarrell  quotes  it 
as  such  ; but  Jenyns  gives  it  as  C.  Scorp. 

Fin-rays  of  Cottus  buhalis  received  and  examined,  Dec.  1835  : D.  9 — 12  ; 
P.  15  ; V.  1(3  ; A.  10  ; C.  11 ; well  developed,  and  some  short ; pre-opercle 
4 spines. 

It  may  here  be  mentioned  that,  in  August,  1841,  I procured  a C.  buhalis 
in  Freshwater  Bay,  Isle  of  Wight. 

The  Greenland  Bull-head,  Cottus  Grcenlandicus,  Cuv.  and  Yal. 

A specimen  of  this  fish  which  was  captured  in  Dingle  Harbour,  in 
February,  1850,  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Wm.  Andrews,  of  Dublin, 
who  observed  its  specific  characters,  and  apprized  me  of  the  circumstance, 
by  letter  dated  22nd  February,  1850.  He  exhibited  the  specimen  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society,  held  on  the  1st  of  the  following 
month ; and  a description  of  it  will  be  found  in  that  Society’s  proceed- 
ings. Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  he  had  some  years  previously  procured  at 
Dublin  an  example  of  the  same  species,  which  is  now  in  the  University 
Museum,  but  that  he  had  not  ascertained  the  specific  distinctions  until 
Mr.  Andrews  announced  his  specimen. 

The  Cottus  Grcenlandicus  had  been  previously  recorded  as  an  Irish 
species ; but  I have  little  doubt  that  C.  buhalis  was  the  fish  referred  to.f 


* This  species,  as  well  as  the  last,  is  called  “ Miller’s  Thumb  ” in  the  North  of 
Ireland. 

f Cottus  Grcenlandicus  is  not  rare  in  Dublin  Bay.  A Cottus  captured  by 
Dr.  Corrigan  had  four  strong  tubercles  on  the  head—  Cottus  quadricornis  ? — 
R.  Ball . 

G 


82 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


The  Armed  Bull-head  or  Pogge,  Aspidophor us  cataphr actus,  Jen., 
Is  found  around  the  coast,  and  is  a common  fish. 

The  largest  specimen  taken  by  the  Ordnance  Collectors  is  said  to  have 
been  6 inches  long,  which  is  a very  large  size  for  the  species  to  attain — at 
least  on  our  northern  coast. 

It  is  a deep-sea  fish,  and  is  most  frequently  captured  in  the  dredge ; I 
have  occasionally  found  it  along  with  other  fishes,  in  the  stomachs  of  cod. 
“ Taken  abundantly  above  the  Pigeon  House  in  the  Liffey.” — Hr.  Ball. 

Templeton  had  only  seen  one  specimen,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by 
the  fact,  that  that  naturalist  was  not  in  the  habit  of  using  the  dredge  or 
trawl. 

The  Bergylt  or  Norway  Haddock,  Sebastes  Norvegicus,  Linn. 

Mr.  W.  Andrews  obtained  several  specimens  of  the  Norway  haddock 
off  Dingle  Bay,  a few  years  ago,  as  recorded  in  the  proceedings  of  the 
Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society.  I am  not  aware  that  this  fish  had  been  pre- 
viously observed  upon  our  coasts. 

The  Three-Spined  Stickleback,*  Gasterosteus  aculeatus,  Linn., 

Is  common  from  North  to  South. 

In  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist,  for  April,  1841,  I published  the  following 
observations  on  the  several  species  of  stickleback  ( Gasterosteus , Linn.) 
found  in  Ireland : — 

In  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  of  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  the  Gasterosteus 
aculeatus  of  Linnaeus  is  divided  into  several  species.  The  views  there  adopted 
are  followed  in  Great  Britain  f by  Mr.  Yarrell  and  Dr.  Parnell  in  their  respect- 
ive works ; but  in  Mr.  Jenyns’s  Manual  four  of  these  species — all  that  have 
been  recognised  as  British— -are,  after  a close  comparison  of  examples  from  the 
same  pond,  and  of  these  again  with  others  from  different  waters,  reduced  to  one 
species.  J Having  myself  compared  specimens  of  the  fish  in  question  from  still 
more  numerous  localities  than  the  last-named  author,  I arrive  at  the  same  con- 
clusion in  so  far  as  it  extends  ; but  go  still  further  and  venture  to  consider  six 
or  seven  of  the  species  of  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.  as  in  reality  but  one,  assuming 
so  many  different  appearances.  To  allude  to  the  extreme  accuracy  of  descrip- 
tion characteristic  of  that  truly  great  work — the  Hist,  des  Poiss. — would  be 
most  superfluous.  On  another  point  altogether  the  different  view  adopted  in 
the  present  paper  turns — namely,  on  the  permanency  of  characters  there  attri- 
buted to  the  3-spined  Gasterosteus. 

In  this  genus,  Ireland  possesses  all  the  forms  which  are  included  in 
the  British  catalogue.  An  additional  one — G.  semiloricatus,  Cuv.  and 


* Vulgarly  called  Spricklebag  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  Thornback  at  Killalo, 
and  Pinkeen  imsome  localities. 

t Nilsson,  in  his  Prodromus  Ichthyologiee  Scandinavicae,  published  in  1832, 
thus  describes  varieties  of  Gast.  aculeatus , Linn. : — 

“a.  Capite,  a latere  inspecto,  magis  acuto;  spinis  dorsalibus  longioribus, 
media  longitudinem  capitis  dimidiam  aequante  et  dimidiam  corporis  altitudinem 
superante. 

“/3.  Capite,  a latere  inspecto,  magis  obtuso;  spinis  dorsalibus  brevioribus; 
media  multo  breviore  quam  4 capitis  et  dimid.  corpor.  altit.” — p.  86. 

This  authofimakes  G.  trachurus  synonymous  with  G.  aculeatus , Linn.;  he  does 
not  offer  any  opinion  on  the  species  of  Gasterosteus  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss. 

J In  a note  to  p.  350,  Mr.  Jenyns  observes  with  reference  to  G.  brachycentrus, 
that  “it  is  more  than  probable  that  some  of  the  other  foreign  Gasterostei  de- 
scribed by  Cuvier  are  mere  varieties  of  this  species”— G.  aculeatus , Linn. 


STICKLEBACKS. 


83 


Val. — will  be  particularly  treated  of,  and  come  first  under  notice,  as  one 
of  the  two  varieties  which  are  protected  with  scaly  plates  throughout  the 
sides. 


G.  tracliurus,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  iv.  p.  481. 

G.  semiloricatus,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  iv.  p.  494. 

March  20, 1835. — On  examination  of  a number  of  3-spined  Sticklebacks 
from  the  island  of  Rathlin  (sent  by  Mrs.  Gage  to  Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall,  who 
submitted  them  to  my  inspection),  I find  that  in  some  the  lateral  plates 
extend  through  the  entire  sides,  as  in  G.  tracliurus ; in  others,  so  far  only 
as  in  G.  semiarmatus ; and  in  some  again  no  further  than  in  G.  leiurus. 
No  other  difference  can  be  perceived  in  these  specimens,  which  are  all  of 
a small  size,  from  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a half  in  length.  From  between 
tide-marks  in  Larne  Lough  (Mrs.  Patterson) ; from  oozy  and  rocky  pools 
over  which  the  tide  regularly  flows,  situated  near  the  edge  of  Belfast  Bay 
(Richard  Langtry,  Esq. — W.  T.) ; also  from  a deep  pool  in  the  middle  of 
it  (Mr.  James  Nichol) ; and  from  the  harbour  of  Donaghadee  (Capt. 
Fayrer,  R.  N.), — I possess  examples  of  the  full-armed  stickleback  of  various 
sizes  up  to  3 inches. 

In  addition  to  these  Irish  examples  of  the  full-armed  stickleback,  some 
2 inches  in  length  from  the  Thames,  communicated  in  1834  by  Mr. 
Yarrell,  are  before  me  for  comparison,  and  several  from  1|  to  If  inch, 
which  I obtained  in  a marine  rock-pool  at  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  in  August, 
1839. 

In  June,  1836,  Lieut.  Davis,  R.  N.,  sent  to  the  Belfast  Museum,  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  Donaghadee,  some  gigantic  specimens,  two  of  which 
are  31  inches  in  length,  and  10  lines  in  depth;  a third  is  3 inches  4 
lines  long  and  9 lines  deep ; the  number  of  fin-rays  is  the  same  in  all, 
viz : — 

D.  Ill  + 12 ; A.  1 + 9;  P.  10;  V.  I + 1 ; C.  12. 

These  three  individuals  have  each  23  plates  on  the  side  of  the  body  to 
the  origin  of  the  caudal  keel,  and  thus  agree  with  the  G.  semiloricatus. 
Colour  as  usual  in  female  specimens,  no  red  appearing  anywhere.  With 
the  above  were  two  others  of  ordinary  size ; one  of  which  was  red  on  the 
lower  portion  of  the  body.  Lieut.  Davis  stated  in  a note  respecting  them, 
that  they  “ were  found  in  a pool  of  brackish  water  accessible  to  the  sea, 
at  the  Foreland  rocks  near  Donaghadee.”  The  example,  21  inches  in 
length,  from  deep  water  in  Belfast  Bay,  differs  very  much  from  the  large 
individuals  just  noticed,  in  the  free  margins  of  the  lateral  plates  ; these  in 
the  latter  are  finely,  regularly,  and  very  minutely  serrated,  while  in  the 
former  they  are  distinctly  toothed,  the  denticles  becoming  larger  on  the 
plates  as  these  latter  approach  the  tail.  The  number  of  these  plates  to 
the  origin  of  the  caudal  keel  is  about  23,  as  in  the  large  examples  ; this 
number  likewise  appears  in  the  Thames  specimen  of  G.  tracliurus.  With 
the  exception  of  a ray  less  in  the  anal  fin,  the  number  of  fin-rays  is  the 
same  in  that  under  consideration  as  in  the  large  fish.  The  example,  2 
inches  in  length,  from  Donaghadee  harbour,  has  likewise  about  23  plates 
on  the  side  to  the  origin  of  the  caudal  keel : the  serration  on  the  free 
margin  of  these  plates  is  intermediate  between  that  exhibited  in  the  speci- 
mens from  the  Foreland  Point  and  the  one  just  noticed  from  Belfast  Bay. 

In  the  full-armed  sticklebacks  from  the  localities  generally,  which  have 
been  enumerated,  great  differences  are  observable,  as — considering  for 
the  present  adult  fish  only — in  the  comparative  length  of  the  dorsal  and 


84 


ACANTHOPTERY  GII . 


ventral  spines,  and  in  the  lateral  plates.  In  some  individuals  these  do 
not  occupy  more  than  the  central  portion  of  the  sides,  in  others  the  whole 
sides,  and  again  are  intermediate. 

In  the  absence  either  of  a specimen  for  comparison,  or  a figure  to  refer 
to,  it  may  perhaps  be  considered  that  certainty  cannot  be  arrived  at  re- 
specting G.  semiloricatus.  This  fish  is  stated  to  differ  from  G.  trachurus 
in  having  only  22  or  23  plates  on  each  side  to  the  origin  of  the  caudal 
keel  instead  of  its  25  or  26,  and  in  the  shoulder-plate  (plaque  de  l’epaule) 
being  larger.  It  has  been  seen  that  some  of  my  specimens,  and  of  these 
some  of  the  largest  size,  possess  only  the  number  of  lateral  plates  attri- 
buted to  G.  semiloricatus.  In  examples  of  equal  length,  and  from  the 
same  as  well  as  from  different  localities,  I find  the  size  of v the  shoulder- 
plate  to  vary  like  other  characters.  Hence  I am  disposed  to  regard  some 
of  the  examples  under  consideration  as  this  fish. 

In  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.  it  is  remarked  of  G.  semiloricatus,  “Nous  n’avonspu 
trouver  aux  environs  de  Paris  que  des  epinoches  a queue  nue ; il  nous  en  est 
venu  de  pareilles  des  departemens  de  la  Somme  et  de  1’ Oise,  de  la  Rochelle  et 
de  quelques  autres  lieux : nous  avons  observe  celle  a queue  cuirassee  dans  les 
ruisseaux  des  cotes  de  Normandie,  et  encore  recemment  M.  Deslongchamps 
nous  l’a  envoyee  de  Caen,  et  M.  Baillon  en  a pris  dans  le  Hable-d’Ault,  lac 
saumatre  de  l’embouchure  de  la  Somme,  pres  du  Treport.  C’est  la  seule  qui 
se  trouve  dans  les  etangs  des  environs  de  Berlin,  et  elle  y est  en  quantite  innom- 
brable.  Peut-etre  est-ce  l’espece  qui  habite  plus  frequemment  pres  des  bords 
de  la  mer,  et  qui  peut  entrer  dans  l’eau  salee.  Des  observations  ulterieures 
nous  apprendront  sans  doute  bientot  ce  qui  en  est.” — t.  iv.  p.  494. 

This  accords  generally  with  my  own  observation,  as  in  seven  out  of 
the  nine  localities  whence  my  specimens  mailed  throughout  the  sides 
were  derived — whether  they  be  called  G.  trachurus  or  G.  semiloricatus — 
they  were  taken  either  in  the  sea  or  estuary.  The  exceptions  are  the 
largest  specimens,  which  were  procured  in  a “ pool  of  brackish  water  ac- 
cessible to  -the  sea ; ” and  those  from  Rathlin,  obtained  in  fresh  water. 
From  the  passage  just  quoted,  we  learn  that  the  G.  semiloricatus  inhabits 
the  pools  about  Berlin.  It  has  always  seemed  to  me  not  improbable,  that 
in  the  sea,  where  the  enemies  of  this  diminutive  fish  are  more  numerous 
than  in  the  fresh  water,  the  protecting  hand  of  Nature  had  as  a defence 
armed  its  body  with  these  lateral  plates.  That  some  fishes  have  the 
power  of  accommodating  their  colour  to  that  of  the  ground  or  bottom  of 
the  water  they  frequent,  and  are  thus  rendered  comparatively  inconspicu- 
ous to  their  enemies,  is  well  established. 

A third  species  of  3-spin ed  stickleback,  armed  throughout  the  sides 
like  those  here  treated  of,  is  the  G.  Noveboracensis,  which,  as  its  name 
denotes,  is  found  at  New  York.  Judging  from  the  description  and  figure 
of  this  fish  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.,  I should  not  consider  it  distinct 
from  G.  trachurus  or  G.  semiloricatus.  The  specimens  which  have  come 
under  my  examination  differ  much  in  the  few  characters  which  are  said  to 
distinguish  this  fish  from  G.  trachurus.  The  high  position  of  the  lateral 
line  is  the  chief  character  of  G.  Noveboracensis ; in  some  specimens  be- 
fore me  this  line  is  so  near  the  back  that  three-fourths  of  the  body  of  the 
fish  are  below  it.  Our  G.  Pungitius  is  admitted  as  an  American  species 
by  Hr.  Storer  in  his  interesting  work  on  the  Fishes,  &c.,  of  Massachu- 
setts (p.  32),  and  for  a copy  of  which  I am  indebted  to  his  kindness. 

The  descriptions  and  figure  of  the  G.  obolarius,  Cuv.  and  Yal. — a 3- 
spined  stickleback  armed  throughout  the  sides,  and  found  in  the  North 
Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Gulf  of  Kamtschatka — are  said  in  the  Hist,  des 


STICKLEBACKS. 


85 


Poiss.  to  be  insufficient  to  mark  it  with  certainty  as  a species  distinct 
from  the  full-armed  Gasterosteus  of  Europe  or  America  (p.  500). 

Dr.  Parnell,  in  his  Fishes  of  the  Frith  of  Forth  (p.  34),  after  stat- 
ing that  he  agrees  with  Cuvier  and  Yarrell  in  considering  the  G.  trachurus 
as  “ a constant  and  well-marked  species,”  observes  that  the  “ square  tail  ” 
does  not  exist  in  the  other  sticklebacks.  According  to  my  observation, 
it  is  certainly  less  developed  in  them,  and  generally  (but  not  invariably) 
corresponds  with  the  protecting  side-plates,  presenting  a greater  or  less 
development  accordingly  as  the  armature  of  the  body  is  of  a heavier  or 
lighter  cast.  Dr.  Parnell  further  remarks,  as  corroborative  of  G.  trachurus 
being  a distinct  species,  that  he  has  “ examined  carefully  several  hundred 
from  half  an  inch  to  two  inches  and  a half  in  length,  and  in  all  the  speci- 
mens the  lateral  plates  were  constant.”  In  particular  localities  I have  met 
with  the  same  result  on  examining  specimens  of  all  sizes  of  G.  trachurus 
and  of  the  other  varieties  also,*  but  in  some  places  again  the  different 
varieties  are  found  together  and  of  every  size.f  Mr.  Yarrell  has  so 
noticed  three  of  them  in  the  Thames  at  Woolwich  ; and  in  Rathlin,  as 
before  mentioned,  they  occur  together — in  the  former  locality  in  brackish, 
in  the  latter  in  fresh,  water. 

G.  semiarmatus , Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  iv.  p.  493,  appears  to  be  the  rarest  of 
the  3-spined  sticklebacks  in  Ireland.  I possess  specimens  from  the  is- 
land of  Rathlin,  as  before  mentioned,  and  from  Wolf  hill,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Belfast.  One  example  only  occurred  in  the  latter  locality, 
where  it  was  taken  in  1832  with  a number  of  G.  brachycentrus,  the  stickle- 
back of  that  district ; it  is,  indeed,  this  variety  in  every  respect,  except  in 
having  the  lateral  plates  extending  along  the  sides  so  far  as  in  G.  semi- 
armatus ; the  other  characters  assigned  to  this  supposed  species  in  the 
Hist,  des  Poiss.  are  very  variable.  From  the  half-armed  species  \ turn  to 
the 

G.  leiurus,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  iv.  p.  487,  in  which  the  lateral  plates  do  not 
extend  beyond  the  pectorial  region.  In  every  respect  but  this  it  is  con- 
sidered in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.  so  similar  to  G.  trachurus , that  the  one 
description  is  given  as  equally  applicable  to  both.  The  G.  leiurus  would 
seem  to  be  the  most  common  f reshwater  stickleback  in  Ireland.^ 

The  localities  whence  specimens  of  this  fish  are  now  before  me,  are — the 
island  of  Rathlin ; — the  neighbourhood  of  Belfast  (W.  T.) ; — River  Bann 
at  Toome  (W.  T.) ; Portaferry  and  Newcastle,  County  Down  (W.  T.)  ; — 
Lough  Melvin,  County  Fermanagh  (W.  T.) ; — neighbourhood  of  Dublin 
(Dr.  Ball) ; — Glendalough,  County  Wicklow  (Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman) : — Port- 
arlington,  Queen’s  County  (Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke) ; — some  of  the  examples  from 
this  locality  are  very  handsomely  marked,  being  along  the  back  of  a rich 


* The  partial  exception  to  this  is  in  G.  brachycentrus , in  which  the  dorsal 
spines  are  comparatively  longer  in  young  than  in  adult  individuals,  and  hence  the 
young  in  this  respect  accord  with  G.  leiurus.  I here  speak  of  localities  in  which 
all  the  full-grown  fish  are  G.  brachycentrus. 

f From  the  many  small  examples  of  all  the  varieties  about  nine  lines  in 
length  that  have  come  under  my  observation,  I should  think  the  number  of 
lateral  plates  they  are  to  possess  through  life  is  then  as  decided  as  the  number  of 
fin-rays  ; i.  e.  provided  they  would  have  remained  in  the  locality  whence  they 
were  taken.  Whether  such  a change  of  habitation,  as  from  fresh  water  to  the 
sea,  would  cause  the  smooth-sided  at  any  age  to  put  on  the  lateral  armour  may 
remain  a question. 

X From  drains  which  are  occasionally  replenished  by  the  tide  I have  also 
taken  it. 


86 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


brown  colour,  which  is  continued  down  the  sides  in  the  form  of  regular 
transverse  bands  upon  a yellow  ground  ; — River  Shannon,  at  Killaloe 
(Rev.  C.  Mayne) ; — Youghal,  County  Cork  (Dr.  Ball). 

From  Scotland  I have  specimens  obtained  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Portpatrick  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  R.  N.  Examples  from  the  Thames  have  been 
favoured  me  by  Mr.  Yarrell ; and  in  the  river  Learn,  at  Leamington, 
Warwickshire,  the  G.  leiurus  has  occurred  to  myself.  Next  to  this 
variety  naturally  comes  the 

G.  brachycentrus,  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  iv.  p.  499,  which,  like  it,  is  smooth 
along  the  sides  from  the  pectoral  region,  but  differs  in  the  shortness  of  the 
dorsal  and  ventral  spines.  From  the  comparative  length  of  these  spines 
alone  do  I distinguish  the  two  varieties,  the  other  characters  attributed 
to  G.  brachycentrus  being  ever  varying.  The  Irish  localities  whence  I 
have  this  fish  are  the  neighbourhood  of  Belfast,  and  pools  along  the  margin 
of  Lough  Neagh  (W.  T.),  Dublin,  Youghal,  and  Portarlington — supplied 
from  these  three  localities  by  the  friends  before  mentioned. 

The  largest  example  which  has  come  under  my  observation  was  one 
taken  by  myself  in  England,  at  Stow  Pool,  Lichfield,  in  July,  1836,  and 
which  was  noticed  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  for  the 
next  year.  This  is  the  only  allusion  I have  seen  to  the  G.  brachycentrus 
in  Great  Britain. 

This  variety,  which  from  the  shortness  of  its  spines  is  the  most  defence- 
less of  the  3-spined  sticklebacks,  we  should,  d priori, — i.  e.  if  the  sugges- 
tion respecting  the  full-armed  variety  be  correct, — expect  to  find  where  it 
has  fewest  enemies,  and  such,  according  to  my  very  limited  observation, 
is  the  case.  This  would  seem  to  be  the  variety  more  peculiar  to  still 
water,  in  which  it  often  attains  a very  large  size.  The  only  continental 
notice  of  this  fish  known  to  me  is  that  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.,  where  it 
is  stated  to  have  been  obtained  by  M.  Savigny  in  the  brooks  of  Tuscany. 

The  following  comparison  between  G.  brachycentrus  from  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Belfast,  and  specimens  of  G.  leiurus,  & c.,  from  the  Thames, 
with  which  I have  been  favoured  by  Mr.  Yarrell,  was  drawn  up  early  in 
1834,  and  read  before  the  Linnsean  Society  that  year.* 

In  the  form  of  outline  the  Irish  fish  generally  differs  much  from  the 
G.  leiurus,  the  latter  being  from  the  centre  of  the  back  alike  gracefully 
sloped  on  either  side  to  the  head  and  tail,  giving  that  part  a handsome 
and  finely-arched  appearance : the  under  side  of  the  body  also  exhibits 
more  of  this  form  than  that  of  its  congener.  The  back  of  the  Irish  species, 
instead  of  thus  sloping  gradually  to  the  centre,  is  at  that  part  rather  flat, 
and  is  at  least  as  high  where  the  dorsal  fin  originates  as  elsewhere.  The 
Irish  fish  is  in  proportion  to  its  depth  longer  than  the  G.  leiurus,  as  speci- 
mens of  the  latter  under  2|-  inches  in  length,  when  compared  with  Irish 
specimens  3 inches  long,  proved  of  equal  dimensions  (8  lines)  at  the  deep- 
est part.  The  difference  is  also  strongly  marked  in  the  relative  breadth 
of  the  two  species,  the  Irish  maintaining  considerable  breadth  throughout, 
even  to  the  origin  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw  of  the 
Irish  species  consist  in  the  centre  of  about  four  rows  irregularly  disposed, 
but  become  gradually  less  numerous  towards  the  back  of  the  mouth, 
where  they  terminate  in  a single  line : the  upper  jaw  contains  three 
rows  in  front,  the  outer  and  inner  being  regular  in  distribution.  In  num- 
ber, the  G.  leiurus  which  I examined  does  not  possess  so  many  teeth  as 
that  species,  but  in  their  arrangement  there  is  little  difference.  On 


* Phil.  Mag.  vol.  v.  299  (1834). 


STICKLEBACKS. 


reckoning  the  vertebrce  in  a specimen  of  the  G.  leiurus  and  in  one  of  the 
Irish  sticklebacks  of  a similar  length,  I find  that  the  number  in  the  latter 
exceeds  that  in  the  former  species,  and  that  they  are  throughout  more 
regularly  equidistant  than  in  the  G.  leiurus. 

In  the  three  English  sticklebacks,  G.  trachurus,  G.  semiarmatus,  and 
G.  leiurus , the  bony  plate  covering  the  head  is  much  stronger  than  in  the 
Irish  fish — the  outline  of  the  lower  jaw  more  angular — the  lips  smaller 
and  less  fleshy — the  number  of  rays  in  the  fins  different,  consisting  gener- 
ally, in  the  Irish  specimens,  of  twelve  in  the  dorsal,  ten  in  the  pectoral, 
eight  in  the  anal,  and  twelve  in  the  caudal.  In  the  three  English  Gas- 
terostei,  also,  the  ventral  spine  is  longer,  but  not  so  broad  as  in  the  Irish 
fish — the  dorsal  spines  considerably  longer,  and  the  plates  whence  they 
spring  proportionately  larger.  The  following  is  the  measurement  of  the 
spines  in  the  four  species : — 


G.  trachurus 

Total  length  of  fish. 

. 2 in.  Ulin. 

First  dorsal  spine. 
2\  lin. 

Second. 
2f  lin. 

Ventral. 

4 lin. 

G.  semiarmatus 

2 6 

2* 

3 

41 

G.  leiurus 

. 2 6 

2§ 

3 

4 

Irish  species,  . 

G.  brachycentrus  . 

' | 3 0 

li 

If 

31 

1 2 

In  the  last  species  * the  membrane  extends  to  the  extremities  of  all  the 
spines. 

About  Belfast  I have  taken  the  smooth-sided  sticklebacks — G.  leiurus 
and  G.  brachycentrus — from  ditches  in  the  low  grounds,  from  clear 
mountain-streams  at  an  elevation  of  600  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
from  the  muddy  rivers  Blackwater  and  Lagan,  and  from  water  which  was 
partially  salt  (here  G.  leiurus  only),  when,  contrary  to  what  might  be  ex- 
pected, the  largest  were  invariably  found  where  the  temperature  was 
lowest,  specimens  there  ( G . brachycentrus ) not  uncommonly  attaining  the 
length  of  three  inches,  and  perfectly  free  from  the  pearl-like  tumours, 
which,  ^adhering  to  the  body,  infest  those  inhabiting  the  comparatively 
warm  waters  of  the  lower  grounds.  This  short-spined  stickleback  here 
exhibits,  in  all  respects,  the  same  colours  as  the  most  common  of  the 
English  varieties ; of  many  of  the  larger  individuals  captured  in  the 
month  of  September,  about  the  one-half  were  red  on  the  under  parts.  In 
large  shoals,  too,  I have  remarked  fully  this  proportion  to  have  assumed 
the  scarlet,  and  in  the  early  summer  months  I have  observed  that  full- 
grown  fishes,  in  which  the  most  intense  shade  of  this  colour  prevailed, 
never  appear  to  be  with  spawn,!  very  few  in  that  state  being  so  much  as 
faintly  tinged  with  it.  This  Gasterosteus  and  the  trout  ( Salmo  Fario ) 
seem  not  to  co-exist  in  some  of  our  smaller  rivers,  or  do  so  very  partially. 
In  the  stream  whence  the  largest  of  these  were  taken,  trout  ( Salmo  Fario ) 
were  a dozen  years  ago  very  common,  and  the  stickleback  unknown,  and 
it  is  only  since  the  almost  total  disappearance  of  the  trout  that  this  fish 
has  been  established  in  its  waters.  In  a similar  stream,  issuing  from  the 
same  mountain-range,  at  about  four  miles  distance,  the  trout  yet  main- 


* Agreeably  to  the  view  taken  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.,  the  term  “species” 
was  here  applied  to  G.  brachycentrus.  I was  disposed  at  the  time  (1834)  to  re- 
gard it  as  a local  variety,  but  had  not  the  means,  which  have  since  been  afforded 
by  a comparison  of  specimens  from  numerous  localities,  to  arrive  at  a certain 
conclusion  on  the  subject. 

f So  late  as  the  19th  Sept.,  1832,  I remarked  one  large  with  spawn. 


88 


ACANTHOPTERYGIL 


tains  its  place,  and  in  the  parts  of  the  river  frequented  by  it  I have  in 
vain  looked  for  the  stickleback. 

The  figure  of  G.  brachycentrus  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss.  resembles  the 
Irish  fish  when  in  spawn,  and  not  its  usual  appearance. 

In  addition  to  that  fish,  there  is  another  3-spined  stickleback,  brought 
by  M.  Savigny  from  the  brooks  of  Tuscany,  described  as  new  in  the 
Hist,  des  Poiss. — from  its  brilliant  operculum,  it  is  named  G.  argyropomus. 
In  this  and  the  other  characters  assigned  to  it,  Irish  specimens  in  my  pos- 
session fully  accord.  It  is  suggested,  indeed,  with  reference  to  the  cha- 
racters attributed  to  this  and  the  two  other  G aster ostei — G.  brachycentrus 
and  G.  tetracanthus  — brought  by  M.  Savigny  from  Tuscany— “ Nous 
allons  les  indiquer,  pour  engager  les  observateurs  a s’assurer  de  leur  con- 
stance,”  p.  498.  In  the  next  page  it  is,  however,  remarked  of  G.  brachy- 
centrus, that  there  is  no  doubt  of  its  being  a true  species.* 

Four-spined  Stickleback,  G.  spinulosus,  Yarr.  and  Jenyns. 

Among  specimens  of  Gasterostei  kindly  procured  for  me  at  La  Bergerie, 
near  Portarlington,  Queen’s  County,  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke,  is  an  indi- 
vidual with  four  spines.  It  is  1^  inch  long;  the  first  and  second  spines 
are  of  ordinary  length ; the  third  spine  is  short,  but  exceeding  the  fourth. 
In  no  other  character  than  that  of  having  four  spines  does  this  fish  differ 
from  the  3-spined  examples  taken  with  it,  and  consequently  I cannot 
look  upon  it  otherwise  than  merely  an  accidental  variety  of  G.  aculeatus, 
Linn.  It  was  among  a parcel  consisting  of  G.  leiurus,  G.  brachycentrus, 
and  G.  Pungitius,  taken  in  a pond  and  in  some  neighbouring  drains.  The 
“ ascending  plate  from  the  base  of  the  ventrals  ” (see  Jenyns’s  Manual,  p. 
350)  I find  subject  to  variety  of  form  like  other  parts. 

That  the  fish  under  consideration  is  the  G.  spinulosus  seems  to  me  not 
to  admit  of  doubt,  j* 

This  stickleback  is  very  bold  and  voracious,  and  will  attack  any  living 
object  it  can  master  : in  illustration  of  this,  I may  mention  that,  in 
August,  1844,  a small  party  of  these  fishes  were  observed  near  Belfast, 
in  the  act  of  killing  a horse-leech,  the  head  of  which  they  immediately 
devoured. 

In  Nov.,  1851,  a specimen  of  the  3-spined  stickleback  was  taken  from  the 
stomach  of  a Redbreasted  Merganser  ( Mergus  serrator ) shot  in  Belfast  Bay. 

At  the  end  of  May,  and  during  June,  I have  remarked  the  spawn  just 
ready  for  exclusion,  in  examples  taken  about  Belfast. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a letter,  dated  at  Innistioge,  13th 
Aug.,  ’46,  which  I received  from  Professor  Allman: — 

“ I have  been  looking  a little  to  the  sticklebacks  which  I happened  to 
meet  with  in  my  rambles,  and  find  that  throughout  a great  part  of  Tip- 
perary, Queen’s  Co.,  and  Kilkenny,  the  Gast.  leiurus  is  the  predominant 
species.  I have  not  once  found  G.  tracliurus  nor  semiarmatus.  • I have 


* The  different  varieties  of  the  3-spined  stickleback  are  commonly  known  in 
the  North  of  Ireland  by  the  name  of  spricklebag,  evidently  a corruption  of  the 
proper  term  ; Pinkeen  is  applied  to  them  in  the  South;  and  from  the  Shannon 
they  have  been  sent  to  me  under  the  name  of  Thornback. 

f “ Since  the  above  was  written,  I have  been  gratified  to  find  that  my  friend 
Dr.  Johnston,  in  a List  of  the  Fishes  of  Berwickshire,  exclusive  of  the  ‘ Sai- 
nt ones,’  considers  the  G.  spinulosus  a variety  only  of  the  3-spined  species — of 
these  he  notices  the  ‘ Rough-tailed,  Half-armed,  and  Smooth-tailed  Sticklebacks’ 
of  Yarrell,  as  varieties  only  of  one  species.  (See  Report  of  the  Berwickshire 
Naturalists’  Club  for  1838,  p.  171.)” 


TEN-SPINED  STICKLEBACK. 


89 


not  very  uncommonly  seen  a stickleback  in  every  way  resembling 
G.  leiurus,  but  with  a fourth  spine  developed  between  the  last  and  penulti- 
mate dorsal : I cannot,  however,  believe  it  more  than  a variety  of  leiurus . 

“ In  one  locality  I obtained  several  specimens  of  a stickleback  with  7 to 
9 dorsal  spines,  apparently  referrible  to  Pungitius  ; but  what  I am  chiefly 
desirous  to  ask  you  about  is  the  existence  of  a species  closely  resembling 
the  last,  but  without  any  traces  of  ventral  spines. 

“ Of  this  I have  taken  in  one  locality  several  specimens.” 

The  Ten-Spined  Stickleback,  Gasterosteus  Pungitius , Linn. 

This  diminutive  fish  is  “ rare  ” in  Ireland,  comparatively  with  the  3-spined 
species,  as  has  already  been  noticed  by  Templeton.* * * §  The  localities  whence 
I possess  it  are  very  few  in  number,  viz. — pits  excavated  in  brick-making 
on  the  banks  of  the  Blackstaff  river,  near  Belfast ; a marsh  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Portaferry,  County  Down  (W.  T.) ; and  La  Bergerie,  Queen’s 
County  (Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke) ; from  this  locality  a considerable  number  were 
sent,  and  among  them  the  largest  native  specimens  I have  seen,  a few 
being  If  inch  in  length,  and  one  having  attained  to  2f  inches.  Dr.  Ball  in- 
forms me  that  it  inhabits  the  ponds  at  Glassnevin,  Dublin,  and  that  he  has 
procured  examples  near  Youghal. 

From  the  neighbourhood  of  Portpatrick,  Scotland,  this  species  has  been 
sent  me  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  R.  N.  For  examples  from  the  Thames  I am  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Yarrell ; and  in  the  river  Learn,  near  Leamington,  War- 
wickshire, it  has  occurred  to  myself. 

In  most  of  the  above  localities  the  3-spined  species  was  taken  with  the 
G.  Pungitius.  All  of  the  latter,  whether  from  brackish  or  fresh  water,  are 
smooth  throughout  the  sides  (G.  Icecis,  Cuv.  Regne  Animal,  2nd  ed.f), 
and  but  a very  few  individuals  present  any  appearance  of  a kepi  on  the 
sides  of  the  tail.  The  dorsal  spines  vary  from  nine  to  eleven  in  number, 
and  do  so  in  examples  of  equal  size  from  the  same  place. 

Mr.  Jenyns,  in  his  Manual,  says  of  this  species,  that  it  is  “ equally 
abundant  with  the  G.  aculeatus,  and  as  generally  distributed.” 

This  observation  is  not  applicable  to  Ireland. 

The  Fifteen-Spined  Stickleback,  % Gasterosteus  Spinachia,  Linn. 

This  species,  differing  from  G.  aculeatus  and  G.  Pungitius  in  being 
strictly  a marine  fish,  is  found  around  the  coast  of  Ireland.  I possess  ex- 
amples obtained  at  Rathlin  in  the  North  (by  Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall)  ; on  the 
coasts  of  Down  (W.  T.)  and  Antrim  (by  Mrs.  Patterson)  in  the  North- 
East;  Bundoran  in  the  West  (W.  T.) ; and  Youghal  in  the  South  (by 
Dr.  Ball).  § 

On  the  southern  coast,  where  sprat-fishing  is  regularly  practised,  the 
G.  Spinachia  is  taken  in  greater  quantity  than  in  the  North.  Dr.  Ball  on 
one  occasion  knew  as  many  to  be  captured  with  the  sprat  ( Clupea  Sprat- 
tus ),  at  Youghal,  as  would  “ fill  a bushel,”  and  at  Glendore  and  the  South- 
West  coast  of  Cork  generally  Dr.  Allmanin  forms  me  that  it  is  often  taken 
at  the  same  time  with  this  fish.  On  the  coast  of  Down  full-grown  speci- 
mens have  occasionally  occurred  to  me  when  dredging,  and  likewise  under 
stones  between  tide-marks,  and  one  or  two  individuals  may  sometimes  be 

* Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.  New  Series. 

t See  also  Hist,  des  Poiss.  t.  iv.  p.  507. 

+ Horn-eel  is  a common  name  for  this  species  in  the  North;  it  is  called 
Horn-fish  in  Belfast  market. 

§ Recently  obtainable  in  quantity  in  mouth  of  the  river  Liffey. — R.  Ball. 


90 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


seen  in  the  fish-market  at  Belfast,  whither  they  are  brought  with  quantities 
of  the  atherine  ( Atlierina  Presbyter)  from  Portaferry,  in  the  winter  and 
early  spring.  In  the  rock-pools,  on  different  parts  of  the  coast,  the  margins 
of  which  are  accessible  at  low  water,  the  fry  of  G.  Spinachia  may  be  ob- 
served in  the  month  of  June  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  length  ; * 
and  in  such  places  I have  at  Bangor  (County  Down),  in  the  middle  of 
September,  captured  them  of  twice  that  size,  where  in  winter  neither 
young  nor  adult  examples  ever  occurred  to  me  : the  species  is  on  our  coast 
throughout  the  year. 

Both  the  G.  aculeatus  and  G.  Pungitius  were  included  in  Dr.  Patrick 
Brown’s  Catalogue ; the  former  species  was  noticed  two  years  before  by 
Itutty.  In  M‘Skimmin’s  History  of  Carrickfergus,  and  in  Mr.  Temple- 
ton’s Catalogue,  the  G.  Spinachia  has  a place. 

In  one  respect  the  foregoing  pages  [on  the  Gasterostei ] may  be  con- 
sidered rather  as  exhibiting  a retrogression  than  an  advancement  of  the 
subject,  as  in  them  an  attempt  is  made  to  restore  what  have  latterly  been 
considered  as  several  species  simply  into  the  three  described  by  Linnaeus 
as  Gast.  aculeatus , G.  Pungitius,  and  G.  Spinachia. 

“ The  15 -spined  stickleback  is  abundant  on  the  southern  coast  and  in  Dublin 
Bay.  It  possesses  the  chameleon-like  quality  of  changing  colour  when  ex- 
cited.”—-Dr.  Ball. 

This  peculiarity  is  noticed  by  Mr.  Couch  (see  Yarrell,  p.  103),  and  Dr. 
Stark  mentions  the  change  of  colour  in  the  4-spined  stickleback.  (See 
Yarrell,  p.  98.) 

The  Maigre,  Scicena  Aquila,  Cuv.  and  Val., 

Has  been  once  taken  on  the  coast,  as  mentioned  in  the  following  note 
which  I extract  from  The  Cork  Fauna,  by  Dr.  Harvey : — 

“ A fine  specimen  of  this  fish,  the  first  which  has  been  recorded  as  having 
occurred  on  the  Irish  coast,  was  taken  while  basking  at  the  surface  of  the  water 
opposite  passage  in  the  harbour  of  Cork,  on  the  1st  August,  1840.  It  measured 
6 feet  4 inches.  The  skin  and  auricular  bones  were  preserved,  and  are  in  my 
possession,  but  its  large  and  beautifully-fringed  air-bladder  was  unfortunately 
burst  in  attempting  to  free  its  numerous  processes  from  their  attachments  be- 
tween the  vertebrae.” 

Dr.  Harvey,  in  a letter  which  I received  from  him  relative  to  this  fish , 
remarked  that  “ it  was  seen  lying  on  the  top  of  the  water  by  some  fisher- 
men, who  managed  to  haul  it  into  their  boats ; it  was  apparently  in  good 
health — the  flesh  very  firm.” 

Specimens  of  the  maigre  are  occasionally  taken  on  the  British  coast ; 
The  Times  of  4th  November,  1850,  thus  noticed  one  : 

“ An  enormous  fish  weighing  upwards  of  100  lbs.  called  the  Maigre  {scicena 
aquila')  was  caught  during  the  last  week  off  Brixham  roads  by  some  fishermen 
of  that  port,  and  sent  by  railway  to  Billingsgate  market  on  Saturday  morning.” 
Family  Spared  a:. 

The  Spanish  Sea-Bream,  Pagellus  erythrinus , Cuv.  and  Val., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  South-West  coast  by  Mr.  William  Andrews. 
See  proceedings  of  the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society. 

The  Common  Sea-Bream,!  Pagellus  centrodontus,  Cuv.  and  Val., 

Is  common  around  the  coast. 


* In  July  (1840)  I took  them  an  inch  long  on  the  coast  of  Galway, 
f Called  “Brazier”  in  the  North,  “ Carf,”  “Carp,”  or  “Sea-Bream,”  in 
the  North-East,  and  “Gunner  ” in  the  West. 


THE  BLACK  SEA-BREAM. 


91 


It  is,  I presume,  this  species  which  is  alluded  to  by  Templeton,  under 
the  name  of  Spams  aaratus,  Linn. 

Although  procured  in  abundance,  with  other  fish,  on  the  North-East 
coast,  the  sea-bream  is  considered  scarcely  worth  bringing  to  Belfast 
market,  where  more  than  a very  few  are  seldom  seen  together ; but,  in 
every  month  in  the  year  I have  observed  full-grown  specimens  here  ; 
they  are,  however,  chiefly  taken  in  Autumn.  They  attain  from  3 to  5 or 
6 lbs.  weight. 

The  stomach  of  a specimen  which  I examined  on  12th  August,  1836, 
contains  an  ascidia-like  animal,  and  fragments  of  mature  specimens  of  the 
Ophiura  rosula. 

This  fish  is  frequently  captured  with  haddock,  the  baits  generally  used 
being  the  lug-worm,  shell-fish  (mussels,  &c.),  and  herring  fry. 

Maxwell  gives  the  following  note  in  his  Wild  Sports  of  the  West: — * 

“ The  Gunner  is  the  common  name  given  to  the  sea-bream  by  the  fishermen 
on  the  western  coast.  They  are  found  near  the  shore,  in  from  5 to  1 5 fathom 
water,  where  the  bottom  is  foul  and  rocky.  The  gunners  are  pretty  but  in- 
sipid fish,  and,  in  variety  of  colour,  differ  from  each  other  more  than  any  species 
of  the  finny  tribe  I have  met  with.  In  size  they  seldom  exceed  3 or  4 pounds ; 
but,  from  the  avidity  with  which  they  bite,  they  afford  excellent  amusement 
when  the  breeze  is  not  sufficiently  stiff  to  allow  a take  of  mackerel  and  coal-fish. 
The  bait  generally  used  for  gunners  is  a small  crab,  broken  and  bound  about 
the  hook  with  a thread ; and  2 hooks  affixed  to  a trap-stick,  with  a light  leaden 
plummet,  comprise  the  simple_apparatus  requisite  for  this  kind  of  sea-fishing.” 

Aug.  15th,  1851.  I saw  two  fine  fish  of  this  species  at  the  Rev.  G.  M. 
Black’s,  at  Annalong  (Co.  Down),  on  which  coast  this  fish  is  highly 
prized  for  food.  The  species  is  common  here ; 64  were  lately  taken  in  the 
course  of  a night’s  fishing  in  a small  boat. 

Aug.  23rd.  During  last  night’s  fishing  of  a small  boat,  I learn  from 
Mr.  Black  that  120  were  taken.  A slice  of  mackerel  is  the  chief  bait  now 
used  for  them. 

Sept.  2 5th.  We  had  one  of  these  fish  for  dinner,  and  thought  it  very 
good.  It  was  baked  with  stuffing  like  that  used  for  a turkey. 

A specimen  of  this  fish,  in  the  Belfast  Museum,  is  18  inches  in  length, 
D.  12J12;  P.  16;  V.  1|5;  A.  3 soft  rays  imperfect;  C.  17,  reckoning  two 
longest  and  those  intermediate.  Another  specimen,  in  the  same  collec- 
tion, is  as  follows  : — Length,  19  inches,  D.  12+12;  P.  17  ; V.  1+5;  A. 
3+12  ; C.  17  (1  a la  Cuv.)„ 

The  Black  Sea-Bream,  Cantharus  lineatus,  Mont,  (sp.), 
Cantharus  griseus,  Cuv.  and  Val. 

To  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  we  are  indebted  for  the  addition  of  this  spe- 
cies to  our  fauna.  On  the  18th  of  May,  1846,  he  obtained  a fine  speci- 
men, which  was  taken  on  a hand-line  with  lug-worm  ( Arenicola  pisca- 
torum,  Lam.)  as  bait,  on  “ foul  ground  ” at  Cultra  Point,  Belfast  Bay. 
My  friend  drew  up  an  ample  description  (zoological  and  anatomical)  of 
the  specimen,  which  he  carefully  preserved  and  kindly  sent  to  me.  I 
make  the  following  selection  from  his  notes  : — 

“ Length  from  snout  to  middle  of  caudal  fin  16  inches ; breadth  at 
shoulder  6^-  inches ; weight  3 lbs. 

“D.  10+11  ; P.  10  (the  fifth  longest);  Y.  1+5;  A.  1+11  ; C.  17. 
Branch.  5. 


* Dr.  Ball  thinks  it  applies  to  the  Wrasse  rather  than  to  this  species. 


92 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


“ D.  fin,  almost  black  in  colour,  rises  from  a deep  groove  in  the  back. 

“ Whole  fish  of  a dark  leaden  hue ; lateral  line  very  conspicuous,  black, 
broad,  and  of  similar  breadth  throughout — less  than  one-third  the  depth 
of  the  fish  from  the  back ; upper  lobe  of  C.  fin  longer  than  the  lower ; 
eyes  large,  yellowish,  irides  dark  brown ; scales  large,  firmly  imbedded  in 
the  skin,  transparent ; the  colour  of  the  black  lines  is  in  the  skin  itself, 
and  is  seen  through  the  transparent  scale. 

“ Cseca  wide,  about  \\  inch  long,  their  walls  very  thin,  as  were  those  of 
the  stomach ; both  nearly  transparent;  swimming-bladder  large  and  silvery. 

“ Intestine,  except  at  lower  end,  very  thin,  rather  long,  very  wide,  and 
containing  large  masses  of  vegetable  matter,  which,  in  the  microscope, 
seemed  to  be  chiefly  Ceramium  rubrum  and  Rhodomela  subfusca  deprived 
of  their  parenchyma,  but  their  walls  remaining  entire  and  transparent. 
In  the  lower  part  of  the  intestine  was  the  operculum  apparently  of  a whelk 
(. Buccinum  undatum ).,  with  the  firm  muscular  white  part  of  the  animal 
firmly  attached  to  it,  and  unaffected  by  the  digestive  process,  showing 
probably  that  vegetable  food  is  that  natural  to  the  fish.  The  specimen 
was  a male,  the' milt  very  solid,  presenting  no  appearance  of  spermatozoa 
when  broken  down  and  magnified.” 

Mr.  Couch  says  of  this  species  that — 

“It  takes  the  common  baits  which  fishermen  employ  for  other  fish,  but  feeds 
much  on  marine  vegetables,  upon  which  it  becomes  exceedingly  fat.” — Yarr. 
B.  F.  vol.  i.  p.  131. 

This  single  specimen,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  preceding  notes,  attests 
the  correctness  of  the  remarks  respecting  both  bait  and  food. 

All  the  British  localities  for  this  species,  named  in  the  work  just  cited, 
are  on  the  extreme  southern  line  of  the  English  coast. 

After  I had  contributed  the  foregoing  particulars  to  the  Annals  Nat. 
Hist.  (vol.  xviii.  p.  313),  I received  a letter  from  Major  Walker,  of  the 
Lodge,  Enniscorthy,  dated  15th  November,  1846,  in  which  he  says — “ I 
this  year  met  with  a black  bream  at  Kilmore  (County  Wexford).  It  was 
of  a dark  steel-blue  when  fresh,  but  soon  faded  to  black ; it  was  of  good 
size,  about  18  inches  long,  and  much  firmer  than  the  common  red-bream  ” 
( Pagellus  centrodontus ). 

Family  Squamipinnati. 

Ray’s  Sea-Bream,  Brama  Rail,  Cuv.  and  Val. 

To  Dr.  R.  J.  Burkitt,  of  Waterford,  we  are  indebted  for  the  positive 
addition  of  this  species  to  our  fauna,  this  gentleman  having  lately  contri- 
buted a native  specimen  to  Dr.  Ball,  for  the  Museum  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin.  The  fish  (of  which  a large  and  correct  drawing  has  been  sent 
me)  was  taken  at  Tramore,  in  the  month  of  October,  1843.  This  is  the 
first  certain  instance  known  to  me  of  its  occurrence  on  our  coast.  Mr. 
Yarrell  (British  Fish.  vol.  i.  p.  134)  gives  it  from  M‘Skimmin’s  List  of 
the  Fishes  of  Carrickfergus ; but,  as  remarked  in  my  Report  of  the  Ver- 
tebrata  of  Ireland,  “ the  propriety  of  the  application  of  the  name  to  this 
species  is  doubtful.”  All  that  is  said  of  it  by  M‘Skimmin  is,  “ Spams 
Raii ; hen-fish,  a choice  fish,  rare.”  The  term  hen-fish  is  applied  by  our 
fishermen  to  one  or  two  other  species  of  somewhat  rare  occurrence. 

Family  SCOMBRIDJB. 

The  Mackerel,  Scomber  Scomber , Linn., 

Is  common  around  the  coast,  Belfast  Bay,  Strangford,  Dublin,  and 
Youghal.  On  20th  April,  1846, 1 saw  several  dozen  of  mackerel,  about 


THE  SPANISH  MACKEREL. 


93 


one-fourth  under  full  size,  in  Belfast  market,  to  which  they  had  been 
brought  from  some  of  the  'northern  Highland  lochs  of  Scotland ; but  I 
have  not  any  record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  fish  on  the  Irish  coast  so 
early  in  the  season. 

When  at  Newcastle  (County  Down)  on  2nd  September,  1836,  I made 
the  following  note  : — “ Mackerel  have  only  been  taken  at  Newcastle 
within  the  last  fortnight,  although  10  miles  southward  they  were  caught 
a month  before.  This  difference  in  time  (I  am  informed  by  Mr.  G.  Hy- 
land) is  annually  observed.” 

The  modes  of  capture  of  the  mackerel  have  been  described  in  Smith’s 
Waterford,  and  Maxwell’s  Wild  Sports  (the  description  contained  in 
the  latter  work  having  been  considered  by  Mr.  Yarrell  wrorthy  of  a place 
in  his  work  on  British  Fishes) ; but  the  following  extract  from  Dr.  Ball’s 
lecture,  already  quoted,  will  sufficiently  inform  the  readers  as  to  the 
means  usually  employed  : — 

“ The  mackerel  is  taken  in  various  ways,  one  of  which  is  very  attractive  to  the 
amateur.  It  is  fishing,  while  under  a smart  sail,  with  a line  and  single  hook ; 
the  bait  may  he  anything  bright,  such  as  a bit  of  red  ribbon.  The  first  fish 
caught  will  supply  a more  attractive  one,  called  a lashing,  being  a narrow  band 
cut  from  the  silvery  part  near  the  tail  of  the  fish.  They  are  also  taken  by  boys 
who  fish  from  the  rocks  with  a rude  apparatus  consisting  of  a pole,  a piece 
of  rope-yarn,  with  an  appended  fly,  made  of  a crooked  nail,  with  a white 
feather  and  red  worsted  attached,  but  the  greatest  numbers  are  caught  in  drift- 
nets.’5* 

In  the  months  of  July  and  August,  1850,  mackerel  were  unusually 
abundant  on  the  North-East  coast,  and  great  numbers  were  taken  in  Bel- 
fast Bay,  Strangford  Lough,  and  at  Newcastle.  On  the  24th  August,  26 
boats  were  employed  in  fishing  between  Greypoint  and  Crawfordsburn 
(Belfast  Bay),  and  with  great  success.  Twenty-nine  dozen  were  taken  by 
one  boat,  and  the  others  captured  smaller  numbers,  varying  down  to  12 
dozen  each.  One  of  the  fishermen  at  Newcastle  (James  Hill)  informed 
me  that  4 men  in  his  boat  took  100  dozen  in  8 hours — i.  e.  4 hours  in 
the  morning  and  4 in  the  afternoon.  Another  crew  of  3 men  were  said 
to  have  caught  35  dozen  in  the  course  of  one  morning.  The  bait  gener- 
ally used  was  a piece  cut  from  the  side  of  a freshly-caught  mackerel,  but 
I knew  one  instance  of  the  spotted  gunnel  ( Murcenoides  guttata)  being 
used  successfully. 

When  in  pursuit  of  herring-fry  swimming  at  the  surface,  mackerel  are 
said  to  cause  the  semblance  of  a heavy  shower  upon  the  water. 

The  Spanish  Mackerel,  Scomber  maculatus,  Couch. 

In  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  (vol.  vii.  p.  479)  I published  the  following 
note  relative  to  this  species.  I have  not  been  able  to  obtain  more  de- 
finite information  respecting  it : — 

“ Scomber  maculatus,  Couch  ? Spanish  Mackerel.  Mr.  McCalla,  having 
mentioned  the  occurrence  of  this  fish  on  the  coast  of  Connemara,  replied  to  my 
queries  as  follows  : — 1 The  fish  which  I consider  to  be  this,  is  found  with  the 
mackerel,  and,  in  some  seasons,  not  uncommonly.  It  is  known  by  the  name  of 
Spanish  Mackerel,  Avhich  was  no  doubt  first  applied  to  it  here  by  the  coast- 
guard, many  of  whom  have  been  in  the  navy.  I have  not  seen  any  specimens 
of  S.  maculatus  this  year  (1840),  but  on  carefully  looking  to  the  characters  given 
by  Couch  (Jenyns’s  Manual)  am  of  opinion  that  it  is  the  above  species.  I 


* “A  novel  and  successful  bait  recently  used,  is  about  two  inches  of  the  stem 
of  a tobacco  pipe,  put  on  the  line  down  to  the  hook.” — B.  Ball. 


94 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


am  quite  positive  that  we  have  two  species  of  Scomber  on  this  coast.  Caranx 
trachurus  has  been  scarce  here  this  year.’  ” 

I should  mention  that  the  late  Mr.  John  Nimmo,  when  examining  with 
me  the  figures  in  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes,  stated  that  the  Garfish  (Be- 
lone  vulgaris ) is  called  Spanish  Mackerel  by  the  fishermen  at  Roundstone. 

The  Tunny,  Thynnus  vulgaris,  Cuv.'  and  Val. 

The  following  note,  contributed  by  me  to  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist, 
(vol.  v.  p.  9),  contained  the  only  information  which  I then  possessed  re- 
specting the  tunny,  as  an  Irish  species : — 

“ Dr.  Jacob  (Professor  of  Anatomy  in  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons)  of 
Dublin  informs  me,  that  during  the  herring  season,  about  twelve  years  ago,  he 
purchased  a specimen  of  this  fish,  about  2 feet  in  length,  (and  evidently  a recent 
capture,)  from  a fisherman  who  supplied  him  with  the  rare  species  he  procured, 
and  whose  ordinary  fishing-ground  was  off  Dublin  Bay,  within  forty  miles  of 
the  metropolis.” 

In  the  Autumn  of  1841,  a large  tunny  was  obtained  in  Ballyholme 
Bay,  near  Bangor,  in  the  County  of  Down.  Full  particulars  of  its  cap- 
ture were  given  in  the  Northern  Whig  newspaper,  of  4th  Nov.,  1841, 
from  which  I take  the  annexed  extract : — 

“ It  measured  8 feet  3 inches  in  length,  5 feet  4 inches  in  girth,  and  was  esti- 
mated by  several  gentlemen  who  saw  it  to  be  fully  300  lbs.  weight.  It  was 
first  observed  by  a farmer  in  the  neighbourhood,  floundering  on  the  sand  in  a 
place  where  the  tide  was  rapidly  ebbing ; and,  from  the  powerful  struggles  and 
tremendous  plunges  which  it  made  when  it  found  the  water  leaving  it,  seemed 
much  larger  than  it  really  was.” 

The  Bonito,  or  Stripe-Bellied  Tunny,  Thynnus  Pelamys, 

Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Of  this  species,  which  is  rarely  captured  in  the  British  seas,  an  ex- 
ample, taken  on  the  coast  of  Wexford  some  years  ago,  was  sent  in  a fresh 
state  to  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  and  is  preserved  in  their  Museum  ; its 
length  is  29  inches. 

Dr.  Harvey,  in  his  Cork  Fauna,  gives  the  following  note  : — 

“ T.  Pelamys,  Linn,  (sp.)  (?)Bonito.  My  friend,  Dr.  Bullen,  informs  me 
that  he  saw  and  examined  an  individual  of  this  species,  which  Avas  taken  at 
Kinsale,  some  years  since.” 

In  June,  1850, 1 saw  a fine  specimen  of  this  fish  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  collec- 
tion, sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Bennett,  from  the  South  of  Ireland,  which  was 
thus  noticed  in  the  Cork  Constitution  of  1st  Sept.,  1849  : — 

“ A specimen  of  the  Bonito,  a tropical  fish  rarely  found  upon  our  shores, 
Avas  taken,  on  Monday  last,  in  the  meshes  of  a salmon  net  at  Bennett’s  Court. 
It  has  been  forwarded  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  from  whose  History  of  British  Fishes  the 
folloAving  description  has  been  adapted  to  the  present  subject,  Avhich  is  a trifle 
larger  than  the  one  described  in  that  work  : — This  specimen  is  29f  inches  long  ; 
21  inches  round,  close  behind  the  pectoral  fins ; head  conical,  ending  in  a point 
at  the  nose ; under-jaAv  projecting ; teeth  very  small  and  close,  like  a file ; mouth 
small ; tongue  flat  and  thin  ; nostrils  obscure — and  in  a depression ; gill-covers 
of  two  plates.  Body  round  to  the  vent ; from  thence  tapering  to  the  tail  ; near 
the  tail  depressed  ; eye  elevated,  round,  near  an  inch  in  diameter;  iris  silvery  ; 
from  the  nose  to  the  pectoral  fin  9f  inches ; the  fin  pointed,  3 inches  long, 
received  into  a groove,  in  which  another  inch  or  inch  and  half  of  this  fin  might 
have  remained  sunk — first  dorsal  fin  7|  inches  long,  4f  inches  high,  lodged  in  a 
groove.  The  body  is  most  solid  opposite  the  second  dorsal,  Avhich  fin  and  the 
anal  are  falcate ; weight,  1 9f  lbs. ; colour,  deep  azure  blue  on  the  back,  with 


THE  SWORD-FISH. 


95 


shades  of  green,  gold,  and  crimson  on  the  lower  parts  of  the  sides  and  belly ; 
four  longitudinal  stripes  extend  along  each  side  to  the  tail,  which  is  crescent- 
shaped, and  8 inches  in  diameter.  The  beauty  of  the  colours,  when  fresh  from 
the  water,  it  is  impossible  to  describe.  This  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  speci- 
men of  the  Bonito  ever  taken  in  our  harbour.” 

I am  indebted  to  Dr.  Scouler  for  the  following  note  : — 

“ The  fish  concerning  which  you  inquire  was  the  Tliynnus  Pelamys.  It 
was  taken  somewhere  near  the  estuary  of  the  Clyde,  and  was  brought  to 
the  Glasgow  market,  where  it  was  supposed  to  be  an  enormous  mackerel. 
I purchased  the  specimen  for  the  Museum  of  the  Andersonian  Institution 
of  Glasgow,  where  it  still  is,  I have  no  doubt.  The  fish  could  not  be 
mistaken  for  the  Pelamys  sarda  ; even  colouring  is  sufficient  to  distin- 
guish the  species.  In  addition  to  the  specimen  here  alluded  to,  I may 
inform  you  that  there  is  one  in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society, 
which,  I have  every  reason  to  believe,  was  taken  off  the  coast  of  Ireland ; 
however,  be  that  as  it  may,  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  as  to  the 
authenticity  of  the  Glasgow  specimen,  which  is  clearly  the  Scomber  or 
Thynnus  Pelamys .” 

I subsequently  learned  from  Dr.  Ball  that  the  specimen  in  the  Dublin 
Society  collection  was  obtained  in  a fresh  state,  and  preserved  by  Mr. 
Wall,  a taxidermist  formerly  resident  in  Dublin. 

The  Sword-Fish,  Xiphias  gladius,  Linn.  ? 

Dr.  Ball  has  supplied  me  with  an  extract  from  a book  in  which  dona- 
tions to  the  Dublin  University  Museum  were  entered.  It  announces 
the  receipt  of  the  “ Sword-bone  of  the  Monoceros  or  Sword-fish,  together 
with  the  socket  of  the  eye  and  remains  of  an  animal  taken  out  of  its 
maw.  This  fish  was  taken  in  a net  on  the  coast  of  Wexford,  but  is  very 
seldom  known  to  visit  that  coast. 

“ Presented  by  Mr.  Carey  (Carew  ?),  1786  ? ” 

Dr.  Ball  is  of  opinion  that  this  note  applies  to  the  weapons,  &c.,  of  a 
Xiphias  in  the  Museum,  and  not  to  the  Sea  Unicorn,  Monodon  monoceros , 
Linn.,  which  might  also  possibly  occur  on  the  Irish  coast.  I have  been 
told,  but  not  with  sufficient  certainty  to  announce  it,  of  the  occurrence  of 
the  Xiphias  upon  another  occasion  on  the  southern  coast. 

Several  individuals  have  been  taken  on  the  coasts  of  Scotland  and 
England. 

The  Pilot-Fish,  Naucrates  Ductor,  Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Dr.  Harvey  thus  notices  the  pilot-fish,  in  his  Cork  Fauna,  (1843):— 

“ An  example  of  this  species  (now  first  introduced  into  the  catalogue  of  Irish 
fishes)  was  captured  about  two  years  since  at  Crookhaven,  in  the  West  of  this 
County,  and  sent  by  Mr.  Notter  to  Mr.  W.  T.  Jones  of  this  city.  It  is  pre- 
served, and  in  Mr.  Jones’s  possession.” 

This  is  the  only  record  known  to  me  of  the  occurrence  of  the  pilot-fish 
on  the  Irish  coast. 

The  Scad,  or  Horse-Mackerel,  Caranx  Trachurus,  Lacepede, 

Is  taken  around  the  coast,  but  in  much  greater  quantity  on  the  south- 
ern and  western  coasts,  than  on  the  northern  and  north-eastern.  It  is 
in  little  estimation  for  the  table,  and  is  consequently  sold  at  a very  low 
price. 


96 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


The  stomach  of  a specimen,  caught  with  mullet,  in  Belfast  Bay,  on 
14th  Aug.,  1845,  was  filled  with  young  clupece,  of  which  there  were 
several  inches  in  length.  Neither  milt  nor  roe  was  perceptible  in 
this  fish. 

I extract  the  following  from  Dr.  Ball’s  lecture  already  quoted  : — 

“ The  scad  or  horse-mackerel  is  very  abundant  on  the  southern  shores ; 
it  is  much  valued  by  the  poor,  and  is  caught  in  the  same  way  as  mackerel. 
I have  seen  the  scad  run  up  on  shore  in  considerable  numbers ; whether 
in  pursuit  of  young  sprat  called  Scad-bait , or  to  avoid  porpoises  ( Delphi - 
mis  phoccena),  which  were  conspicuous  in  the  rear,  I do  not  know.” 

Aug.  11,  ’37. — A specimen  of  this  fish,  which  I obtained  in  Belfast  mar- 
ket, was  as  follows Length,  17  inches;  77  or  78  plates  on  lateral  line, 
the  last  42  “ with  keels  terminating  backwards  in  sharp  points.” 

D.  8—1,30;  A.  2-1  27;  C.  18;  P.  21;  V.  15.  With  Mr.  Jenyns’s 
description  of  form  and  colour  it  agrees  in  all  details  but  those  above 
noted,  and  the  irides  being  silvery  instead  of  “ golden.”  The  throat  and 
under-part  of  the  jaw  are  black.  I was  uncertain  as  to  its  sex  : a speci- 
men obtained  by  Dr.  Ball  had  more  rays  in  D.  and  A.  fins  than  mention- 
ed by  Mr.  Jenyns. 

The  Dory,  Doree,  or  John  Dory,  Zeus  Faber,  Linn., 

Is  found  around  the  coast,  but  very  sparingly  in  some  localities.  Their 
numbers  increase  northwards,  and  I am  credibly  informed  that  about 
twenty  are  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Portrush  for  one  in  Belfast  Bay. 

From  early  Spring  until  late  in  Autumn  I have  occasionally  seen  speci- 
mens in  Belfast  market,  but  none  of  large  size  like  those  brought  to 
London.  A female,  which  I dissected  on  13th  May,  contained  pea  of 
very  small  size,  but  in  such  immense  quantity  as  to  show  that  this  must 
be  a very  prolific  fish. 

The  stomach  of  a dory  about  12  inches  in  length,  taken  near  Cultra 
(Belfast  Bay)  on  1st  July,  1848,  was  filled  with  the  remains  of  a young 
plaice ; another  obtained  in  the  month  of  October,  at  Carrickfergus,  con- 
tained portions  of  a full-grown  Gobius  minutus  and  of  a fish  apparently  of 
the  same  species ; in  a third  specimen,  which  I examined  in  the  month  of 
May,  I found  a sand-eel. 

The  Opah  or  King-Fish,  Lampris  Luna , Flem., 

— Guttatus,  Cuv.  and  Val., 
Has  been  obtained  in  a very  few  instances. 

The  first  of  which  I have  any  knowledge  was  noticed  in  Sampson’s 
Derry,  and  a figure  of  it  published.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
“ found  on  the  flat  shore  of  Magilligan,  alive;  probably  pursued  till  grounded. 
Through  the  indulgence  of  the  Dublin  Society,  the  reader  has  an  engraving  of 
this  beautiful  fish ; the  original  is  deposited  in  the  Society’s  rooms.”  P.  337. 

No  date  of  capture  is  given,  but  the  work  appeared  in  1802.  The  spe- 
cimen is  said  to  have  been 

“ 2 feet  long,  10  inches  broad  ; fins  scarlet ; upper  part  of  body  green  ; belly 
silver;  spots  bluish  white ; weight  about  14  lbs*” 

It  is  not  now  in  the  Society’s  collection. 

In  a letter  which  I received  from  Dr.  Burkitt,  of  Waterford,  in  April, 
1843,  that  gentleman  gave  me  the  following  information : — 

“ Oct.  27,  1842. — I obtained  a specimen  of  the  Opah  Doree  or  King- 
fish,  which  was  taken  near  Tramore.  I have  preserved  the  half  of  it. 


THE  RED  BAND-FISH. 


97 


Its  length  is  16  inches  ; breadth  exclusive  of  fins  9 inches ; fins,  upper, 
about  8 inches  ; under,  about  7.”  * 

This  specimen  was  exhibited  by  Dr.  Harvey  at  the  Cork  Meeting  of 
the  British  Association,  in  1843,  (see  Cork  Fauna,  p.  19,  note,)  and  is 
now  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum. 

In  June,  1849,  the  following  paragraph  appeared  in  The  Derry  Stand- 
ard : — 

“ A Rare  Fish. — The  Opah  Dorey. — A fish,  which  is  rarely  met  with  in  the 
Irish  Channel,  or  adjoining  the  Irish  coast,  was  caught  at  Innistrahull,  not  far 
from  the  light-house,  and  brought  to  the  fish-market  here,  on  Wednesday  last, 
which  excited  a good  deal  of  curiosity.  In  shape  it  bears  a strong  resemblance 
to  the  turbot,  but  still  more  solid,  weighing,  although  not  apparently  large  in  size, 
upwards  of  55  lbs.  The  fins,  which  are  placed  near  the  shoulder,  are  of  a 
blood-red  colour,  and  the  entire  skin  is  beautifully  variegated  with  spots  of  black, 
yellow,  red,  and  gold-coloured  .hues.  On  examination,  by  persons  versed  in 
natural  history,  it  was  found  to  belong  to  the  celebrated  * John  Dorey’  tribe; 
being,  in  fact,  one  of  the  Opah  Dorey  variety.  In  the  year  1835,  a fish  of  the 
same  rare  description  is  stated,  in  the  Ordnance  Survey,  to  have  been  caught 
in  the  Foyle.” 

A beautiful  specimen  of  this  fish  was  taken  at  Wexford,  in  August, 
1849 — weight  59  lbs. — Dr.  Ball. 

On  2nd  July,  1850,  an  Opah  was  seen  struggling  at  low  water  in  one  of 
the  gullets  of  Belfast  Bay,  off  Whitehouse,  at  2\  miles  from  town.  A 
little  boy,  who  observed  it,  succeeded  in  effecting  its  capture  by  putting 
his  handkerchief  round  its  gills.  This  specimen  is  now  in  the  Belfast 
Museum. 

“ A very  fine  specimen  was  captured  near  Skerries,  in  1851,  and  is  now  in  the 
University  Museum.” — R.  Ball. 

Family  T^NIOIDEI. 

The  Red  Band-fish  or  Red  Snake-fish,  Cepola  rubescens,  Linn., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  Southern  and  Western  coasts. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a letter  received  from  Dr.  Farran, 
dated  31st  August,  1850  : — “ I mentioned  the  occurrence  of  Cepola  rubes- 
cens to  you  in  this  locality.  The  specimen  I procured  was  thrown  ashore 
at  Stradbally,  in  this  County,  after  a heavy  gale,  in  Dec.,  1848.  The 
fishermen  state  that  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  its  habitat  lying  in  the 
forests  of  sea-weeds  which  grow  about  the  coast.” 

[We  have  been  informed  by  Dr.  Ball  that  several  specimens  of  this  fish, 
which  have  since  been  captured  by  Professor  Melville  on  the  Western 
coast,  are  now  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum. — Ed.] 

The  annexed  notes  on  the  Red  Band-fish  were  contributed  by  me  to 
the  Magazine  of  Nat.  Hist.,  new  series,  1838,  p.  214  : — 

“ A remarkably  fine  specimen  of  this  fish,  which,  as  British,  was,  until  last 
year,f  known  only  to  the  southern  shores  of  England,  was  found  on  the  beach 


* The  length  of  the  dorsal  and  ventral  fins  in  this  specimen  is  much  greater 
proportionately  than  in  any  figure  or  specimen  seen  by  Dr.  Ball. 

f When  the  above  was  written,  I had  overlooked  the  following  note,  which 
appeared  in  the  Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany,  for  June,  1837,  (vol.  ii.  p. 
93). — “ Cepola  rubescens,  Linn. — Dr.  P.  W.  Maclagan  informs  us,  that  he  has 
lately  procured  a specimen  of  this  fish,  which  was  caught  off  Dunure,  seven 
miles  south  of  Ayr,  on  a whiting- line,  baited  with  a mussel.  Its  length  is  15f 
inches.  The  fisherman  who  brought  it  had  seen  another  about  six  weeks  ago. 
—March  20th,  1837.” 

H 


98 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


near  Ballintrae,  on  the  coast  of  Ayrshire,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1837,  after  a 
severe  storm. 

“ It  was  taken  to  Dr.  Wylie,  of  the  village,  who,  on  learning  from  the  fishermen 
that  the  species  was  unknown  to  them,  most  liberally  transmitted  it  to  me.* 
In  consequence  of  its  size,  and  its  being  received  in  a perfectly  recent  state,  I 
here  transcribe  some  of  my  notes,  made  on  comparing  the  specimen  with  the 
descriptions  of  various  authors,  before  it  was  transferred  to  spirits. 

“ The  largest  English  Cepola  on  record,  is  described  by  Mr.  Couch  in  the  Lin- 
naean  Transactions  (vol.  xiv.  p.  76)  to  have  been  15  inches  in  length.  Cuvier 
and  Valenciennes  observe  (Hist,  des  Poiss.  t.  x.  p.  398)  that  their  specimens  were 
a foot  long ; but  add,  that  the  species  has  been  found  a foot  and  a half  in  length. 
The  present  specimen,  although  broken  off  near  the  tail,  is  19|  inches  long;  and 
as  the  body,  when  perfect,  tapers  to  a point,  and  that  of  the  individual  under 
consideration  is  2 lines  deep  at  the  fracture,  I should  consider,  judging  from  the 
gradual  diminution  of  its  depth  before  this  part,  that  it  must  have  been  from 
about  two  to  three  inches  longer.  The  depth  of  the  head  is  1 inch  and  \ a line ; 
the  greatest  depth  of  the  body  (just  behind  the  gill  covers)  is  11  lines,  or  If 
line  less  than  the  depth  of  the  head,  and  thence  it  tapers  gradually  towards  the 
tail.  Its  thickness  close  to  the  head  is  4|  lines,  at  the  centre  If  line,  and  at  the 
extremity  f a line.  Its  weight  is  scarcely  1 oz. 

“ The  species  has  been  generally  described  as  destitute  of  scales.  Mr.  Yarrell, 
however,  states,  that  a specimen  sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Couch,  * exhibits,  here  and 
there,  an  occasional  thin,  oval,  semi-transparent  scale.’ — (JSr.  F.  vol.  i.  p.  197.) 
It  is  remarked  by  Cuv.  and  Val. — ‘ Les  ecailles  de  la  Cepole  sont  extremement 
petites,  ovales,  lisses,  entieres,  insensibles  au  tact,  ne  s’imbriquent  point,  et 
se  presentent  a la  loupe  comme  autant  de  petits  pores  enfonces  et  disposes  en 
quinconce  serre ; ce  n’est  qu’en  raclent  la  peau,  qu’on  en  detache  et  qu’on  peut 
les  voir  separement : la  tete  et  les  nageoires  n’en  ont  aucunes.’  (t.  x.  p.  397.) 
My  specimen  entirely  coincides  with  this  description,  but  it  may  be  further  ob- 
served, that  its  scales  increase  gradually  in  size  from  the  head  towards  the  tail, 
and  that  in  approximating  the  latter  they  are  apparent  to  the  naked  eye ; 
from  being  more  sunk  in  the  skin,  in  addition  to  their  smaller  size,  they  are  not 
thus  visible  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  fish ; — with  a low  magnifying  power  the 
longitudinal  stria  of  the  scales  on  the  posterior  portion  are  conspicuous. 

“ The  Cepola  rubescens  and  C.  taenia  are  described  by  authors  who  hold  them 
to  be  distinct,  the  former  as  possessing  one,  and  the  latter  two,  rows  of  teeth 
in  the  lower  jaw.  Donovan  (British  Fishes,  No.  105)  and  Yarrell  f have  consi- 
dered that  this  difference  may  be  owing  to  the  age  or  size  of  the  individual. 
Risso  in  his  Histoire,  (ed.  1826,  tome  iii.  p.  294,)  in  which  the  C.  rubescens  and 
C.  taenia  are  brought  together,  though  in  his  Ichthyologie  they  were  regarded 
as  distinct,  attributes  14  teeth  to  the  upper  and  16  to  the  lower  jaw.  Cuvier 
and  Valenciennes  enumerate  17  or  18  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw,  and 
10  on  each  side  of  the  under,  behind  which  2 appear,  and  add  that  they  vary  a 
little  in  individuals.  My  specimen,  considerably  exceeding  in  magnitude  the 
Cepolce  examined  by  these  authors,  exhibits  41  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  (cavities 
denote  that  many  are  wanting)  and  25  in  the  lower,  of  which  latter  17  are  in  a 
tolerably  regular  row,  inside  of  which  is  1 tooth,  and  outside  it  7,  which  are 
equal  in  length  to  the  largest  in  the  row,  but  not  so  much  hooked.  The  tongue 
is  smooth. 

“ The  lateral  line  is  apparent  only  on  close  examination,  being  a mere  faint-co- 

* This  specimen  afforded  an  illustration  of  the  correct  application  of  Tceni- 
oidei , or  “ Poissons  en  ruban,”  to  the  family  in  which  it  ranks,  in  a point  of  view 
that,  in  all  probability,  was  overlooked  by  Cuvier.  Although  I9f  inches  long,  it 
was  folded  up  like  a riband,  and  forwarded  through  the  post  office,  under  cover 
of  a franked  letter  of  ordinary  size  and  legal  weight. 

f In  a specimen  7f  inches  long,  this  author  found  one  tooth  in  the  line  of  the 
second  row;  and  in  an  individual  13  inches  in  length,  six  teeth  constituted  this 
row. — British  Fishes , vol.  i.  p.  197. 


THE  RED  BAND-FISH. 


99 


loured  line,  sloping  downwards  for  a short  distance  from  its  origin,  and  thence 
extending  in  a straight  direction  towards  the  tail,  about  equidistant  from  the 
dorsal  and  ventral  profile.  From  the  upper  point  of  the  pre-operculum , a row  of 
bone-like  processes  slopes  upwards  to  the  base  of  the  dorsal  fin,  and  thence  con- 
tinues throughout  the  entire  length  of  the  fish,  giving  it  a carinated  appearance  ; 
along  the  base  of  the  anal  fin  a similar  carination  extends. 

“ In  the  dorsal  fin  the  three  first  rays  only  are  inarticulated  and  simple,  but 
they  are  as  flexible  as  the  rest ; the  fourth  ray,  and  those  which  follow,  are  both 
articulated  and  branched.  All  the  rays  of  the  anal  fin  are  articulated  : the  first 
is  simple ; the  second  and  succeeding  ones  are  branched.  The  fin-rays  are  in 
number — D.  71;  A.  63;  P.  17;  Y.  1+5.* — Branch,  mem.  6 rays. 

“ The  upper  portion  of  the  head  and  body  is  a deep  rose  colour,  shading  gra- 
dually downwards  to  a paler  hue  ; posterior  part  of  the  body  of  a uniform  deep 
rose  colour ; base  of  the  lower  jaw  carmine ; space  before  and  above  the  ven- 
trals  and  pre-operculum  bright  silver ; irides  silvery,  tinged  with  rose  colour, 
pupils  bluish  black ; membrane  uniting  the  outer  extremity  of  the  inter-maxil- 
lary with  the  maxillary,  dusky,  or  clouded  with  black,  which  latter  colour  it  is 
described  to  be  by  Cuv.  and  Yal.  The  extreme  anterior  portion  of  the  dorsal 
and  anal  fins  dark  and  pale  rose  colour,  irregularly  disposed,  and  bordered  with 
a narrow  line  of  reddish  lilac,  which  gradually  increases  in  breadth  posteriorly, 
forming  a beautiful  termination  to  the  greater  portion  of  these  fins ; in  both  the 
anal  and  dorsal,  the  rays  are  of  a deep  carmine  hue,  the  connecting  membrane  is 
either  generally  of  an  orange  yellow,  or  reddish  lilac,  at  the  base,  the  centre 
carmine,  and  the  border  reddish  lilac,  which  colour  is  separated  from  the  orange 
yellow  by  a narrow  line  of  deep  carmine.  The  pectorals  have  a slight  tinge  of 
deep  rose  colour ; the  ventrals  are  pure  white.  There  is  not  the  least  indica- 
tion of  any  transverse  bands,  as  are  figured  by  Montagu  f (Linn.  Trans,  vol.  vii. 
pi.  17)  and  described  by  Risso.  The  latter  author  mentions  a reddish  spot  at 
the  origin  of  the  dorsal  fin.  At  If  inch  from  the  commencement  of  this  fin  in  the 
present  specimen,  a somewhat  oval  spot,  of  a deeper  red  than  the  surrounding 
parts,  originates,  and  extends  for  the  space  of  half  an  inch. 

“The  term  ‘Riband  Fish’  applies  equally  well  to  the  colour  as  to  the  form  of 
this  Cepola  ; as  the  much  darker  hue  imparted  by  the  carmine-coloured  rays  of 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  when  lying  close  to  the  rose-coloured  body — through- 
out the  entire  length  of  which  they  are  continued — gives  it  strikingly  the  appear- 
ance of  a bordered  riband ; and  may,  indeed,  when  so  viewed,  have  suggested 
the  trivial  name  of  marginata , to  what  was  considered  a distinct  species  : vide 
Cuv.  and  Yal.  t.  x.  p.  392. 

“ The  C.  lamia,  as  described  by  Bloch,  chiefly  differs  from  the  C.  rubescens  in 
the  carination  at  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins ; in  having  two  rows  of  teeth 
in  the  lower  jaw,  instead  of  one  ; in  having  the  tongue  rough,  rather  than 
smooth;  in  wanting  the  silvery  bands  of  C.  rubescens ; and  in  having  many  red 
spots  on  the  sides.  Of  these  characters,  two  are  present,  and  three  wanting,  in 
this  specimen.  It  has  the  double  row  of  teeth,  and  a single  inner  tooth  in  ad- 
dition, suggesting  the  idea  of  a third  row ; and  likewise  the  carination  on  either 
side  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.  Not  only  the  transverse  bands,  but 
the  spots  also,  are  absent.  The  difference  between  the  smoothness  and  rough- 
ness of  the  tongue  might,  I conceive,  arise  from  the  mode  of  preservation,  for,  if 


* The  ordinary  number  of  rays  thus  appearing  in  the  D.  and  A.  fins  (70  being 
commonly  attributed  to  the  former,  and  from  60  to  63  to  the  latter — Donovan 
describing  69  in  the  A.  fin  of  his  specimen,  which  was  1 1 inches  in  length)  may 
seem  against  the  presumption  that  the  specimen  was  from  two  to  three  inches 
longer  than  at  present,  as  the  depth  of  the  broken  extremity  denotes  ; but  in 
the  fins  of  fishes  generally,  having  many  rays,  I have  found  the  number  to  differ 
very  much  in  individuals  of  the  same  species. 

t The  two  coloured  figures  of  English  specimens  (Montagu’s  and  Donovan’s), 
in  which  these  fins  are  expanded,  give  no  idea  of  this  marginated  appearance, 
nor,  indeed,  from  the  same  reason,  do  any  figures  I have  seen. 

h 2 


100 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


originally  smooth,  the  tongue  would  probably  continue  so,  were  the  specimen 
preserved  in  spirits,  although,  were  it  preserved  dry,  this  organ  might  become 
rough.  In  the  number  of  rays  in  the  branchiostegous  membrane  and  in  the  fins 
there  is  a general  agreement  between  Bloch’s  C.  tcenia  and  the  specimen  under 
consideration.  The  C.  tcenia  is  described  to  have  in  Branc.  memb.  6;  P.  15  ; V. 
6;  A.  63;  C.  10;  D.  66. 

“ It  seems  unnecessary  to  extend  the  description  any  further,  or  to  those  cha- 
racters on  which  authors  are  agreed.  In  the  10th  volume  of  the  Histoire 
Naturelle  des  Poissons,  of  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  which  did  not  appear  in 
time  to  be  quoted  in  the  excellent  volumes  of  Mr.  Yarrell  (Brit.  Fishes),  and 
Mr.  Jenyns  (Man.  Brit.  Vert.),  the  C.  rubescens  is  treated  of  in  the  usual  full 
and  complete  manner  characteristic  of  that  great  work.  The  subject  occupies 
thirteen  pages,  in  which  the  C.  rubescens  is  set  forth  as  the  only  species  of  its 
genus  yet  discovered  in  the  European  seas,  the  C.  tcenia , C.  marginata,  &c., 
being  rejected  as  species.  I have,  nevertheless,  thought  it  might  not  be  useless 
to  describe  the  present  individual,  so  far  as  I have  done,  in  consequence  of  its 
superior  size  to  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes’  specimens,  and  which  did  not  come 
under  their  observation  in  a recent  state. 

“ Of  four  Mediterranean  specimens  (preserved  in  spirits)  of  C.  rubescens 
which  I have  examined,  and  which  were  obtained  at  the  Ionian  Islands,  by  Ro- 
bert Templeton,  Esq.,  of  the  Royal  Artillery,  and  presented,  along  with  many 
other  fish  from  the  same  locality,  to  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Belfast,  one 
is  6 inches,  and  the  other  three  from  9 to  10  inches  in  length.  The  smallest  is 
very  considerably  compressed,  quite  as  much  so  as  the  largest,  although  an  indivi- 
dual of  about  equal  size,  described  by  Mr.  Couch  (Linn.  Trans,  vol.  xiv.  p. 
76),  was  nearly  round,  from  which  some  authors  have  inferred  that  this  is  the 
general  form  of  the  species  in  a young  state.  In  the  two  larger  individuals, 
which  are  in  better  preservation  than  the  others,  the  series  of  bone-like  pro- 
cesses appear  on  the  dorsal  ridge,  and  also  on  the  ventral,  though  less  conspicu- 
ously. In  all,  the  tongue  is  smooth.  In  none  of  them  are  there  any  teeth, 
either  inside  or  outside  the  row  on  the  lower  jaw,  and  in  both  jaws  the  teeth 
are  much  fewer  in  number  than  in  the  large  specimen  which  is  the  subject  of 
this  communication.” 

Family  Mugilid^e. 

The  Thick-lipped  Grey  Mullet,  Mugil  Chelo,  Cuv., 

Frequents  the  East  coast,  from  North  to  South,  but  whether  or  not  it  is 
the  mullet  found  around  the  island  I have  not  had  the  means  of  judg- 
ing. All  of  those  which  I have  critically  examined  from  the  North-East 
coast,  from  Dublin,  and  from  Cork,  were  of  this  species. 

The  following  notes  were  communicated  by  me,  in  1838,  to  the  Annals 
of  Nat.  Hist.  (vol.  i.  p.  350) : — 

“ On  endeavouring,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  to  identify  the  common  mullet  of 
Ireland  with  Cuvier’s  species  in  the  Regne  Animal,  I perceived  its  agree- 
ment with  the  few  characters  there  attributed  to  M.  Chelo , but  before  record- 
ing it  as  this  species,  awaiting  a comparison  with  a more  detailed  description. 
This  has  since  been  afforded  me  in  the  Histoire  des  Poissons  of  the  same 
illustrious  author;  and,  together  with  the  accompanying  figure  illustrative  of 
the  head  of  M.  Chelo , confirms,  beyond  a doubt,  the  identity  of  the  species. 

“ In  the  justly  valued  works  of  Yarrell  * and  Jenyns, f Mr.  Couch  is  mention- 
ed as  the  only  naturalist  who  has  noticed  the  appearance  of  the  M.  Chelo  on  the 
British  coast ; but  in  a review  of  the  British  Fishes  in  the  Magazine  of  Zoology 
and  Botany,  it  is  remarked,  £ the  thick-lipped  grey  mullet,  reckoned  so  rare 
by  Mr.  Yarrell,  as  to  have  been  seen  only  once  by  Mr.  Couch,  is  the  common 


History  of  British  Fishes.  f Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals. 


THE  THICK-LIPPED  GREY  MULLET. 


101 


species  on  the  eastern  shores  of  Scotland,  where  we  believe  his  grey  mullet  is 
not  known  at  all,  or  is  at  least  far  from  common.  At  the  mouths  of  rivers  the 
former  is  taken  in  considerable  numbers  in  autumn.’  Yol.  i.  p.  390.  Every 
mullet  that  I have  had  the  means  of  examining  at  Belfast,  since  first  giving  at- 
tention to  them  in  March,  1835,  was  of  this  species,  as  were  likewise  the  only 
two  individuals  that  I have  seen  from  the  southern  cqast  of  Ireland.  These  are 
in  the  collection  of  Dr.  It.  Ball,  of  Dublin,  and  were  taken  at  Youghal  in  the 
County  of  Cork. 

“As  information  on  the  history  of  this  species,  at  least  as  distinguished  from 
others,  is  very  scanty  in  all  the  British  and  continental  works  I have  had  the  op- 
portunity of  consulting,  I have  thought  proper  to  enter  into  the  following  detail. 

“ Notwithstanding  the  great  increase  of  shipping  of  late  years  at  Belfast,  the 
mullet  is  as  plentiful  in  the  bay  as  it  was  ever  known  to  be  by  the  few  persons 
engaged  in  its  capture.  By  much  the  greater  number  are  taken  here  in  trammel 
or  set-nets,  but  at  low  water  the  sweep  or  draught-net  is  used  in  the  gullets,* 
and  also,  in  addition  to  the  former  kind,  is  employed  in  fishing  for  them  within 
the  flow  of  the  tide  in  the  river  Lagan.  They  are  generally  sought  for  from 
about  the  middle  of  March  until  the  beginning  of  October,  and  are  occasionally 
taken  before  and  after  these  periods.  They  probably  never  migrate  far,  as  in 
two  different  years,  in  the  month  of  January,  dead  individuals  were  washed 
ashore  in  the  bay.  The  fishers  are,  for  their  own  sake,  entirely  guided  by  the 
weather,  which  must  be  moderate,  it  being  by  night  that  the  mullet  is  taken  in 
the  greatest  numbers,  as,  by  reason  of  the  darkness,  they  cannot,  by  leaping  over 
it,  so  well  avoid  the  fatal  net,  though  even  then  they  occasionally  so  escape.  In 
clear  moonlight,  and  by  day,  fish  of  every  size  often  clear  the  net,  sometimes 
springing  five  and  six  feet  over  it,  and  when  one  has  set  the  example,  nearly  all 
are  sure  to  follow  it ; having  surmounted  the  meshy  barrier,  they  sometimes 
take  two  or  three  additional  leaps,  and  skim  the  surface  beautifully  before  again 
subsiding  beneath  it.  In  the  stillness  of  the  night  it  is  said  that  by  leaping  and 
plunging  about  they  make  the  water  seem  quite  alive.  In  the  bright  sunny 
days  of  summer,  which  they  evidently  much  enjoy,  a w'hole  shoal  of  mullet 
occasionally  exhibit  their  dorsal  fins  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  when 
there  are  neither  nets  nor  other  objects  to  obstruct  them,  may,  in  playfulness, 
be  seen  springing  a few  feet  into  the  air.  This  generally  occurs  at  high  water, 
when  they  appear  to  be  more  intent  on  roving  about  than  feeding,  and  pene- 
trate as  far  up  the  river  as  the  tidal  wave  will  bear  them  ; at  such  times  they 
have  frequently  been  captured  in  May’s  dock,  within  the  town  of  Belfast. 

“ Of  their  time  of  spawning  I cannot  speak  with  certainty,  nor  have  any  indi- 
viduals that  came  under  my  observation  from  March  to  September  been  in  the 
least  degree  spent  by  it,  all  being  firm  and  well-formed  fish.  When,  on  the  3rd 
of  January,  1835,  in  search  of  marine  productions  outside  the  entrance  to 
Strangford  Lough,  County  Down,  and  accompanied  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  a spe- 
cimen of  this  mullet,  under  2 inches  in  length,  was  captured,  and  in  the  middle 
of  September  I have  seen  others  of  9 inches  in  length. 

“ They  are  chiefly  found  in  the  most  oozy  parts  of  the  bay,  and  where  the  grass- 
wrack  ( Zostera  marina ) is  abundant.  In  search  of  food  they  make  consider- 
able excavations,  which  the  fishers  distinguish  by  the  name  of  mullet-holes. f 
******** 

“ The  species  of  fish  frequenting  the  coasts  of  Down'and  Antrim  may  be  stated, 
in  general  terms,  commonly  to  attain  the  extreme  size  with  their  kindred  in  the 
Mediterranean,  and  the  M.  Chelo  proves  not  an  exception,  as  specimens  taken 


* These  are  narrow  and  often  deep  channels  of  water  intersecting  the  banks 
over  which  the  tide  flows.  In  using  the  draught-net  here,  the  smaller  fish  in 
leaping  over  it  sometimes  alight  on  the  banks — at  this  time  dry — to  their  de- 
struction. 

f Pennant  observes,  that  the  grey  mullet  “ keep  rooting  like  hogs  in  the  sand 
or  mud,  leaving  their  traces  in  form  of  large  round  holes.” — Brit . Zool, , vol,  iii, 
p.  437,  ed.  1812. 


102 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


in  Belfast  Bay  have  considerably  exceeded  in  this  respect  any  of  those  I find 
recorded  to  have  been  obtained  in  more  southern  seas.*  The  ordinary  weight 
is  from  2~  to  5 lbs. ; the  largest  procured  by  the  respective  mullet-fishers  (all 
intelligent  men  of  other  occupations,  and  who  pursue  this  chiefly  as  a pastime) 
have  varied  from  8 to  12|  lbs.  The  heaviest  of  which  I have  heard,  was  taken 
in  the  day-time,  by  my  relative,  Richard  Langtry,  Esq.,  and,  being  accurately 
weighed,  proved  to  be  14|  lbs. ; this  gentleman  has  likewise  captured  several  of 
9 and  one  of  10  lbs.  weight. 

“ I shall  here  condense  a series'of  observations  made  on  this  species  at  Belfast 
during  the  last  three  years.  It  will  be  seen  that  it  is  not  obtained  in  any  great 
quantity.  On  the  25th  of  March,  1835,  about  sixty  individuals  taken  in  the 
bay,  and  the  first  this  season,  were  brought  to  market,  where  nearly  all  of  them 
were  alive  when  I saw  them,  though  none  had  been  less  than  three  hours  out 
of  the  water;  they  were  from  16  to  20  inches  in  length.  On  the  27th  and 
28th  larger  fish  were  captured ; several  of  equal  length — 2 feet — that  I had 
weighed,  were  5f,  6,  6§,  7,  and  8 lbs.,  thus  showing  that  the  weight  is  rather  a 
consequence  of  depth  than  length;  all  were  equally  firm  and  solid.  About  the 
1st  of  May  this  year  the  greatest  number  occurred ; in  one  net  7 cwt.  were 
procured  at  a single  draught,  and  on  the  same  night  about  9 cwt.  by  another 
boat.  They  were  sold  at  4 d.  per  pound  to  the  fish-venders  in  the  market,  and 
retailed  at  6 d. ; at  these  rates  they  have  been  throughout  the  season.  The  best 
fish  brought  in  by  the  one  boat  weighed  7 lbs.^by  the  other  11  lbs.  12  oz.,  being 
the  largest  example  obtained  this  year. 

“In  1836  the  first  mullet  were  taken  on  the  18th  of  March.  The  greatest 
quantity  obtained  any  night  during  this  year  was  on  the  11th  of  April,  when  2 
cwt.  was  procured  by  one  boat,  and  at  the  same  time  upwards  of  2|  cwt.  by 
another.  On  the  13th  of  May  many  fine  fish  were  taken ; one  which  I weighed 
was  8Jj  lbs.,  and  several  more,  judging  from  appearance,  were  not  less;  these 
were  about  2 feet  long,  and  some  individuals,  apparently  not  heavier,  were  some- 
what above  this  length.  On  the  12th  of  August  a quantity  was  taken.  On  Sep- 
tember the  13th  I saw  a few  specimens  about  9 inches  long,  on  the  16th  many 
of  ordinary  size,  and  on  the  22nd  several  about  a foot  in  length.  With  reference 
to  the  small  fish,  it  must  be  remarked,  that  individuals  of  herring-size  form  part 
of  the  shoals  in  spring,  but  in  the  set-nets  used  at  that  period  none  under  2 lbs. 
are  ‘ meshed.’  The  smaller  ones  are  all  taken  in  draught-nets,  employed  at  a 
later  period  of  the  year.  The  largest  fish  obtained  this  season  weighed  12f  lbs. 
They  were  sold  regularly  at  the  same  prices,  wholesale  and  retail,  as  in  1835. 

“ Towards  the  end  of  July,  1837, 1 on  different  occasions  saw  specimens  about 
a foot  in  length,  which  were  taken  in  the  river  Lagan,  and  with  them  young 
herrings  (C.  Harengus),  from  4 to  5 inches  long,  were  captured.  The  greatest 
quantity  of  mullet  secured  this  year  at  one  draught  was  ninety-two  fish,  weigh- 
ing 3 cwt. ; they  were  obtained  on  the  10th  of  August.  Until  the  22nd  of  Sep- 
tember mullet  were  brought  to  market,  and  on  this  occasion  in  large  quantity. 
The  best  fish  of  1837  was  about  10  lbs.  weight.  During  these  three  years  the 
largest  captures  were  all  made  about  Garmoyle,  a deep  portion  of  the  bay, 
about  three  miles  from  town.  This  fish  is  sought  for  ;only  with  nets.  An  ac- 
quaintance out  eel-spearing  in  the  bay,  once  struck  and  secured  with  his  spear  a 
mullet  of  5 lbs.  weight,  as  it  was  swimming  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 

“ With  reference  to  European  mullets  generally,  it  is  remarked  in  the  Hist,  des 
Poiss.  of  Cuv.  and  Yal. : { Les  anciens,  qui  donnaient  a tout  une  couleur  poe- 
tique,  ont  en  consequence  fait  du  muge  le  plus  innocent,  le  plus  juste,  des  pois- 
sons  ; tout  auplus  mangerait  il  ceux  qu’il  trouverait  morts,’  t.  xi.  p.  77.  Mr. 
Couch,  apparently  from  his  own  observation,  says  of  the  M.  Capito,  £ it  is  in- 
deed the  only  fish  of  which  I am  able  to  express  my  belief  that  it  usually  selects 
for  food  nothing  that  has  life.’ — Yarr.  Brit.  Fish.  vol.  i.  p.  204.  With  the  M. 


* Risso  states  that  they  attain  the  weight  of  8 lbs.  Cuv.  and  Yal.,  judging 
from  the  size  of  the  head,  as  represented  in  a collection  of  Spanish  engravings, 
consider  that  the  M.  Chelo  may  attain  two  feet  in  length,  t.  xi.  p.  51. 


THE  THICK-LIPPED  GREY  MULLET. 


103 


Chelo  it  is,  however,  far  otherwise,  as  the  contents  of  the  stomachs  I have  ex- 
amined at  various  seasons,  presented,  from  the  minute  size  of  the  objects,  many 
hundred-fold  greater  destruction  of  animal  life  than  I have  ever  witnessed  on  a 
similar  inspection  of  the  food  of  any  bird  or  fish.  From  a single  stomach  I 
have  obtained  what  would  fill  a large-sized  breakfast  cup  of  the  following 
species  of  bivalve  and  univalve  mollusca  (which  had  been  taken  alive) — My- 
tilus  edulis,  Modiola  Papuana  (of  these  very  small  individuals),  Kellia  rubra , 
Skenea  depressa,  Littorina  return,  Rissoa  labiosa  and  R.  parva,  Serpulce 
and  Miliolce.  Of  these  mollusca,  specimens  of  Rissoa  labiosa , three  lines  in 
length,  were  the  largest,  and  the  Kellia  rubra , from  the  smallest  size  to  its 
maximum  of  little  more  than  a line  diameter,  the  most  abundant.  In  the  pro- 
fusion of  specimens  it  affords,  the  stomach  of  one  of  these  mullets  is  quite  a 
store-house  to  a conchologist.  In  addition  to  these  were  various  species  of  mi- 
nute Crustacea.  The  only  inanimate  matter  that  appeared,  were  fragments  of 
Zostera  marina  and  Confervce,  which  were  probably  taken  into  the  stomach  on 
account  of  the  adhering  mollusca.  To  this  nutricious  food  may  perhaps  be  at- 
tributed the  gi'eat  size  this  fish  attains  in  Belfast  Bay. 

“ In  the  Rbgne  Animal  (t.  ii.  p.  232,  2nd  ed.),  Pennant’s  figure  of  the  grey  mul- 
let in  his  British  Zoology  is  referred  to  as  M.  Capito,  but  in  the  Hist,  des  Poiss. 
of  Cuv.  and  Val.  (t.  xi.  p.  66)  it  is  believed  to  represent  M.  Chelo.  In  this  last 
work  Donovan’s  figure  of  the  mullet  (Brit.  Fish.  pi.  15)  is  considered  a very 
good  representation  of  M.  Chelo.  With  this  opinion  I fully  coincide,  although 
Yarrell  and  Jenyns  refer  to  both  figures  as  M.  Capito .*  The  descriptions  of 
Pennant  and  Donovan  throw  no  light  upon  the  subject,  nor  are  we  informed 
whence  the  specimens  were  obtained  that  served  for  their  illustrations.  Pen- 
nant’s figure  exhibits  the  longitudinal  lines  reaching  about  as  far  as  they  ge- 
nerally do  in  M.  Chelo ; but  Donovan,  on  the  other  hand,  portrays  them  as  ex- 
tending to  the  ventral  profile  ; in  the  more  important  characters,  however,  of  the 
form  of  the  operculum  and  mouth,  his  figure  represents  this  species.  I may 
add,  that  its  greater  than  ordinary  depth,  which  induced  Mr.  Yarrell  to  remark 
that  the  proportions  of  Donovan’s  grey  mullet  approach  ‘ more  closely  to  those 
of  M.  curtus  than  to  those  of  the  common  grey  mullet  of  this  country,’  (Brit. 
Fish.  vol.  i.  p.  211,)  seems  not  to  me,  from  the  great  diversity  of  depth  in  dif- 
ferent individuals,  to  militate  against  its  being  the  M.  Chelo. 

“ The  following  is  a description  of  a specimen  examined  on  the  21st  of  July. 
Total  length, *22  inches  ; greatest  depth,  5f  in.;  thickness,  3f  in.  ; weight  5 lbs. 
D.  4 — 1 | 8 ; A.  2 | 9 ; P.  17  ; Y.  1 | 5 ; C.  14. — Br.  6.  In  form  it  well  agrees 
with  the  detailed  description  of  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  xi.  p.  51,  et  seq. f The  colour 
of  the  back  is,  as  there  described,  of  a fine  steel  blue  ; thence  it  becomes  gra- 
dually lighter  towards  the  under  surface,  which  is  pure  opaque  white,  glossed 
with  silver ; a blackish  line  extends  throughout  the  centre  of  the  first  ten  rows 
of  scales,  ending  with  the  row  beneath  the  base  of  the  P.  fin,  and  giving  to  the 
fish  its  lineated  appearance.  Entire  top  of  the  head  and  upper  lip  greyish  black  ; 
sides  of  the  head  just  behind  the  eyes  deep  gold  colour ; lower  part  of  the  head 
or  base  of  the  opercula  pure  white ; irides  purplish  black ; outer  base  of  P.  fin, 
and  the  body  above  and  below  it,  tinged  with  gold;  remainder  of  the  P.,  the  D., 
C.,  and  A.  fins  greyish  black,  the  last  becoming  lighter  posteriorly.  Y.  fins  white, 
tinged  with  very  pale  flesh  colour. 

“ This  specimen  accords  with  the  description  extracted  by  Mr.  Yarrell  from  the 
Fauna  Italica,  with  one  exception — ‘ the  rays  of  the  spiny  D.  fin  [are  there 
stated  to  be]  longer  than  half  the  depth  of  the  body  ’—(vol.  i.  p.  208).  In  this 
individual  they  are  only  ^ of  its  depth.  In  another  specimen  20  inches  long,  the 
1st  and  2nd  D.  rays  are  equal,  and  If  inch  long,  the  depth  of  the  fish  being 
about  5 inches.  In  an  individual  of  11  inches  the  2nd  D.  ray  is  equal  to  one- 


* Mr.  Yarrell  has  taken  it  for  granted  that  the  Irish  mullet  is  of  this  species, 
vol.  i.  p.  202. 

f The  scales  generally  agree  in  every  particular  with  the  description  at  p.  52, 
but  some  do  not  either  in  proportion  or  sculpture. 


104 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


half  the  depth,  and  in  one  of  10  inches  is  as  1 to  2|.  Owing  to  [the  species 
varying  very  considerably  in  depth,  as  elsewhere  shown,  this  must  necessarily 
be  a very  uncertain  character.” 

Although  the  period  stated  (from  the  middle  of  March  to  the  begin- 
ning of  October)  is  the  usual  time  of  capture  in  Belfast  Bay,  I have  occa- 
sionally seen  this  fish  in  the  market  here  in  every  month  of  the  year. 
During  the  winter  season,  they  have  been  brought  in  fine  condition  from 
Cushendall  and  Glenarm  with  salmon,  of  which  a very  few  are  there  taken 
in  the  sea. 

Food  of  the  Mullet. — The  stomachs  of  a few  mullets  from  Portaferry, 
opened  by  Dr.  Drummond,  4th  August,  1838,  were  filled  with  minute 
larvae,  of  which  he  informs  me  some  were  alive. 

23rd  October,  1838. — The  stomachs  and  intestines  of  six  mullets  from 
Donaghadee,  were  filled  with  a minute  Asperococcus,  like  A.pusillis.  Some 
small  pieces  of  other  Algae  occurred,  as  one  specimen  of  JEnteromorpha 
compressa  will  show.  That  with  the  Asperococcus  I have  preserved  on  glass. 

Larvae  from  stomach  of  mullet  taken  at  Portaferry,  were  2 and  2^  lines 
long;  12  joints  in  body;  head  brown  ; body  colourless,  except  centre, 
which  is  dark. 

Of  four  specimens  obtained  at  Donaghadee  on  11th  Oct.,  1838,  one 
contained  ova,  which,  though  minute,  were  apparent  to  the  naked  eye  ; 
another  showed  them  hardly  developed,  and  milt  apparent  to  the  unas- 
sisted eye  was  in  one  of  the  males.  The  stomachs  of  two  were  empty  ; 
those  of  the  other  two  filled  entirely  with  a minute  Asperococcus  apparent 
to  the  naked  eye.  I got  Dr.  Drummond  to  put  some  of  it  under  his  micro- 
scope, which  proved  the  plant  to  be  of  this  genus ; the  size  of  specimens 
was  generally  about  half  an  inch  in  length.  The  lineated  appearance  ex- 
tended in  these  fish  to  the  ventral  profile,  as  Donovan  represents. 

A.  H.  Haliday,  Esq.,  after  examining,  at  my  request,  a number  of  larvae 
taken  from  the  stomach  of  a mullet  in  the  month  of  November,  favoured 
me  with  the  following  remarks  : — 

“ I have  examined  the  larvae  found  in  the  mullet’s  stomach.  They 
seem  to  be  all  of  one  sort,  but  from  the  difference  of  size  are  evidently  in 
various  stages  of  growth,  and  perhaps  none  of  them  full  grown.  The 
multitudes  of  them  found  favour  the  conclusion,  of  which  I have  scarcely 
a doubt  from  their  form,  that  they  belong  to  some  species  of  the  genus 
Chironomus,  several  of  which  occur  in  the  greatest  profusion  on  our  sea- 
coasts.  On  comparison  with  the  larvae  of  Ch.  plumosus,  L.  (the  common 
red  worm  of  ditches)  the  chief  difference  is  in  the  form  of  the  posterior 
extremity  as  follows  : in  place  of  two  long  and  divaricated  branches  of  the 
last  segment  with  four  shorter-pointed  processes  between  them  in  pairs 
and  the  spiracles  above  their  origifi,  prolonged  into  two  slender  tapering 
tubes,  crowned  with  a whorl  of  fine  hairs  (in  Ch.  plumosus ),  I observe 
in  these  only  a single  cylindric  false  leg  inclined  downwards  with  a wart 
at  its  base  on  each  side,  including  the  spiracle : but  this  difference  is  no 
more  than  we  may  admit  as  specific,  since  we  know  the  terrestrial  larvae 
of  other  species  of  this  genus  to  be  totally  deprived  of  these  appendages 
of  the  posterior  extremity.  The  larvae  of  the  other  genera  in  this  family 
( Chironomidcc ),  even  those  of  Ceratopogon,  which  are  least  remote,  are 
more  complex  in  their  external  structure  : and  among  those  of  the  rer 
maining  Nemocera,  destitute  of  lateral  spiracles,  I know  none  which  have 
much  resemblance  to  these. 

“ The  larvae  in  the  families  Bibionidce,  Scutopsidcc , Myretophilidce,  and 
Cecidomidce  having  the  lateral  spiracles,  are  out  of  the  question.” 


THE  THICK-LIPPED  GREY  MULLET. 


105 


On  19th  Sept.,  1843,  great  numbers  of  mullet  were  seen  in  Dunbar’s 
dock,  Belfast,  where  through  previous  summers  they  were  frequently  ob- 
served. They  were  described  to  me  by  an  eye-witness  as  feeding  about 
the  ships’  bottoms,  especially  those  which  had  been  long  in  dock  or  had 
“ weeds  growing  on  them.”  About  the  middle  of  July  last  my  informant 
saw  about  forty  mullet  enjoying  themselves  by  drinking  in  from  a stream 
of  fresh  water  as  it  joined  the  sea  water  of  the  bay. 

In  Sept.,  1851,  considerable  numbers  of  mullet  were  observed  at  the 
quays  at  Belfast,  close  to  where  the  principal  town  sewers  are  discharged. 
They  were  supposed  to  be  feeding  on  the  contents  of  the  latter. 

My  friend,  Mr.  B,.  Patterson,  has  favoured  me  with  the  following 
note : — 

“I  have  been  informed  by  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Thompson,  Gardenhill,  near 
this  town  (Belfast),  that  in  order  to  induce  the  mullet  to  enter  the  nar- 
row inlets  or  ‘ guts  ’ where  the  nets  are  usually  placed,  it  is  customary 
to  spread  cow-dung  at  or  close  to  the  water’s  edge  as  an  attractive  food, 
which  the  fish  will  greedily  devour.  The  mullet  enters  with  the  flow  of 
the  tide,  and  with  the  ebb  of  the  water  seeks  again  to  retire.  As  soon  as 
it  finds  its  progress  arrested  by  the  net,  it  retreats  a few  feet,  and  then, 
‘ with  one  brave  bound,’  clears  the  unexpected  obstacle.  This  proceed- 
ing is  so  well  known  by  the  fishermen,  that  in  order  to  obviate  its  effects 
they  take  the  precaution  of  placing  a second  net  a few  feet  apart  from 
the  first-mentioned  one ; and  in  this  the  mullet  are  found,  their  noses 
sticking  in  the  meshes.  Mr.  Thompson  does  not  give  these  particulars  as 
matters  of  which  he  himself  has  been  actually  cognizant,  but  as  details 
stated  to  him  by  an  old  mullet  fisher  since  deceased,  and  who  could  have 
had  no  motive  for  giving  erroneous  information.  The  matter  might  be 
worth  inquiring  into. 

“ Mr.  T.  further  states  that  mullet  have  frequently  been  taken  under 
May’s  bridge,  coming  from  May’s  dock,  which  from  the  number  of 
sewers  which  are  there  discharged,  and  the  want  of  any  strong  current  to 
carry  off  the  deposit,  is  at  all  times  extremely  filthy. 

“ Walking  along  the  road  to  Carrickfergus  on  a fine  moonlight  night, 
when  the  tide  was  so  unusually  full  as  to  come  close  up  to  the  wayside, 
Mr.  Thompson’s  brother  has  seen  great  numbers  of  mullet  glancing 
rapidly  along  with  their  dorsal  fins  above  water,  and  describes  their 
appearance  under  such  circumstances  as  highly  animated  and  attract- 
ive.” 

Dr.  Ball,  in  his  lecture  already  referred  to,  says  of  this  species  : — “ The 
grey  mullet  is  found  abundantly  at  the  mouth  of  our  rivers,  and  may  be 
often  seen  in  spring  in  considerable  numbers  from  the  Dublin  bridges 
playing  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  It  also  frequents  the  neighbouring 
harbour  of  Kingstown,  where  a dexterous  individual  kills  many  with  a 
light  spear.” 

Mr.  Sinclair  has  known  the  mullet  to  ascend  the  river  Lagan  (Belfast), 
into  the  canal,  where  they  were  shut  in  by  the  gates : he  has  frequently 
seen  them  leap  in  the  fresh-water. 

January  27,  1841. — The  largest  M.  Chelo,  as  to  length,  I ever  saw,  was 
in  Belfast  market  to-day,  having  been  taken  with  salmon  at  Cushendal. 
It  was  fully  2 feet  long. 

A specimen  from  Belfast  Bay,  which  came  under  the  inspection  of  a 
friend  on  the  2nd  August,  1850,  measured  28  inches  in  length,  and  17 
round  the  body. 

April  16,  1840. — On  looking  to  a great  number  of  mullet  to-day  in 


106 


ACANTHOPTERYGII, 


Belfast  market,  I found,  as  I had  done  before,  that  the  space  exposed  or 
otherwise  between  the  inferior  edges  of  the  inter-opercula  varied  exceed- 
ingly. All  the  fish  I looked  to  were  M.  Clielo,  and  I found  when  the  in- 
ter-opercula were  brought  together  so  as  to  touch,  that  generally  a larger 
portion  of  the  space  under  the  tongue  was  seen  then  in  Yarr.’s  fig.  of  M. 
Capito,  p.  240,  2nd  ed.  None  of  the  specimens  that  I examined  displayed 
the  appearance  of  M.  Clielo  with  the  inter-opercula  touching  throughout 
their  base  so  as  to  conceal  the  space  below'  the  tongue. 

I suspect  that  some  of  the  fish  called  M.  Capito , said  to  have  been  taken 
on  the  Irish  coast,  were  judged  by  this  fallacious  character,  as  it  seems  to 
me.  My  M.  Clielo  from  N.  and  S.  of  Ireland  is  unquestionably  that  of 
Cuv.  and  Val.  as  figured  and  described. 

Mr.  James  Radcliff,  after  perusing  my  notes  on  this  fish  published  in 
the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.,  wrote  to  inform  me  that  the  mullet  of  New 
Zealand  appeared  to  him  to  be  of  the  same  species,  and  that  its  habits 
are  precisely  similar  to  those  which  I had  described. 

The  Grey  Mullet,  Mugil  Capito,  Cuv., 

Is  said  to  be  taken  on  the  East  and  South  coasts. 

Col.  Portlock  informs  me  that  he  submitted  drawings  of  a mullet  taken 
on  the  coast  of  Down  or  Antrim,  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  who  considered  them  to 
represent  M.  Capito,  but  all  the  specimens  which  have  come  under  my 
own  examination  were  M.  Clielo,  which  is  our  common  mullet  of  the 
North. 

In  the  Cork  Fauna  (1845),  Dr.  Harvey  has  given  M.  Capito  as  certain, 
and  M.  Clielo  is  noted  with  doubt. 

The  Atherine  or  Sand-Smelt,*  Atherina  Presbyter,  Cuv., 

Is  found  at  certain  localities,  from  the  coast  of  Down,  southward  to  that 
of  Cork. 

It  “is  taken  plentifully  on  the  coast  of  Down,  especially  in  Strangford  Lough. 
Of  about  40  specimens  from  this  locality,  which  I examined  in  January  last 
(1835),  the  average  length  was  6|  inches;  f a few  were  7,  and  one  was  1\ 
inches  long.  Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  the  atherine  is  not  unfrequently  taken 
along  with  sprats  at  Youghal,  and  that,  on  the  14th  of  September  last,  he  saw  a 
shoal  of  them  at  Portmarnock,  County  Dublin,  in  a pool  in  the  sand  below  high- 
water  mark.” — W.  T.  in  Zool.  Proc.  for  1835. 

It  appears  to  be  a very  local  species.  Belfast  market  is  supplied  from 
a limited  portion  of  Strangford  Lough,  near  Portaferry,  only  a few  being 
taken  in  any  other  part  of  the  Lough ; and  I am  not  aware  of  another 
locality  for  the  species  on  the  coast  of  Down  or  Antrim,  save  that  I have 
heard  of  their  having  been  taken  at  Newcastle,  and  that  the  stomach  of  a 
red-breasted  merganser  ( Mergus  Serrator),  shot  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1851,  contained  three  young  atherines,  each  about  3 inches  long.  Speci- 
mens were  once  sent  to  me  which  were  stated  to  have  been  captured  near 
Donaghadee,  but  I do  not  feel  certain  of  this  being  correct.  The  atherine 
is  said  to  be  common  on  the  coast  of  Wexford. — Major  Walker. 

In  Butty’s  Dublin,  and  Smith’s  Cork,  “ The  smelt  ( Eperlanus ) ” is 
mentioned,  but  from  the  circumstances  of  the  atherine  being  called 
smelt,  and  its  occurrence  on  these  coasts  where  the  Eperlanus  is  not 
known,  and  also  from  the  silence  of  both  authors  about  a second  species, 


* Also  called  the  “ Smelt  ” and  “ Portaferry  Chicken  ” in  the  North, 
f In  Dec.,  1847,  I received  from  Strangford  Lough  a specimen  7f  inches  in 
length. 


THE  ATHERINE. 


107 


I am  disposed  to  believe  that  they  meant  the  species  under  consideration. 
At  the  same  time  it  appears  singular  that  the  true  smelt  should  not  fre- 
quent any  part  of  the  Irish  coast,  and  this  it  cannot  at  present  be  said  to 
do.  The  distribution  of  the  smelt  is  rather  singular.  Mr.  Yarrell  re- 
marks that  it  is  unknown  on  the  southern  coast  of  England,  where  the 
atherine  takes  its  place.  It  occurs  along  the  eastern  side  of  England  and 
Scotland,  and  along  the  western  side  to  the  Solway  Firth  northwards. 

In  Daniel’s  Rural  Sports,  vol.  ii.  p.  217,  it  is  remarked  that  Strangford 
Lough  “ abounds  with  excellent  fish,  particularly  with  smelts .”  It  is 
evident,  however,  that  the  atherine  is  the  species  referred  to. 

The  season  during  which  the  atherine  is  generally  brought  to  Belfast 
market,  is  from  December  to  April,  both  months  inclusive;  but,  on  10th 
September,  1847,  I saw  a small  basketful  from  Portaferry,  and  was  in- 
formed that,  on  the  previous  day,  the  first  supply  had  been  brought 
thence.  Not  more  than  one  or  two  large  basketfuls  are  usually  on  sale 
here,  and  the  price  varies  from  Is.  6 d.  to  4s.  per  hundred.  They  are 
eaten  fried  without  the  entrails  being  taken  out. 

Only  two  out  of  a dozen  stomachs  which  I examined  in  the  month  of 
December  contained  any  food,  and  I found  in  those  merely  the  remains 
of  Crustacea,  apparently  of  the  genus  Mysis.  In  fifteen  others  dissected 
in  the  month  of  January,  I was  unable  to  detect  food,  save  that  in  two 
or  three  there  appeared  to  be  the  remains  of  vegetable  matter,  about  one- 
half  of  them  contained  roe. 

The  atherine  is  captured  in  Strangford  Lough,  by  means  of  small  nets, 
and  generally  before  daybreak,  snowy  weather  being  considered  the  most 
favourable.  This  fish  is  said  to  make  an  excellent  bait  for  haddock. 

July  3rd,  1838. — When  out  boating  near  Portaferry,  I was  told  by 
several  persons  that  the  atherines  are  all  up  the  Lough  now  orf  the  shal- 
lows, some  say  the  sleech  banks  (i.  e.  those  covered  with  Zoster  a marina ), 
spawning  ; it  is  only  in  winter  that  they  come  down  towards  the  deeper 
water  about  Portaferry.  I was  disposed  to  regard  this  as  correct,  from 
the  circumstance  of  my  having  at  the  end  of  August,  in  the  previous  year 
(1837),  taken  the  young  atherine  under  an  inch  in  length,  along  with 
young  Gobius  minutus,  in  a pool  among  the  sand  at  the  edge  of  the  Lough, 
some  miles  further  up  near  Killinchy. 

It  was  not  until  after  due  examination  had  been  made,  that,  in  1835,  I 
announced  the  atherine  of  the  North-East  of  Ireland  as  the  A.  Presbyter, 
although,  from  the  scope  of  the  work  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.)  for  which  my  ob- 
servations were  drawn  up,  it  was  considered  better  not  to  enter  into  any 
detail.  The  differences  I then  noted,  from  a comparison  of  specimens 
from  the  South  of  England  and  North  of  Ireland,  may,  perhaps,  yet  be 
worth  the  space  they  will  occupy. 

Both  the  average  and  extreme  size  attained  by  the  atherine  in  the 
North  of  Ireland  is  greater  than  in  the  South  of  England. 

Mr.  Jenyns  remarks  that  it  is  from  4,  and  Mr.  Yarrell  from  5 to  6 
inches  in  length ; any  that  I have  seen  in  the  collection  of  the  latter 
gentleman  barely  reached  this  last  size.  As  already  mentioned  with  re- 
ference to  Strangford  Lough  specimens,  their  average  length  was  6^ 
inches,  a few  were  7,  and  one  7f  inches  long. 

The  atherine  of  the  North  of  Ireland  also  differs  from  English  speci- 
mens which  I have  seen,  in  being  of  a darker  and  consequently  a less 
sandy  colour.  This  difference  is  caused  above  the  lateral  line  by  the 
ground  colour  being  darker,  and  by  the  small  black  spots  being  much 
more  numerous  : beneath  the  lateral  line  it  arises  from  the  former  cause 


108 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


alone.  The  general  form,  too,  of  the  Irish  is  more  elongate  or  less  deep 
compared  with  its  length  than  the  English  atherine. 

A specimen  from  North  of  Ireland,  examined  in  January,  1835,  was  as 
follows  : — D.  7.15;  P.  13  or  14  ; Y.  6 ; A.  17;  C.  18;  B.  6. 

Another  specimen  of  7 inches  had,  in  D.  7.14  or  15 — (the  latter  num- 
ber, if  2 last  springing  from  one  base  be  reckoned  2) — P.  14  ; V.  6 ; A. 
17;  C.  18;  B.  6. 

Lower  jaw  of  these  fishes  longer  than  upper  ; irides  silvery. 

1 D.  opposite  ventral  fin ; 2 D.  opposite  anal,  excepting  lateral  line  ; 
body  diaphanous  ; when  skin  is  taken  off  the  lateral  line  a matter  like 
silver  tinsel  appears  ; beneath  that  is  a brownish  coloured  matter  of  a 
fibrous  texture  (fibres  extending  lengthwise),  and  inside  this  again  is  a 
similar  silver  lining,  scales  easily  detached,  no  scales  on  head,  teeth  very 
minute. 

Specimen  examined,  May  14,  1835. — 1 D.  8 ; 2 D.  1115;  P.  15  ; V. 
1+5;  A.  1+18;  C.  18. 

Specimen  from  Youghal,  5i  inches  long,  D.  7 — 1+13;  P.  14;  V. 
1+5 ; A.  17  ; C.  17  ; a la  Cuv. 

Two  specimens  from  the  same  locality — length  of  each,  4f  inches. 

1st  specimen — D.  8 1+13  ; P.  14  ; Y.  1+5  ; A.  1+16;  C.  17. 

2nd  specimen — D.  8 — 1+13  ; P.  13;  Y.  1+5;  A.  1 + 15;  C.  17. 

The  following  descriptions  were  noted  by  me  on  examination  of  three 
Irish  specimens. 

1st — Length  5-i-  inches  ; 1st  D.  8';  2nd  D.  1 + 14  ; P.  16  ; V.  1+5  ; A. 
1+16 ; C.  17  ; two  last  rays  in  A.  and  2nd  D.  from  same  base  reckoned 
but  as  one.  Length  of  head  from  point  of  under  jaw  to  the  edge  of 
operculum,  compared  to  the  length  of  the  body  and  tail,  is  very  nearly  1 
to  5 ; depth  of  body  not  equal  to  length  of  head,  silver  band  placed 
rather  lower  on  the  body  than  in  Mr.  Yarr  ell’s  fish  (as  according  both 
with  his  description  and  specimen).  P.  fins  extended  a little  beyond  the 
origin  of  the  Y.  fin. 

2nd — Length  6 inches  ; 1st  D.  7 ; 2nd  D.  1+12;  P.  15  (distinct) ; V. 
1+5;  A.  1 + 15  ; C.  17. 

Length  of  head  to  body  and  tail,  1 to  5,  depth  of  body  not  equal  to 
length  of  head ; position  of  silver  stripe  differs  very  little  from  that  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Yarrell.  V.  originate  in  a vertical  line  with  the  ends  of 
the  P.  fin  rays. 

3rd — Length  6f  inches;  1st  D.  8;  2nd  D.  1 + 15;  P.  15;  V.  1+5; 
A.  1+18  ; C.  17.  Length  of  head  to  body  and  tail  is  rather  more  than 
1 to  5 ; depth  of  body  not  equal  to  length  of  head ; scales  much  the 
same  as  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  specimen.  P.  fin  rays  don’t  reach  as  far  as  origin 
of  V. 

Family  GoBiADiE. 

The  Gattoruginous  Blenny,  Blennius  Gattorugine,  Mont., 

Has  been  taken  on  the  North-East  coast. 

Templeton  has  thus  noticed  it  in  his  Catalogue  : — 

“ On  the  22nd  June,  1811,  I received  this  little  fish  from  Mr.  M£Skimmin, 
wdro  informed  me  he  had  procured  it  from  the  lobster  traps,  by  the  Carrickfergus 
fishermen,  who  declared  that  it  was  never  taken  but  when  the  traps  were  laid  in 
12  or  14  fathoms  water.” 

In  the  Ordnance  collection  are  two  specimens,  one  from  Carnlough,  the 
other  from  Port-Push.  Ordnance  Survey,  County  Londonderry,  “ No- 
tices,” p.  14. 


yarrell’s  blenny. 


109 


I have  never  met  with  this  sp.  on  the  shore  or  in  rock-pools  accessible 
between  tide-marks  where  the  B.  pholis  is  so  common ; nor  have  I known 
it  to  be  taken  by  dredging  or  trawling  on  our  coast.  The  remark  already 
made  on  the  depth  at  which  it  is  taken  is  interesting,  and  with  my  nega- 
tive observations,  indicate  its  being  a deep-water  sp.  Mr.  Couch  too,  I 
find,  mentions  it  keeping  “ in  the  neighbourhood  of  rocks  in  water  4 or  5 
fathoms’  depth,”  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall. 

Yarrell’s  Blenny,  Blennius  Yarrellii,  Yak, 

Has  been  obtained  in  one  locality. 

The  only  Irish  specimens  of  this  fish  which  I have  seen  are  two  which 
were  taken  by  the  collectors  of  the  Ord.  Surv.  at  Carrickfergus  in  May, 
1 839,  and' which  were  kindly  submitted  to  my  inspection  by  Colonel  Portlock, 
that  the  species  might  be  included  in  my  Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland. 

The  following  are  my  notes  made  upon  examination  of  these  fishes : — 

1st  specimen. — 7^  inches,  depth  of  body  1 inch.  D.  fin.  in  height 
full  half  the  depth  of  body ; D.  52,  in  height  very  uniform  throughout, 
but  the  3 first  rays  somewhat  the  longest  and  adorned  with  filaments 
two-thirds  of  their  length ; 1st  ray  with  its  filament  13  lines  long  ; next  2 
gradually  shorter;  2nd  ray  longer  than  1st,  but  filament  of  1st  rather  ex- 
ceeding that  of  2nd — it  may  not  be  perfect ; 1 and  2 with  filament  may 
be  reckoned  much  the  same.  A.  40.  1st  ray  very  short,  thence  much  of 
an  uniform  length  till  near  the  end,  where  they  become  rather  large,  the 
rays  barely  equal  in  length  to  the  D. 

P.  14;  V.  3;  C.  17  in  all;  some  of  the  long  rays  reckoned  as  two 
apparently  joined  at  bases.  Anterior  filaments  2 lines,  posterior  5 lines 
long,  Br.  rays  5 on  each  side. 

Between  the  eye  and  lip  on  each  side  is  an  appendage  of  1 ^ line  long. 

2nd  specimen. — Length  5i  inches,  depth  of  body  9 lines.  D.  52 ; A. 
38 ; Y.  3 ; P.  13  ; C.  18  in  all,  and  as  above.  Br.  rays  5 on  each  side. 
The  larger  fish  is  in  colour  darker  throughout  on  body  and  fins  than  this. 

An  Orkney  specimen  given  to  me  in  1840,  being  one  of  several  taken 
under  stones  at  Kirkwall  Bay,  Orkney,  by  Dr.  Duguid,  was  4f  inches 
long ; D.  54  ; filaments  to  anterior  rays  hardly  perceptible  though  the  fin 
is  perfect.  A.  39 ; V.  3 ; P.  14  ; C.  19  in  all. 

One  of  the  best  figures  of  Fish  in  Pennant’s  Brit.  Zool.  is  of  this  species, 
under  the  name  of  Crested  Blenny.  The  white  base  of  the  A.  fin  is  well 
shown,  and  though  not  just  so  well,  this  colour  is  represented  nearly  as 
it  appears  in  the  D.  fin.  In  the  smaller  Irish  specimen  these  fins  had 
much  more  of  the  white  than  in  the  larger. 

In  June,  1846,  Professor  Allman  obtained  a mutilated  blenny,  thrown 
up  by  the  tide  among  sea-weed  at  Dalkey,  which  appeared  to  him  to  re- 
semble this  species  more  nearly  than  it  did  any  of  the  others  figured  by 
Mr.  Yarrell.  Dr.  Ball  also  examined  the  specimen,  and  was  of  opinion  that 
it  was  the  B.  Yarrellii,  but  it  was  so  much  injured  that  he  could  not 
determine  the  species  with  certainty. 

James  Hill,  a fisherman  at  Newcastle  (County  Down),  on  looking  over 
the  figures  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes,  informed  me  in  October,  1851, 
that  when  searching  for  limpets  he  had  seen  this  blenny  among  the  sea- 
weed covering  the  rocks  in  that  locality. 


110 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


The  Smooth  Blenny,  Shanny,  or  Shaw,*  Blennius  Pholis,  Linn., 

Is  common  on  the  shore  around  the  coast. 

As  stated  by  me  in  the  Zool.  Proc.  1835,  p.  80, — 

“ This  is  more  commonly  to  be  met  with  than  any  other  species  of  fish  in  the 
rocky  pools  [accessible  at  low  water]  on  the  North-East  coast  of  Ireland.” 
Templeton  also  noted  it  as  “common  in  the  little  pools  in  the  rocks  along  the 
shores.” 

I have  examined'  specimens  from  all  parts  of  the  coast  of  Down,  notes 
on  fourteen  of  which  are  before  me  : the  largest  of  these  is  6 inches  in 
length,  one  is  5i  inches,  and  two  others  5 inches  each.  The  sp.,  as  has 
been  remarked  (Yarr.  262),  rarely  exceeds  5 inches. 

Sept.  16,  1835. — I saw  many  about  an  inch  in  length  in  very  small 
pools  of  water  near  Donaghadee. 

This  fish  is  remarkably  strong  for  its  size,  and  when  a person  pursues 
one  of  them  in  a little  gravelly  pool,  a large  blenny  will,  with  its  strong 
head,  sometimes  come  against  the  hand  like  the  blow  of  a stone.  Its 
energy  in  endeavouring  to  escape  over  moist  gravel  is  surprising.  Do- 
novan notices  this  as  “ a very  local  fish,”  and  states  that  where  Pennant 
found  it  common  about  Anglesea,  not  one  was  to  be  seen  30  years  after- 
wards. He  attributed  this  to  the  Fuci  having  been  cut  away  from  that 
part  of  the  coast,  for  economical  purposes. 

The  fin  rays  in  twelve  smooth  blennies  from  the  Down  coast  examined 
by  me  were  as  follow: — 

D.  30  in  four,  and  31  in  all  the  other  specimens. 

P.  13  in  all. 

A.  18  in  three,  and  19  in  all  the  others. 

Y.  3 in  one  specimen,  and  2 in  all  the  others. 

C.  11  do.,  13  in  another,  and  12  in  all  the  others. 

The  Spotted  Gunnel  or  Butter-Fish,!  Muroenoides  guttata, 
Lacep.,  Blennius  Gunnellus,  Linn., 

Is  very  common  around  the  coast  at  all  seasons. 

This  fish  is  chiefly  found  between  tide-marks  sheltering  under  the  sea- 
weeds (Fuci),  hanging  over  and  spreading  around  from  large  stones  upon 
the  beach,  more  especially  if  gravelly,  over  which  the  tide  flows,  but  which 
at  low  water  have  but  little  moisture  about  them.  Everywhere  on  the 
East,  North,  and  West  coasts  that  I have  been,  on  a gravelly  or  shingly 
beach  this  sp.  has  been  common.  It  wriggles  its  way  with  amazing  speed 
among  gravel,  nearly  moist,  and  even  when  captured  can  with  difficulty 
be  retained  in  the  hand  : the  slime  with  which  it  is  covered  enables  it  to 
escape  between  the  fingers. 

At  the  end  of  March,  I once  saw  a specimen  which  was  "dredged  with 
oysters  (from  what  depth  I do  not  know)  on  the  Derry  coast  and  brought 
to  Belfast;  the  fish  was  alive,  though  perhaps  24  hours  out  of  the 
water. 

The  spotted  gunnel  is  used  as  bait  for  pollack,  cod,  mackerel,  gur- 
nards, &c. ; sometimes  it  is  put  whole  and  whilst  alive  upon  the  hook ; but 

* Called  “ Parrot-fish  ” in  the  South  (Dr.  R.  Ball). 

f Called  Clavin  in  the  North  [also  Flutterick,  Ed.].  M‘Skimmin  applies  the 
name  Codlick  to  it;  and  the  late  Mr.  Nimmo  informed  me  that  it  is  called 
Lamprey  at  Roundstone,  County  Galway. 


THE  VIVIPAROUS  BLENNY.' 


Ill 


it  is  also  in  some  localities  split  up  and  the  skin  and  vertebral  column 
removed. 

Of  eight  specimens  from  Down,  respecting  which  notes  were  made  by 
me,  the  largest  was  6|^  inches  in  length.  This  individual  had  but  9 dorsal 
spots  ; the  smallest  examined  (3|  inches)  had  13  ; one  other  had  9 : one, 
12  ; and  four  of  them  had  each  10  of  these  spots. 

It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  to  remark  that  the  number  of  these  spots  has 
no  reference  to  the  size  of  the  fish.  The  smallest  specimens  I have  seen 
had  as  many  spots  as  the  largest  ; often  more.  One  which  I took  on  the 
Galway  coast  in  July,  1840,  1^  inch  long,  had  13  spots. 

The  fin-rays  in  two  specimens  which  I examined  were  : — 

1st  specimen — D.  75 ; P.  10  ; Y.  1 -j-  1 ; A.  1 + 39 ; 6.16  ? 

First  5 rays  of  D.  soft;  remaining  70  spiny.  Pectoral  partly  orange- 
coloured  with  several  black  dots. 

2nd  specimen — D.  75,  all  spiny;  A.  42  ? first  4 spiny. 

Capt.  Fayrer,  R.  N.,  has  sent  me  this  species  from  Portpatrick. 

The  Viviparous  Blenny,  Zoarces  viviparus,  Cuv., 

Is  said  to  have  been  obtained  on  the  coast. 

Templeton  records  “ one  specimen  found  on  the  coast  of  Down  near 
Donaghadee.” 

I have  not  seen  any  Irish  specimens  of  this  fish,  but  when  on  a visit  at 
Twizell  House,  Northumberland,  in  the  Autumn  of  1838,  several  were 
found  at  the  beach  near  Bamborough  Castle.  They  were  sheltering 
under  large  stones  between  tide-marks,  as  we  find  Blen.  pholis  and 
gunnellus. 

The  Wolf-Fish,  Sea-Wolf,  or  Sea-Cat,  Anarrhicas  Lupus , Linn., 
Has  in  a few  instances  been  obtained. 

Templeton  says,  in  his  published  Catal.,  it  is  “ sometimes  met  with  in 
Belfast  market.”  The  only  note  which  I have  seen  in  his  journal  relates 
to  one  specimen  obtained  there  on  the  4th  April,  1807.  On  questioning 
an  intelligent  man  who  has  supplied  the  market  here  with  fish  for  the 
last  25  years,  and  who  regularly  visits  the  fishing  stations  in  Down  and 
Antrim,  I found  that  this  species  is  quite  unknown  to  him.  In  January, 
1839,  Dr.  Jacob,  of  Dublin,  informed  me  that  he  once  procured  a speci- 
men which  was  taken  off  Dublin  Bay.  In  the  Museum  of  the  It.  D.  S.,  I 
have  seen  a native  specimen,  as  noticed  in  Zool.  Proc.  1835,  p.  80.  Two 
were  obtained  from  Dingle,  by  Dr.  Ball. 

Information  which  I received  from  Mr.  Nimmo  and  Mr.  M‘Calla,  rela- 
tive to  a fish  which  is  sometimes  taken  on  the  Ling-lines,  far  out  at  sea 
off  the  coast  of  Galway,  and  which  the  fishermen  call  Cat-Ling , leads  me 
to  the  opinion  that  it  may  perhaps  be  the  A.  lupus. 

The  Black  Goby,  Gobius  niger * Cuv.  and  Val., 

Has  been  taken  on  the  western  and  southern  coasts. 

The  British  Black  Goby,  Rock  Goby,  or  Rock-Fish,  Gobius 
Britannicus,  Thomp., 

( Gobius  niger , recent  British  authors,) 

Has  been  obtained  both  on  the  northern  and  southern  coasts. 

The  following  notices  of  the  Irish  specimens  of  black  gobies,  which 

* Mr.  M‘Coy  described  a Gob.  fuliginosus,  in  the  6th  vol.  of  the  Annals  Nat. 
Hist.  p.  403,  that  seems  to  me  to  approach  very  near  this  species. 


112 


ACANTHOPTERY  GII . 


had  come  under  my  inspection  in  and  previous  to  the  year  1839,  have 
been  already  published  by  me  : — 

“ Black  Goby,  Linn.  ? Of  the  black  goby , as  generally  recognised  by  British 
authors,  a specimen  taken  at  Youghal  has  been  submitted  to  me  by  Dr.  Ball. 
In  a paper  read  before  the  Linneean  Society  last  year,  I showed  that  the  Gob. 
niger  of  Pennant  and  the  fish  to  which  Donovan  applies  the  same  name,  are 
two  distinct  species.  To  the  latter  Mr.  Yarrell  has  since  given  the  name  of 
Gobius  bipunctatus  P — W.  T.  in  Proc.  of  the  Zool.  Society , 1835,  p.  80. 

“ Gobius  Britannicus.  British  Black  Goby. 

When  at  Galway  Bay,  on  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  accompanied  by 
Dr.  Ball,  in  June,  1834, 1 captured  a species  of  goby,  whose  thicker  and 
more  clumsy  form  at  once  led  me  to  consider  it  different  from  a G. 
niger  taken  at  Youghal,  with  which  I had  been  favoured  by  that  gentle- 
man. On  a recent  examination  it  proved  identical  with  the  G.  niger 
of  Cuvier  and  Valenciennes,  whilst  the  latter  corresponded  with  the  G. 
niger  of  Montagu  (Yarrell’s  Brit.  Fish.  vol.  i.  p.  252)  and  Jenyns.  This 
species  is  considered  by  Cuv.  and  Val.,  but  without  recourse  being  had 
to  a comparison  of  specimens,  to  be  the  same  as  theirs  ; but  the  two  in- 
dividuals under  consideration,  unquestionably  distinct,  agree  so  well  with 
the  detailed  descriptions  of  those  just  quoted  under  the  same  name,  as  to 
leave  not  a doubt  upon  my  mind  as  to  the  propriety  of  separating  them. 
Amongst  other  differential  characters,  they  present  the  following  : — ■ 


G.  niger,  Mont. 

(from  Youghal). 

Jaws,  the  lower  one  the  longer. 

Teeth,  several  irregular  rows  in 
both  jaws,  those  of  the  outer  row 
not  very  much  larger  than  the 
others,  and,  like  them,  straight 
and  truncated  at  the  summit. 

Sulcus,  extending  from  the  head  to 
D.  fin. 

Papillae,*  so  numerous  on  the  head 
as  to  give  it  the  appearance  of 
being  delicately  carved  all  over. 

D.  6 — 14  ; P.  18];  V.  l-5th  each;  A. 
12  ; C.  15,  and  some  short. 


G . niger,  Cuv.  and  Val. 

(from  Galway). 

Jaws,  equal. 

Teeth,  outer  row  very  much  the 
largest,  and  curving  inwards. 


Sulcus,  wanting. 

Papillae,  less  numerous  by  half. 


D.  6—16  ; P.  20—21 ; V.  5 ; A.  13  ; 
C.  14. 


Though  of  British  authors  the  G.  niger  of  Montagu  and  Jenyns  only 
is  quoted  with  certainty,  the  species  described  as  such  by  Pennant  and 
Yarrell  appears  to  be  the  same,  the  exceptions  being  that  two  rows  only 
of  teeth  are  attributed  to  it  by  the  former,  and  17  rays  are  described  by 
the  latter  as  contained  in  the  second  D.  fin.  The  G.  niger  of  Donovan 
and  Fleming  is  the  G.  Ruthensparii  ( G . bipunctatus,  Yarr.)  of  Eu- 
phrasen. 

Bloch’s  G.  niger  does  not  agree  with  either  species  here  treated  of ; .as, 
like  Pennant’s,  it  is  stated  to  have  but  two  rows  of  teeth.  It  differs,  more 
especially  from  that  of  British  authors  as  now  restricted,  in  the  jaws  being 
of  equal  length,  the  teeth  pointed,  and  having  16  rays  in  the  2nd  D.  fin  ; 
and  from  that  of  Cuv.  and  Val.  in  the  shortness  of  the  P.  fin,  a character 
represented  both  in  his  figure  and  description.  The  G.  niger  of  Bisso  hav- 


* With  respect  to  these  resembling  the  G.  geniporus,  as  described  by  Cuv. 
and  Val.,  t.  xii.  p.  32,  but  very  different  in  other  characters. 


THE  BRITISH  BLACK  GOBY. 


113 


ing  the  jaws  equal,  and  the  teeth  curved,  approximates  it  to  that  of  Cuv. 
and  Val.,  but  the  number  of  fin-rays  differs  considerably. 

The  species  taken  at  Galway,  which  is  new  to  the  British  catalogue, 
occurs  also  in  the  Mediterranean,  the  collection  of  fishes  from  Corfu, 
alluded  to  in  the  note  to  Trigla  pceciloptera  as  being  in  the  Belfast  Mu- 
seum, containing  an  individual  in  all  respects,  but  that  of  size,  quite 
identical. 

Although  the  G.  niger  of  Montagu  and  Jenyns  accords  better  with  the 
description  of  Linnaeus — referring  only  to  the  number  of  fin-rays — than 
the  species  for  which  Cuv.  and  Val.  have  adopted  his  name,  yet,  as  several 
other  European  gobies  equally  well  agree  with  the  brief  characters  in  the 
Systema  Naturae,  and  it  being  necessary  to  give  one  of  the  two  which 
have  been  confounded  together  a new  name,  it  appears  to  me  that  the 
species  described  as  G.  niger  in  the  Histoire  Naturelle  des  Poissons  of  the 
last-named  authors — the  greatest  and  most  comprehensive  work  yet  at- 
tempted on  the  subject — should  retain  the  term  there  given  it,  and  that 
it  is  to  the  Gobius  niger  of  British  authors  that  the  new  appellation  should 
be  applied.  With  this  view  I propose  the  name  of  Gobius  Britannicus , 
not  to  indicate  its  existence  only  on  the  British  shores,  but  in  the  hope 
that  it  may  perhaps,  better  than  any  other  term,  mark  it  as  the  species  of 
British  authors. 


“ As  M.  Valenciennes  has  observed  that  ‘ M.  Yarrell  a publie  une  charmante 
figure  de  ndtre  gobie,’  (t.  xii.  p.  18,)  it  must  be  added  that  this  figure  is  more 
illustrative  of  my  G.  Britannicus  than  what  I have  considered  the  G.  niger  of 
Cuv.  and  Val. ; all  It  indeed  wants  to  be  a perfect  representation  of  that  fish  is 
the  lower  jaw  a little  longer,  and  the  teeth  smaller,  less  regular,  and  truncated.” 
W.  T.  in  Proc.  of  the  Zoological  Society,  for  1837,  p.  62. 


“ Gobius  niger , Cuv.  and  Val.  ? and  G.  Britannicus,  Thomp. 

When  recording  a species  of  goby  in  1837,  as  new  to  the  British  Fauna, 
I stated  my  opinion,  judging  merely  from  description,  that  it  was  the 
species  described  as  G.  niger  by  Cuv.  and  Val.,  Hist,  des  Poiss.,  t.  xii.  p. 
9,  and  that  it  was  at  the  same  time  distinct  from  the  G.  niger  of  Montagu, 
Yarr.  Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  i.  p.  252,  and  Jenyns,  and  probably  from  that  of  Yar- 
rell. Of  the  former  species  I had  then  seen  but  the  one  native  specimen — 
captured  by  myself  in  the  bay  of  Galway — and  therefore  it  was  considered 
injudicious  to  draw  up  the  specific  characters.  Having  now  obtained  from 
Hr.  It.  Ball  of  Dublin  two  other  specimens  for  examination — from  the 
coasts  of  Galway  and  Cork — I can  do  so  with  more  confidence.  Although 
an  easy  task  to  point  out  the  relative  differences,  it  is  not  so  with  the  ab- 
solute characters ; these  may  be  described  as, 


G.  niger,  Cuv.  and  Val.  ? 

Teeth  on  the  outer  rows  of  both 
jaws  very  much  larger  than  the 
others,  and  curving  inwards. 

Scales  small,  with  long  cilia  on  their 
free  margins. 

D.  6-16  ; P.  20  ; V.  5 each ; A. 
13  ; C.  14,  and  some  short. 


G.  Britannicus. 

Teeth  of  the  outer  rows  not  very 
much  larger  than  the  others,  and 
like  them  straight  and  truncated 
at  the  summits. 

Scales  rather  large. 

D.  6-14  ; P.  18 ; V.  1 + 5 each ; 
A.  12;  C.  15,  and  some  .short.* 


* The  examination  of  more  specimens  has  shown  that  there  is  but  little  dis- 
parity between  these  species  in  the  dorsal  sulcus  and  the  comparative  length  of 
jaws,  although  a difference  did,  in  these  respects,  appear  in  the  individuals  first 


114 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


On  comparison,  the  largest  G.  niger , Cuv.  and  Val.,  3 inches  2 lines 
long,  and  the  G.  Britannicus,  3 inches  in  length,  present  the  following  ap- 
pearances : — 

Viewed  from  above,  the  head  is  more  equable  in  breadth  in  G.  Britannicus  ; 
in  the  other  it  approaches  more  to  a conical  form.  When  placed  on  the  side, 
the  G.  niger  is  rather  the  deeper,  carrying  greater  breadth  to  the  base  of  the 
caudal  fin;  the  scales  are  much  smaller  in  G.  niger , yet  the  cilia  on  their 
margins  are  longer  than  in  the  other : from  some  of  the  scales  being  wanting, 
their  number  cannot  be  accurately  given ; but,  reckoned  from  the  opercle  in 
a straight  line  along  the  middle  of  the  body — for  the  lateral  line  is  inconspicu- 
ous in  both  species — to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin,  there  are  about  10  more  in 
G.  niger  than  in  G.  Britannicus ; about  45  in  the  one  and  55  in  the  other  may 
be  mentioned  as  an  approximation  : pecten-like  striae *  * on  the  scales  of  both 
species.  In  G.  niger  the  outer  row  of  teeth  in  both  jaws  is  considerably  the 
largest,  and  they  differ  entirely  in  form  from  those  of  G.  Britannicus,  this 
being  the  most  obvious  differential  character  between  the  species  ; of  the 
large  hooked  teeth,  there  are  about  16  in  the  outer  row  of  each  jaw;  no  teeth 
apparent  either  on  vomer  or  tongue  ; f in  addition  to  the  very  numerous  card- 
like teeth  in  both  jaws  of  G.  Britannicus,  the  anterior  part  of  the  vomer  is  paved 
with  them;  on  the  tongue  none  are  apparent.];  The  dorsal  fins  contiguous  in 
both,  the  2nd  D.  is  obviously  higher  than  the  1st  in  G.  niger  than  in  G.  Britan- 
nicus, as  in  the  latter  the  two  or  three  longest  rays  are  equal  to  the  general 
length  of  those  in  the  2nd  D.,  a size  which  they  do  not  attain  in  G.  niger.  In 
colour  these  specimens  differ  considerably  (but  in  this  we  need  not  look  for  con- 
stancy), the  G.  niger,  from  the  general  blackish  or  dusky  hue  of  the  body  and 
fins  (these  much  darker  than  in  its  congener),  well  meriting  its  specific  name  ; 
along  the  base  it  is  of  a dull  yellow  (in  other  specimens  pale  lilac-grey) ; the 
general  hue  of  the  G.  Britannicus  is  much  lighter  and  more  varied,  the  head, 
body  above,  and  a short  way  beneath  the  lateral  line  marbled  with  yellow  and 
brown,  and  points  of  black  scattered  along  the  lateral  line ; yellowish  on  the 
under  parts.” — W.  T.,  in  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  (1839),  p.  416. 

In  addition  to  the  points  of  resemblance  noted  in  foot-note  to  my  paper 
in  Annals,  vol.  ii.,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  specimens  received  since  it  was 
written,  and  exhibiting  the  character  of  each  of  the  two  species,  in  teeth, 
present  similar  numerous  lines  of  papillce  on  the  head,  so  that  the  differ- 
ence before  noticed  seems  rather  an  individual  than  a specific  character. 
Both  species  are  inhabitants  of  rocky  shores. 

Dr.  Pat.  Browne  includes  “ Gobius  niger , Sea  Gudgeon,”  in  his  list  of 
Irish  Fishes,  and  Templeton  notices  it  thus  : — 

“ Gobius  niger , Linn.,  a mutilated  specimen  on  the  shore  of  Belfast 
Lough,  near  Rockport.” 

M.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  black  gobies  are  common  at  Galway. 

In  the  Ordnance  collection  (Dublin)  are  two  specimens  like  Pennant’s, 


compared  (see  Zool.  Proc.).  The  jaws  may  in  both  be  called  equal.  Of  four  spe- 
cimens of  G.  niger,  one  had  a more  depressed  line  from  the  head  to  the  first  dor- 
sal, another  a broad  groove,  and  the  remaining  two  displayed  neither  appearance. 

* See  Cuv.  and  Val.,  t.  xii.  p.  12. 

f Cuv.  and  Val.  thus  describe  the  teeth : “ Chaque  machoire  a une  large 
bande  de  dents  en  crochets,  qui  depassent  les  autres,  et  dont  on  compte  18  ou  20 
a chaque  machoire,”  t.  xii.  p.  10.  The  similarity  in  the  teeth  chiefly  led  me 
to  believe  this  species  and  mine  to  be  identical. 

X Montagu  remarks  of  the  teeth,  that  “ the  under  jaw  is  roughened  by  them 
like  a rasp.”  Mr.  Yarrell  describes  the  lower  jaw  “ with  fine  carding-like  teeth 
in  several  rows”  (vol.  i.  p.  353).  Mr.  Jenyns  notes  “ fine  card-like  teeth  in 
several  rows,  the  inner  rows  much  smaller  than  the  outer.” — p.  385. 


THE  BRITISH  BLACK  GOBY. 


115 


from  Strangford,  1838,  and  one  from  Culdaff,  Co.  Donegal,  1839.  Dr. 
Ball  notes  the  black  goby  as  found  on  the  Dublin  coast,  but  these  have 
not  been  critically  examined  in  reference  to  species. 

The  following  notes  were  made  by  me  on  examination  of  my  several 
specimens  in  April,  1846 

“ Dr.  Allman’s  Gobius  niger , from  Glendore  (Aug.  1838),  specimens 
given  to  me— Length,  4£  inches  ; D.  6 — 13  ; P.  19  ; V.  5 ; A.  12 ; C.  15  ; 
and  some  short  outer  row  of  teeth  largest  and  curving  inwards.  Sulcus 
(deep)  from  head  to  D.  fin.  Papillae  as  numerous  as  in  G.  niger.  Mont, 
(described  by  me).” 

“ An  examination  of  two  specimens  of  G.  niger , Mont.,  from  Tory 
Island  (largest  3f  inches  long),  with  one  (4£  inches  long)  from  Glendore, 
shows — 

Jaws , no  marked  difference  in. 

Teeth  of  G.  niger , Mont.,  rather  sharp. 

Sulcus  broad  in  G.  niger,  Cuv.,  rather  a depression  than  a sulcus  nar- 
row and  deep,  in  G.  niger.— Mont. 

Papillae  no  marked  difference — numerous  in  both  species.” 

“ Gobius  Britannicus. 

1 specimen,  Youghal  (Zool.  Proc.,  1837). 

2 — Tory  Island  (1845). 

Seem  this  species  in  teeth.” 

“ G.  niger,  Cuv.  and  Yal. 

1 specimen,  Galway  Bay,  June,  ’34  (Zool.  Proc.,  1837). 

2 — Coast  of  Cork,  It.  B.  (Ann.,  vol.  ii.). 

1 — Glendore,  Allman,  seems  this  in  teeth.  See  notes  on  it, 

and  Tory  Island  specimens.” 

“ Gobius  niger. 

2 specimens  taken  at  Tory  Island  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  Aug.,  ’45. 

3^  inches  long ; No.  1,  D.  6 — 14;  A.  12. 

P.  19 ; V.  5 ; C.  15  ; and  some  short.  No.  2,  D.  6 — 15  ; A.  12. 

1st  D.  fin  orange  towards  extremity,  or  upper  1 13  so ; a narrow  line  of 
orange  margining  the  2nd  D.  In  No.  1,  the  orange  appears  in  the  same 
places  of  both  D.  fins,  but  there  is  less  of  it  than  the  smaller  one.  Sulcus 
from  head  to  D.  fins ; Papillae  same  as  my  G.  niger.” — Mont. 

(See  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  1837,  p.  62.) 

The  Doubly-Spotted  Goby,  Gobius  Buthensparii,  Euph.,  G.  bipunc- 
tatus,  Yarr., 

Is  common  on  the  North-East  coast,  especially  along  the  shores  of  Down, 
and  is  also  abundant  on  the  western  coast. 

In  the  Bay  of  Galway,  on  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  I took  several 
specimens  in  July,  1834,  in  the  course  of  a few  minutes  ; they  seemed  to 
be  quite  abundant.  During  the  following  year  Dr.  Ball  took  specimens 
at  the  Island  of  Arran,  which  is  probably  the  extreme  western  range  of 
the  species. 

In  1834  I made  a communication  on  this  species  to  the  Linn.  Society, 
the  following  abstract  of  which  appeared  in  the  Phil.  Mag.,  vol.  v.  p. 

“ It  was  remarked  of  the  Gobius  niger,  from  specimens  taken  in  the  North  of 


116 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


Ireland  (on  the  shores  of  which  country  the  species  has  not  before  been  record- 
ed as  met  with),  that  the  fish  so  named  by  Donovan,  with  which  these  were 
identical,  is  distinct  from  the  G.  niger  of  Pennant,  and  as  such  ranks  as  a third 
species  of  Gobius  to  the  British  Fauna,  two  species  only  having  yet  a place 
in  it.” 

Mr.  Yarrell  afterwards  applied  to  this  fish  the  specific  name  of  bipunc- 
tatus. 

This  is  a very  handsome  fish,  not  only  from  the  blue  markings  along 
the  side,  and  the  large  dark  spots  on  sides  of  tail  which  give  such  an 
individuality  to  it,  hut  from  the  fins  being  delicately  mottled  with  brown, 
or  bronzed,  and  the  dorsal  having  two  or  three  light-coloured  broadish  lines 
throughout.  The  latter  fins  have  much  more  beauty  than  Donovan  re- 
presents. 

Owing  to  their  dark  colour,  these  gobies  are  everywhere  conspicuous 
(in  which  they  wholly  differ  from  G.  minutus,  and  the  other  species 
found  in  sandy  bays),  and  seem  unwilling  to  venture  far  from  their  fa- 
vourite fucus-covered  rocks.  Dr.  Parnell’s  observations  on  this  species 
(p.  88)  quite  agree  with  the  preceding,  made  previous  to  the  publication 
of  his  work. 

As  noticed  in  Charlesw.  Mag.,  N.  H.,  iii.  586, 1 obtained  specimens  from 
Portpatrick,  through  the  kindness  of  Captain  Fayrer,  R.  N. 

Sept.  16,  ’35. — I remarked  that  this  species  was  now  much  scarcer  in 
the  rock-pools  in  Ballyhome  Bay,  than  I have  found  it  there  in  winter. 

June  22,  ’46. — A Gobius  bipunctatus  was  found  in  a common  tern  shot 
to-day  on  Laithe  Rock,  Strangford  Lough. 

Mr.  Yarrell’s  collection  contains  specimens  similar  to  mine,  which  were 
taken  by  him  in  Poole  Harbour. 

The  Freckled  Goby,  Gobius  minutus , Pall., 

Is  common  on  sandy  shores,  where  it  is  found  with  the  next  two  species, 
from  North  to  South  of  the  island. 

I have  seen  specimens  taken  in  various  localities  from  the  County  of 
Antrim,  along  the  eastern  line  of  coast  to  Cork,  inclusive,  and  Mr. 
M‘Calla  noted  it  as  common  on  the  coast  of  Galway. 

Immature  specimens  I have  found  in  abundance  in  sandy  pools  on  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  coast  of  Down,  and  I have  obtained  larger  ones — 3 
inches  long — by  dredging  in  water  several  fathoms  deep. 

Templeton  noticed  the  species  in  his  catalogue  thus : — “ Several  speci- 
mens, but  not  of  greater  length  than  2 inches  ; stated  to  be  common 
on  the  sandy  shores,  lodging  under  large  shells  when  the  tide  is  out.” 

I have  seen  this  species  display  the  rosy  tint  in  the  D.  fin  noticed  by 
M‘Coy  in  Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vi.  p.  404,  and  in  other  characters  so 
closely  agreeing  with  the  specimen  there  described,  and  considered  to  be 
Gobius  reticulatus , Cuv.  and  Val.,  that  I cannot  consider  them  to  be  of 
two  species. 

The  Slender  Goby,  Gobius  gracilis , Jenyns, 

Is  found  from  North  to  South. 

The  subjoined  notes  upon  this  fish  have  been  already  published 
by  me : — 

“ From  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Louth  I have  obtained  two  specimens  of  this 
fish.  The  difference  in  colour  between  them  and  Gob.  minutus  attracted  me  at 
first  sight ; but  I did  not  examine  further,  until  my  attention  was  directed  to 


THE  ONE-SPOTTED  GOBY. 


117 


them  by  Mr.  Jenyns’  description  of  Gob.  gracilis,  with  which  they  in  all  respects 
agree.” — Zool.  Proc.,  1837. 

“ Upon  examination  of  eighteen  specimens — seven  from  the  coast  of  Down, 
six  from  Louth,  and  five  from  Cork — of  the  Gobius  which  until  lately  has  been 
considered  G.  minutus,  I found  one  individual  from  Down  and  another  from 
Louth  to  be  the  G.  gracilis  of  Mr.  Jenyns  (p.  387).  These  specimens  are  dis- 
tinguished from  those  of  the  G.  minutus  by  having  the  ‘ rays  of  the  2nd  dorsal 
longer  : these  rays  also  gradually  increasing  in  length  instead  of  decreasing , the 
posterior  ones  being  the  longest  in  the  fin ; ’ and  by  having  the  ‘ rays  of  the 
anal  in  like  manner  longer  than  in  the  G.  minutus ; ’ also  in  ‘ the  anal  and  ven- 
tral fins,  which  are  dusky,  approaching  to  black  in  some  places  instead  of  plain 
white,  as  in  the  G.  minutus In  addition  to  this  difference  in  the  colour  of  the 
fins,  my  specimens  of  G.  gracilis  have  more  black  on  the  body  generally  than 
those  of  G.  minutus , being  so  different  in  this  respect  as  to  have  attracted  my 
attention  when  they  Avere  first  obtained.” — Ann.  Nat.  Hist,,  vol.  i.  p.  356. 

“ Dublin,  June,  1838. — In  the  collection  of  my  friend  Robert  Ball,  LL.D.,  of 
this  city,  there  are  two  specimens  of  Gobius  gracilis  about  3 inches  in  length, 
from  Youghal.  On  closely  comparing  them  with  individuals  of  Gobius  minutus 
of  equal  size,  the  differences  in  so  far  as  they  are  above  mentioned  are  very  ob- 
vious ; but  further,  as  in  those  before  examined,  I cannot  perceive  any  constant 
characters.” — Ibid.  vol.  ii. 

It  should  be  mentioned  that  the  A.  fin,  when  lying  close  to  the  body,  is 
black  in  these  specimens. 

The  One-spotted  Goby,  Gobius  unipunctatus , Parnell, 

Has  been  obtained  in  the  North  and  South. 

“ I have  obtained  this  on  the  North-East  coast  of  Ireland;  and  in  Dr.  R. 
Ball’s  collection  there  is  a specimen  3 inches  in  length,  which  was  procured  at 
Glendore  (County  Cork)  by  Dr.  Geo.  J.  Allman.  Although  well-marked  indi- 
viduals of  G.  unipunctatus  may  appear  specifically  different  from  G.  gracilis 
and  G.  minutus,  yet  from  having  remarked  some  specimens  intermediate  in 
character  between  the  two  first  mentioned,  I am  led  to  doubt  whether  in  these 
days  of  refinement  the  old  Gobius  minutus  has  not  been  multiplied  into  too 
many  species.” — W.  T.  in  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  v.  p.  9. 

In  August,  1847,  I received  from  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  a specimen  of 
the  G.  bipunctatus,  and  also  one  of  the  G.  unipunctatus,  taken  by  him  in 
the  previous  month  of  May,  at  Port-Bannatyne,  Clyde. 

The  Gemmeous  Dragonet,  Callionymus  Lyra,  Linn., 

Is  found  occasionally  on  all  sides  of  the  island. 

M‘Skimmin  and  Templeton  noted  this  species  as  having  been  obtained 
in  Belfast  Bay,  where  specimens  have  also  been  procured  by  Dr.  Drum- 
mond, Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman,  and  myself.  They  are  taken  on  long  lines 
as  well  as  in  the  dredge,  and  those  of  which  I have  notes  were  caught  be- 
tween the  months  of  February  and  October,  inclusive. 

On  6th  May,  1846,  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  favoured  me  with  the  follow- 
ing communication : — 

“ This  morning  I got  two  specimens  of  Callionymus  Lyra ; life  not 
quite  extinct ; they  were  taken  on  a long  line  in  Belfast  Bay,  and  are  said 
not  to  be  uncommon.  Covered  by  the  pectoral  fin,  there  is  on  each  side 
a very  distinct  ocellus  of  bright  blue,  the  ring,  however,  not  complete, 
but  interrupted  in  some  degree.  The  fins  so  collapsed  that  on  a superfi- 
cial view  there  seem  to  be  only  the  ventral  and  caudal ; ventral  a dark 
brownish  grey,  not  purple.” 


118 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


April  22,  1837. — Captain  Fayrer,  R.  N.,sent  me  a specimen  of  this  fish 
which  was  taken  at  Donaghadee.  Its  length  is  8 inches.  D.  4 — 10;  A. 
10 ; C.  12  in  all ; P.  20 ; V.  1 5.  Donovan’s  figure  gives  a very  faint 

idea  of  the  splendid  colouring  of  this  specimen.  Below  the  eyes,  on  each 
side  the  head,  the  ground  colour  is  orange,  on  which  roundish  and  vari- 
ously formed  markings  of  “ultramarine”  and  “ verditer  blue,”  and  similar 
beauteous  shades  of  blue,  prevail  under  the  surface  of  head  to  opening 
of  gill  cover,  the  ground  colour  changes  to  gamboge  yellow,  and  the  blue 
becomes  likewise  paler,  the  ground  colour  of  the  anterior  half  of  the  back, 
i.  e.  to  lateral  line,  is  pale  “arterial  blood-red”  (colours  marked  by  in- 
verted commas  are  from  Syme),  with  pale  fawn-coloured  brown  round 
spots  and  markings.  Posterior  half  of  back  in  ground  colour,  pale  arte- 
rial blood-red,  and  brownish  orange  irregularly  disposed  with  roundish 
spots,  frequently  confluent,  of  a pale  fawnish  brown,  rather  beneath  the 
middle  of  the  side  (and  below  the  lateral  for  ^ of  its  length  from  its  ori- 
gin) extends  from  operculum  to  tail  a straight  line  of  ultramarine  blue, 
varying  in  breadth  from  l-8th  of  an  inch  (at  its  origin)  to  l-12th  (at  its  ter- 
mination) ; below  this  is  a brownish  orange  stripe  of  twice  the  breadth  of 
the  blue,  and  beneath  it  is  a line  of  “ verditer  ” blue  1-1 2th  of  an  inch  in 
breadth,  extending  from  the  P.  fin  to  the  tail ; when  the  fish  is  laid  flat, 
or  in  the  ordinary  way,  this  line  running  straight  along  the  base  of  its 
sides  forms  a beautiful  terminal  margin,  touching  the  object  on  which 
the  fish  is  placed.  Pupil  purple,  irides  silvery,  but  in  certain  iridescent 
positions , reflecting  gold  and  brilliant  flame  colour. 

1st  D.  fin,  lemon  colour,  with  irregular  markings  of  pale  blue,  lined 
with  a dark  shade  of  blue. 

2nd  D.,  lemon  colour,  with  4 lines  of  pale  blue,  extending  longitudi- 
nally throughout  this  colour,  lined  with  darker  blue. 

C.  fin  marked  with  dull  lemon  colour  and  blue  in  about  equal  portions, 
the  blue  in  longitudinal  markings. 

P.  fin,  first  10  rays  barred  with  reddish  brown  and  very  pale  olive,  re- 
mainder dusky. 

V.  black,  with  a few  blue  markings  towards  base. 

A.  all  dark  smoke  grey. 

Base  of  Body — Throat  black,  thence  to  vent  white  with  iridescent 
colours,  when  viewed  in  certain  positions,  thence  to  tail  dull  opaque 
greyish  white. 

“ It  was  taken  on  the  bank  which  extends  from  The  Copeland  Isles, 
southwards  (called  the  Rig) : it  had  just  got  the  point  of  a large  hook  in 
its  lip,  on  a long  line.” 

February,  1849. — A beautiful  specimen,  presented  to  Belfast  Museum 
by  Patrick  Doran,  was  taken  off  Mourne  (County  of  Down),  on  the  hook 
of  a fisherman.  It  is  9 inches  long.  The  1st  ray  of  1st  D.  fin  reaches, 
when  lying  on  body,  to  base  of  caudal  fin.  It  is  considerably  larger  than 
2nd  ray  of  1st  D.  fin. 

The  Sordid  Dragonet,  Callionymus  Dracanculus,  Linn., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South,  and  probably  around  the  island. 

Its  distribution  and  haunts  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  C.  Lyra , both 
being  inhabitants  of  deep  water ; it  is,  however,  more  common,  although 
not  of  frequent  occurrence. 

This  species  was  first  noticed  by  me  as  Irish  in  Zool.  Proc.  for  1835,  p.  81, 
in  reference  to  a specimen  forwarded  to  me  by  Dr.  Ball,  which  had  been 
obtained  by  him  at  Youghal,  in  August,  1834,  being  the  first  native  ex- 


THE  FISHING  FliOG. 


119 


ample  that  either  of  us  had  seen.  It  was  taken  in  a sprat-net,  and  was 
endeavouring  to  bury  itself  in  the  sand  when  Dr.  Ball  observed  it. 

This  specimen  is  5 inches  in  length  ; D.  4 — 10;  P.  20  or  21  ; Y.  5 ; 
A.  10  ; C.  10. 

The  two  posterior  rays  of  the  anal  and  second  dorsal  fins  which  I have 
enumerated  differ  from  the  other  rays  in  those  fins,  in  having  a common 
base,  and  consequently  might  by  some  authors  be  reckoned  but  as 
one  ray. 

The  first  dorsal  fin  is  so  pale  in  colour  as  to  be  transparent  as  far  as 
the  second  ray,  thence  to  the  extremity  black. 

Side  line  as  described  by  Lacep. 

The  largest  specimen  of  which  I have  a memorandum  was  taken  at 
Holywood,  in  April,  1844 ; it  measured  inches. 

Mr.  Hyndman  captured  one  in  a trawl-net  at  the  depth  of  27  fathoms 
off  the  mid-entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  in  August,  1850  ; and  I have  notes 
of  others  being  caught  on  long  lines  baited  with  lug-worms,  in  the  same 
bay,  both  in  the  summer  and  winter  seasons. 

A Newcastle  fisherman  informed  me  in  Oct.,  1851,  that  he  occasionally 
takes  this  species,  as  well  as  that  last  treated  of,  on  his  long  lines  when  set 
upon  muddy  ground,  but  never  on  sandy  bottom. 

Family  Lophihle. 

The  Fishing  Frog,  Angler  or  Sea-Devil,*  Lophius  piscatorius,  Linn., 
Is  common  around  the  coast. 

Fishes  of  this  species  are  generally  cut  into  on  the  N.  E.  coast,  that  the 
contents  of  their  stomachs  may  be  observed,  after  which  they  are  thrown 
overboard,  and  are  washed  ashore.  This  accounts  for  their  being  so  often 
seen  lying  dead  on  the  beach.  They  are  not  eaten  in  the  North. 

Dublin,  1839. — Professor  Allman  states  that  the  L.  piscatorius  is  com- 
mon on  the  S.W.  coast  of  Cork,  and  is  held  in  great  detestation : when 
captured,  the  fishermen  strike  their  heel  into  the  posterior  part  of  the 
skull,  and  then  throw  the  Lophius  overboard.  They  never  cut  into  their 
stomachs  as  on  the  West  coast  to  get  the  fish  from  them. 

Nov.  13,  1841. — Dr.  M‘Donnell  sent  me  three  fresh  examples  of  this 
species  which  were  taken  at  Carrickfergus.  In  the  pouches  of  all  three  were 
specimens  of  Chondr acanthus  Lophii ; the  stomachs  of  two  contained  the 
remains  of  small  Gadidce,  which  had  been  about  6 inches  in  length  ; that 
of  the  third  contained  the  remains  of  a small  sole  or  smooth  dab,  a whelk 
( Turbo  littoreus),  and  a Pagurus  Bernharclus  of  moderate  size.  Dr. 
JVPDonnell  was  told  by  the  person  who  sent  him  these  fishes  that  he  had 
lately  taken  five  good-sized  plaice  alive  from  the  stomach  of  a Lophius. 

Colour  of  the  three  examples,  “ dirty  ” or  dull  brown  above — of  a different 
shade  in  each  fish,  the  middle-sized  one  was,  besides,  marked  over  with  small 
spots  of  a blackish  colour  ; they  were  whitish  beneath,  but  dusky  towards 
tip  of  tail ; lower  portion  of  ventrals  and  pectorals  the  whitest  portion  of 
the  fish,  but  both  V.  and  P.  black  on  the  under  side  for  about  the  last 
third ; the  little  points  of  the  extreme  margin  white. 

December  7,  1841. — A fine  specimen  taken  in  Belfast  Bay  was  brought 
to  Dr.  M‘Donnell ; its  pouches  were  filled  with  Chondracanthi.  Its  total 
length  was  4^  feet ; unfortunately,  parts  were  removed  before  I saw  it,  so 

* This  fish  has  various  local  names  — Frog-fish , Friar , Molly  Gowan,  Briar- 
hot , &c.  [At  Strangford  Lough  it  is  called  “ Kilmaddy.” — Ed.] 


120 


AC  AN  THOPTER Y GII . 


that  the  whole  weight  could  not  be  ascertained.  I carefully  weighed  the 
ova  in  the  very  thin  and  transparent  membrane  enclosing  them,  and  found 
them  to  be  1 lb.  13  oz.  avoirdupoise.  Each  ovum  was  l-32nd  part  of  an 
inch  in  diameter,  and  after  reckoning  how  many  of  these  were  in  a drachm, 
and  making  due  allowance  for  the  weight  of  the  membrane  and  glutinous 
fluid  in  which  they  were  placed,  I estimated  the  total  number  of  ova  to 
be  1,427,344. 

February,  1843. — I am  informed  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Black  that  when 
trawling  in  Belfast  Bay  he  has  frequently  taken  large  Lophii , and  has 
always  found  the  food  in  their  stomachs  to  be  skate,  of  which  he  has,  to 
his  astonishment,  seen  specimens  a yard  long.  He  describes  the  Lophii 
containing  these  as  remarkably  large. 

August  19,  1844. — A gurnard,  o inches  long,  was  taken  from  the 
stomach  of  a Lophius  about  10  inches  in  length,  captured  in  Belfast  Bay, 
by  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman. 

January  1,  1847. — Mr.  Darragh,  curator  of  the  Belfast  Museum,  was 
told  by  a trustworthy  man  at  Larne  Lough,  that  in  one  of  these  fish,  which 
he  found  dying  at  the  edge  of  the  lough,  there  was  an  entire  female 
widgeon  perfectly  fresh.  Another  person  in  the  same  locality,  seeing  one 
of  these  fish  in  a dying  state,  and  having  observed  the  tail  of  another  fish 
protruding  out  of  its  mouth,  cut  the  Lophius  open  and  found  in  it  seven 
mullet,  of  which  three  were  alive  : the  whole  seven  weighed  from  3 to  4 
lb.  each. 

A story  is  told  at  Youghal  of  a living  widgeon  being  taken  out  of  the 
stomach  of  one. — Dr.  Ball. 

I have  been  informed  that  the  Lophius  is  frequently  killed  in  a singular 
manner  at  Keem  in  Achil.  The  waves,  on  receding,  carry  back  quan- 
tities of  sand,  which,  getting  into  these  fishes’  mouths,  disables  them,  and, 
being  thus  seen  from  the  shore,  they  are,  in  their  extremity,  approached 
and  despatched  with  pitchforks. 

Mr.  W.  Todhunter  once  saw  a Lophius  in  shallow  water  near  the  shore 
at  Youghal,  and  presented  the  butt-end  of  a whip  to  it,  which  it  seized 
and  held  by,  until  thus  drawn  ashore. 

A similar  case  is  recorded  by  Hr.  Parnell  (p.  96),  Some  years  ago  it 
was  mentioned  in  the  Dublin  newspapers  that  a man  bathing  in  Kings- 
town in  that  neighbourhood  was  seized  by  a Lophius , and  so  injured  in 
the  leg,  that  he  had  to  be  taken  to  an  hospital,  and  suffered  from  the 
wounds  for  a considerable  time.  The  fish  was  said  to  have  been  cap- 
tured, so  that  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  species, 

Family  Labrid.e. 

The  Ballan  Wrasse  or  Green-Streaked  Wrasse,* 

Labrus  variabilis , Thompson, 

— maculatus,  Bloch, 

— lineatus,  Donovan, 

Is  the  most  common  of  the  Labridce , and  found  around  the  coast, 
where  of  a rocky  character.  All  the  wrasses  are  partial  to  rocks,  in  which 
respect  they  differ  from  the  gobies ; some  of  the  latter  prefer  sands,  al- 
though others  do  not. 


* Called  “Bavin”  on  the  North-East  coast;  “ Morrian  ” and  “ Murran- 
roe  ” near  the  Giant’s  Causeway.  [Also  called  “ Gregagh”  in  the  North. — Ed.] 


THE  BALLAN  WRASSE. 


121 


The  following  notes  which  I contributed  to  the  Zool.  Society  in  1837 
were  published  in  the  Proceedings  of  that  year : — - 

“ Labrus  lineatus,  Don.,  Lab.  maculatus,  Bloch,  Lab.  psittacus,  Risso  ? — On 
September  26,  1835,  I obtained  at  Bangor,  Down,  two  specimens  of  a wrasse, 
which  agreed  pretty  well  with  the  L.  lineatus  of  Donovan,  a species  but  little 
understood.  They  seemed  also  identical  with  the  L.  psittacus  of  Risso,  used 
as  a synonym  of  the  L.  lineatus  in  the  works  of  Mr.  Yarrell  and  Mr.  Jenyns; 
by  the  latter  author  it  is  marked  with  doubt.  At  the  same  time  I could  not  con- 
sider these  specimens  else  than  the  young  of  L.  maculatus , an  opinion  which 
subsequent  examination  has  tended  to  confirm,  as  in  the  same  individual  I have 
seen  the  lineated  marking  of  L.  lineatus  and  the  spots  of  L.  maculatus.  The 
specimens  alluded  to  as  corresponding  with  Donovan’s  L.  lineatus  are  small,  as 
he  describes  the  species  to  be : those  conspicuously  spotted  over  were  large, 
and  the  individuals  presenting  partially  both  appearances  were  of  an  interme- 
diate size;  hence  it  would  appear  that  the  L.  lineatus  generally*  is  the  young 
fish,  and  the  L.  maculatus  the  adult.  It  must  be  added  that  specimens  of  equal 
size,  taken  at  the  same  time  and  place,  vary  much  in  colour  and  in  the  relative 
depth  of  the  body.  The  head,  too,  is  more  elongated  in  the  young  than  in  the 
mature  fish.” 

In  concluding  his  description  of  the  Labri  Pennant  observes, 

“ Besides  these  species  we  recollect  seeing  taken  at  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  in 
Ireland,  a most  beautiful  kind,  of  a vivid  green  spotted  with  scarlet ; and  others 
at  Bundoran,  in  the  County  of  Sligo,  of  a pale  green.”  He  adds, — “ We  were 
at  that  time  inattentive  to  this  branch  of  natural  history,  and  can  only  say  they 
were  of  a species  we  have  never  since  seen.” 

I have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  the  beautiful  kind  of  a vivid  green, 
spotted  with  scarlet,  was  the  ordinary  L.  maculatus , and  as  little  in  stating 
my  belief  that  the  pale  green  kind  was  also  the  same  species.  On  ex- 
amining the  produce  of  one  rod  after  a day’s  fishing,  I have  seen  spe- 
cimens varying  from  the  palest  green  to  the  very  darkest  tint  of  this 
colour. 

As  the  three  names  under  which  this  fish  appears — viz.  L.  lineatus,  L. 
psittacus  (when  it  is  uniformly  green),  and  L.  maculatus — apply  to  the  in- 
dividual rather  than  to  the  species,  and  thus  tend  to  confusion,  it  seems 
to  me  desirable  that  there  should  be  an -appellation  under  which  all  the 
varieties  could  be  brought,  and  as  such  I would  suggest  Labrus  varia- 
bilis. 

Templeton,  M‘Skimmin,  and  Marshall  have  each  noted  the  occurrence 
of  Labrus  Tinea  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  but  I have  little  doubt  that  they 
referred  to  red-coloured  specimens  of  the  Ballan  wrasse,  which  is  some- 
times of  a rich  pure  green  colour. 

The  stomachs  of  two  of  these  fishes,  which,  in  company  with  Dr.  J.  L. 
Drummond,  I examined  in  September,  1836,  contained  only  the  remains 
of  shrimp-like  Crustacea,  with  the  exception  of  an  imperfect  specimen  of 
Turbo  quadrifasciatus.  The  gastric  juice  had  almost  entirely  consumed 
one  of  the  stomachs.  I remarked  that  wherever  these  specimens  had  been 
rubbed  by  the  pectoral  fins  or  otherwise,  the  colour  was  much  more  faint 
than  elsewhere. 

Mr.  B.  Meenan  informs  me  that  the  Ballan  wrasse  is  very  abundant 
at  Donaghadee,  where  it  attains  the  weight  of  8 lbs.  It  is  little  prized  in 
Belfast  market,  the  largest  being  sold  for  a few  pence. 

During  an  easterly  gale  in  February,  1838,  numbers  of  these  fishes, 


* I have  seen  some  specimens  of  the  largest  size  entirely  green,  and  display- 
ing the  lineation  in  a darker  shade  of  this  colour. 


122 


ACANTH0PTERYG1I. 


perhaps  five  hundred,  and  no  other  fish,  were  thrown  up  dead  on  the 
shore  near  Holywood. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  supplied  me  with  the  following  note  in  reference  to  the 
Labrus  maculatus , on  Galway  coast : — 

“ In  carefully  reading  the  description  of  this  species  in  Yarrell’s  British 
Fishes,  I perceive  a few  particulars  at  variance  with  its  habits  here,  with 
regard  to  the  large  and  small  individuals  not  being  found  together.  I 
have  taken  specimens  of  the  Labrus  Tinea  and  L.  maculatus  about  4 
inches,  while  men  in  the  same  boat  were  taking  some  weighing  upwards 
of  4 lbs.  In  England,  it  seems,  the  fish  is  not  relished ; here  it  is  the 
most  favourite  fish,  the  entire  of  the  boats  being  engaged  fishing  for  them. 
With  us  they  do  not  spawn  until  June.  Looking  over  some  thousands 
in  a day,  I have  observed  invariably  that  the  larger  the  specimen  the 
more  beautiful  the  colours.  This  species  is  subject  to  great  variation  in 
its  colouring,  but  a person  situated  as  I am  here  can  perceive  a general 
similarity  in  the  markings  of  the  different  sizes,  as  you  have  noted  in 
your  paper  on  the  Crenilabri  that  the  C.  Cornub.  was  less  brilliant  in 
colour  than  the  C.  Tinea.  Are  these  the  young,  those  the  adult  ? I re- 
main positive  of  the  L.  maculatus  being  more  brilliant  in  the  mature 
than  in  the  young  state.  I have  never  seen  so  splendid  a fish  as  this, 
when  caught  about  4 lbs.  weight.  I have  observed  that  the  colours  of 
the  species  of  this  genus  do  not  disappear  after  death,  as  is  the  case  with 
many  other  fish,  as  I have  seen  them  retain  them  well  for  a number  of 
days,  in  some  cases  when  the  fish  was  even  putrid.  The  middle  size  of 
this  species  is  generally  of  a reddish  colour,  but  without  the  beautiful 
spots  of  the  largest  size.  Notwithstanding  the  habits  of  this  fish,  it  is 
found  covered  with  Lernea ; one  brought  in  to  me  this  day  alive  in  a pot 
had  some  hundreds  on  it ; they  were  the  most  active  species  I have  ever 
met  with,  running  over  the  fish  with  astonishing  rapidity.  I have  never 
found  any  attached  to  the  gills.  I cannot  omit  mentioning  about  the 
mode  of  fishing  for  this  species ; the  boats  choose  a sunken  rock  often 
with  30  fathom  water;  and,  as  it  is  what  they  term  foul  ground,  they  use 
a stone  for  an  anchor,  so  that  if  it  fastens  they  will  suffer  no  loss.  In 
like  manner  for  their  lines,  instead  of  lead  they  use  a small  round  stone, 
tied  weakly  to  a line,  so  that  when  it  fastens  it  will  break  off  and  not  en- 
danger the  line ; they  bring  a great  number  of  stones  to  sea  with  them 
for  this  purpose.  In  fine  weather  they  often  go  12  miles  to  sea  fishing  for 
this  species,  which  is  a favourite  fish.  It  is  caught  by  day.” 

[The  following  descriptive  notes  were  made  by  Mr.  Thompson  some 
years  ago,  but  there  is  no  date  on  the  MS. — Ed.] 

K.  Green  Wrasse,  Labrus  maculatus , Bl.  The  following  notice  is  of  five 
specimens  of  a species  of  Labrus,  the  general  colour  of  which  (body  and 
fins)  is  rich  green  in  all,  though  they  have  been  stuffed  for  a few  years. 
They  were  all  taken  in  Larne  Lough,  and  presented  to  Belfast  Museum 
by  Mr.  Wm.  Marshall. 

1st,  length  19  inches. 

B.  5?  D.  20jl2  (two  last  touch  at  base);  P.  15;  Y.  ljo;  A.  3|9; 
C.  17? 

This  seems  to  be  the  L.  lineatus  of  Donovan ; it  is  (body  and  fins)  of  a 
rich  green  colour,  which  becomes  paler  in  the  under  parts.  This  colour 
has  been  described  to  have  been  admirably  well  retained  in  the  present 
specimen.  As  in  Donovan’s  dried  one,  it  also  possesses  the  longitudinal 
lines  represented  in  the  figure  of  that  author. 

2nd,  length  11  inches. 


THE  BALLAN  WRASSE. 


123 


D.  20|11  ; P.  15  ; V.  1|5  ; A.  3|9;  C.  15,  well  developed. 

3rd,  length  10^  inches. 

D.  20|11 ; P.  15  ; Y.  1|5;  A.  3[9;  C.  15,  well  developed. 

This  specimen  is  green,  like  the  previous  two,  but  has  also  singularly 
disposed  transverse  markings,  in  a zig-zag  form  upon  the  back  and  sides. 

4th,  length  20  inches. 

D.  20|  1 1 (two  last  touch  at  base) ; P.  15  ; Y.  1|5 ; A.  3[9 ; C.  15,  well 
developed ; B.  5 ? 

The  opercula  and  sides  above  lateral  line  in  this  specimen  are  beau- 
tifully marked,  being  covered  with  roundish  green  spots  from  2 to  4 lines 
in  diameter  each,  surrounded  with  an  irregular  ring  of  a brown  colour ; 
below  the  lateral  line  this  marking  appears  but  in  a faint  degree,  the 
sides,  from  the  extremity  of  pectoral  fins  to  tail,  being  regularly  lineated 
as  in  Donovan’s  figure. 

5th,  length  19  inches. 

D.  20j  1 1 (two  last  join?  at  base);  P.  15;  Y.  1|5;  A.  3]9  (two  last 
touch  at  base);  C.  15,  well  developed;  B.  5 ? base  of  operculum  of  a 
dark  orange  colour,  with  pale  green  spots  of  a roundish  form. 

The  rays  in  branchiostegous  membrane  in  this  specimen,  and  in  Nos.  1 
and  4,  are  marked  5 ? as  this  number  only  appears  ; and,  from  the  spe- 
cimens being  stuffed,  it  cannot  be  stated  whether  there  be  more.  Pen- 
nant gives  four  as  the  number  in  that  of  the  Ballan  wrasse . 

With  Pennant’s  description  of  Ballan  wrasse  these  five  specimens  agree 
in  the  number  of  fin-rays,  and  also  in  possessing  scales  between  the  rays 
on  the  caudal  fin  (these  scales  do  not  appear  on  any  other  fins) ; with 
the  same  description  they  do  not  agree  in  colour,  in  considerable  sinking 
between  D.  and  C.  fins  (this  cannot  perhaps  be  judged  of  in  stuffed  speci- 
mens), nor  in  depression  of  gill-cover  radiated  from  the  centrQ  (no  such 
appearance  being  visible). 

In  fin-rays  these  agree  with  L.  Neustrica  of  Lacepede.  He  does  not 
mention  the  colour,  &c. 

[Two  other  specimens  presented  by  the  same  gentleman  to  the  Belfast 
Museum  were  thus  noted  by  Mr.  Thompson. — Ed.] 

1st  specimen,  14^-  inches  in  length;  D.  17|  14  (reckoning  two  last, 
which  touch  at  base,  as  2);  P.  15;  V.  1 1 5 ; A.  14,  total  number;  the 
three  anterior  rays  are  spiny,  next  two  or  three  broken  at  point.  C.  14. 
Furrow  from  snout  to  forehead  is  not  so  well  marked  as  in  the  specimens 
of  green  wrasse  which  I have  examined. 

Colour. — Anterior  portion,  or  nearly  a third  of  dorsal  fin,  black ; also 
the  posterior  half  of  tail,  the  extremity  of  anal  fin,  and  of  the  two  or  three 
anterior  rays  of  ventral  fins. 

2nd  specimen,  14  inches  in  length ; B.  5,  distinctly  seen  ; D.  18|  13  ; P. 
15  ; V.  1 ] 5 ; A.  3|  1 1 ; C.  14  ; greater  portion  of  tail  towards  the  extremity, 
about  ^ of  the  anterior  portion  of  dorsal  extremity  of  anal  and  of  the  three 
anterior  rays  of  ventral  fins,  black ; the  pectoral  fins,  I should  think,  were 
on  both  specimens  clouded  with  black. 

One  of  Dr.  Ball’s  specimens  from  Youghal,  21  inches  long,  has  the 
lineated  appearance  strongly  marked. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  a fish  called  Red  Ravin  by  the  per- 
son who  preserved  it,  on  account  of  its  prevailing  red  colour.  This  has, 
however,  entirely  disappeared  since  the  specimen  was  stuffed. 

Length  16^  inches. 

D.  21 1 1 1 ; P.  1|5 ; V.  15 ; A.  3|9  ; C.  15  ; B.  5.  This  fish  is  now  of 


124 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


a very  faint  green  colour.  It  is  evidently  the  same  species  as  the  green 
wrasse. 

“ Variable  Wrasse — Labrus  variabilis,  Thomp. — Lab.  maculatus , Bloch — I 
have  seen  taken  commonly  on  the  rocky  coasts  of  Wigton  and  Ayrshire.  It 
seems  common  in  such  localities  around  the  British  Islands.” — W.  T.  in  Mag. 
Nat.  Hist.  vol.  iii.  p.  586. 

The  Cook  Wrasse,*  or  Blue-striped  Wrasse,  Labrus  variegatus 
(Gmelin), 

Is  occasionally,  but  rarely,  taken  around  the  coast. 

Localities  noted : — Coasts  of  Antrim  and  Down  ; Dublin,  Ardmore,  in 
County  Waterford,  Youghal,  and  Kilkee  (Dr.  Ball) ; Galway  coast  (Mr. 
M‘Calla). 

The  first  published  notice  of  this  specimen  as  Irish,  was  communicated 
by  me  to  the  Zool.  Proc.,  1835,  (p.  81,)  where  it  was  stated  that  the  speci- 
men is  occasionally  taken  on  the  Down  and  Antrim  shores  ; that  a speci- 
men had  been  sent  me  from  the  South  by  Dr.  Ball ; and  that,  in  the 
museum  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society,  one  is  preserved  which  was  pur- 
chased in  Dublin  market.  I subsequently  learned,  however,  that  the 
specimen  had  been  known  to  Mr.  Templeton,  and  in  his  published  cata- 
logue, which  afterwards  appeared,  the  following  note  occurs  in  reference 
to  it : — “ Both  the  specimens  of  this  beautiful  fish  were  caught  in  Strang- 
ford  Lough.” 

The  food  contained  in  specimens  which  I examined,  consisted  of  mol- 
lusca  and  Crustacea. 

Like  other  rare  species  not  known  to  the  public,  this  wrasse  does  not 
meet  with  purchasers  in  our  northern  markets. 

Descriptive  notes  of  two  specimens  taken  at  Carrickfergus,  December 
28,  1835  : — 

1st,  length  11  inches. 

D.  17  + 13  J A.  3 + 11  ; P.  15 ; V.  1 + 5 ; C.  15,  well  developed ; 
B.  5. 

2nd,  length  11  inches. 

D.  18  + 12 ; A.  3 -f  12 ; P.  14  ; V.  1 + 5 ; C.  15 ; B.  5. 

Colour  of  both  specimens — one-half  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  body,  in- 
cluding operculum  and  pre-operculum,  greenish  olive  beautifully  striped, 
and  otherwise  marked  with  different  shades  of  brilliant  blue  (iris  blue  and 
golden  orange),  the  blue  extending  in  one  specimen  conspicuously,  in  the 
other  faintly,  along  the  middle  of  the  body  (not  occupying  more  than 
about  l-5th  of  it)  to  the  base  of  tail ; remainder  or  all  the  rest  of  the 
body  different  shades  of  orange,  which  is  deepest  in  tint  on  the  back,  and 
becomes  gradually  lighter  towards  the  belly. 

D.  fin  rather  more  than  £ of  anterior  portion  azure  blue  to  near  the 
tips,  which,  with  the  remainder  of  fin,  is  orange,  excepting  the  extremest 
tips,  which  are  blue. 

P.  entirely  of  a very  pale  red,  transparent. 

V.  very  pale  orange,  tipped  with  pale  blue. 

A.  yellow  orange  for  2-3rds  from  base,  remainder  greyish  blue. 

C.  about  the  basal  half  orange  red,  remainder  Prussian  blue. 

The  stomach  of  the  one  contained  only  a piece  of  the  “ buckie  whelk,” 
with  which  bait  it  was,  I presume,  caught.  The  stomach  of  the  other  was 


* Sometimes  called  “Livery  Servant,”  and  “ Livery  Fish”  in  the  North. 


THE  COOK  WRASSE. 


125 


empty,  but  the  oesophagus  contained  also  a large  piece  of  the  same  mol- 
lusk.  One  side  of  the  gill  membrane  was  torn  out  in  both  specimens, 
probably  in  extricating  the  hook. 

The  following  was  a female  fish,  the  ova  extremely  minute : — 

July  9,  1838. — I received  in  a recent  state,  from  C.  G.  M.  Skinner, 
Esq.,  a specimen  of  L.  variegatus , which  was  taken  in  a lobster  basket  on 
the  7th  inst.,  at  Portmuck,  Island  Magee,  and  was  quite  unknown  to 
those  who  saw  it  there. 

Its  length  is  10  inches  ; Br.  5 ; D.  17  + 13  ; A.  3 + 11 ; C.  15  (well- 
defined  rays)  ; P.  15 ; Y.  1 5. 

In  colour  this  specimen  is  extremely  beautiful,  and  much  less  gaudy 
than  others  I have  seen.  The  entire  head  and  2-3rds  of  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  sides  has  bronze  of  different  shades  for  a ground  colour,  and 
throughout  this  the  beautiful  azure  markings  as  in  form,  though  in  colour 
faintly  represented  in  Donovan’s  fig.  21  ; the  lowest  l-3rd  of  the  sides  to 
the  Y.  profile  is  rose  red,  of  different  shades  (the  blue  markings  are  more 
broken  and  varied  than  in  Donovan’s  fig.,  not  exhibiting  any  formality 
as  in  his) ; the  D.  fin  is  marked  and  coloured  as  by  Donovan ; but  the 
colours  all  very  much  richer.  The  C.  fin  is  rich  dark  red,  terminated  by 
azure,  which  is  very  narrow  in  the  centre,  but  both  above  and  below  ex- 
tending to  a narrow  point  near  to  the  base  of  the  outer  rays.  Several 
azure  spots  upon  the  red  centre  of  the  fin  (no  formal  band  as  in  Donovan 
ending  this  fin).  P.  fins  uniformly  violet  red  (no  formal  band  as  in  Do- 
novan’s). V.  fins  pale  orange  red,  tipped  with  azure  ; A.  fin  of  a much 
deeper  red  than  the  rose-coloured  body  at  its  base,  and  terminated  by 
azure,  which  becomes  pale  at  the  extreme  margin. 

Irides  dull  silver,  variegated  with  blue,  orange,  and  yellow. 

January  2,  1845. — I bought  a fresh  specimen  taken  at  Larna;  length, 
lffi-  inches.  It  is  a most  brilliant  specimen,  nearly  the  anterior  half  being 
golden  olive,  on  which  blue  of  the  most  beautiful  colour  appears.  Im- 
mediately behind  the  gill-covers  are  what  Pennant  might  have  called  four 
parallel  lines  of  greenish  or  (rather)  golden  olive  ; but  only  the  two  upper 
I should  call  lines  with  one  line  of  blue,  it  being  broken  instead  of  linear, 
except  where  it  first  appears,  the  blue  taking  other  forms. 

A similar  marking  of  head  to  that  described  in  L.  trimaculatus  taken 
with  it  is  presented,  i.  e.  a blue  bar  across  top  of  head  between  eyes,  and 
a horse-shoe  formed,  or  rather  in  this  specimen  a belt  of  lovely  blue  be- 
fore this  across  snout,  and  reaching  down  below  the  line  of  lower  point 
of  eye,  which  it  does  not  do  in  L.  trimaculatus . Its  back  (hinder)  is  bril- 
liant orange  red,  belly  intense  gamboge  yellow,  the  adjacent  fins  partak- 
ing respectively  of  these  colours. 

Irides  brilliant  red  and  deep  blue,  hinder  half  of  caudal  fin  brilliant 
blue,  but  darker  than  the  most  beautiful  blue  on  the  D.  P.  and  A.  fins ; 
all  the  shades  of  blue  in  this  fish  are  extremely  beautiful. 

Yarrell’s  description  is  good,  but  “ striped  ” with  blue  indicated  a for- 
mality in  the  dispositions  of  this  colour  not  presented  in  the  present  spe- 
cimen. It  is  broken  into  somewhat  triangular  sections,  rather  of  trian- 
gular forms,  excepting  one  or  two  stripes. 

May,  1847. — Labrus  variegatus  (taken  with  Labrus  trimaculatus  at 
the  Wheelan’s,  near  Larne)  was  the  largest  I have  seen.  It  measured 
13  inches  in  length;  body,  exclusive  of  fins,  3 inches  deep,  colours  ex- 
tremely beautiful. 

A Labrus,  agreeing  quite  as  well  with  L.  vetula,  described  by  Jenyns 
and  Yarrell,  as  with  L.  variegatus,  described  by  the  same  authors,  was 


126 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


sent  to  me  in  a dried  state  by  Dr.  Ball,  in  December,  1835.  On  com- 
paring it  with  Mr.  Yarrell’s  specimens  in  London,  I considered  it  L . 
variegatus. 

May  not  Bloch’s  Labrus  vetula  be  L.  variegatus  f There  is  only 
colour  against  it,  and  this  is  nothing,  unless  he  describes  from  recent 
specimens. 

The  Three-Spotted  Wrasse,  Labrus  trimaculatus,  Penn., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North  and  North-East  coasts,  and  also  in  the 
West. 

The  first  native  specimens  of  this  fish  which  I saw  were  taken  at 
Portrush,  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  by  the  collectors  to  the  Ordnance 
Survey. 

January  2,  1845. — I bought  two  fresh  specimens  of  this  fish  which 
were  taken  at  Larne  along  with  a Lab.  variegatus.  They  are  9 and 
10  inches  long  each ; their  colours  agree  with  Yarrell,  p.  321  ; but  it 
may  be  added  that  the  anal  fin  is  broadly  edged  with  pale  blue,  of  which 
colour  there  is  a narrow  edging  to  the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  likewise. 

On  the  top  of  the  head  there  is  a stripe  of  dark  blue  from  eye  to  eye, 
and  a horse-shoe  mark  across  the  snout  of  the  same  colour  before  the 
eyes,  towards  which  the  points  are  directed.  Eyes  deep  brilliant  red,  a 
stripe  of  dark  blue  across  the  upper  portion,  and  a little  of  it  below  the 
pupil. 

The  smaller  specimen  has  four  conspicuous  black  spots  on  dorsal 
ridge ; anterior  to  the  first  there  is  not  a white  spot,  though,  as  usual, 
white  spots  are  before  each  of  the  other  blackish  ones. 

On  mentioning  the  occurrence  of  these  fish  to  my  friend,  Dr.  Drum- 
mond, he  stated  that  when  at  Donaghadee,  in  the  summer  of  1843,  he 
saw  three  full-sized  specimens  of  the  three-spotted  wrasse,  taken  in  the 
month  of  June ; and  one  taken  in  July  was  sent  him  to  Belfast  by  Lieu- 
tenant Davy,  R.  N. ; they  were  taken  by  boys  fishing  from  the  rocks. 

In  Donovan’s  beautiful  figure  of  this  specimen  (pi.  49)  the  D.,  A.,  P., 
and  V.  fins  are  represented  as  being  tipped  with  blue,  but  this  colour 
does  not  appear  elsewhere.  It  would  seem  that  the  author  had  seen  but 
the  one  specimen. 

In  the  collection  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society  there  is  an  example  pro- 
cured by  Mr.  M‘Calla,  at  Roundstone.  A specimen  taken  at  the 
Wheelan’s,  near  Larne,  in  May,  1847,  was  sent  to  the  Belfast  Museum. 
It  measured  11  inches  in  length,  and  was  taken  with  “white  bait.” — 
Nerei. 

M.  Agassiz  informs  me  that  L.  carneus,  Risso,  of  which  he  possesses  a spe- 
cimen so  named  by  that  author,  is  a distinct  species  from  the  L.  carneus , Bloch; 
this  latter  being  identical  with  L.  trimaculatus  as  figured  by  Donovan. 

The  Gilthead,  Corkwing,  or  Gibbous  Wrasse, 

Crenilabrus  Tinea,  Flem., 

— Cornubicus,  Risso, 

— Labrus  Cornubicus , Penn., 

— gibbus,  Flem., 

Is  found  around  the  coast,  and  is,  next  to  the  Ballan  wrasse,  the  most 
common  species. 

In  the  Zool.  Proc.  for  June,  1835  (p.  81),  I noticed  the  C.  Cornub.  as 


THE  GILTHEAD,  CORKWING,  OR  GIBBOUS  WRASSE.  127 

taken  at  Youghal  by  Dr.  Ball,  and  I subsequently  made  the  following 
communications  to  the  Zoological  Society,  and  to  the  Magazine  of  Zoology 
and  Botany 

“ Crenilabrus  Tinea,  Risso.  Cren.  Cornubicus , Risso.  Cren.  gibbus,  Flem 
In  the  autumn  of  1835  an  attentive  examination  of  specimens  of  the  C.  Tinea 
and  C.  Corntibicus , of  all  sizes,  and  in  a recent  state,  satisfied  me  of  their  iden- 
tity. The  depth  of  C.  Tinea  in  proportion  to  its  length  being  found  to  vary  con- 
siderably, though  not  to  the  extent  described  in  the  Gibbus  Wrasse  of  Pennant, 
together  with  the  general  accordance  of  other  characters,  disposed  me  at  the 
same  time  to  believe  that  the  C.  gibbus  is  but  an  accidental  variety  of  it.” — 
Zool.  Proc.,  1837. 

“ Crenilabrus  Tinca  and  C.  Cornubicus  of  Authors. 

During  the  month  of  September,  1835,  which  I spent  at  Bangor,  on 
the  coast  of  Down,  I embraced  the  opportunity  of  examining  these 
species  in  a recent  state,  as  on  every  calm  day  they  were  in  about  equal 
numbers  caught  from  the  rocks  by  lads,  who  provided  me  with  them. 

This  examination  proved  to  my  satisfaction  that  the  C.  Tinca  and  O. 
Cornubicus  are  not  distinct.  The  colour  was  as  commonly  described,  in 
so  far  that  the  smaller  specimens,*  up  to  the  length  of  six  inches, — but 
not  all  under  this  size, — had  on  the  body  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  the 
black  spot  of  C.  Cornubicus,  and  the  larger  ( C.  Tinca ) wanted  it ; also,  in 
the  former  being  generally  rather  less  brilliant  in  colour.  Some  specimens 
of  an  intermediate  size,  however,  had  the  above-named  spot  of  an  obscure 
brown,  suggesting  that  this  spot,  originally  black,  may  change  gradually 
to  this  colour,  and  afterwards  become  obliterated — an  effect  analogous  to 
which,  but  to  a much  greater  extent,  takes  place,  according  to  Agassiz,  in 
certain  species  of  the  Salmonidce.  The  dorsal  fin  was  similar  in  all,  the 
spinous  portion  being  marked  alternately  with  longitudinal  lines  of 
green  and  red,  and  the  soft  portion  red,  with  roundish  green  spots.  In 
no  other  marking  or  distribution  of  colours  was  there  any  difference  be- 
tween them. 

In  not  one  of  the  many  characters  which  come  under  the  head  of  ‘ form  ’ 
was  there  any  difference  ; the  proportion  of  depth  to  length,  denticula- 
tions  of  pre-opercle  and  teeth, t being  similar  in  both.  In  these  characters 
Mr.  Jenyns  considers  the  C.  Tinca  and  C.  Cornubicus  differ  (Man.  Brit. 
Vert.  p.  398),  and  from  his  great  accuracy  there  cannot  be  a doubt  that 
they  did  so  in  the  specimens  he  examined  ; but  it  was,  I presume,  merely 
individual,  as  the  differential  characters  he  has  assigned'  to  each  have 
occurred  to  me.  in  the  other. 

Dr.  Fleming  has  brought  these  species  together  (Brit.  Anim.  p.  208) ; 
but  we  are  not  informed  whether  it  was  their  general  similarity,  or  an 
actual  examination  of  specimens,  that  led  him  to  this  conclusion. 


* In  the  collection  of  Dr.  Ball,  of  Dublin,  there  are  smaller  specimens  than 
any  obtained  at  Bangor.  Ten  of  these  which  I examined,  and  of  which  several 
were  about  inch  long,  had  the  black  spot  conspicuous.  The  largest  indivi- 
dual I have  seen  with  this  marking  is  8|  inches  in  length.  It  was  procured  on 
the  northern  coast  of  Ireland  in  the  course  of  the  Ordnance  Survey. 

f In  two  Bangor  specimens  of  C.  Cornubicus  there  are  fourteen  teeth  in  the 
lower  jaw,  a greater  number  than  which  is  not  possessed  by  any  C.  Tinca  I ex- 
amined with  them.  The  second  row  of  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  is  most  apparent 
in  the  larger  individuals,  or,  in  other  words,  in  C.  Tinca. 


128 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


Mr.  Couch  remarks  of  C.  Tinea  and  C.  Cornubicus  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
yoI.  v.  p.  742)  that  they  differ  in  size,  shape,  colour,  and  habits.  The 
three  first  differences  have  been  already  dwelt  upon ; but  as  to  habits,  I 
have  only  circumstantial  evidence  of  their  similarity,  by  the  supposed  two 
species  being  taken  in  like  quantity  at  the  same  time  and  place,  and  with 
the  same  bait.  The  C.  Cornubicus  is,  under  the  name  of  ‘ Corkwing,’ 
admitted  by  Mr.  Couch  occasionally  to  want  the  black  spot  on  the  tail 
(Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  v.  p.  18),  and  is  in  this  state  considered  by  him  to 
constitute  the  ‘ Gibbous  Wrasse  ’ of  Pennant.  I,  believing  the  C.  Tinea 
and  C.  Cornubicus  to  be  identical,  am  inclined  to  think  the  gibbous  wrasse 
is  an  accidental  variety  of  C.  Tinea.  The  only  thing  like  a specific  differ- 
ence that  I can  perceive  in  any  of  the  characters  included  under  ‘ form  ’ 
in  the  C.  gibbus , is  its  greater  depth,  which  is  to  its  length  as  three  to 
eight — the  average  depth  of  C.  Tinea  I find  to  be  as  three  to  nine,  and  the 
proportion  varies — though  certainly  not,  so  far  as  I have  observed,  ac- 
cording to  any  peculiarity  of  colouring,  which  is  supposed  to  mark  C. 
Tinea  and  C.  Cornubicus.  The  only  difference  between  them  in  colour 
worthy  of  remark  is,  that  C.  gibbus  has  a ‘ dusky  semilunar  spot  above 
each  eye,’  and  the  ‘ pectoral  fins  marked  at  the  base  with  transverse 
stripes  of  red.’  The  C.  Tinea  has  a ‘ dusky  ’ mark  behind  the  eye,  which 
does  rarely  reach  above  it  posteriorly,  and  amongst  my  specimens  is  one 
exhibiting  three  transverse  stripes  of  red  at  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fin, 
though  all  the  others  have  but  one  stripe.  Finding  specimens  of  the  C. 
Tinea  thus  varying  both  in  form  and  colour,  I have  not  a doubt  of  the  C. 
gibbus  being  an  accidental  variety  of  it,  an  opinion  which  is  much  strength- 
ened by  one  individual  only  of  C.  gibbus  proper  having  ever  occurred. 
With  these  views,  it  appears  to  me  that  the  name  of  C.  Tinea  should  be 
used  to  designate  the  species,  and  C.  Cornubicus  and  C.  gibbus  to  mark  its 
varieties.  This  species,  in  its  ordinary  aspect,  and  in  that  of  the  variety 
first  mentioned,  probably  occurs  on  all  the  rocky  parts  of  the  Irish  coast. 
I have  seen  specimens  of  both  from  a wide  range  of  the  northern,  eastern, 
and  southern  shores. 

Since  the  above  was  read  to  the  Zoological  Society,  I have  observed  in 
the  collection  of  my  friend,  Dr.  Ball,  a fish  named  by  him  C.  gibbus, 
which  further  serves  to  illustrate  what  has  been  just  advanced.  This 
specimen,  which  was  taken  at  Youghal,  is  in  length  8 inches,  its  greatest 
depth  of  body,  exclusive  of  fins,  2 inches,  7 lines — the  depth  to  length 
thus  being  as  1 to  2f . — The  fin  rays  are  : — - 

D.  16-4-9 ; A.  3 -j-  10 ; Y.  1 5 ; P.  15 ; C.  15,  and  some  short.  Its  pro- 

file from  the  mouth  to  the  commencement  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  even  more 
vertical  than  represented  in  Pennant’s  figure  of  the  gibbous  wrasse,  but 
here,  instead  of  about  the  centre  of  this  fin,  is  its  maximum  height.  From 
this  point  it  falls  away  gradually  to  the  tail,  so  that,  without  including 
the  dorsal  fin,  it  does  not  present  the  depth  relatively  to  the  length  de- 
scribed by  Pennant.  It  is  at  the  same  time  evidently  his  C.  gibbus,  and 
as  evidently  a mal-formed  specimen  of  C.  Tinea.  The  original  colour  can- 
not now  be  accurately  determined.  It,  however,  wants  the  black  spot  of 
C.  Cornubicus .” — Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.  vol.  ii. 

Mr.  Yarrell,  in  his  first  edition  of  British  Fishes,  gave  a figure  and  de- 
scription of  C.  gibbus,  but  it  is  left  out  of  the  second  edition  of  the  work, 
without,  so  far  as  I can  perceive,  any  allusion  to  the  circumstance,  or  any 
reason  being  assigned  for  its  omission. 

June  10,  1838. — At  Kingstown  (Dublin)  I saw  a boy  with  a string  of 


JAGO’S  GOLDSINNY. 


129 


fish,  consisting  of  Labrus  maculatus , Crenilabrus  Tinea , and  its  variety  C. 
Cornubicus,  showing  no  difference  hut  the  black  spot  on  the  tail. 

Mr.  Mi  Calla,  in  1840,  mentioned  C.  Tinea  and  C.  Cornub.  as  frequent  at 
Roundstone.  He  added,  “ I have  taken  a number  of  C.  Tinea  of  small 
size,  without  the  black  spot  and  brilliant  colour  ; I have  specimens  three 
times  the  size  with  the  black.”  I have  never  known  this  species  brought 
to  Belfast  market. 

A specimen  of  Crenilabrus  Cornubicus , in  possession  of  Dr.  Ball,  was 
as  follows : — 

Length  1 inch  9 lines. 

D.  16  + 9 ; P.  14  ; Y.  1 4-  5 ; A.  3 + 10 ; C.  14,  and  some  short ; 
coloured  as  in  Donovan’s  plate. 

It  was  taken  at  Glendore,  County  Cork. 

The  fin-rays  of  two  of  the  specimens  which  I procured  at  Bangor,  in 
September,  1835,  were  thus  noted  in  my  journal : — 

C.  Tinea , seven  inches  long. — Fin-rays, D. 16+10;  P.  14  ; V.  1 + 5; 
A.  3 + 10;  C.  13,  well  developed  rays. 

C.  Cornubicus , six  inches  long. — Pin-rays,  D.  16  + 9 ; P.  14 ; V.  1+  5 ; 
A.  3 + 10  ; C.  13,  well  developed  rays. 

Jago’s  Goldsinny,  Crenilabrus  rupestris,  Selby, 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-East  and  West  coasts. 

Crenilabrus  rupestris*  (. Lutjanus  rupestris , Bloch),  Jago’s 
Goldsinny. 

On  the  10th  and  13th  of  September,  1835,  I detected  two  specimens  of 
this  fish  at  Bangor  (County  Down),  amongst  a number  of  the  C.  Tinea  and 
C.  Cornubicus  that  were  taken  by  boys  fishing  from  the  rocks,  and  using  as 
bait  a species  of  Nereis,  apparently  the  N.  rufa  of  Pennant.  The  following 
short  description,  drawn  up  from  them  when  recent,  may  not  be  unac- 
ceptable, as  the  species  is  subject  to  much  variation.  Total  length  and 
4f  inches  ; number  of  fin-rays  : — 

D.  17  + 9;  P.  14;  Y.  1 + 5;  A.  3 + 8;  C.  15,  well  developed  ; Br.  6. 

D.  18  + 9 ; P.  15  ; V.  1 + 5 ; A.  3 + 8 ; C.  15. 

Depth  equal  to  length  of  head ; head  to  length  of  body  nearly  as  1 to  3 ; 
lateral  line  taking  the  precise  form  of  dorsal  profile.  A row  of  pores 
appearing  near  the  margin  of  the  pre-opercle  is  continued  forward  over 
the  eye.  Behind  its  upper  portion  they  are  numerous,  and  irregularly 
disposed.  Caudal  fin  covered  with  scales  for  two-thirds  of  its  length  from 
the  base,  none  upon  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  their  base  being  concealed 
by  the  scales  of  the  body.  Colour  above  the  lateral  line  greenish-brown, 
below  it  changing  gradually  to  pale  green,  the  colour  of  the  belly.  Some 
irregular  rows  of  orange  spots  occur  longitudinally  beneath  the  lateral 
line.  Pectoral  fins  orange-yellow,  which  colour,  with  lighter  shades  of 
yellow,  prevails  in  all  the  fins,  except  the  anterior  portion  of  the  dorsal, 
which  from  the  first  to  the  fourth  ray  is  black ; of  this  colour  also  are  the 
upper  margin  of  the  eye  and  orbit,  and  a roundish  spot  at  the  upper  edge 
of  the  tail.  The  centre  of  the  scales,  being  of  a rather  darker  shade  than 
their  margin,  gives  to  these  specimens  the  appearance  of  being  faintly 
lineated. 

They  seem  to  be  identical  with  the  species  represented  in  the  vignette 


* See  Mr.  Selby  in  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  i.  p.  170. 


130 


ACANTHOPTERY  GII. 


to  C.  luscus , in  Mr.  Yarr ell’s  British  Fishes  (vol.  i.  p.  301),*  though  cer- 
tainly not  with  the  figure  preceding  the  article,  nor  with  the  description 
of  C.  luscus.  The  vignette  differs  from  them  in  the  mouth,  which  is 
placed  too  high,  and  is  thus  made  unnaturally  to  resemble  that  of  the 
Trachinus  vipera. 

Such  were  the  observations  made  on  these  individuals  in  a recent  state. 
In  the  month  of  February,  1836,  a specimen  of  the  same  fish,  which  was 
cast  ashore  at  Barncleugh,  came  into  the  possession  of  P.  J.  Selby,  Esq., 
and  formed  the  subject  of  a communication  to  the  Magazine  of  N.  H.  in  the 
following  August.  Mr.  Selby  here  satisfactorily  showed  that  it  was  the 
goldsinny  of  Jago  and  Lutjanus  rupestris  of  Bloch,  but  of  a different 
species  from  the  fish  now  known  by  the  former  name.  My  specimens  had 
not  the  least  indication  of  transverse  bands  on  the  sides,  as  described  and 
figured  by  Bloch  and  Selby,  nor  was  there  any  appearance  of  blue  either 
in  spots  or  lines  upon  the  head.  On  examination  of  several  individuals 
in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  collection,  I found  no  appearance  of  tranverse  markings. 
Nilsson  observes  (Prod.  Icht.  Scand.)  that  the  colour  of  the  species  is 
variable. 

A specimen  of  this  fish,  obtained  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  when  dredg- 
ing about  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  in  June,  1838,  measured  4^  inches 
in  length;  fin-rays,  D.  17  + 9;  P.  14;  Y.  1 + 5 ; A.  3 + 7 ; C.  15, 
well  developed. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a letter  which  I received  from  Mr. 
M‘Calla,  dated  at  Roundstone,  Oct.  3,  1840 : — 

After  stating  that  he  had  procured  one  of  these  fishes,  Mr.  M‘Calla 
added — “ I have  carefully  studied  your  description  in  vol.  ii.  Mag.  of 
Zool.  and  Bot.,  and  Selby’s  account  in  the  1st  vol.  I beg  to  offer  a few 
remarks  on  the  specimen  I obtained ; first,  as  to  length,  not  having  a 
rule  at  hand,  I mark  the  length  of  the  specimen  [4f  inches. — Ed.]. 
Notes  taken  when  alive  : — 5 rich  salmon-coloured  lines  on  the  sides,  run- 
ning parallel  with  the  lateral  line  commencing  at  the  pectoral ; a dark 
red  line  immediately  at  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fin  ; 5 small  black  spots 
irregularly  disposed  on  the  lateral  line  over  the  pectoral  fins ; first  three 
rays  of  the  dorsal  fin  with  a black  spot ; second  and  third  spine  of  the  rays 
bright  blue.  The  figure  given,  vol.  i.  Mag.  of  Zool.  and  Bot.,  is  not  correct. 
The  spot  on  the  tail  is  more  of  an  oval  shape  than  is  represented  in  the 
figure ; the  row  of  pores  over  the  eye  is  very  conspicuous.  You  mention 
a range  of  spots  occurring  in  the  specimens  you  examined  ; they  likewise 
occurred  in  mine  between  the  upper  salmon-coloured  line  and  the  lateral 
line.  I consider  the  figure  too  deep  for  the  fish ; the  specimen  I have 
taken  is  more  slender  than  C.  Tinea.  ******  seeing  a specimen 
of  C.  microstoma  taken,  and  the  capture  of  C.  rupestris,  has  caused  me 
to  spend  a great  deal  of  my  time  fishing  for  them.  The  bait  I use  is  a 
cockle.” 

The  Corkling,  Crenilabrus  pusillus, 

multidentatus, 

(See  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes,  vol.  i.  p.  330,) 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  coast  of  Cork. 

[The  latest  note  relative  to  this  species  which  we  have  found  amongst 


* Mr.  Yarrell  has  since  informed  me  that  this  vignette  was  drawn  from  a 
specimen  of  C.  rupestris. 


THE  CORKLING. 


131 


Mr.  Thompson’s  papers  is  the  following,  which  he  published  in  Annals  of 
Nat.  Hist.,  Yol.  ii.  p.  418. — Ed.] 

“ On  the  identity  of  Crenilabrus  multidentatus,  Thomp and  Labrus  pusillus, 
Jenyns. 


“ In  the  month  of  June,  1837,  1 with  some  doubt  characterized  a Crenilabrus 
as  new,  under  the  specific  name  of  multidentatus  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.,  1837,  p.  56), 
and  subsequently  gave  a more  detailed  account  of  it,  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol. 
ii.  p.  449.  From  the  species  possessing  some  of  the  principal  characters  of  Lab. 
pusillus,  I lately  felt  desirous  of  comparing  specimens  of  this  fish  with  mine  ; 
and  for  this  purpose  Mr.  Yarrell  very  obligingly  forwarded  to  Belfast,  for  my 
examination,  the  only  specimen  of  it  he  possessed,  and  which  is  one  of  the  ori- 
ginal individuals  described  by  Mr.  Jenyns.  A comparison  of  this  specimen,  2| 
inches  in  length,  with  my  own  proved  the  species  to  be  the  same. 

“It must  be  stated  that  C.  multidentatus  was  considered  not  to  be  a distinct 
species,  even  without  critical  attention  having  been  given  to  the  description  of 
L.  pusillus.  The  following  are  the  chief  differences  that  led  to  the  belief  of  their 
non-identity 


C.  multidentatus. 

“ Teeth  numerous  and  large,  two  rows 
in  the  upper,  one  in  the  lower,  jaw, 
number  in  lower  26,  outer  row  of 
upper  jaw  20.* 

Upper /aw  the  longer,  f 
Colour  (in  spirits)  very  pale  greenish 
brown  on  the  back,  olive-green  on 
the  sides,  becoming  paler  beneath, 
sides  with  darker  longitudinal  bands 
throughout;  3 blackish  spots,  one 
on  the  pre-opercle  behind  and  rather 
below  the  centre  of  the  eye,  a second 
on  the  body  at  the  base  of  the  cau- 
dal fin  and  at  its  lowermost  portion, 
and  the  third  at  the  base  of  the  last 
ray  of  the  dorsal  fin.” 


L.  pusillus. 

Teeth  of  moderate  size,  conical,  re- 
gular, about  16  or  18  in  each  jaw. 


Jaws  equal. 

Colour , (in  spirits)  yellowish  brown, 
with  irregular  transverse  fuscous 
bands ; dorsal  irregularly  spotted 
with  fuscous;  anal  light  brown ; the 
other  fins  pale.” 


Mr.  Yarrell’s  specimen,  which  is  in  excellent  preservation,  has  no  ap- 
pearance whatever  of  transverse  fuscous  bands,  like  the  individual  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Jenyns ; it  is  also  free  from  spots,  thus  differing  again 
from  mine. | 

When  looking  over  Dr.  Ball’s  collection  of  native  fishes  in  June  last,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  among  them  a Crenilabrus,  which  accorded 
better,  in  some  respects,  with  Mr.  Jenyns’  description  of  L.  pusillus  than 
the  smaller  specimens,  and,  compared  with  them,  differed  in  several  points 
of  view  to  be  hereafter  noticed. 

This  individual — 4 inches  11  lines  in  length — is  larger  than  any  of  this 
species  recorded  in  the  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals.  Except- 
ing that  the  ascending  margin  of  the  pre-opercle  is  not  “ very  oblique,”  it 


* My  specimens,  with  the  teeth  more  numerous,  were  nearly  one-half 
smaller  than  the  one  which  (from  the  length  of  4 inches  being  assigned  to  the 
species),  I presumed,  served  for  Mr.  Jenyns’  description, 
f The  difference  in  the  length  of  jaws  is  very  trivial. 

+ See  an  excellent  figure  in  the  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  ii.  pi.  13,  to  which 
draughtsman  and  engraver  did  equal  justice. 


132 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 


agrees  with  the  specific  characters  there  attributed  to  that  species,  and 
generally  with  the  detailed  description  of  dimensions.  So  far  as  the  brief 
description  of  colours  in  the  Manual  enables  a judgment  to  be  formed, 
there  is  a similarity  between  them.  The  specimen  before  me  (preserved 
in  spirits)  presents  considerable  variety  of  colours.  Two-thirds  of  the 
upper  portion  of  the  sides  and  entire  body,  from  origin  of  anal  to  base  of 
caudal  fin,  of  a pale  but  rich  brownish  red,  with  faint  indications  of  seve- 
ral transverse  dusky  bands  ; remainder  of  anterior  portion  to  ventral  pro- 
file yellowish  grey.  Head  variously  coloured  in  stripes,  &c.,  somewhat 
in  the  manner  of  Labrus  variegatus,  Gmel.,  and  others  of  the  Labridce  ; 
iris  bright  red,  lips  orange ; dorsal  fin  pale,  varied  with  red  and  dusky 
tints  ; of  this  latter  colour  from  the  first  to  between  the  third  and  fourth 
rays ; a black  spot,  partly  on  the  body  and  partly  on  the'base  of  the  two 
last  rays,  terminating  this  fin  ; pectorals  reddish,  with  a black  band  at  the 
outer  base  of  the  rays  (similar  to  that  in  the  variety  of  Crenilabrus  Tinea 
called  C.  Cornubiensis ) ; ventrals  pale,  with  reddish  markings  ; anal  fin 
with  faint  dusky  markings  alternating ; caudal  fin  pale  dusky,  irregularly 
tinged  with  a reddish  colour. 

D.  19  + 11  (last  double) ; A.  3 + 9 ; P.  14  ; Y.  1 -f  5 ; C.  13  or  14 
conspicuous  (21  altogether)  = Br.  5. 

This  individual  has  the  ascending  line  of  the  pre-opercle  less  oblique 
than  the  smaller  specimens ; the  teeth,  instead  of  the  uniformity  of  ar- 
rangement described  in  C.  multidentatus,  increasing  somewhat  gradually 
in  size  towards  the  centre,  21  in  the  lower,  and  a similar  number  in  the 
outer  row  of  upper  jaw  ; a dark  brown  marking  appears  down  the  centre 
of  many  of  them  ; those  of  the  other  individuals  are  uniformly  trans- 
parent. Scales  three  or  four  fewer  in  number  on  the  lateral  line  in  the 
large  specimen  than  in  the  others,  and  the  tubular  projections  on  those 
throughout  it  less  developed ; in  it  likewise  the  concentric  strice  of  the 
scales  are  less  strongly  marked,  and  the  lineated  appearance  (produced 
by  the  strice  of  each  scale  being  more  deeply  cut  along  the  centre  than 
elsewhere)  less  apparent  than  in  the  others.  The  colour  already  described 
is  very  different  from  that  of  the  smaller  specimens.  This  individual,  as 
well  as  those  described  as  C.  multidentatus,  was  obtained  at  Youghal. 

The  Small-mouthed  Wrasse,  Crenilabrus  microstoma,  Couch, 

exoletus,  Linn,  (sp.), 

(See  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes,  vol.  i.  p.  341,) 

Has  been  taken  on  the  North-East  and  West  coast. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1836,  a species  of  Crenilabrus  was  found  on  the 
beach  of  the  County  Antrim  near  Carnlough,  by  my  friend  Dr.  J.  L. 
Drummond,  when  engaged  in  collecting  Algce,  and,  on  his  return  to  Bel- 
fast shortly  afterwards,  was  kindly  handed  over  to  me.  Being  apparently 
undescribed,  I at  once  drew  up  a minute  account  of  it.  When  in  London 
at  the  beginning  of  last  summer,  I ascertained  that  the  same  species  had 
been  met  with  in  Cornwall  by  Mr.  Couch,  who  likewise  considered  it  as 
new,  and  sent  two  specimens  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  under  the  appropriate  name 
of  C.  microstoma,  a term  which,  although  unpublished,  I consider  it  but 
fair  to  adopt,  as  Mr.  Couch  had  the  priority  in  obtaining  the  species. 

Its  most  prominent  characters  are : — Body  rather  deep,  mouth  small, 
teeth  few  in  number,  and  rounded  or  truncated  at  the  summits : scales 
very  large,  those  on  the  body  concealing  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal 


THE  SMALL-MOUTHED  WRASSE. 


133 


fins,  but  none  on  these  fins ; anal  fin  with  five  or  six  spinous  rays,  ventral 
scale  half  the  length  of  ventral  fin,  no  blackish  spots  on  body  or  fins. 

D.  19  + 6 ; A.  6 7 ; P.  13 ; Y.  1 5 ; C.  14,  and  some  short  — 

Br.  5. 

Detailed  description. — Length  3 inches ; depth  to  entire  length  nearly 
as  1 to  3^ ; first  quarter  of  dorsal  profile  sloping  moderately  upwards, 
second  flat,  third  turning  rather  suddenly  downwards,  and  terminating 
with  the  dorsal  fin  ; thence  straight  to  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  ;*  ven- 
tral profile  very  convex,  sloping  equally  from  both  extremities  to  centre  ; 
head  occupying  about  one-fourth  of  entire  length  ; jaws  equal ; mouth 
small ; lips  double,  much  resembling  those  of  Labrus  maculatus,  Bl. ; 
teeth  strong,  rounded  or  truncated  at  the  summits,  not  serrated,  a single 
row  of  twelve,  rather  uniform  in  size  in  the  lower  jaw ; two  rows  at  the 
interior  part  of  upper  jaw,  those  of  the  outer  row  the  larger,  and  seven  in 
number,  exceeding  the  teeth  of  the  lower  jaw  in  size ; eyes  large,  more 
than  their  diameter  distant  from  the  snout,  their  distance  from  each  other 
equal  to  their  diameter ; a row  of  pores  round  the  eyes,  and  some  on  the 
top  of  the  head ; pre-opercle  somewhat  rounded  at  the  base,  ascending 
rather  obliquely,  strongly  serrated,  the  denticulations  extending  half-way 
along  its  base,  covered  with  small  scales : opercle  somewhat  triangular, 
covered  with  large  scales ; scales  on  the  body  very  large,  smooth,  and 
roundish  at  their  free  margins ; three  rows  above  lateral  line,  nine  below 
it ; lateral  line  for  two-thirds  anteriorly  placed  high,  at  one-fourth  of  the 
depth,  and  the  precise  form  of  dorsal  profile  ; ventral  central ; dorsal  fin 
commencing  at  one-fourth  of  the  entire  length  from  snout,  and  continu- 
ing to  near  the  tail,  ending  almost  in  a line  with  the  anal  fin ; first  ray  very 
short,  but  they  gradually  increase  to  the  twenty-fourth,  which  is  longest  ; 
a membranous  filament  near  the  point  of  each  spinous  ray ; pectoral  fin 
two-thirds  the  length  of  head,  originating  in  the  same  line  with  the  dor- 
sal fin ; ventral  fin  beginning  at  about  one-third  of  the  entire  length  from 
the  head  ; ventral  scale  about  half  the  length  of  ventral  fin  ; anal  fin  ori- 
ginating nearly  in  a line  with  the  fifteenth  spinous  ray  of  dorsal  fin,  and, 
like  it,  when  laid  against  the  body,  reaching  to  the  outer  short  rays  of  the 
caudal  fin,  the  dorsal  rather  exceeding  the  anal  in  length  ; caudal  fin  ob- 
scurely rounded,  and  covered  with  scales  at  the  base  for  one-fourth  of  its 
length  ; scales  of  the  body  concealing  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins, 
but  none  on  the  fins. 

Having  had  an  opportunity  in  the  present  month  (October,  IBSY)  of 
looking  over  the  collection  of  fishes  obtained  on  the  coasts  of  the  Coun- 
ties of  Londonderry  and  Antrim,  during  the  progress  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey,  I had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  three  specimens  of  the  C.  micros- 
toma,, which  were  liberally  offered  for  my  use  by  Captain  Portlock,  B.  E., 
who  at  the  same  time  suggested  that,  if  desirable,  a drawing  of  one  of 
them  should  be  made  by  the  gentleman  attached  as  draughtsman  to  the 
Survey.  To  this  kindness  I am  indebted  for  the  drawing  which  accom- 
panies the  paper,  the  original  specimen  having  been  too  much  dried  up 
by  exposure  on  the  beach  to  be  available  for  this  purpose.  Of  these  in- 
dividuals, the  first  was  obtained  at  the  mouth  of  Lough  Foyle  (County 
Londonderry),  and  the  others  in  the  small  bay  at  Carnlough,  where  the 


* Two  specimens  have  this  form ; the  other  two  have  the  dorsal  profile 
finely  arched,  and  from  the  centre  slope  equally  to  each  extremity  ; in  these 
the  ventral  profile  is  rather  less  convex  than  in  the  former.  The  difference  is 
probably  sexual. 


134 


AC  AN  THOPTER  Y GII . 


specimen  was  found  by  Dr.  Drummond.  These  are  respectively  4f,  5, 
and  5§  inches  in  length,  and  those  sent  from  Cornwall  to  Mr.  Yarrell 
being  about  the  same  size,  render  it  probable  that  they  may  be  full 
grown.  Their  colour  in  spirits  varies  slightly,  but  the  one  which  best 
retains  its  original  markings  may  be  described  as  having  the  sides  of  a 
deep  salmon  colour,  with  a dusky  tinge ; upper  part  of  head  purple ; 
upper  margin  of  eye  and  orbit  blackish ; stripes  of  violet  and  orange  al- 
ternating below  the  eye  longitudinally  to  near  the  mouth,  where  they  be- 
come vertical;  belly  silvery  white  ; some  of  the  scales,  including  those 
on  which  the  lateral  line  appears,  tinged  with  a golden  metallic  lustre ; 
dorsal  fin  violet-blue  at  the  base,  with  an  orange  stripe  above ; anal  fin 
violet-blue,  striped  with  reddish  orange;  pectoral  fin  brownish  orange, 
with  a dark  stripe  at  its  outer  base,  as  in  C.  Tinea ; ventral  fin  diaphanous, 
tinged  with  orange ; caudal  fin  dusky,  towards  the  tip  blackish.  The  fin- 
rays  of  these  three  specimens  are  : — 

D.  19  + 7 ; P.  14:  Y.  1 + 5;  A.  5 + 7 ; C.  13  P and  some  short= 
Br.  5. 

D.  19  + 6 ; P.  13  ; V.  1 + 5 ; A.  5 + 7 ; C.  13,  and  some  short. 

D.  20  + 6 ;'  P.  13 ; V.  1 + 5 ; A.  6 + 7 ; C.  15,  and  some  short. 

In  the  number  of  spinous  rays  in  the  anal  fin  this  species  agrees  with 
a British  Crenilabrus,  the  “Scale-rayed  Wrasse”  of  Couch  (Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  vol.  v.  pp.  18  and  742),  w'hich,  however,  differs  from  it  widely  in 
the  form  and  number  of  the  teeth,  in  the  number  of  dorsal  fin-rays  (21 
+ 8),  in  having  processes  of  imbricated  scales  between  the  rays  of  the 
dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and,  above  all,  in  form,  being  “ very  much  elong- 
ated.” With  the  L.  exoletus,  which  has  a wide  range  over  the  European 
seas,  it  accords  more  nearly  than  with  any  other  species  I have  seen  de- 
scribed. The  number  of  spinous  rays  in  the  anal  fin  is  the  same,  but  the 
L.  exoletus,  as  described  in  detail  by  Bisso  (Hist.  Nat.  l’Eur.  Merid.  t.  iii. 
p.  329,  ed.  1826),  differs  from  it  in  the  number  of  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin 
(20  + 9),  and  in  having  scales  on  its  base,  in  the  teeth  (which  are  point- 
ed), and  in  having  a large  black  spot  on  the  caudal  fin.  Linnaeus,  in  his 
description  of  this  fish  ( Labrus  exoletus,  Syst.  Nat.  t.  i.  p.  479,  ed.  13), 
gives  about  the  same  number  of  rays  in  the  fins  as  the  Irish  specimens 
possess ; but  the  brevity  of  his  description  * precludes  farther  comparison, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  leaves  u's  in  doubt  whether  his  Labrus  exoletus 
and  the  Crenilabrus  microstoma  may  not  be  identical. 

[The  foregoing  observations  were  published  by  Mr.  Thompson  in  the 
Magazine  of  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  ii.  He  had  previously  contributed  to 
the  Zool.  Proc.,  1837,  a short  notice  of  the  specimen  found  by  Dr.  Drum- 
mond.— Ed.] 

Mr.  M‘Calla  wrote  to  me  as  follows,  from  Roundstone,  25th  Septem- 
ber, 1840 

“ I have  this  day  seen  a specimen  of  Crenilabrus  microstoma,  about  six 
inches  long,  taken  here.  I could  not  get  it  from  the  person,  but  as  I 
have  some  boys  engaged  fishing  for  me  I trust  to  secure  specimens  of  it. 
I am  positive  as  to  the  species,  for  I have  your  paper  on  this  family  and 
it  is  figured.” 


* “ Pinna  dorsali  ramentacea  corpore  lineis  cseruleis,  pinna  ani  spinis  5,  D. 
19.25  ; P.  13 ; Y.  1.6  ; A.  5.13  ; C.  13.” 


THE  COMMON  CARP. 


135 


ORDER  II. — MALACOPTERYGrII. 

Div.  I. — Abdominales. 

Family  Cyprinidae. 

The  Common  Carp,  Cyprinus  Carpio,  Linn. 

This  fish,  which  was  introduced  into  the  British  Islands,  has  long  been 
in  Ireland.  Localities  noted Montalto  and  Killyleagh,  County  Down  ; 
and  Markethill,  County  Armagh  (Mr.  J.  Sinclaire) ; County  Dublin  (Dr. 
Ball) ; Counties  of  Galway  and  Sligo  (Mr.  R.  Barklie).* 

These  are  localities  of  which  I happen  to  have  heard ; there  are  proba- 
bly many  others,  but  this  is  of  little  consequence  with  regard  to  an  in- 
troduced species.  Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  some  years  ago  he  was  pre- 
sent at  the  capture  of  two  or  three  dozen  of  carp  in  a pond  covering 
several  acres  of  ground  at  Abbeyville,  near  Malahide.  The  largest 
weighed  17^  lbs.  and  the  smallest  6 lbs.  Tench,  minnows,  and  rudd 
were  also  in  this  pond. 

The  Chub  ( Cyprinus  Cephalus)  and  the  Barbel  ( Cyprinus  Barbus ) are  in-, 
eluded  in  Dr.  P.  Browne’s  catalogue  (1744) ; but  we  require  something  more 
than  the  mere  writing  out  of  a name  before  we  can  include  species  in  our  Fauna. 
This  catalogue  is  carelessly  drawn  up. 

The  Golden  Carp,  or  Gold  and  Silver  Fish,  Cyprinus  auratus, 
Linn. 

In  some  ponds  near  Belfast  this  species  bred  the  first  year  of  its  intro- 
duction ; in  others,  not  for  several  years ; and  in  one  the  fishes  Rave  never 
increased.  The  temperature  of  the  water  in  the  first  was  warmest,  and 
in  the  last  coldest.  A gentleman  who  resides  in  this  neighbourhood  in- 
formed me  of  a singular  fatality  which  befell  a gold-fish  confined,  at  his 
house,  within  a glass  globe  such  as  is  usually  appropriated  to  their  use. 
The  globe  filled  with  water  and  containing  this  fish  was  placed  at  the 
drawing-room  window : the  rays  of  the  sun  thus  collected,  formed  a focus 
on  a table  covered  with  a woollen  cloth,  and  the  consequence  was,  that 
both  the  cloth  and  table  were  partially  burnt.  The  fish,  as  may  be  anti- 
cipated, was  dead  when  the  accident  was  discovered. 

31st  May,  1846. — In  the  pond  before  Hampton  Court  Palace  [Eng- 
land] are  very  large  and  variously  coloured  fish  of  this  species,  and  I was 
interested  to-day  in  looking  at  them  feeding.  They  often  made  a stoop 
vertically  downwards  to  seize  small  objects,  living,  I presume,  on  the 
chara  and  other  plants  covering  the  bottom  of  the  pond  ; and  I particu- 
larly remarked  that  one  of  the  fishes  several  times  cropped  the  chara 
itself. 

The  Gudgeon,  Gobio  Jluviatilis,  Will., 

Inhabits  many  of  the  waters  of  Ireland,  preferring  gravelly  and  oozy 
bottoms. 

Localities  noted  : — Lough  Neagh  and  River  Lagan,  County  Antrim  ; 
Liffey  and  Royal  Canal,  Dublin  (Dr.  Ball) ; Kilkenny  (Tighe)  ; The  Bar- 
row  (Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke) ; The  Shannon  Canal  near  Portumna  and  brooks 


* Introduced  by  the  great  Earl  of  Cork  into  the  South  of  Ireland. — Vide 
Robert  Boyle  in  a paper  to  the  Royal  Society. — R.  Ball. 


136 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


about  Killaloe  (The  Rev.  C.  Mayne  and  Mr.  Marshall)  ; streams  about 
Tuam  and  Headfort  (Mr.  M‘Calla). 

“ These  fish  first  appeared  in  the  river  Lagan  in  1801,  having  ascended  the 
canal  from  L.  Neagh,  where  they  have  been  inhabitants  perhaps  for  centuries.” 
— Templeton’ s Catalogue. 

Mr.  John  Russell,  jun.,  of  Newforge,  tells  me  that  a bitch  kept  chain- 
ed near  the  “tail  race”  at  Newforge  bleach-green  near  the  river  Lagan, 
was  in  the  habit  when  the  water  was  low  (about  9 ins.  deep),  the  moment 
she  was  let  loose,  to  go  in  search  of  gudgeons,  which  she  caught  and  ate 
in  quantities : he  has  often  seen  her  do  so — he  thinks  she  may  not  have 
been  very  well  fed. 

Three  small  fishes  of  equal  size,  being  1 inch  2 lines  in  length,  taken 
by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  on  the  8th  and  9th  May,  1826,  in  the  Lagan, 
appear  to  be  of  this  species,  as  described  in  detail  by  Jenyns,  but  with 
the  highest  power  of  my  lens  I cannot  distinguish  any  tentacula  about 
the  mouth  of  any  of  the  three. 

These  specimens  were  found  resting  on  the  bottom  of  shallows  in  the 
Lagan  at  Newforge  ; their  colour  so  assimilated  to  the  bottom  that  even 
in  bright  sunshine,  and  the  water  clear  and  less  than  a foot  deep,  they 
could  hardly  be  seen  except  when  in  motion. 

I have  met  with  small  specimens,  each  having  a series  of  blackish  spots 
along  the  middle  of  the  sides,  just  as  represented  in  the  fig.  in  Cuv.  and 
Yah,  vol.  xvi.  pi.  481. 

The  figures  in  the  works  of  Donovan,  Yarrell,  &c.,  do  not  exhibit  any 
spots,  nor,  indeed,  do  full-grown  specimens  of  the  fish  in  my  collection. 

The  Tench,  Tinea  vulgaris , Cuv., 

Is  probably,  like  the  carp,  a fish  introduced  to  the  British  Islands.  I 
have  notes  of  its  existence  at  the  following  localities  — Ponds  at  Purdys- 
burn  and  Montalto,  County  Down  (Mr.  J.  Sinclaire)  ; Counties  of  Dublin 
and  Cork  (Dr.  Ball) ; Lakes  of  Westmeath  (Newenham) ; Lough  Derg, 
near  Portumna  (Mr.  John  J.  Marshall). 

“ Tench , Cyp.  Tinea.  Many  were  caught  in  the  river  Lagan,  after  the 
breaking  of  the  bank  of  a pond  in  the  demesne  of  Lord  Dungannon  at 
Belvoir.” — Templeton  MS.  [No  date.] 

The  Bream,  Abramis  Urania,  Cuv., 

Inhabits  many  of  the  Irish  lakes  and  slow  rivers. 

Dubourdien  mentions  this  species,  and  Templeton  remarks  that  in  L, 
Erne  breams  are  particularly  abundant.  I have  been  informed  by  Lord 
Enniskillen  that  they  attain  a great  size  in  the  lakes  of  that  quarter. 

March  12,  1835. — James  Ward,  of  Lagan  Cottage,  mentioned  to  me 
that  the  way  in  which  the  bream  is  taken  with  the  greatest  success  is  by 
balls  of  grains  from  distilleries,  seeds  (cast  off  from  flummery)  or  boiled 
oats  being  mixed  up  with  potatoes  in  the  form  of  balls,  and  thrown  into 
the  river  at  night.  Bream,  being  partial  to  such  food,  collect  from  all 
quarters  to  partake  of  it,  which  the  fishers  take  advantage  of  by  the  break 
of  day  on  the  following  morning,  and,  baiting  their  hooks  with  worms, 
catch  in  great  numbers  the  fish  thus  collected  together.  This  method 
was,  he  says,  introduced  in  his  neighbourhood  by  persons  who  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  thus  fishing  in  the  County  Fermanagh,  about  L.  Erne. 

Ward  says  there  were  no  breams  in  the  Lagan  twenty  years  ago,  which 
I have  before  heard  stated  on  good  authority. 

The  same  informant  told  me  in  August,  1843,  that  the  quantity  of  breams 


THE  BREAM. 


137 


taken  by  Mr.  Emerson  in  the  canal  two  or  three  years  ago  filled  six  horse 
buckets,  and  that  a number  of  them  had  attained  7 lbs.  weight. 

Ward  kept  them  in  a small  pond  to  recover  for  two  or  three  months 
after  their  capture,  and  he  states  that  it  was  only  some  of  the  small  ones 
that  died  : all  the  large  survived. 

In  the  summer  of  1836  also,  when  the  water  was  low  in  the  Lagan 
canal,  great  numbers  were  netted  and  carried  away  in  sacks. 

August  23,  1837. — I examined  several  specimens  of  bream  which  I got 
off  the  strings  of  fishers  in  the  Lagan  yesterday.  [The  following  are  Mr. 
Thompson’s  notes  respecting  these  fishes. — Ed.] 

No.  1. — 6f  inches  long;  54  or  55  scales  on  lateral  line.  D.  11;  A. 
2+27 ; C.  19;  P.  17;  V 1|9.  Depth  to  length,  1 to  3^. 

No.  2. — 6^  inches  long;  53  to  55  scales  on  lateral  line.  D.  11 ; A. 
2+27 ; C.  19;  P.  18 ; V.  1+10.  Depth  to  length,  1 to  3^. 

No.  3. — inches  long;  58  scales  on  lateral  line.  D.  11;  A.  2+26; 
C.  19  ; P.  17  ; V.  1|9.  Depth  to  length  1 to  3^-. 

In  the  muddy  Lagan  this  species  is  commonly  of  a “silvery  bluish 
white,”  which  the  A . Blicca  is  described  to  be,  in  contra-distinction  to 
A.  Brama. 

March  15,  1836. — On  inspection  of  the  proceeds  of  a fishing-rod  at 
2nd  locks  of  Lagan  canal,  I found  two  breams.  The  larger  about  12 
inches  long ; its  yellow  colour,  and  possession  of  30  rays  in  anal  fin, 
proved  to  me  that  it  was  the  Cyprinus  Brama.  The  other  specimen  was 
8 inches  long,  and  of  a silvery  blueish  cast  of  colour ; it  had,  besides,  but 
26  rays  in  anal  fin.  This  induced  me  to  obtain  the  specimen  and  see  if 
it  were  really  the  C . Blicca. 

The  following  are  particulars  of  it: — D.  11 ; A.  26 ; C.  19;  P.  17  ; V. 
9,  Depth  at  commencement  of  dorsal  between  3 and  3^  times  in  whole 
length  (see  Jenyns,  p.  407). 

Number  of  scales  in  lateral  line,  and  number  in  depth,  cannot  be  reck- 
oned accurately,  as  the  fish  has  been  injured.  Those  in  lateral  line,  I 
would  presume,  were  52 ; it  is  slightly  depressed  at  nape,  as  C.  Brama. 

Colour. — Rays  of  P.  fin  tinged  with  scarlet,  which  colour  appears  like- 
wise on  the  few  first  rays  in  all  the  other  fins ; irides  silvery,  delicately 
tinged  with  pink,  but  a yellow  line  around  the  pupil  of  the  eye. 

It  thus  appears  that  this  specimen  is  intermediate  between  the  C.  Brama 
and  C.  Blicca,  as  described  by  Jenyns  and  Yarrell,  both  in  “form”  and 
“ colour.”  I have,  however,  preserved  it  for  future  examination. 

The  Large-scaled  Bream,  Pomeranian  Bream,  Yarr., 
Abramis  Buggenhagii,  Thomp., 

Cyprinus,  — Bloch, 

Has  been  taken  in  the  sluggish  river  Lagan,  in  which  the  common  bream 
(A.  Brama)  is  abundant. 

To  the  following  communication,  which  I made  to  the  Zoological  So- 
ciety in  1837,  nothing  more  can  at  present  be  added : — 

* Abramis  Buggenhagii,  Large-scaled  Bream.  Cyprinus  Buggenhagii, 


* On  my  showing  this  specimen  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  he  immediately  produced 
from  his  own  collection  another  example  of  the  species  of  much  larger  size, 
measuring  14  inches  in  length,  which  had  been  presented  to  him  by  a friend, 
who  caught  it  in  the  waters  of  Dagenham  Breach,  in  Essex,  from  which  place 
others  have  since  been  taken.  My  specimen  was  taken  about  the  same  time  in 
the  Lagan.  This  bream  is  at  once  distinguished  from  both  the  other  species  of 
British  bream,  by  the  much  greater  thickness  of  its  body. 


138 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Bloch.  Part  3,  tab.  95.  On  inspecting  the  produce  of  a fishing  rod  at 
the  river  Lagan,  near  Belfast,  on  the  6th  of  May,  1836, 1 detected  a bream 
differing  from  the  common  species,  and  secured  it  for  examination.  It 
agreed  so  fully  with  Bloch’s  description  of  the  Cyprinus  Buggenhagii  as 
to  satisfy  me  of  its  identity,  the  only  difference  consisting  in  the  number 
of  rays  in  the  pectoral  fin,  12  being  enumerated  by  him,  and  18  appearing 
in  the  specimen ; several  of  them,  however,  being  very  short,  may  have 
escaped  Bloch’s  notice. 

The  description  drawn  up  from  my  specimen  the  day  it  was  procured 
is  as  follows  : — Length,  5-±-  inches ; depth,  1-i-  inch  ; head  one-fourth  of 
the  entire  length ; diameter  of  the  eye  equal  to  one-fourth  of  the  length  of 
the  head  ; scales  on  the  lateral  line  about  45,  about  9 rows  between  it  and 
the  dorsal  ridge  and  5 rows  below  it ; under  point  of  the  caudal  fin 
longer  than  the  upper.  Colour  of  the  sides  silvery,  ‘tinged  with  blue 
towards  the  back ; irides  very  pale  yellow ; the  dorsal,  pectoral,  ventral, 
and  anal  fins  nearly  transparent,  or  very  slightly  tinged  with  dusky, 
chiefly  towards  their  extremities  ; caudal  fin  pale  yellow. 

D.  11 ; P.  18 ; Y.  1 -\-  9 ; A.  20  (first  extremely  short);  C.  18. 

This  species,  which  is  new  to  Britain,  is  stated  by  Bloch  to  be  found 
in  Swedish  Pomerania,  in  the  river  Pene,  and  in  the  lakes  communicating 
with  it.* 

More  attention  to  our  fishes  will  probably  show  that  this  species  is  not 
confined  to  the  one  river. 

The  Rudd  or  Red-eye, f Leuciscus  erythropthalmus,  Cuv., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South  of  the  island, — chiefly  in  lakes  and  slow 
rivers.  It  is  probably  found  in  every  County  possessing  suitable  localities. 

Rutty  noticed  the  “Roche”  as  frequent  in  the  Liffey  and  Finglass 
Brook  ; and  Templeton  made  the  following  note  in  reference  to  the  rudd : 
■ — “ Exceedingly  common  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  where  it  is  mistaken 
for  the  roach.” 

Three  specimens  of  the  “ Red  Roach  ” of  L.  Neagh  which  I examined 
in  March,  1835,  were  as  follows  : — 

1st  specimen. — Length  6^-  inches,  breadth  1 inch  10  lines.  B.  4 ; D. 
1 1 1 1,  (reckoning  2 last  from  same  base)  ; P.  17 ; one  V.  8,  other  9 rays,  yet 
both  apparently  perfect;  A.  1 1 12,  reckoning  2 last  from  same  base; 
C.  19. 

2nd  specimen. — Length  6f  inches  ; breadth  2 inches  ; B.  4;  D.  1 1 10  ; 
P.  16;  Y.  9;  A.  1 1 12  ; C.  19. 

3rd  specimen. — Length  6^  inches  ; breadth  1 inch  10  lines  ; B.  4 ; D. 
1 1 10 ; P.  16;  Y.  9;  A.  1 j 13 ; C.  19.  Irides  silvery  tinged  with  pale 
orange,  pupil  black.  Lateral  line  as  in  Donovan’s  pi.  40.  Colour , “ back 
dusky  green,  sides  and  belly  silvery.”  P.  and  D.  fins  dusky,  the  latter 
faintly  clouded  with  dull  red  towards  the  extremity  ; the  greater  portion 
(towards  extremity)  of  V.,  A.,  and  C.  fins  bright  scarlet. 

The  Minnow,  Leuciscus  Phoxinus , Cuv., 

Is  found  in  several  localities  within  the  Counties  of  Dublin  and  Wicklow, 
to  which  it  is  believed  by  some  persons  to  have  been  introduced. 

Extract  from  the  MS.  of  John  Templeton,  Esq.  (no  date) 


* Zool.  Proc.  1837. 

f Most  frequently  called  “ Roach,”  or  “ Red-Roach,”  throughout  Ireland. 


THE  MINNOW. 


139 


“ Minnow , Cyprinus  Phoxmus. — In  Ireland  I have  not  heard  of  their 
being  found  in  any  river  but  a small  stream  near  Swords  in  the  County  of 
Dublin,  where,  as  I have  been  informed  by  Mr.  Martin  Kelly  of  Dublin, 
they  may  be  found  in  considerable  numbers.” 

James  Callwell,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  told  me  in  1835,  that  about  10  years 
previously,  Lieut,  Stone  introduced  the  minnow  to  Drumcondra  river 
near  Dublin,  and  that  the  species  had  become  abundant  there. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Dublin  Natural  History  Society  held  in  June,  1844, 
— Dr.  Scouler  in  the  chair — specimens  of  the  minnow,  taken  at  Balgriffin, 
about  6 miles  from  Dublin,  were  exhibited. 

“ The  chairman  observed  that  this  was  a very  local  fish  in  Ireland,  and  in 
many  districts  rare,  while  in  Scotland  it  occurred  in  vast  abundance  in  every 
subalpine  stream.  He  stated  it  was  worthy  of  inquiry  what  influence  the  geolo- 
gical structure  of  a country  could  have  in  the  distribution  of  fresh-water  fishes. 
In  the  present  instance  the  minnow  was  scarce  in  Ireland,  where  calcareous 
rocks  predominated,  while  it  was  frequent  in  Scotland,  where  the  waters  were 
often  remarkably  free  from  calcareous  matter.” — Saunders’  News-letter , June 
22,  1844. 

John  E.  Herrick,  Esq.  wrote  to  me  as  follows,  in  March,  1849  : — 
“ There  are  no  minnows  in  our  southern  rivers.  I took  some  to  Cork  and 
placed  them  in  two  streams,  with  what  effect  I cannot  as  yet  say.  I have 
heard  that  they  were  introduced  from  England  into  the  Tolka.  They  are 
however  in  the  Dodder  and  in  some  ditches  near  Harold’s  Cross.” 

Dr.  Ball  favoured  me  with  the  following  note  dated  July,  1846  : — 
“ When  in  Wicklow  I saw  numbers  of  minnows  in  Lough  Dan.  The 
fisherman  said  he  had  been  there  25  years,  and  that  they  were  as  plenti- 
ful when  he  came  as  they  are  now.” 

When  visiting  Dovedale  (Derbyshire)  on  29th  June,  1835,  T procured 
a few  minnows  out  of  a large  shoal  in  the  river  Dove, — the  first  of  the 
species  which  I had  seen  alive.  Each  of  them  had  a broad  black  line 
on  its  sides,  which  led  me  at  first  to  believe  that  they  were  of  some  other 
species. 

Yarr.  and  Jenyns  do  not  describe  this  black  lateral  marking,  nor  is 
there  any  indication  of  it  in  the  figure  given  by  the  former  author  or  by 
Donovan. 

The  largest  minnow  of  which  I have  a note  was  taken  by  Dr.  Ball  in  a 
pond  at  Glasnevin  Garden  (Dublin) ; it  was  6 inches  in  length. 

There  is  an  interesting  account  of  the  minnow  in  the  Gardener’s  Chro- 
nicle of  19th  July,  1845,  p.  489. 

The  Loach,  or  Bearded  Loach,*  Colitis  barbatula , Linn., 

Is  pretty  generally  diffused  over  the  island  and  localities  noted : — County 
Londonderry  (Ordnance  Collection) ; Counties  of  Monaghan  and  Cavan 
(J.  T.  Tennent,  Esq.) ; streams  about  Florence  Court  (Lord  Enniskillen) ; 
County  of  Dublin  and  river  at  Ballitore,  County  Kildare  (Dr.  Ball)  ; 
streams  near  Barrow  (Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke) ; Killaloe  (Rev.  C.  Mayne)  ; 
Portumna  (Mr.  J.  J.  Marshall) ; small  rapid  streams  in  South-West  of 
Cork  (Professor  J.  Allman).  [We  recently  procured  specimens  from 
County  Wicklow. — Ed.] 

Rutty  says  in  reference  to  the  Loach,  “ It  delights  in  clear  rivers,  and  is  fre- 


* Also  called  “ Redbeard,”  “ Beard-dod,”  “ Killoch,”  “ Culloch-rue,”  and 
“ Coleen-ruadh  ” (Red-girl). 


140 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


quent  with  us,  and  good  food.  It  is  customary  with  many  to  take  it  alive,  in  a 
glass  of  generous  wine.” — Yol.  i.  p.  366. 

J.  T.  Tennent,  Esq.  supplied  me  with  the  following  note  on  this  spe- 
cies : — “ With  reference  to  Donovan’s  remark  about  the  necessity  of 
keeping  the  water  in  which  they  are  removed  from  one  place  to  another 
in  constant  agitation,  it  may  be  stated  that  those  I have  seen  were  kept 
in  a common  bowl  of  water  quietly  resting  on  a table,  and  never,  I be- 
lieve, intentionally  moved  except  when  getting  fresh  water.” 

The  Graining  ; Leuciscus  Lancastriensis , Yarr. 

The  Spined  Loach;  Gobitis  Taenia , Linn. 

Several  very  small  individuals  of  the  former  species  occurred  to  me  in  the 
river  Leam  near  Leamington,  in  July,  1836  ; and  in  the  same  month,  when  using 
my  net  for  fresh-water  mollusca  in  a drain  near  Guy’s  Cliff,  Warwick  [Eng- 
land], I captured  a minute  fish  of  the  latter  species,  as  mentioned  in  the  Zook 
Proc.  for  1837,  and  by  Mr.  Yarrell  in  his  Hist.  Brit.  Fish. 

Neither  of  these  species  has  as  yet  been  observed  in  Ireland. 

Family  Esocid^:. 

The  Pike,  Esox  Lucius,  Linn., 

Is  common. 

Localities  noted  : — County  of  Londonderry ; said  to  have  been  taken 
in  “ salt-water  ” between  Derry  and  Culmore  (Ordnance  Surv.) ; all  suit- 
able lakes  in  the  northern  part  of  the  island  (Lough  Neagh,  Lough  Derg, 
&c.) ; County  Dublin  (Dr.  Ball)  ; the  Shannon  (Mr.  It.  Barklie  and  the 
Rev.  C.  Mayne) ; Loughs  Corrib,  Mask,  and  Carra  (Mr.  M‘Calla). 

The  pike  is  most  frequently  taken  by  night-lines  baited  with  fish,  and 
is  said  to  be  “ always  good,  except  in  February  and  March,  when  they  are 
spawning.”  Great  numbers  are,  however,  taken  by  means  of  draught-nets 
in  Lough  Neagh,  the  average  weight  being  from  l.i  to  4 lbs.  The  Rev. 
C.  Mayne,  writing  from  Killaloe  in  1838,  gave  me  the  names  of  two  gen- 
tlemen who  killed  pikes  of  49  and  51  lbs.  weight  in  that  locality;  and 
also  informed  me  that  “in  August,  1830,  Mr.  O’Flanagan  (then  aged  70) 
killed  with  a single  rod  and  bait,  in  a lake  in  the  County  Clare,  a pike  of 
78  lbs.”  In  April,  1835,  Dr.  Ball  received  from  the  then  Dean  of  St. 
Patrick’s  one  of  these  fishes  4|-  feet  long  and  weighing  37  lbs. ; the 
largest  which  I have  seen  in  the  Belfast  market  was  sent  from  Lurgan  in 
January,  1851,  and  believed  to  have  been  taken  in  Lough  Neagh;  it 
weighed  36  lbs. 

I have  been  informed  that  larger  examples  are  obtained  in  small  lakes, 
such  as  those  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Downpatrick  and  Ballynahinch  in 
the  County  of  Down,  than  in  those  of  greater  extent. 

March  22,  1838. — On  opening  a pike  about  a foot  long,  I found  a 
trout  (S.  Fario ) of  about  5 inches  in  its  stomach.  The  gastric  juice  had 
acted  considerably  on  the  half  which  was  lowest  down,  but  the  upper  half 
was  as  bright  and  perfect  as  when  the  trout  was  alive.  The  victim  was 
just  in  the  same  state  as  I have  seen  fishes  in  the  stomach  of  a Goosander. 

R.  Langtry,  Esq.,  informs  me  that  in  summer  he  has  often  seen  pike 
in  “ the  grass,”  i.  e.  in  plashy  places  with  the  fins  of  their  backs  above 
water. 


THE  GAR-PIKE. 


141 


The  Garfish,  Gar-Pike,  or  Mackerel  Guide,*  Belone  vulgaris,  Cuv., 
Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

The  seasons  in  which  this  species  is  generally  taken  are  the  latter  part 
of  summer,  and  autumn  ; but  I have  seen  a few  specimens  which  were 
procured  early  in  the  year.  On  23rd  April,  1845,  one  of  these  fishes 
caught  near  the  quays  of  Belfast  was  brought  to  me,  and  I had  it  pre- 
served for  the  Belfast  Museum.  It  approached  some  labourers  who  were 
working  at  a new  dock,  and  was  killed  by  a blow  from  a spade  or  some 
such  implement.  No  other  fishes  were  observed  with  it.  This  specimen 
was  remarkably  fat : 29£  inches  long ; weight,  1 lb.  10  oz.  ; depth, 
inches ; girth  in  the  middle,  6f  inches. 

Mr.  James  Marshall  informs  me  that  these  fishes  are  all  taken  singly  in 
Belfast  Bay,  and  generally  not  more  than  one  during  several  hours 
mackerel  fishing ; but  each  boat  about  the  Greypoint  generally  brings 
home  one  of  them.  The  bone  in  vertebral  column  of  this  species  is  green 
before  as  well  as  after  being  boiled.  I found  a fifteen-spined  stickleback 
in  the  stomach  of  one  taken  in  the  Bay  last-named,  on  10th  Aug.,  1850, 
by  a friend  who  was  streaming  for  mackerel,  and  the  bait  used  was  a 
spotted  gunnel. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Dr.  Ball’s  lecture  : 

“ The  Belone  vulgaris  has  a strange  habit  of  jumping  over  floating 
substances ; of  this,  advantage  is  taken  on  the  coast  of  Donegal,  where 
numbers  of  this  fish  are  caught  in  nets  strained  on  frames  of  wood,  and 
suffered  to  float  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  when  the  fish  jumping  over 
the  sides  are  captured.” 

Dr.  Ball  has  also  favoured  me  with  the  following  note  on  the  same 
subject : — 

“ Belone  vulgaris , common  at  Youghal.  Its  mode  of  jumping  from  the 
water  is  peculiar  and  phantom-like ; it  shoots  bolt  upright  and  falls  back 
again  tail  foremost ; when  hooked,  it  makes  more  efforts  to  escape  than  any 
other  fish  I know.  I have  seen  it,  after  breaking  loose,  perform  most 
curious  tumblings  on  the  surface  for  some  minutes.” 

In  Sept.,  1848,  Mr.  Samuel  Lyle  sent  a large  specimen  to  the  Belfast 
Museum,  and  informed  me  that  he  has  often  seen  these  fishes  about  Port- 
rush,  where  they  are  called  Shearling,  and  are  especially  sought  for  with 
nets  of  a particular  kind — that  they  may  be  had  for  bait,  for  which  pur- 
pose they  are  excellent.  He  once  caught  one  there  with  a piece  of  the 
grey  gurnard  as  bait. 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  f says  that,  in  Strangford  Lough,  this  species  is 


* Called  “ Horn-eel  ” in  Belfast  Bay,  and  “ Mackerel-scout 55  in  Strangford 
Lough,  “ Spearling  ” at  Portrush,  “ Spanish  Mackerel  ” at  Roundstone  (Mr. 
Nimmo). 

f Mr.  Bernard  Meenan,  whose  name  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  follow- 
ing pages,  as  affording  information  to  Mr.  Thompson  relative  to  the  different 
kinds  of  fish  brought  to  the  Belfast  market,  was  a well-known  fishmonger  of 
much  practical  experience.  He  died  in  January,  1854,  and  consequently  in  less 
than  two  years  after  the  decease  of  Mr.  Thompson.  The  death  of  Mr.  Garrett 
took  place  in  April,  1855. 

If  a lesson  were  needed  on  the  uncertainty  of  human  life,  or  on  the  import- 
ance of  placing  on  record  the  facts  observed  or  communicated  in  any  depart- 
ment of  Natural  History,  it  might  be  based  on  the  brief  obituary  now  given.  In 


142 


MALAC0PTERYGI1. 


chiefly  taken  at  Killinchy,  2 dozen  being  sometimes  captured  in  the  her- 
ring nets  in  the  course  of  a night’s  fishing.  He  has  seen  shoals  of  them 
often  about  Carrickfergus  in  summer  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 

There  is  a prejudice  against  this  fish,  in  consequence  of  its  bones  being 
green,  but  I have  known  of  its  being  brought  to  table  and  highly  ap- 
proved of. 

February,  1835. — Two  stuffed  specimens  examined  by  me  were  as 
follows : — 

No.  1. — 26  j inches  long. 

D.  1 1 17  ; P.  13  ; V.  6 (?)  A.  1 [21  ; C.  15  (not  reckoning  any  of  the  lateral 
rays) ; B.  12. 

2nd  specimen  also  26^  inches  in  length;  D.  1119;  P.  13;  Y.  6 ; A. 
1 [ 22  ; C.  15;  B.  14. 

A specimen  in  the  Belfast  Museum  is  2 feet  9 inches  in  length. 

Donovan’s  figure  (plate  64)  of  this  fish,  under  the  name  of  Esox  Belone, 
is  excellent. 

The  Saury-Pike,  Saury,  or  Skipper,  Scomberesox  Saurus,  Flem., 

Has  been  taken  (but  very  rarely)  on  the  North  and  East  coasts. 

Sampson  includes  it  in  his  Fishes  of  Derry ; from  his  remarks,  how- 
ever, it  seems  doubtful  whether  the  Esox  Belone  is  not  the  species  referred 
to,  although  both  are  mentioned.  Templeton  in  his  Catalogue  says  : — 

“ This  curious  and  rare  fish  appears  to  visit  the  coast  of  Ireland  very  seldom, 
for,  notwithstanding  all  my  inquiries  about  the  natives  of  our  coast,  I was  never 
able  to  procure  a specimen,  until  one  was  caught  near  the  Long  Bridge,  Belfast, 
and  brought  to  me  in  1820.” 

On  17th  Sept.,  1840,  I received  from  Mr.  Wm.  Darragh  a fresh  speci- 
men of  this  fish,  12-L  inches  in  length,  and  which  was  found  in  a pool  left 
by  the  receding  tide  on  the  long  strand  near  Belfast,  after  a strong  gale  : 
there  was  but  the  one. 

Another  was  taken  near  Belfast  on  the  same  day.  An  oar  touching  the 
water  caused  it  to  dash  on  the  sandy  beach,  where,  as  “ it  could  not  turn 
round  to  the  water  again,  like  an  eel,”  it  was  captured. 

On  the  7th  of  the  following  month  a third  example  was  seen  in  the 
Bay. 

The  only  other  native  specimens  which  I have  seen  were  the  three  fol- 
lowing, all  of  which  were  stranded  : viz.,  one  measuring  11£  inches,  found 
by  Mr.  J.  R.  Garrett,  at  Clifden  (Belfast  Bay),  on  13th  Sept.,  1844. 
Another,  measuring  13f  inches,  obtained  by  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman,  near 
the  Lagan  Bridge  (Belfast),  in  the  first  week  of  Oct.,  1847  ; and  the  third, 
measuring  12  inches,  found  by  myself  on  the  beach  south  of  Newcastle 
(County  Down),  on  the  23rd  July,  1851. 

Dr.  Ball  saw  a specimen  in  possession  of  the  late  Dr.  Coulter,  but  has 
no  other  information  as  to  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  Ireland. 

“ Scomberesox  Camperi,  Lacep.”  is  the  name  adopted  for  this  fish  by 
Cuv.  and  Val.,  in  vol.  xviii.  p.  464,  where  it  is  stated  to  have  been  con- 
founded with  the  Mediterranean  sp.,  which  is  different,  and  on  which 
“ Scomberesox  Rondeletii  ” is  bestowed  by  Valen. 


a space  of  little  more  than  three  years,  he  who  imparted  the  information,  he  by 
whom  it  was  noted  down,  and  he  by  whom  those  notes  were  arranged  for  pub- 
lication, were  all  carried  off  by  death. — B.  Patterson. 


THE  FLYING-FISH. 


143 


The  Flying-Fish,  Exoccetus (?), 

Is  said  to  have  been  seen  off  the  Southern  coast. 

In  the  second  vol.  of  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  I published  the  following 
note : — 

“ Exoccetus (?),  Flying-fish. — I am  informed  by  Dr.  Ball,  that,  accord- 

ing to  the  testimony  of  several  intelligent  fishermen  at  Youghal,  flying-fishes 
have  in  different  years  been  seen  by  them  in  summer,  near  the  southern  coast 
of  Ireland — [off  the  coasts  of  Waterford  and  Cork] — the  accurate  manner  in 
which  they  describe  the  4 flight,’  &c.,  leaves  no  doubt  on  my  mind  that  the  fishes 
alluded  to  must  have  been  some  species  of  Exoccetus” 

Specimens  have  not  been  obtained  to  enable  the  sp.  to  be  determined. 

The  Sly  Silubus,  Silurus  Glams,  Linn.  (?) 

The  following  notice  of  a fish  resembling  this  species  contains  all  the 
information  which  I have  been  able  to  procure  on  the  subject. — It  was 
contributed  by  me  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vii. 

44  Silurus  Glanis,  Linn.  (?),  Sly  Silurus.  That  this  species  has  in  a single  in- 
stance been  taken  in  Ireland  I am  disposed  to  believe,  on  the  following  testi- 
mony :• — On  inquiry  (October,  1840)  of  William  Blair,  who  has  for  many  years 
been  fisherman,  &c.,  at  Florence  Court,  whether  he  had  ever  met  with  any  rare 
fish,  he  described  an  extraordinary  one,  of  which  he  could  never  learn  the 
name,  that  he  took  twelve  or  thirteen  years  ago  in  a tributary  of  the  Shannon, 
near  its  source,  and  about  three  miles  above  Lough  Allen.  His  description  was 
so  graphic  and  particular,  that  Lord  Enniskillen,  on  hearing  it,  immediately 
suggested  its  applicability  to  the  Sihirus ; and,  on  Yarrell’s  figure  being  shown  to 
the  intelligent  captor  of  the  specimen,  he  at  once  identified  it  as  in  all  respects 
representing  his  fish,  except  in  the  head  and  mouth  not  being  large  enough. 
Professor  Agassiz,  who  was  present,  on  being  appealed  to,  stated  that  these 
parts  were  certainly  not  represented  of  sufficient  size  in  the  figure.  The  fish 
was  seen  struggling  in  a pool  in  the  river  after  a flood,  and  44  with  the  long  worm- 
like feelers  from  its  mouth and  its  general  appearance  was  looked  upon  as  so 
hideous  that  the  persons  who  first  saw  it  were  afraid  to  touch  it.  The  specimen 
was  at  least  2f  feet  in  length,  and  8 or  9 lbs.  in  weight.  Although  unfortunately 
4 lost  to  science,’  it,  for  two  or  three  years,  or  until  the  skeleton  fell  to  pieces, 
adorned  a bush  near  the  scene  of  its  death.  The  species  was  not  known  as  an 
inhabitant  of  any  of  the  neighbouring  waters  by  the  persons  of  the  district. 

44  The  distribution  of  the  Silurus  Glanis  on  the  continent  of  Europe  is  somewhat 
anomalous,  as  I learn  from  M.  Agassiz.*  In  Central  Europe  it  is  found  in  the 
lakes  of  Neuchatel,  Bienne,  and  Morat  only : — in  no  other  lakes  or  rivers  con- 
nected with  the  Rhine  does  it  occur.  It  inhabits  the  rivers  flowing  into  the  Bal- 
tic and  Black  Sea.” 

Family  Salmonida:. 

The  Salmon,  (called  Parr  or  Graveling  when  young,)  Salmo  Salar, 
Linn.,  Salmo  salmulus,  Turt.  (Young  Salmon), 

Is  common  : it  is  unnecessary  to  specify  localities,  as  the  chief  Irish  fish- 
eries are  well  known. 

John  Sinclaire,  Esq.,  who  has  had  much  experience  in  salmon-fishing, 
holds  the  opinion  that  salmon  are  in  season  all  the  year,  and  spawn  during 
every  month.  When  the  rivers  are  too  low  for  them  to  ascend,  he  con- 
siders that  they  spawn  about  their  mouths  in  the  sea.  To  illustrate  his 
veiws  Mr.  Sinclaire  took  me  to  Belfast  market  on  3rd  April,  1840,  where 


* See  also  Cuv.  and  Yah,  vol.  xiv.  p.  337,  on  this  subject. 


144 


M ALACOPTERY  GII. 


we  examined  seven  of  these  fishes  from  Glenarm,  four  of  which  were 
large,  perhaps  2 feet  9 inches  long,  and  in  as  fine  condition  as  fish  could 
be : the  other  three  were  smaller,  about  2 feet  in  length,  and  were  the 
most  miserably  spent  fish  I ever  saw.  All  their  scales  were  loose ; on  the 
larger  ones  the  scales  were  firm.  Of  the  small  fishes  one  was  a male  and 
two  were  females  ; these  latter  had  each  the  lower  jaw  slightly  hooked, 
which  induced  a friend  who  was  present  to  think  that  they  were  male 
fish  ; they  were,  however,  unquestionably  females,  proved  by  the  opercu- 
lum, and  by  the  mouth,  which  was  in  them  only  about  half  the  size  it  was 
in  the  male  of  equal  length.  The  three  were  unquestionably  salmon, 
proved  by  the  forked  tail,  the  black  pectorals,  the  round  spot  on  opercu- 
lum, and  the  few  salmon  spots  on  sides. 

On  4 th  May,  1842,  Mr.  Sinclaire  took  ova  rather  larger  than  hemp  seeds, 
and  in  a firm  state,  from  a salmon  in  Belfast  market ; the  fish  weighed 
about  14  lbs. 

On  examining  the  contents  of  the  stomach  of  a salmon  (8  lbs.  weight) 
at  Carnlough,  in  May,  1842,  I found  the  remains  of  sand-eels,  and  I have 
been  informed  that  salmon  have  in  various  instances  been  caught  in 
Dundrum  Bay  (County  Down)  upon  long  lines  baited  with  sand-eels. — 
In  Feb.  1851  a salmon,  about  4 lbs.  weight,  was  taken  in  this  manner  off 
the  beach  at  Newcastle,  and  was  very  innocently  offered  for  sale  to  the 
officer  of  Constabulary,  who  immediately  gave  information  to  the  magis- 
trates, and  the  vendor  was  summoned  for  the  offence  of  killing  salmon 
during  the  close  season ; but,  as  the  fish  was  evidently  taken  accidentally, 
the  captor  was  acquitted. 

Mr.  Sinclaire  states,  as  the  result  of  his  observations,  that  the  pea  or 
ova  of  other  fishes  constitutes  the  chief  food  of  the  salmon. 

“One  of  the  finest  fish  of  this  species,  which  we  have  ever  seen,  was  re- 
ceived from  Glenarm  yesterday  evening,  at  Mr.  B.  Meenan’s,  Montgo- 
mery’s market.  It  is  forty-three  pounds  weight,  forty-two  inches  long, 
and  two  feet  two  inches  in  circumference.” — N.  Whig,  July  4th,  1843.  The 
above  is  correct,  I saw  the  fish.  H.  J.  Dr.  B.  Ball  says,  in  reference  to 
the  size  of  this  species,  “ the  largest  I ever  saw  taken  in  the  Blackwater 
weighed  52  lbs. ; two  precisely  similar  were  caught  at  the  same  time.” 

With  reference  to  the  supply  of  salmon,  as  compared  with  former  pe- 
riods, Mr.  Meenan  says  they  are  as  plentiful  as  ever,  but  the  Bann  fishery 
greatly  lessened  by  the  Scotch  mode  of  fishing ; a bag-net  being  run  at 
every  creek  on  the  coasts.  The  largest  salmon  he  has  seen  weighed  forty- 
six  pounds,  and  was  taken  at  Glenarm  ; but  he  has  heard  of  some  of  the 
weight  of  sixty  pounds  being  taken  at  Ballyshannon,  in  season  from  1st 
January  to  November.  Seven  tons  have  been  taken  at  the  Bann  at  one 
haul.  He  knows  a ton  and  a half  is  often  taken  at  Carrick-a-rede  ; and 
he  has  been  told  of  three  tons  being  caught  there.  The  price  is  up  one- 
half  since  “ ice  and  steam  ” came  into  play.  From  15th  June  to  Novem- 
ber the  average  price  is  sixpence  per  lb.,  fifteen  pence  before  that  period. 

The  following  notes  respecting  the  salmon  fisheries  on  the  Lower  Bann, 
near  Coleraine,  were  made  by  my  friend  Mr.  B.  Patterson,  in  1826  : — 

“In  the  year  1790  the  weight  of  the  salmon  taken  at  the  Cranagh  and 
Cutts  exceeded  120  tons;  in  1796,  100  tons  ; in  1798, 108  tons.  Several 
years  ago,  the  immense  number  of  1500  were  captured  at  a single  hauk 
At  that  time  they  were  sold  in  Coleraine  and  its  neighbourhood  for  three 
farthings  per  lb.  It  must  be  recollected,  however,  that  then  very  few 
fish  were  exported,  and  as  packing  in  ice  was  unknown,  they  were  all 
salted,  which  would  diminish  very  materially  the  demand.  During  the 


THE  SALMON. 


145 


last  twenty  years  the  quantity  taken  has  decreased  very  considerably, 
partly  owing  to  the  number  of  machines  on  the  different  waters,  and 
partly  to  the  practice  of  fishing  too  late  in  the  season,  which  was  pursued 
for  some  years.  It  is  pleasing,  however,  to  state  that  they  are  now  gradually 
improving.  During  two  days  I passed  at  the  Cranagh  in  1823,  the  value 
of  the  fish  taken  exceeded  £400.  On  the  5th  of  July,  1824,  400  salmon 
were  taken  at  one  ‘ haul  ’ of  the  nets,  and  at  the  next  above  350.  The 
entire  weight  taken  that  day  amounted  to  two  tons  ; this  quantity,  at  the 
average  English  price  of  Is.  per  lb.,  would  amount  to  £242.” 

Salmon.  August  lQth,  1851. — The  gamekeeper  in  Tollymore  Park 
assures  me  that  he  has  taken  some  here  up  to  the  weight  of  twenty-seven 
pounds.  This  year  he  took  a few  up  to  sixteen  pounds.  I was  told  they 
are  taken  of  the  latter  weight  in  the  inner  bay  of  Dundrum. 

The  Rev.  G.  M.  Black  knew  of  a salmon,  three  pounds  weight,  being 
taken  in  the  sea  of  Annalong,  the  bait  being  a piece  of  mackerel.  The 
fishermen  told  him  they  had  known  an  instance  of  this  before. 

A salmon  of  the  weight  of  twenty-three  pounds  and  three-quarters  is 
the  largest  that  a fisherman  of  old  standing  has  known  to  be  taken  in 
Dundrum  Bay : the  run  is  too  small  and  shallow  for  large  fish. 

The  following  notes  have  reference  to  the  river  Lagan,  near  Belfast, 
described  in  a letter  written  in  the  year  1635,  as  “ a pleasant  river  which 
abounds  with  salmon.”  * 

“ Mr.  Sinclaire  states  that  the  river  Lagan  was  once  a capital  salmon  river, 
not  only  supplying  the  town  of  Belfast  and  neighbourhood,  but  that  quantities 
were  exported.  His  father  used  to  ship  them  from  it  to  the  Continent,  the 
Mediterranean  ports,  &c.  This  fishery  was  destroyed  by  the  formation  of  the 
canal — being  excellent  until  that  period.  There  were  three  fishing  stations 
between  Stranmillis  and  the  Long  Bridge  of  Belfast.  I have  heard  a relative 
say,  that  previous  to  the  formation  of  this  canal,  salmon  were  so  abundant  and 
cheap  about  Lismoyne,  that  his  uncle’s  or  grandfather’s  servants  stipulated  that 
they  should  not  be  obliged  to  eat  it  more  than  a certain  number  of  days  in  the 
week.” 

On  12 th  Sept.,  1844,  I saw  a salmon,  about  18  inches  in  length,  which 
was  taken  with  mullet  in  Belfast  Bay;  and  Mr.  B.  Meenan  told  me  that 
he  had  before  got  similar  fish  taken  here  along  with  mullet. 

Bushmills,  July  13 th,  1842. — This,  so  far,  has  been  a good  season,  on 
account  of  the  fine  mild  weather.  In  stormy,  coarse  weather  very  few 
fish  are  taken  here.  I saw  sixty-seven  captured  this  morning  at  the  cuts, 
which,  excepting  a few  taken  out,  were  not  fished  for  the  last  three  days ; 
none  were  large,  the  river  being  too  low  for  good  fish  to  ascend.  They 
were  chiefly  about  five  pounds  weight ; the  largest  did  not  exceed  nine 
pounds.  They  were  lifted  out  with  large  landing  nets,  occasionally  five 
at  a time,  and  deposited  in  the  boxes  to  die ; they  very  soon  died  with- 
out any  violence  being  offered.  Their  chief  months  of  ascending  here 
are  June  and  July;  their  spawning  time,  November.  In  frost,  it  is 
said,  not  one  ascends.  The  manager,  Ml,  Skelly,  who  has  held  the  office 
for  twenty  years,  and  whose  office  was  fined  by  his  father  before  him,  is 
my  informant  in  all  these  matters.  During  the  whole  year  the  fish  are 
in  season,  and  in  the  very  highest  condition.  Mr.  Skelly  knows  them 
to  ascend  the  river,  and  has  occasionally  taken  them  in  the  sea,  with 
the  spawn  just  ready  for  exclusion,  and,  to  use  his  own  words,  oozing 
out  of  them  like  “ linseed  oil.”  The  allusion  is  perhaps  to  the  colour. 


Dubourdieu’s  Down.  Edit.  1802,  p.  309. 


146 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Mr.  Skelly  has  read  the  opinions  of  Shaw,  and  denies  their  truth.  He 
has  the  old  notion  about  their  amazingly  rapid  growth ; he  can  hardly, 
however,  be  mistaken  about  the  fry  entering  the  sea  when  very  small 
in  sackfulls  ; he  says  they  do  so  when  of  the  length  of  the  finger : the 
short  course  of  the  river  may  account  for  this.  He  states  that  they 
have  not  the  dark  side-marks  of  the  parr.  The  salmon  cannot  be  said 
to  be  decreasing  of  late  years;  but  many  years  back  (50)  were  much 
more  numerous.  I saw  a number  taken  likewise  in  the  sea  this  morn- 
ing, the  largest  thirteen  pounds  weight.  June  18 th. — “ Fourteen  and  a 
half  score  of  salmon  ” were  taken  here  to-day  in  the  sea.  June  20 th. — - 
Seventeen  and  a half  score  were  taken  at  Port  Ballantrae  in  the  sea. 
June  21  st. — Thirteen  and  a half  score  were  taken  in  the  cuts  at  Bush  foot. 
More  salmon  have  already  been  taken  at  the  Bush  fishery  (river  and  sea) 
this  season  than  there  has  been  from  commencement  of  the  season  to  the 
21st  of  June  any  year  since  1814.  I have  been  told  that  a fish  weighing 
fifty-five  pounds  was  taken  here  last  year ; and  some  years  ago  one  of 
seventy  pounds  weight.  Large  fish  do  not  ascend  the  Bush  until  the 
season  is  far  advanced.  Eightpence  per  lb.  is  the  price  charged  for 
salmon  here  this  season : it  is  sent  to  Glasgow  on  commission. 

Portrush , June  2,2nd. — I saw  a salmon  of  twenty-seven  pounds  weight 
taken  in  the  sea  here  ; it  was  offered  at  sixpence  per  lb.,  the  price  charged 
for  the  “ poaching  ” captures  (large  and  small)  made  in  the  river. 

Pally  shannon,  July  1 5th,  1840. — A gentleman  whom  I met  at  the 
hotel  here  assured  me  that  he  had  seen  two  salmon  taken  here,  one  of 
which  weighed  forty-five  pounds,  and  the  other  sixty-three  pounds ; and 
that  a friend  of  his  saw  one  which  weighed  upwards  of  eighty  pounds. 
Colburn,  of  the  hotel,  does  not  credit  the  weight  of  the  last  two.  Two 
days  ago,  eight  hundred  salmon  * were  taken  here  at  the  fishery.  It  is 
said  that  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine  were  taken  at  one  draught,  and 
all  large  fish,  from  twenty-five  to  thirty-four  pounds  weight.  From  May 
1 2th  to  this  time  five  tons  of  salmon  have  been  taken  here ; the  price  in 
the  town  is  eightpence  per  lb.  The  fish  are  rather  increasing  of  late  years  ; 
£3000  and  £4000  a-year  are  said  to  be  realized  by  the  lessees.  Col.  Conolly, 
the  proprietor,  derives  £1100  per  annum  of  clear  profit  rent  from  the 
fishery,  and  has  it  set  for  three  lives. 

I extract  the  annexed  paragraph,  from  Kidd’s  Companion  to  South- 
ampton and  the  Isle  of  Wight,  on  account  of  the  similarity  between 
the  Southampton  river  and  the  Lagan  : — 

“ Formerly  the  salmon  fishery  was  carried  on  here  [at  Southampton]  with 
much  success,  and  a few  of  them  are  still  occasionally  taken.  So  abundant  was 
the  supply,  that  farm-servants  and  apprentices  used  to  stipulate  with  their 
masters  that  they  should  not  have  salmon  for  dinner  more  than  twice  a-week.” 

The  parr  has  been  mentioned  by  the  following  authors  : — Butty  says, 
“ Salmulus-Samlet,  or  Branlin,  frequent  with  us;  never  above  6 inches 
long.” — Sampson  speaks  of  it  as  the  “ Samlet,  or  Jenkin,”  least  of  the 
genus.” — Tighe  notes  the  “ S.  stimulus,  Bay,  here  called  guillioge  ; ” and 
Harris,  in  his  enumerations  of  the  fish  found  in  the  Bann,  says,  “ it  is  here 
called  a Ginkin.” — See  also  Annals  Nat.  History,  vol.  xiv.  p.  146. 

April  25,  1837. — I to-day  received  from  Glenwherry  river  (County 
Antrim),  ten  specimens  of  the  parr,  from  4 to  7 inches  in  length  ; and  at 
the  same  time,  three  specimens  of  the  common  trout  ( Salmo  Fario)  of 
corresponding  size,  for  comparison. 

* Similar  numbers  were  lately  taken  at  one  haul  at  Ballina. 


THE  SALMON. 


147 


The  three  most  striking  characters  of  the  parr,  in  contradistinction  to 
the  common  trout,  are — its  tail  being  more  forked,  its  having  only  2 or  3 
spots  on  the  opercula , and  its  want  of  dark-coloured  spots  beneath  the 
lateral  line.  The  P.  fin  of  the  parr  is  larger,  and  the  hinder  margin  of 
its  operculum  less  angular,  than  in  the  trout.  These  two  parrs  have  from 
1 to  3 spots  on  opercula  (pre-opercle  and  opercle)  ; these  are  generally 
deep  black,  but  they  vary,  some  being  rather  faint ; on  one  specimen 
there  is  a bright  scarlet,  in  another  a faintly  reddish  spot.  They  all 
exhibit,  more  or  less,  spots  below  the  lateral  line,  but  these  (with  the 
exception  of  a single  dark  spot  on  one),  as  well  as  the  spots  on  the  line, 
are  scarlet.  Some  of  them  have  but  1 or  2 spots  beneath  it ; others  have 
them  sparingly  in  two  irregular  rows.  The  three  specimens  of  trout  have 
many  darkish  spots  below  lateral  line. 

The  remark  of  Pennant,  that  “the  adipose  fin  is  never  tipped  with  red, 
nor  is  the  edge  of  the  anal  white,”  can  only  be  considered  as  generally 
correct.  Two  of  my  parrs  do,  though  very  faintly,  show  red  on  the  adipose 
fin,  and  one  half  of  them  have  the  base  of  the  anal  fin  white ; but  on  the 
parr  it  is  less  conspicuous  than  in  the  trout,  in  consequence  of  the  con- 
trast produced  by  the  adjoining  rays  on  the  latter  being  dusky,  whilst  on 
the  parr  they  are  so  light  as  to  be  yellowish,  or  almost  transparent. 

Sir  Wm.  Jardine  observes  (Edin.  Phil.  Jour.),  that  the  parr 
“ takes  any  bait,  at  any  time,  with  the  greatest,  freedom  ; and  hundreds  may  be 
taken  when  no  trout,  either  large  or  small,  will  rise,  though  abundant  among 
them.” 

In  the  present  instance  three  trout  were  taken,  and  ten  parr,  by  fly-fishing, 
and  on  several  occasions  my  angling  friends  have  remarked  to  me,  when 
the  day  turned  out  unfavourable  for  their  sport,  and  bright  sunshine  came 
on,  that  they  could  catch  only  parr.  I chiefly  allude  to  Glenwherry  river. 

About  an  hour  after  the  above  was  written,  I saw  in  Belfast  31  other 
specimens  of  parr  and  common  trout,  taken  along  with  those  just 
described.  The  angler  caught  yesterday  62  of  these  fishes  altogether  in 
Glenwherry  river. 

Of  these  31,  25  are  trout,  nearly  all  about  5 inches  in  length.  I at 
once  distinguished  them  from  the  parr,  by  the  before-named  three  striking 
characters,  and  need  only  further  observe  that  some  of  the  trout  had  all 
the  spots  below  the  lateral  line  more  or  less  reddish,  though  on  none  were 
they  all  bright  scarlet  as  on  the  parr  ; these  spots  are,  however,  much 
more  numerous  on  the  former  than  the  latter.  Some  of  these  trout  had 
only  from  1 to  3 spots  on  opercula  like  the  parr,  but  they  were  less  regu- 
larly disposed  (on  the  parr  they  are  generally  in  a row)  and  less  striking 
in  colour.  The  white  basal  margin,  from  the  reason  above  assigned,  is 
(though  not  taken  separately)  a good  mark  of  S.  Fario.  I looked  to  it  in 
all  the  31.  Small  as  these  trout  are  (from  4 to  6 inches),  not  one  exhibits 
transverse  markings,  as  do  all  the  specimens  of  the  parr,  one  of  these,  7f 
inches  long,  showing  them  as  strongly  as  the  smallest. 

When  conversing  with  the  man  who  caught  these  fishes,  he  said  that 
he  knows  the  parr  from  the  young  trout  by  its  mode  of  leaping  at  the 
fly  ; it  leaps  higher,  in  a more  lively  manner,  and  wider  of  its  mark.  On 
inquiring  why  the  parr  is  so  partial  to  Glenwherry  river,  compared  with 
others,  such  as  the  Six-Mile  Water,  the  Glenavy  river,  and  the  Collin  Glen 
river,  I found  he  attributed  it  to  the  gravelly  shallows  of  that  river.  The 
Six-Mile  Water  flows  over,  he  says,  a soft  bottom  ; and  he  further  observed, 
that  in  Galgorm  water,  or  Clough  river,  a branch  of  the  Main,  the  parr 
is  very  abundant,  those  streams  being  likewise  gravelly.  On  remarking 
l 2 


148 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


to  him,  that,  in  consequence  of  the  preference  shown  for  similar  localities, 
the  fish  is  in  some  places  called  Gravel-ing , he  said  that  was  the  name 
applied  to  it  by  a gentleman  from  the  South  of  Ireland;  so,  presuming 
this  is  the  name  there  given  to  it,  we  have  in  this  country  two  of  its  Eng- 
lish names — Parr  in  the  North,  and  Gravel-ing  in  the  South. 

I examined  the  stomachs  of  three  parr  and  one  trout,  all  of  which  were 
filled  with  the  larvse  of  aquatic  insects,  excepting  two  or  three  flies  ; no 
Crustacea  appeared.  There  was  ’neither  milt  nor  roe  apparent  in  any 
of  them. 

Irides  of  Parr  and  S.  Fario  silvery. 

My  friend  Mr.  Thos.  Sin claire,  who  has  been  long  accustomed  to  angle 
in  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  also  in  Scotland,  states  that  the  coloured 
figures  (natural  size)  which  accompany  Mr.  Yarrell’s  paper  on  the  Growth 
of  the  Salmon  in  Fresh  Water  correspond  with  his  ideas  of  the  salmon 
of  every  size  represented  ; but  he  is  of  opinion  that  a small  fish  which  is 
taken  in  rivers  during  every  month,  from  March  to  November  inclusive, 
and  which  he  calls  the  Parr , is  a distinct  species.  He  describes  it  as 
being  of  a more  robust  make  generally  ; more  firm  and  strong  than  young 
salmon  of  the  same  size ; with  scales  not  deciduous  as  those  of  the  salmon 
are,  and  also  devoid  of  the  silvery  appearance  of  the  “ salmon  fry.”  The 
latter  he  considers  to  be  always  gregarious,  and  he  has  only  taken  them  in 
April  and  May.  Sometimes  they  rise  so  frequently  and  numerously  in 
pools  as  to  render  the  surface  like  a sheet  of  silver ; but  he  finds  the  parr 
scattered  throughout  the  river  in  the  same  manner  as  the  common  trout. 
From  the  circumstance  of  his  only  meeting  with  what  he  considers  the 
salmon  fry  in  April  and  May,  he  reasons  that  they  are  only  then  in  the 
rivers,  although  the  parr  are  there  at  all  times. 

In  May,  1842,  Mr.  Sinclaire  brought  me,  from  Cushendall,  a few  fishes 
which  he  called  parr,  but,  in  consequence  of  their  having  been  put  into 
brine,  they  were  unfit  for  critical  examination.  They  all  appeared  to  be 
evidently  of  the  same  species,  and  one  of  them,  displaying  a black 
pectoral  fin  and  sharply  forked  tail,  was,  in  my  mind,  a salmon  ( S . Salar). 

The  Grey  Trout,  Bull  Trout,  or  Roundtail,  Salmo  Eriox,  Linn., 

Is  taken  along  the  coast  of  the  northern  half  of  the  island,  and  not 
improbably  around  the  entire  coast.  A specimen  captured  in  sea  water, 
at  Killala  Bay,  was  sent  to  me  by  Mr.  R.  Warren,  jun.,  in  the  autumn  of 
1851.  The  first  positive  notice  of  this  species  as  Irish  was  made  by  me 
to  the  Zoological  Society  in  1837,  and  published  more  fully  in  the  first 
vol.  of  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xxxv.  7,  as  follows  : — ■ 

“ Salmo  Eriox,  Linn.,  Bull  Trout. — Dec.  3,  1836. — In  Belfast  market  I 
selected  from  a basket  filled  with  sea  trout  (S.  Trutta ),  in  high  condition,  three  spe- 
cimens of  S.  Eriox,  which  were  taken  along  with  them  in  the  sea  at  Donaghadee, 
in  the  County  of  Down.  Their  length  is  from  19f  to  21  inches  : weight  of  each 
about  2flbs.  Two  are  males,  having  the  lower  jaw  very  slightly  hooked,*  the 
other  is  a female  ; the  operculum  differs  much  in  the  sexes  ; teeth  on  the  vomer 
of  one  male  and  the  female  three  in  number,  in  the  other  male  four  ; teeth  gener- 
ally much  smaller  in  the  female  than  in  the  males.  Fin-rays,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  are  in  the  three  specimens — D.  14,  P.  14,  V.  10,  A.  11,  C.  19. 

“ In  colour  they  are  silvery  grey,  having  but  few  spots  (of  the  form  X XX 
and  purplish  black)  above  the  lateral  line,  and  scarcely  any  below  it.  Donovan’s 

* In  the  Fauna  Boreali  Americana  it  is  remarked,  that  “ the  hook  of  the 
under  jaw  is  very  decided,  even  in  a young  Salmo  Cambricus,”  (Part  iii.  p.  307,) 
but  in  the  present  instance  the  reverse  appears. 


THE  GREY  TROUT. 


149 


Sewen  (pi.  91),*  with  which  they  are  evidently  identical,  is  a very  characteristic 
figure.  These  specimens  differ  only  from  it  in  having  fewer  spots  below  the  lateral 
line — but  in  this  particular  they  accord  not  with  each  other — and  in  the  darkness 
of  the  blue  he  represents  being  relieved  or  lightened  by  a silvery  cast.f  The  tail 
of  the  Sewen  cannot  be  called  incorrect  from  being  forked,  as  when  unexpanded 
it  appears  slightly  so  in  the  present  specimens,  although  when  fully  spread  out  it 
is  square.  The  female  exhibits  over  the  body  and  operculum,  &c.,  as  many  more 
spots  as  the  males — on  her  operculum  are  six  round  spots,  on  that  of  the  males 
two  or  three.  Fins  of  the  female  coloured  as  in  the  Sewen,  but  in  the  males  all 
darker  : V.  and  A.  dull  pink  or  flesh-colour  in  the  female  ; in  the  males  the  Y. 
grey  for  two-thirds  posteriorly,  the  A.  entirely  dark  grey ; their  other  fins  merely 
of  a darker  shade  than  those  of  the  female.  Irides  silvery. 

“ The  ova  in  the  female  are  very  minute,  being  not  more  than  half  the  size  of 
clover  seed ; the  milt  in  the  males  occupies  twice  its  space.  These  latter  not 
having  any  of  the  red  markings  said  to  distinguish  the  adult  male,  and  the  hook 
of  the  lower  jaw  being  so  slightly  developed,  taken  in  connexion  with  the  internal 
appearance  of  both  sexes,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  they  would  not  have  bred  for 
another  year.  In  the  stomach  of  one  was  a sand  eel  ( Ammodytes  Lanced)  three 
inches  long,  and  in  another  ^ large  piece  of  the  marine  plant  ( Ceramium  rubrum ) .” 

On  seeing  these  fishes,  I recollected  having  a few  days  previously 
observed  two  very  peculiar  looking  trout  in  the  market  (which  were 
called  salmon),  evidently  of  this  species.  One  of  them,  weighing  about 
6 lbs.,  had  the  hooked  jaw,  denoting  a male ; and  his  sides  exhibited  a 
series  of  longitudinal  stripes  of  deep  orange  ; the  other  was  a female,  the 
colour  of  those  above-mentioned,  and  about  9 lbs.  weight. 

Florence  Court , Oct.  1840. — A fine  male  fish,  10^  lbs.,  received  from 
L.  Melvin.  Small  specimens  of  this  species  and  S.  Trutta,  about  9 inches 
long,  have  been  taken  in  the  river  three  miles  from  Florence  Court  House, 
with  hosts  of  S.  Fario , and  on  different  days. 

Oct.  20th,  1840. — One  3 feet  2 inches  long,  same  weight  as  last,  and 
equally  out  of  condition  (a  male  fish),  brought  to-day  from  Beleek,  along 
with  a female  salmon.  The  colour  of  this  fish  was  much  the  same  as 
last,  but  the  red  spots  (for  in  this  they  were  truly  red)  were  differently 
disposed : in  the  former,  the  lower  ones  became  reddish  without  any 
pattern  ; in  this  they  were  thrown  into  circles  an  inch  or  more  in  diameter, 
and  were  otherwise  patterned  like  an  irregular  carpet  figure.  The  spots 
on  back  and  upper  portion  are  black  along  the  middle,  and  below  it  the 
red  appear. 

Although  this  species  is  occasionally  brought  to  Belfast,  it  is  not  of 
frequent  occurrence  here. 

Oct.  28 th,  1840. — I obtained  a specimen  in  Belfast  market : it  was  taken 
in  the  sea  at  Donaghadee,  and  without  any  other  trout  being  captured  at 
the  same  time.  Its  general  form  at  once  marks  it  distinct  from  other 
species  of  Salmo.  It  is  long  and  narrow,  and  of  a more  equable  breadth 
than  any  of  the  others ; it  is,  however,  hardly  so  much  so  as  Agassiz’ 
female  “ S.  Salar.”  The  pointed  head  mentioned  to  me  by  Agassiz,  as  a 
character  of  this  species,  is  obvious  here.  Its  length  is  23  inches  ; weight 
only  3^  lbs.,  though  in  good  condition  before  dissection.  I concluded  it 
to  be  a male,  from  the  hook  of  lower  jaw,  which  is  extremely  slight,  barely 
rising  ^th  of  an  inch  above  the  gum  anterior  to  the  adjoining  teeth. 


* Whether  Sewen  be  applied  only  to  this  fish,  or  to  8.  Trutta  also,  I have  no 
means  of  judging;  I can  only  offer  an  opinion  on  Donovan’s  fig. 

f This  observation  is 'perhaps  superfluous,  as  different  copies  of  the  work  may 
not  invariably  exhibit  the  same  shade  of  colours. 


150 


MALACOFTERYGII. 


Above  lateral  line  are  a few  X spots,  as  described  in  my  other  specimens, 
but  on  opercle  are  several  round  spots,  and  a few,  nearest  to  the  eye,  have 
a tinge  of  brownish  red.  Contiguous  to  the  lateral  line,  not  more  than 
4-  an  inch  above  it,  and  extending  to  an  inch  below  it,  are  pale  brick-red 
spots,  but  these  are  few  and  widely  separated  in  some  places,  whilst  in 
others  several  are  clustered  together.  On  dissection  it  proved  to  be  a 
male,  and  had  the  milt  so  developed  that  it  would  certainly  have  been  shed 
in  the  present  season.  I was  pleased  to  perceive  this  in  connexion  with 
the  small  hook  on  lower  jaw  ; it  goes  to  prove  what  has  been  stated,  that 
the  “ hook  ” is  not  in  any  way  used  in  excavating  a hole  for  the  ova  of  the 
female,  but  that  this  operation  is  effected  with  the  tail. 

January  28 th,  1842. — Dr.  M‘Donnell  sent  me  a trout  about  16  inches 
in  length,  which  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Crawford,  Crawfordsburn,  who 
wished  to  know  what  it  was : it  was  a Salmo  Eriox ; on  one  side  was  a 
circle  of  scarlet  spots  nearly  the  size  of  a half-penny,  and  on  the  other 
were  two  such  circles — the  marking  of  the  breeding  season.  I presume 
it  was  a male,  but  the  intestines,  &c.,  had  been  taken  out. 

On  February  ls£,  1842,  I received  another  specimen,  2 feet  in  length, 
from  the  same  quarter  ; a most  characteristic  S.  Eriox  in  form  and  colour 
— long,  narrow,  and  uniform  in  depth ; a grey  colour  with  a few  round 
black  spots  only  along  the  sides. 

Dr.  M‘D.  says  this  fish  appears  about  the  river  at  Crawfordsburn  in 
winter  only,  when  the  stream  is  large  : it  is  called  “ Salmon  Trout  ” there. 
The  same  gentleman  sent  me  a specimen  from  the  Nanny  Water  (County 
Meath)  in  April,  1844. 

February  21th,  1849. — In  Belfast  market  I saw  a S.  Eriox  to-day,  2\  lbs. 
weight,  which,  as  it  laid  on  the  bench  with  several  of  S.  Trutta , looked 
different  from  them  only  in  being  more  equable  in  breadth — having  the 
dorsal  and  ventral  profile  less  arched.  The  caudal  fin  certainly  was  more 
square  at  the  end  and  of  a coarser  structure,  but  the  specimen  was  as 
silvery  and  had  as  many  spots  as  the  S.  Trutta  ; in  both  of  which  particu- 
lars the  other  specimens  that  I obtained  differed  (see  dates  respecting 
them). 

The  considerably  larger  adipose  fin,  together  with  the  graceless  outline 
and  the  coarse  rays  of  the  dorsal  fin,  proved  the  specimen  to  be  S.  Eriox. 
The  only  difference  in  colour  of  body  and  fins  between  it  and  the  S.  Trutta 
(of  which  there  were  several  both  larger  and  smaller  than  it)  was  the 
mere  extremity  of  its  caudal  fin  being  lightish  coloured  instead  of  dusky, 
and  its  dorsal  fin  wanting  the  many  spots  towards  the  base  that  S.  Trutta 
exhibited.  Although  wanting  a specimen  of  S.  Eriox  to  send  Mr.  Yarrell, 
I did  not  purchase  it,  as  it  was  the  least  decidedly  marked  of  any  speci- 
men I had  seen.  It  was  taken  in  the  sea. 

July  20th,  1848. — One  18f  lbs.  weight,  caught  in  the  sea  near  Donag- 
hadee,  was  brought  to  Belfast  market.  It  was  the  largest  which  the  fish- 
monger ever  saw : he  has  seen  two  others  of  18  lbs.  He  accurately  de- 
scribed to  me  the  differences  between  S.  Eriox  and  S.  Trutta. 

March  16 th,  1849. — Numbers  of  S.  Trutta  and  two  of  S.  Eriox  in  Belfast 
market,  from  Ballyhalbert  and  Ballywalter ; a few  S.  Salar  taken  with 
them  from  5 lbs.  down. 

S.  Eriox.  The  larger  weighed  9 lbs.,  and  was  2 feet  4 inches  in  length  : 
it  was  not  in  high  condition,  as  the  weight  implies. 

S.  Eriox.  One  which  I bought,  22  inches  long,  weighed  4 lbs.  It  is  of 
singular  uniform  breadth  throughout,  and  of  a greyish  instead  of  a whitish 
silvery  hue,  like  S.  Trutta.  It  proved  to  be  a female,  the  ova  being  the 


THE  SALMON  TROUT. 


151 


size  of  ordinary  clover  seed.  I was  pleased  to  have  proof  of  its  food ; in 
its  stomach  a little  of  Ulva  Linza,  Linn.,  was  found ; one  plant  from  root 
to  top  being  perfect. 

March  16 th,  1850. — A very  fine  one,  5 lbs.  weight,  taken  with  a number 
of  S.  Trutta  at  Donaghadee,  was  brought  me.  I saw  a small  one  a few 
days  ago  which  had  been  caught  there. 

On  2nd  August , 1851,  I obtained  an  example  of  this  fish  at  Newcastle, 
County  Down,  weight  31  lbs. — some,  if  not  all,  of  the  trout  called  “ Dolo- 
chan,”  at  Dundrum,  are  (from  the  descriptions  given)  apparently  of  this 
species.  They  are  taken  up  to  12  lbs.  weight,  and  are  said  to  ascend  the 
river  as  regularly  as  the  salmon. 

The  Salmon  Trout,*  Salmo  Trutta , Linn.,  Salmo  albus , Flem., 

Is  common  around  the  coast.  I have  examined  specimens  from  all  sides 
of  the  island.  Belfast  market  is  supplied  from  spring  to  autumn  with 
this  species,  taken  in  the  sea,  whence  all  that  I have  seen  taken,  no  mat- 
ter at  what  season,  were  in  good  condition.  It  ascends  the  tributaries, 
great  and  small,  of  Belfast  Bay. 

On  examination  of  a specimen  of  S.  Trutta , taken  in  the  Lagan  Canal, 
on  16th  February,  1837,  with  Scotch  specimens  of  the  herling,  S.  albus, 
sent  to  me  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  It.  N.,  I found  a perfect  agreement  between 
them. 

In  the  stomach  of  the  Lagan  fish  were  a gammarus-like  crustacean, 
a leech,  and  the  remains  of  larva-cases  of  the  Phryganea  (caddis- worms). 

March  2nd,  1837. — There  was  a basketful  of  S.  Trutta  in  Belfast 
market  from  Donaghadee,  where  this  species  is  abundant ; their  average 
weight  about  1^  lb.  I bought  one  of  this  weight,  and  on  opening  it 
neither  milt  nor  roe  appeared.  In  its  stomach  were  the  remains  of  seven 
or  eight  sand  eels  from  2 to  3^  inches  long.  I examined  three  which 
were  perfect,  and  found  two  of  them  Ammodytes  Lancea,  and  one  (3-L 
inches  long)  the  Amm.  Tobianus  : it  contained  also  a full-grown  •prawn ; 
in  its  mouth  were  some  confervce. 

July  1 1th,  1838. — I received  a specimen  of  the  Salmo  Trutta,  9 inches 
in  length  and  in  high  condition,  from  Macpherson’s  dam,  Old  Park, 
near  Belfast,  where  they  are  said  to  be  numerous.  Its  roundness  on  the 
back  and  greyish  green  colour,  as  described  by  Jardine,  are  very  well 
marked.  The  person  who  brought  it  to  me  caught  similar  fish  in  the 
Lagan  last  March.  Comparing  it  with  the  Scotch  specimens  of  the  her- 
ling, I see  no  difference. 

March  31s£,  1846. — I saw  several  which  were  taken  in  Belfast  Bay, 
about  two  miles  and  a half  from  town,  weighing  from  two  to  three  pounds 
each.  A few  are  commonly  taken  in  the  mullet  nets.  Mr.  Meenan  says 
he  sometimes  gets  in  one  day  three  or  four  cwt.  One  hundred  and  a half 
is  sometimes  taken  by  one  boat  in  a day, — all  taken  early  in  the  morn- 
ing, before  day-break,  by  drawing  the  sandy  bays.  The  salmon  trout  is 
chiefly  procured  at  Donaghadee  and  Ballywalter,  but  is  met  with  all 
round  the  North-East  coast.  Taken  from  March  till  November ; the  largest 
weighing  fifteen  pounds,  often  ten  and  twelve  pounds  ; average  size  two 
and  a half  pounds.  Great  numbers  are  taken  at  the  Cranagh  cuts,  Cole- 
raine ; but  they  do  not  at  any  season  average  more  than  one  pound 
weight.  (One  of  fourteen  pounds  weight  is  said  to  have  been  taken  in 


Commonly  called  “ White  Trout,”  or  “ Sea  Trout.” 


152 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


the  Basin  some  years  previous  to  1842.)  Sells  at  from  five  to  eight  pence 
per  pound. 

The  largest  specimen  of  which  I have  a note  was  taken  at  Wexford  in 
1849,  and  obtained  by  Dr.  Ball.  It  weighed  17^  lbs. 

From  a basketful  of  salmon  trout  taken  at  Donaghadee  and  brought 
to  Belfast  market,  on  28th  March,  1835,  I selected  the  smallest,  which 
weighed  \\  lb.  (and  cost  8 d.  per  lb.),  for  examination. 

Its  length  is  15^  inches;  breadth  3^  inches;  B.  10  at  one  side,  11 
rays  at  the  other;  D.  1 1 10  (the  last  double  from  base) ; P.  13;  V.  Ij9; 
A.  9 (the  last  double  from  base) ; C.  19. 

Colour.  Head  marked  irregularly  with  blue  and  green  ; back  faintly 
marked  with  the  same  colours ; above  and  a short  way  beneath  the  lateral 
line  are  irregular  black  markings,  which  can  hardly  be  called  spots 
(some  of  these  are  similar  to  the  markings  on  Donovan’s  Sewen  (pi.  91), 
but  are  more  irregular ; it  has  about  as  many  spots  above  lateral  line,  as 
this  fig.,  but  they  are  more  irregularly  disposed;  it  has  not  so  many  below 
lateral  line  as  this  figure,  it  differs  from  it  in  form) ; from  a little  above  the 
lateral  line,  and  thence  to  the  belly,  the  scales  are  of  the  most  brilliant 
silver ; on  the  upper  portion  they  have  that  fine  azurine  tint  which  those 
of  the  Pollan  of  L.  Neagh  exhibits ; under  parts  of  the  purest  white. 
D.  fins  very  pale  dusky  green  ; C.  the  same  ; A.  transparent  white.  Y.  same, 
except  at  inner  base,  where  they  are  tinged  with  iridescent  green  and 
blue,  and  above  that  with  purplish  red,  which  colours  also  prevail  at 
inner  base  of  pectoral  fins;  these  fins  are  uniform,  transparent  white  on 
under  side,  the  upper  side  being  partially  dotted  with  black. 

Irides,  silvery,  with  tinge  of  yellow,  pupil  black. 

Tail,  slightly  forked. 

Upper  jaw,  longer  than  under. 

Head,  delicately  formed,  and  sloping  equally  on  upper  and  under  side. 

In  colour  it  approaches  Donovan’s  Sewen  (pi.  91)  more  nearly  than 
any  other  figure  I have  seen ; but  in  form,  especially  of  the  head,  it  totally 
differs  from  it. 

The  only  Lough  Neagh  Salmo  to  which  this  specimen  bears  any  re- 
semblance is  the  sea  trout,  so  called  there;  but  the  Lough  Neagh  speci- 
mens of  this  trout  that  I procured  in  September  had  no  approximation  to 
this  Donaghadee  fish,  in  regard  to  brilliancy  of  colour  or  deciduousness 
of  scales.  Is  this  a seasonal  difference  ? 

On  showing  this  fish  to  Thomas  Sinclaire,  Esq.,  he  recognised  it  as  un- 
questionably the  species  of  sea  trout  Avhich  he  used  to  catch  in  the 
Lagan,  from  August  to  December,  but  chiefly  after  the  November  floods. 
For  many  years  he  has  not  heard  of  it  being  taken  in  the  Lagan.  He 
has  seen  his  father  take  it  in  Glenarm  river  in  July. 

The  Common  Trout,  Salmo  Fario,  Linn., 

Is  common  throughout  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  Ireland. 

July  19 th,  1838. — Stomachs  of  two  taken  in  the  Lagan,  examined  and 
found  to  be  filled  completely,  chiefly  with  insect  larvae  of  many  kinds, 
some  flies  and  Gammarus  aquaticus. 

A friend  informs  me  that  he  has  known  a small  river  in  the  North  of 
Ireland  fished  by  poachers  for  the  extent  of  three  miles,  by  means  of  a net 
formed  of  a couple  of  blankets  fastened  together. 

A few  weeks  ago  there  were  a dozen  trout  caught  at  Wolf  hill,  by  some 
lime  being  put  where  they  were ; instantly,  on  their  coming  to  the  top  of 
the  water,  they  were  captured  and  put  into  a tub  of  pure  water,  and  con- 


THE  COMMON  TROUT. 


153 


veyed  with  all  haste  to  the  spring-dam.  They  were  all  in  the  highest 
condition  when  taken,  but  a few  days  afterwards  I noticed  one  of  them 
having  about  the  gills  and  fins  several  white  downy-looking  excrescences 
(notunlike  the  hard  and  pearly  tubercles  on  the  stickleback),  some  of  them 
larger  than  a marrowfat  or  the  most  gigantic  pea.  The  general  colour 
too  of  the  fish  was  paler,  and  its  motion  through  the  water  dull  and 
sluggish ; in  a few  days  it  died,  as  well  as  two  others  which  were  simi- 
larly affected.  I have  before  observed  this  disease  in  trout,  and  in  the 
present  instance  have  remarked  that  the  growth  of  the  execrescences  is 
very  rapid,  quite  that  of  a mushroom.  I recollect  many  years  ago  having 
a little  lime  put  under  the  arch,  between  the  two  dams,  and  the  very 
moment  the  trout,  fifteen  to  twenty,  came  to  the  top,  they  were  plunged 
into  a large  tub  of  spring  water;  yet  every  one  died  almost  immediately.* 
Note  of  October  loth,  1832. 

Salmo  Fario  of  Dr.  Ball’s,  with  shortupper  jaw,  just  as  figured  by  Yarrell, 
ii.  59.  It  is  seven  inches  long,  opercle  very  angular  and  spotted,  dorsal 
fin  marked  over  with  round  black  spots,  first  ray  of  fin  white,  as  in  the 
char,  immediately  succeeded  by  a black  line,  remainder  pale  grey.  The 
upper  jaw  has  a singular  appearance,  being  doubled  in  with  all  the 
teeth  in  it,  as  if  it  were  perfect.  This  specimen  was  taken  in  a pond  at 
Sally  Park,  near  Dublin ; the  pond  is  supplied  by  a mountain-stream. 
Dublin,  note  of  1838. 

Deformed  trout,  taken  by  R.  Callwell,  Esq.,  in  a river  flowing  from 
Loch  Ruthen,  half  an  English  mile  from  the  lake,  one  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  taken  in  three  days,  during  the  second  week  in  September, 
1839. 

Trout  with  malformed  head,  just  as  figured  by  Yarrell,  brought  to  the 
Museum,  from  a small  stream  near  Doagh,  County  Antrim,  where  a second 
one  of  larger  size  was  also  taken,  May,  1844. 

In  the  river  at  Glenlark,  in  the  Munterloney  mountains,  County  Derry, 
Mr.  Sinclaire  states  that  the  water  and  stones  are  deeply  tinged  with  a 
rust  colour,  of  which  the  trout  likewise  partake.  Their  flesh  is  very  bad, 
and  of  a metallic  flavour,  as  Mr.  Sinclaire  and  his  friends  had  evidence ; 
so  bad  are  they  that  the  country  people  will  not  eat  them,  and  as  they 
are  not  fished  for,  the  river  abounds  in  them. 

March  21  st,  1837,  I purchased  a beautifully  marked  trout,  which  was 
taken  with  a fly  in  the  river  at  Whiteabbey,  on  the  northern  shore  of 
Belfast  Bay. 

Its  length  is  fourteen  and  a half  inches.  Colour  above  lateral  line,  very 
pale  yellowish  brown,  glossed  with  silvery  lilac  between  the  spots,  with 
which  it  is  densely  covered;  these  are  large,  round  (no  X like  figures), 
and  rich  brown,  three  spots  on  posterior  part  of  lateral  line  are  dull  red, 
and  two  below  it  of  this  colour ; below  the  lateral  line  the  spots  do  not 
extend  far,  but  are  close  together  just  beneath  it.  These  spots  are  rich 
dark  brown  in  the  centre,  bordered  with  lighter  brown,  and  each  exhibit- 
ing a white  ring  exterior  to  this,  which  gives  every  spot  a beautifully 
ocellated  appearance ; colour  from  lateral  line  to  the  belly  is  a pale  yellow- 
ish brown  ; belly  white,  faintly  glossed  with  silver  anteriorly ; D.  fin  very 
much  spotted  all  over ; P.  and  F.  marked  with  dusky  grey  and  yellow ; 
A.  dusky  or  dark  smoke  grey,  tipped  with  dull  yellow ; C.  olive  brown ; 
back,  when  viewed  at  a little  distance,  so  dark  as  to  appear  black. 

Eye,  larger  than  I have  seen  it  in  any  trout  of  similar  size ; pupil,  dark 


* Probably  the  spring-water  was  too  cold. — R.  Ball. 


154 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


blue,  very  dark  silvery  colour  on  lower  half,  upper  half  clouded  with  brown. 
This  is  different  from  the  colour  of  any  eye  in  the  species  of  this  genus 
that  I have  remarked,  they  are  generally  whitish  silvery.  It  proved  a 
female  on  inspection,  and  containing  ova  (?)  of  every  size,  from  three  lines 
in  diameter  downwards  to  very  minute,  and  these  were  loose,  apparently 
as  if  part  had  been  shed.  I never  before  saw  this  variation  in  the  size  of 
ova  in  any  fish  ; the  very  largest  size  in  this  were  clear,  and  all  the  smaller 
opaque,  of  a dull  stem-colour,  and  exhibiting  blood-vessels  in  them.  The 
stomach  contained  the  remains  of  small  Crustacea,  an  insect  larva,  &c. 

The  Gillaroo  Trout. 

The  coats  of  the  stomach  of  other  species  of  Salmones  than  S.  Fario  (of 
which  only  the  Gillaroo  is  set  down  as  a variety)  become  muscular  from 
the  same  cause.  I have  seen  S.  ferox,  from  different  localities,  with  a 
muscular  stomach,  and  these  examples  were  called  Gillaroo  trout,  by 
persons  who  distinguish  them  from  the  ordinary  state  of  the  fish,  believing 
them  to  be  a distinct  species. 

1838. — Dr.  Drummond  sent  me  the  contents  of  the  stomach  of  a trout, 
about  eight  inches  long,  from  Lough  Neagh.  They  consisted  oiLimneus 
pereyer  of  small  size,  and  Valvata  obtusa , but  more  of  the  former  ; they 
also  contained  a few  Cyclas  cornea.  I reckoned  fifty  of  these  shells,  and 
divided  the  remainder  into  parcels  of  a similar  number,  and  found  that 
the  whole  amounted  to  a thousand. 

The  stomach  of  another  trout  from  Lough  Neagh,  examined  by  me, 
was  half  filled  with  Limneas  pereger ; the  other  half  of  the  contents  com- 
prised flies  and  coleoptera,  which  it  must  have  taken  on  or  above  the 
surface ; and  of  sub-aquatic  insects  of  various  kinds.  The  stomach  also 
contained  Gammari. 


The  Gillaroo  Trout. 

December  1st,  1849.  W.  It.  Wilde,  Esq. , tells  me  that  in  September  last 
he  caught  a number  of  these  in  Lough  Bofin,  within  four  miles  of  Ough- 
terard,  between  that  and  Clifden.  The  first  which  was  caught  was  pointed 
out  to  him  as  a Gillaroo  by  his  boatman,  who  knew  it  from  the  markings, 
without  feeling  the  stomach.  He  said  he  recognised  it  by  the  “ invisible 
marks  ” above  the  ventral  profile.  These  marks  Mr.  Wilde  describes  as 
resembling  dirty  finger-marks.  The  boatman  examined  a number  of  these 
trout,  and  found  they  were  Gillaroos,  with  hard  stomachs  and  shell-fish 
in  them.  All  the  fish  were  of  a very  small  size. 

Gillaroo  trout  are  found  in  the  Shannon,  in  Lough  Corrib,  and  Lough 
Mask.  NewenhawHs  View  of  Ireland,  1809. 

Nimmo  has  taken  Gillaroos  in  the  Galway  lakes,  with  shells  in  them, 
from  April  to  August.  With  a fly  he  has  caught  those  with  thick 
stomachs  containing  shells. 

Mr.  It.  M‘Garry  informs  me,  that  in  Lough  Neagh  it  sometimes 
attains  12  lbs.  weight;  he  has  never  seen  one  under  1 lb;  he  says  it  is 
very  partial  to  flies,  with  which  he  has  seen  the  mouths  of  those  taken 
filled  ; he  has  never  known  it  to  be  caught  with  any  bait  excepting  the 
fly,  though  all  the  other  species  of  trout  are  so  taken. 

The  fishermen  distinguish  them  at  every  age  by  form,  markings,  and  by 
the  hardness  of  the  stomach  or  gizzard  as  they  term  it.  It  is  partial  to  a 
rocky  bottom,  takes  a worm-bait,  but  may  also  be  captured  with  artifi- 
cial fly. 


THE  GILLAROO  TROUT. 


1 55 


It  does  not  occur  in  the  Baren. 

One  which  I got  was  taken  in  the  eel-net  at  Toome,  the  other  two  be- 
tween Shane’s  Castle  and  the  Six-mile  Water.  These  three,  and  one  I saw 
in  Belfast  market,  had  large  scarlet  spots,  ^ of  an  inch  in  diameter,  from 
lateral  line  towards  the  belly,  which  partook  more  or  less  of  a golden 
colour.  None  of  the  other  trout  approximating  these  in  size  were 
coloured  at  all  like  them  in  either  of  the  above  characters. 

The  fishermen  consider  them  inferior  to  the  other  Salmonidce  for  the 
table. 

March  2Ath,  1835. — I purchased  in  Belfast  market  a specimen  of  this 
fish  from  Lough  Neagh ; its  dimensions,  &c.,  are  as  follows  : — Length,  23 
inches;  weight,  4i  pounds;  depth,  5£  inches.  B.  11  at  one  side,  12 
rays  at  other;  D.  2]  12  ; P.  14;  V.  9 ; A.  2|  11 ; C.  19.  The  two  last  rays 
springing  from  same  base,  in  D.  and  A.  fins,  are  reckoned  as  2. 

Irides,  silvery,  clouded  with  black  ; colour,  similar  to  what  it  is  in 
autumn,  but  not  quite  so  intense,  having  several  large  scarlet  spots  on 
and  below  lateral  line.  Towards  the  belly  it  is  of  a rich  golden  colour, 
tinged  with  a faint  blush  of  rose  colour ; under  parts  white,  becoming 
deeper  in  colour  towards  the  vent,  where  it  is  cream-coloured.  D.  fin 
spotted  over;  C.  of  different  shades  of  brown,  with  upper  portion  spotted, 
terminated  by  a regular  band  of  yellowish  brown ; P.  fins  tipped  with 
amber  brown  ; Y.  and  A.  tipped  with  yellowish  brown ; upper  jaw  projects 
over  lower  when  the  mouth  is  closed.  I took  two  specimens  of  Paludina 
impura  from  its  mouth. * 

August  21th,  1836. — Mr.  Hyndman  states  that  a Gillaroo  from  Lough 
Neagh,  opened  by  him  to-day,  contained  ova  the  size  of  small  peas. 

April  8th,  1835. — I purchased  a Gillaroo  trout  in  Belfast  market  of  1 lb. 
weight,  which  was  caught  in  Lough  Neagh.  Its  length  is  14  inches. 
Breadth,  3-L  inches.  B.  11  at  one  side,  12  at  the  other ; D.  2|  11  (last  ray 
double  from  base) ; P.  14;  V.  1|9  ; A.  2110  (last  ray  double  from  base)  ; 
C.  19.  Irides,  silvery  tinged  with  yellow,  very  faintly  clouded  with  black. 
Body  of  fish  same  colour  as  usual,  though  scarlet  spots  however  appear. 
The  roseate,  golden  colour  of  this  specimen,  below  lateral  line,  is,  as  in 
all  other  specimens  I have  seen,  quite  peculiar ; head  spotted  over  the  top. 
P.  and  Y.  fins  of  an  amber  colour,  A.  fin  exhibits  a tinge  of  pale  amber, 
C.  not  regularly  banded  as  in  last  specimen : see  bottle  for  contents  of 
stomach  which  was  opened  in  London.  Vertebrae  54.  April  25th,  1841. 
My  attention  was  arrested,  in  passing  through  the  market,  by  a Gillaroo 
trout,  its  aspect,  with  the  deep  golden  sides  (lower  portion  of),  being  very 
conspicuous.  Its  small  teeth  too  were  displayed.  I purchased  it  for  the 
Museum.  It  is  two  feet  in  length ; from  the  aesophagus  to  the  anus  it 
was  entirely  filled  with  Paludina  impura  and  Valvata  oblusa,  they  nearly 
filled  a large  tea-cup.  Contents  of  the  stomach  very  thick,  fish  very  fat, 
the  cceca  were  imbedded  in  actual  fat. 

Oct.  18th,  1836. — I examined  the  contents  of  the  stomach  of  a Gil- 
laroo, put  up  for  Dr.  Scouler,  and  found  it  to  contain  only  (excepting 
a minute  pebble)  specimens  of  Gulnaria  lacustris,  which  were  of  middle 
size,  and  upwards  of  eighty  in  number. 

Oct.  3rd,  1837. — I bought  a Gillaroo  of  seven  pounds  weight  from  Lough 
Neagh.  It  is  27  inches  long  and  6 inches  deep.  D.  fin  begins  11^  inches 
from  snout ; V.  1 inch  behind  it ; Adipose  fin  1 inch  10  lines  long.  On 
the  left-hand  side  it  has  but  four  scarlet  spots,  which  are  on  the  hinder 


* This  is  the  specimen  I gave  Mr.  Yarrell;  he  has  figured  it. 


156 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


half  of  the  lateral  line,  and  three  smaller  spots  beneath  them  ; they  are 
of  sealing-wax  red,  just  the  same  on  right  side ; two  uppermost  spots  on 
adipose  fin  are  scarlet,  all  the  other  spots  on  this  side  have  a yellowish 
brown  ring  round  them,  with  a whitish  marking  again  surrounding  it, 
rendering  them  beautifully  ocellated.  Upper  third  portion  of  body,  dull 
stem  yellow ; central  third,  rich  gold  of  metallic  brilliancy ; and  lowest 
third  of  a rich  “ buff  orange,”  or  pale  salmon  colour ; extreme  base, 
whitish  buff.  Irides,  silvery,  clouded  with  brown.  The  general  colour 
of  the  right  side  is  more  uniform  than  above  described,  but  lying  on  this 
side  may  have  been  the  cause.  On  dissection  the  stomach  and  canal 
were  found  quite  empty,  excepting  the  ordinary  thick  mucus-like  matter. 
The  milt  was  of  the  thickest  consistency.  The  vertebrae  were  fifty-six  in 
number. 

Nov.  2 6th,  1840.  Two  fish,  judged  in  the  market  from  their  hard  sto- 
mach to  be  Gillaroos,  were  brought  me.  They  were  both  Salmo  ferox. 

The  Great  Lake  Trout,  Salmo  ferox,  Linn., 

Found  throughout  the  larger  lakes  of  Ireland  ; attains  upwards  of 
30  lbs.  weight ; is  the  common  Salmo  of  Lough  Neagh : particularly  re- 
marked in  this  locality  a century  ago,  and  thought  likely  by  authors  to 
be  identical  with  the  S.  lacustris  of  the  Lake  of  Geneva see  Proceedings 
Zool.  Soc.  1835,  p.  81. 

Florence  Court,  Oct.,  1840. — Lord  Enniskillen  considers  this  fish  the 
common  trout  of  Lough  Erne,  as  I consider  it  of  Lough  Neagh.  He  has 
seen  one  of  twenty-eight  pounds  weight  taken  there.  He  caught  it  in 
Lough  Melvin,  Oct.  19th.  A male  fish  three  feet  long,  and  weighing- 
twenty  pounds,  was  caught  in  the  neighbourhood  (if  in  condition  it  would 
have  weighed  twenty-six  pounds) ; it  was  about  one  foot  in  depth, 
and  densely  spotted  from  back  to  very  near  the  belly ; the  lower  spots 
reddish. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  only  knows  this  fish  as  found  in  Lough  Corrib.  (1840.) 

Ballyshannon,  July  1 6th,  1840. — A gentleman  living  at  Lough  Melvin 
told  me  that  trout  are  taken  there  of  thirty- two  pounds  weight ; doubt- 
less of  this  species.  * 

Salmo  ferox.  Sept.  22,  1836.  Nov.  24,  1837. — Many  S.  ferox  of  me- 
dium size  in  Belfast  market ; they  were  in  bad  condition,  and  many  ova 
the  size  of  the  largest  peas  were  scattered  over  them.  For  Dr.  Scouler  I 
bought  two  specimens  (male  and  female)  of  similar  size,  weighing  toge- 
ther 19  lbs.  The  marking  was  very  different  on  the  two  sexes,  the  fe- 
male being  of  a silvery  grey,  densely  covered  over  with  black  spots,  the 
male  not  having  half  the  number  of  spots,  and  which  were  bordered,  chiefly 
the  lowest  ones,  with  a ring  of  dull  orange.  The  general  colour  of  this 
fish  was  very  different  from  the  female,  the  lower  part  of  the  sides  and 
belly  being  of  a rich  salmon  colour. 

On  dissection  there  was  not  anything  found  in  their  stomachs  but  the 
backbone  of  a fish,  which  must  have  been  about  the  size  of  a full-grown 
pollan ; the  roe  in  female  was  the  size  of  small  peas  and  weighed  alto- 
gether 17  oz. 

The  stomach  of  a small  S.  ferox  examined  to-day  contained  remains  of 
insects. 


* A specimen  of  S.  ferox , sent  to  Dublin  University  Museum  by  one  of  the 
editors  in  1854,  weighed  32  lbs. 


THE  GREAT  LAKE  TROUT. 


157 

Mr.  Dugan  (fish  vender)  has  frequently  had  'specimens  of  S.  ferox  for 
sale  30  lbs.  weight,  but  never  knew  one  to  exceed  31  lbs.* 

The  following  is  the  description  of  Dr.  Scouler’s  specimens  : 

Male,  length  32|  inches  ; D.  14  (including  very  small  anterior  one)  ; 
P.  14;  V.  9;  A.  11  ; C.  19. 

Female,  length  304  'inches  ; D.  13  (including;  very  small  anterior  one) ; 
P.  14  ; V.  9;  A.  12;  C.  19. 

Teeth  are  considerably  stronger  in  the  male  than  female  ; these  on  vo- 
mer extend  on  both  If  inches. 

Operculum  differs  much  in  form  in  the  two  sexes — in  the  female  ap- 
proaching in  roundness  to  that  of  the  salmon. 

From  eye  to  snout  the  difference  in  length  is  great  between  the  sexes, 
being  much  longer  in  the  male. 

Spots  on  operculum  and  sides  of  the  head  in  both  sexes  round  (more 
numerous  in  female)  ; which  form  they  also  are  generally  on  tail  of  fe- 
male when  they  appear  on  its  base  and  upper  portion  only — no  spots  on 
tail  of  male.  On  D.  fin  of  male  spots  roundish,  on  D.  fin  of  female  longish, 
oval ; on  sides  of  male  fish,  the  spots  are  rudely  roundish ; on  sides  of 
female  they  are  altogether  different,  being  all  rudely  formed  thus,  Xw 
sometimes  two  or  three  X’s  being  joined.  Longest  D.  ring  is  the  6th  in 
both  specimens,  and  not  “ the  3rd,”  as  stated  by  Mr.  Yarrell ; it  is  cer- 
tainly the  3rd  of  the  conspicuous  rays,  but  in  reckoning  the  very  short 
anterior  ones  which  make  the  total  number  14,  it  is  the  6th,  or  first 
branched  or  doubly  bifid  ray.  In  the  scales  of  the  Dolochan  j*  and  male 
S.  ferbx  there  is  a difference,  those  of  the  former  appearing  (on  the  fish) 
more  elongated  and  more  regularly  rounded  at  the  free  edge,  those  of  S. 
ferox  being  very  irregular  in  outline  at  the  free  edge  : those  towards  the 
tail  chiefly  alluded  to. 

Oct.  19,  1836. — I examined  six  specimens  of  S.  ferox,  from  10  to  12  lbs. 
weight,  and  found  the  markings  of  the  sexes  as  above  described  ; four  of 
them  were  males,  and  had  the  dull  orange  rings  round  spots  below  lateral 
line. 

Oct.  11,  1838. 

1 . S.  ferox , milt  maturely  developed,  stomach  empty. 

2.  Many-spotted  one  ; 13  inches  long;  milt  maturely  developed,  stomach 
empty.  Cceca  35,  and  tolerably  uniform. 

3.  One  14|  inches  long,  milt  mature ; stomach  contained  one  Mysis-like 
crustacean. 

4.  14f  inches  long ; milt  mature ; stomach  contained  some  Mysis-like 
Crustacea,  and  a few  scales  like  those  of  pollan. 

5.  17  inches  long,  filled  with  ova  about  full  size;  stomach  empty,  33 
cceca,  some  long  and  some  very  short. 

Lough  Neagh  Trout,  Oct.  19th,  1838. 

Salmo  ferox  18  inches,  male,  stomach  matters  indistinguishable,  coeca  34. 
Salmo  Trutta  14  inches,  female,  filled  with  ova  of  pea  size,  stomach 
matters  indistinguishable. 

Salmo  ferox  13  inches,  male,  stomach  empty,  cceca  36. 

Ditto  12|  — — — — — 39. 

Ditto  124  — — — — — 49. 

Ditto  12  — — - — — about  45. 


* In  Sampson’s  Londonderry  the  great  trout  of  L.  Neagh  is  said  to  reach 
5 ) lbs. 

f Specimen  from  Tollymore  Park. 


158 


MALACOPTEUY  GII . 


The  cceca  in  the  above  were  accurately  reckoned,  so  that  in  the  six 
specimens  they  vary  in  number  from  34  to  49. 

Oct.  2 Qtli,  1838 I received  from  Lord  Cole  a female  specimen  of  this 

fish  (apparently  from  10  to  12  lbs.  weight)  taken  in  L.  Erne.  Lord  C. 
remarked  in  a note  relative  to  this  specimen  sent  to  me,  that  a similar 
fish  of  12  lbs.  was  taken  about  the  same  time.  My  specimen  was  2 feet 
9-|-  inches  long ; chiefly  beneath  the  lateral  line  were  many  XXX  like 
markings  ; above  it  they  were  generally  round,  as  all  were  on  opercula. 
In  the  market  to-day  were  several  Buddaghs  from  L.  Neagh,  male  and 
female,  of  great  size,  some  14  lbs.  weight.  On  looking  over  them,  I saw  that 
the  males  had  nearly  all  the  spots  round,  but  the  females  had  all,  at  least 
a few,  and  some  many,  indeed  the  half,  of  the  spots  either  single  crosses 
X,  or  a combination  of  them.  Some  of  these  had  spawned,  others  had 
the  spawn  just  ready  for  exclusion,  as  it  was  in  the  L.  Erne  specimen. 
The  tail  of  this  individual  was  obscurely  lunate  when  unstretched,  but 
when  fully  expanded  was  convex.  I am  satisfied  that  there  has  been  much 
confusion  on  this  point  by  authors  ; we  see  that  even  in  the  same  indi- 
vidual it  is  reversed  according  to  the  way  we  view  it ; whether  in  repose 
(i.  e.  of  death)  or  expansion.  The  stomach  of  this  fish  was  empty.  The 
cceca  45  in  number.  The  ova  weighed  21  ounces.  To  approximate  the 
number  of  ova  in  this  weight,  or  to  see  what  a fish  of  about  11  lbs.  total 
weight  would  produce,  I weighed  one  ounce  of  the  ova  and  reckoned  their 
number,  which  was  about  220.  This  number  to  21  ounces  (and  the  ova 
were  all  similar  in  size)  would  be  4620  ova  in  toto. 

I could  not  but  be  struck  with  the  disparity  in  several  points  of  view 
between  this  fish  and  a char,  from  Lochgrannard  in  Scotland  {S.  Umbla, 
Linn.),  which  I examined  on  the  20th  instant  in  a similar  way,  and  the 
ova,  just  in  the  same  way,  ready  for  exclusion. 

Thus  a char  of  7^  inches  long,  which  weighed  altogether  oz.,  and  its 
ova  singly  half  an  oz.  and  1a.  drachms — here  the  ova  were  two  lines  in 
diameter,  and  in  total  number  but  482,  or  less  than  that  of  its  congener 
the  S.ferox.  Vide  Journal , Oct.  4th,  1837. 

August,  1839. — Mr.  Jarvey  of  Glasgow,  who  has  fished  much  in  Loch 
Lomond,  states  that  there  is  a trout  there,  called  the  powan-eater,  which 
he  agrees  with  me  is  the  S.  ferox. 

Swift,  in  “ a dialogue  in  Hibernian  style  between  A and  B,”  makes  A 
inquire — “ What  kind  of  man  is  your  neighbour  Squire  Dolt? — B.  Why, 
a mere  Buddagh.  He  sometimes  coshers  with  me  ; and  once  a month  I 
take  a pipe  with  him,  and  we  shot  it  about  for  an  hour  together.” — Scott’s 
Swift,  2nd  ed.  1824,  vol.  vii.  p.  156. 

On  inquiring  from  Dr.  M‘Donnell  the  meaning  of  Buddagh,  he  replied 
it  meant  “ a big,  fat  fellow.” 

In  writing  a history  of  S.ferox  (see  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  v.  p.  318), 
Mr.  Robert  M‘Garry  tells  me  that  “ Buddagh  ” from  ten  pounds  upwards 
are  taken  in  Lough  Neagh  with  night-lines,  baited  with  a pollan  or  perch  ; 
caddis-worms  are  successfully  used  in  the  capture  of  all  species  of  trout 
but  the  Gillaroo,  which  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  friends,  who  were  the 
regular  fishermen  of  Lough  Neagh,  ever  took  in  this  way,  though  they 
have  occasionally  taken  it  with  the  fly. 

Measurements  of  a Lough  Neagh  Salmo  ferox  kindly  made  for  me  by 
Professor  Stevelly,  Sept.  27th,  1848.  He  saw  it  at  or  near  Dungannon. 


THE  GREAT  LAKE  TROUT. 


159 


Feet.  Inches. 


‘ Girth , between  eye  and  mouth 

. 1 

H 

back  of  gills 

1 

6* 

middle,  just  in  front  of  dorsal  fin 

. 1 

9f 

setting  on  of  tail  . 

8 

Length,  extreme  from  hook  to  tail 

. 3 

2| 

head  from  hook  to  back  of  gill 

10 

tip  of  nose  to  front  of  dorsal  fin  . 

. 1 

H 

front  of  dorsal  to  front  of  caudal 

n| 

tail 

5f 

— — mouth  . 

46 

Weight  23  lbs.  It  was  lank,  though  the  flesh  was  firm,  and  had  evidently 
milted.” 

Salmo  ferox.  Feb.  10 th,  1838. — Mr.  Adams  remarked  to  me,  that  in 
October  it  is  an  extraordinary  sight  to  see  the  large  Buddaghs  on  the 
spawning  beds  in  the  river  Maine  ; from  the  first  bridge  for  some  distance 
up  the  river  he  has  seen  them  so  close  together  with  the  tail  and  fins 
above  the  surface  of  the  water  when  it  was  low,  that  one  could  apparently 
walk  across  dry  upon  the  fish  ; the  number  is  extraordinary.  He  thinks 
all  the  large  fishes  keep  to  this  part  of  the  river  contiguous  to  the  mouth, 
but  he  has  heard  of  the  smaller  ones  ascending  to  spawn  as  high  up  as 
Broughshane.  On  inquiring  how  he  knew  they  were  not  salmon,  he 
replied  that  their  season  was  later  than  the  Buddaghs. 

Salmo  ferox.  August  1 5th,  1845. — I saw  in  Belfast  market  the  finest 
male  fish  of  this  species,  i.  e.  of  the  greatest  depth  relatively  to  length,  I 
ever  saw : it  was  from  Lough  Neagh,  was  in  length  27  inches,  girth  161- 
inches,  weight  16  lbs. 

Swift,  vol.  xix.  p.  144,  old  ed.  of  20  vols.  Lady  Howth  to  Dr.  Swift, 
August  6th,  1736. — 

“ Since  I began  this  there  came  in  a trout ; it  was  so  large  we  had  it  weighed; 
it  was  a yard  and  four  inches  long,  23  inches  round ; his  jaw-bone  8 inches  long  ; 
and  he  weighed  35f  lbs.  My  Lord  and  I stood  by  to  see  it  measured.” 

“ Swift  does  not  give  the  locality ; somewhere  in  Connaught  evidently, 
and  the  address  given  for  him  to  write  is  Turlevaghan  near  Tuam.”  E.  G. 

Salmo  ferox.  Ballochmorrie,  Sept.  1843. — Mr.  Wason  has  seen  taken 
of  large  size  in  Loch  Lomond,  and  states  that  it  is  found  in  Bala  lake  in 
Wales  : he  describes  it  admirably,  so  that  I feel  certain  of  his  correctness, 
and  to  my  surprise  mentioned  that  it  is  there  called  Buddagh ; he  had 
never  heard  of  the  same  fish,  or  indeed  any  species,  being  called  Buddagh 
in  Ireland. 

Salmo  ferox. — I saw  two  of  these  with  Surgeon  Wilde,  from  Lough 
Allen. — Dublin,  Nov.  1839. 

Salmo  ferox.  August  31s£,  1848.— I saw  two  males  from  Lough  Neagh 
in  Belfast  market,  one  of  which  was  23  lbs.  and  the  other  28  lbs.  weight. 
The  latter  was  no  longer  than  a fish  of  less  than  half  the  weight,  but  as 
it  lay  on  the  board  was  about  one  foot  in  depth. 

Lough  Neagh  Trout. 

Mag , 1851. — I think  I have  before  noted  that  Mr.  B.  Meenan  has  seen 
trout  from  this  lake  33  lbs.  weight,  and  that  Sir  William  Verner  told  him 
he  caught  one  there  of  36  lbs. 

June  29 th. — I saw  a male  Salmo  ferox,  about  6 lbs.  weight,  with  Mr. 
Wilde,  from  Lough  Mask.  It  was  considered  a Gillaroo  by  him,  and  its 


160 


MALACOPTERY  GII. 


stomach,  which  I saw,  was  muscular  like  a Gillaroo’s.  I saw  him  open 
three  fresh  Gillaroos  from  Lough  Melvin  (County  Fermanagh)  about  10 
inches  long.  They  resembled  Salmo  Fario  in  its  ordinary  state  ; one  was 
filled  with  caddis-Avorms,  the  cases  of  which  were  covered  only  with  par- 
ticles of  stone.  Their  stomachs  were  hard  and  muscular,  in  which  Gilla- 
roos I saw  Valvata  obtusa , Paludina  impura,  Lymneus  pereger , which  were 
obtained  from  the  stomach  of  one  Gillaroo. 

The  Char,  Salmo  JJmbla , Linn., 

— Salvelinus,  Don. 

In  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vi.  I published  the  following  notice  of 
this  species  : — 

“ Having  within  the  last  few  years,  through  the  kindness  of  friends  and  cor- 
respondents, been  favoured  with  specimens  of  char  from  various  localities  in  the 
British  Islands,  I shall  here  give  some  notes  made  upon  them. 

“ It  may  first  be  mentioned,  that  so  late  as  the  years  1835  and  1836,  when  the 
excellent  volumes  of  Mr.  Jenyns  and  Mr.  Yarrell  appeared,  neither  author  had 
seen  any  char  from  Ireland  * or  Scotland,  and  the  original  observations  con- 
tained in  their  respective  works  were  necessarily  limited  to  examples  of  the  fish 
from  the  lakes  of  England  and  Wales.  In  the  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal 
for  January,  1835  (vol.  xviii.  p.  58),  Sir  Wm.  Jardine  noticed  the  Salmo  alpinus 
as  taken  by  his  party  in  Sutherlandshire. 

“ The  chief  object  of  my  inquiry  was  to  learn  whether,  in  the  lakes  of  Ireland 
and  of  those  in  Scotland,  + from  which  I could  procure  specimens,  the  S.  Salve- 
linus, Don.,  Avas  to  be  found ; and  at  the  same  time  to  ascertain,  at  least  for  my 
own  satisfaction,  whether  its  characters  have  sufficient  permanency  to  entitle  it 
to  rank  as  a distinct  species.  As  they  are  merely  crude  unfinished  notes  that 
are  to  follow,  I shall  here  give  the  result  of  the  investigation,  that  the  reader 
maybe  in  possession  of  it  without  entering  into  the  details.  In  a fresh  state  I have 
had  the  opportunity  of  examining  char  from  three  localities — Windermere  (Eng- 
land), Lough  Melvin  (Ireland),  and  Loch  Grannoch  (Scotland)  ; and,  either  in 
spirits  or  preserved  dry,  from  nine  other  lakes  in  Ireland  and  Scotland.  The 
examination  of  these  examples  leads  me  to  believe  that  the  iS.  JJmbla,  Linn., 
and  S.  Salvelinus,  Don.,  are  but  one  species ; one,  hoAvever,  that,  like  the  Salmo 
Fario,  is  subject  to  extraordinary  variety.  In  one  lake  the  male  fish  can  at  a 
glance  be  distinguished  from  the  female  either  by  colour  or  by  the  many  cha- 
racters which  are  comprised  under  4 form.’  In  another,  so  similar  are  the 
sexes  in  every  external  character,  that  without  the  aid  of  dissection  they  cannot 
be  determined.  In  size  we  find  the  species  ordinarily  attain  twice  the  length 
and  several  times  the  Aveight  J in  one  lake  that  it  does  in  another,  although  the  area 
of  their  waters  is  of  similar  extent ; indeed,  in  some  of  the  largest  lakes  this  fish 
Avill  be  found  not  to  attain  near  the  size  it  does  in  some  others  which  are  but  as 
pools  in  comparison — there  are,  however,  various  influences  which  account  satis- 
factorily for  such  differences.  In  the  form  of  the  body  again  we  find  the  spe- 


* When  I supplied  Mr.  Yarrell  with  the  published  localities  in  Ireland  for  the 
char,  as  noticed  in  his  work,  I had  not  seen  any  native  examples  of  the  species. 
In  the  Supplement  to  his  British  Fishes  (1839,  p.  27)  this  author  has  offered 
a few  remarks  on  char  sent  him  by  Lord  Cole  from  Loughs  Eask  and  Melvin  in 
Ireland — these  are  considered  to  be  examples  of  the  S.  JJmbla,  Linn.,  and  S. 
Salvelinus,  Don. 

f The  fine  work  of  Sir  Wm.  Jardine  on  the  Scottish  Salmonidce  was  not  at 
the  time  announced. 

X That  the  quantity  of  ova  produced  will  vary  accordingly,  is  illustrated  by 
the  difference  between  the  number  found  in  the  Loch  Grannoch  and  the  Lough 
Melvin  fish. 


THE  CHAR. 


161 


cies,  and  when  in  equally  high  condition,  to  he  in  one  lake  herring-like,  and  in 
another  approximating  to  the  roundness  of  the  eel.  So  manifold  are  the  differ- 
ences presented  by  the  char  now  before  me  from  various  localities,  that  it  would 
he  tedious  and  perhaps  useless  to  point  them  out  in  every  case,  and  consequent- 
ly this  will  only  be  attempted  when  they  are  remarkably  striking,  or  particularly 
demand  attention. 

“ Oct.  25,  1836. — Through  the  kind  attention  of  Captain  Fayrer,  It.  N.,  I to- 
day received  two  specimens  of  char  from  Loch  Grannoch,  Kircudbrightshire. 
On  comparing  them  critically  with  the  detailed  descriptions  of  our  British  char 
given  by  Yarrell  and  Jenyns,  they  were  found  to  be  both  their  species,  and 
likewise  the  S.  alpinus  and  S.  Salvelinus  of  Donovan’s  British  Fishes.*  On 
thus  finding  that  a small  loch  produced  the  two  supposed  species,  and  that  the 
examples  were  of  different  sexes,  I endeavoured  to  procure  a number  of  indivi- 
duals for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  if  the  difference  were  sexual ; but  this  fish 
is  taken  during  so  short  a period,  that  in  this  object  I was  disappointed  for  that 
year.  In  a letter  upon  the  subject  from  James  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  Cairnsmere, 
Newtown-Stewart  (Wigtonshire),  to  Capt.  Fayrer,  dated  Nov.  1,  1836,  it  was 
obsei'ved — ‘ I lost  no  time  in  despatching  my  men  early  yesterday  morning  to 
Loch  Grannoch,  though  1 must  confess  with  very  slight  hopes  of  success  in  the 
object  of  their  pursuit.  The  char  are  never  found  in  our  lakes  before  about  the 
13th  October,  and  in  ten  days  again  they  disappear — the  whole  produce  of  the 
day’s  exertions  amounted  only  to  four  very  small  fish.’  These  were  not  con- 
sidered worth  sending  forward.  The  object  of  the  inquiry  being  made  known  to 
this  gentleman,  he  at  the  same  time  remarked — 4 If  my  evidence  is  worth  any- 
thing, I can  give  it  with  great  confidence  as  to  the  red  char  [$.  Salvelinus, 
Don.]  being  the  male,  and  the  gray  the  female  [S.  alpinus , Don.]  of  the  same 
species.  I have  noticed  them  frequently,  when  taken  out  of  the  water,  eject 
the  milt  and  roe,  and  never  saw  the  former  from  a gray,  or  the  latter  from  a 
red  fish.’  I subsequently  availed  myself  of  Mr.  Stewart’s  kindness  in  offering 
to  procure  specimens.  On  the  17th  of  October,  1838,  ‘a  dozen  of  the  red  and 
the  same  number  of  the  gray  fish,’  caught  late  that  day  in  Loch  Grannoch,  were 
sent  me  by  this  gentleman,  and  being  packed  with  great  care,  reached  Belfast 
in  excellent  condition  for  examination  on  the  morning  of  the  20th — the  follow- 
ing observations  were  then  made  upon  them. 

“ These  two  dozen  specimens — of  the  full  size  produced  in  this  lake — are  all 
from  7 to  8 inches  in  length,  and  the  females  generally  somewhat  shorter  than 
the  males.  The  difference  in  form  between  the  sexes  (as  proved  by  dissection) , 
both  generally  and  particularly,  is  very  great.  The  dorsal  and  ventral  profile 
of  the  male  fish  are  alike,  the  slope  being  similar  from  head  to  tail  above  and 
below;  the  female  has  the  dorsal  line  much  straighter,  and  the  ventral  much 
more  convex,  than  the  male — a difference  to  be  expected  at  the  spawning  season, 
and  which  would  be  less  conspicuous  at  other  times.  The  lower  jaw  of  some  of 
the  males  is  slightly  turned  up  and  hooked ; the  head  in  this  sex  is  very  much 
larger  in  every  part  than  in  the  female,  and  the  size  of  the  fins  is  much  greater. 

The  males,  though  differing  in  intensity  of  colour,  may  be  described  as  lilac- 
black  or  dusky,  relieved  by  a lilac  tinge  on  the  uppermost  third  of  the  body, 
viewed  lengthwise,  from  the  dorsal  ridge,  becoming  .however  gradually  paler 
from  this  part ; the  middle  of  the  sides  is  lilac-gray,  beautifully  and  somewhat 
closely  marked  with  round  scarlet  spots  about  a line  in  diameter ; the  lowest 
portion  of  the  sides  is  of  a salmon-coloured  scarlet  without  spots.  The  head 
and  the  dorsal  fin  are  dusky,  with  a lilac  tinge  ; the  pectorals  dusky  above, 
tinged  with  scarlet  beneath  where  they  rest  upon  the  part  of  the  body  which  is 
of  this  colour  ; the  ventrals  are  bright  scarlet,  with  occasionally  a dusky  longi- 
tudinal band  inside  the  margin,  which  is  white ; the  anal  fin  dusky,  tinged  with 


* At  the  Meeting  of  the  British  Association  held  at  Newcastle  in  1838,  the 
two  examples  from  Loch  Grannoch  were  shown  to  my  friends  Mr.  Yarrell  and 
Mr.  Jenyns,  both  of  whom  looked  upon  them  as  representing  their  two  species. 
M 


102 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


scarlet — in  all ; the  ventrals  and  the  anal  fin  have  a white  margin,  and  some 
have  the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  fin  likewise  of  this  colour  : two  or  three  indi- 
viduals have  a tinge  of  red  on  the  caudal  fin.  Donovan’s  description  of  the  co- 
lour of  S.  Salvelinus  agrees  admirably  with  the  present  specimens. 

“ The  females  in  colour  somewhat  resemble  Donovan’s  S.  alpinus  : the  upper- 
most third  of  the  body,  viewed  lengthwise,  from  the  dorsal  ridge,  is  dusky,  re- 
lieved by  lilac,  becoming  gradually  paler  downwards,  so  that  the  middle  of  the 
sides  presents  a dull  lilac — this  part  is  adorned  with  numerous  round  spots  of 
similar  size  to  those  in  the  male,  but  less  bright  in  colour ; some  however  are 
scarlet,  but  they  are  chiefly  either  pink,  or  of  a dull  chalky  pinkish  hue,  as  re- 
presented in  Donovan’s  S.  alpinus ; the  lowest  portion  of  the  sides  is  of  a sil- 
very lilac,  without  spots.  The  fins  are  all  dusky,  with  a tinge  of  lilac ; the  margin 
of  the  ventrals,  of  the  anal,  and  occasionally  of  the  caudal  fins,  is  white,  as  in 
the  males — there  is  no  regular  spotting  on  the  dorsal  fins,  as  represented  in  Do- 
novan’s figures  of  his  two  species.  The  dorsal  fins  of  the  males  are  nearly  all 
blackish,  occasionally  towards  the  tip  transparent,  which  those  of  the  females 
generally  are,  and  in  one  or  two  individuals  of  the  latter  sex  an  approximation  to 
spots  may  be  faintly  traced.  One  only  of  the  males  and  a few  of  the  females 
exhibit  transverse  markings  along  the  sides  like  the  “ Par,”  but  not  so  con- 
spicuously. On  dissection , the  milt  (of  the  ordinary  white  colour)  and  roe  (of 
an  amber  * hue)  are  found  to  be  just  ready  for  exclusion ; a small  portion  of 
both  has  been  indeed  shed  by  a few  individuals.  A specimen  7f  inches  in 
length  weighs  with  the  ova  2~  oz.,  the  ova  separately  \ an  oz.  and  If  drachm. 
On  accurately  reckoning  these  ova,  which  are  2 lines  or  ^-th  of  an  inch  in  dia- 
meter, they  amount  in  number  to  482 — this  I should  say,  or  500  for  round  num- 
bers, is  the  average  produce  of  the  species  in  this  lake.  The  example  was 
selected  out  of  seven  females  as  of  average  size,  and  the  ova  as  of  average 
quantity.  The  air-bladder  is  in  both  sexes  of  a beautiful  reddish  lilac  colour, 
like  the  inside  of  some  species  of  North  American  Unio,  as  U.  pyramidatus, 
Lea,  &c.  The  stomach  and  intestines  of  the  greater  number  ( 1 3 were  cut  up) 
were  empty,  but  a few  contained  the  remains  of  food  which  could  not  be  satis- 
factorily determined — it  consisted  either  of  minute  aquatic  insects  or  entomos- 
tracous  Crustacea,  more  probably  the  latter.  When  boiled,  the  flesh  of  the 
male  was  of  a rich  salmon  colour,  that  of  the  female  a very  little  paler  in  hue. 

“ Nov.  16,  1838. — To  the  kind  attention  of  Viscount  Cole  I am  indebted  for 
twelve  char  from  Lough  Melvin  (partly  in  the  County  Fermanagh),  sent  imme- 
diately after  capture.  In  the  accompanying  note,  dated  Florence  Court,  15th 
November,  his  Lordship  remarked — ‘ I can  procure  you  any  number  you  wish, 
as  the  people  are  now  taking  them  in  cart-loads.  The  flesh  of  such  as  I send  is 
white  and  soft,  and  different  from  what  that  of  char  is  in  any  other  lough.’ 

“ These  specimens,  which  are  in  a fresh  state  and  excellent  condition  for  exa- 
mination, are  all  from  10  to  12  inches  in  length,  and  differ  greatly  from  those  of 
Loch  Grannoch,  in  presenting  little  or  no  beauty  of  appearance.  The  upper 
half  of  the  body,  in  both  sexes,  is  of  a dull  blackish  lead  colour,  unrelieved  by 
spotting  in  any  but  three  or  four  individuals,  which  exhibit  a considerable  num- 
ber of  minute  spots  which  are  merely  of  a paler  shade  than  the  surrounding 
parts,  and  consequently  inconspicuous ; for  more  than  half  the  space  between 
the  lateral  line  and  ventral  profile  they  are  dull  lead  colour,  without  any  spots 
except  in  the  individuals  just  noticed ; the  lower  portion  of  the  sides  varies  in 
individuals  from  a pale  to  a rich  salmon  colour,  which  latter  is  seen  in  only  one 
or  two  examples.  The  dorsal  fins  are  of  a uniform  gray  and  transparent ; in 
some,  when  closely  examined,  there  appear  roundish  spots  of  a paler  colour ; 
pectorals  dusky  gray,  darker  towards  the  tips,  except  at  the  lower  portion, 
which,  partaking  of  the  colour  of  the  part  of  the  body  in  which  it  rests,  is  of  a 
pale  pinkish  white  ; ventrals  in  the  brighter-coloured  individuals  with  a white 
marginal  line ; in  the  duller-coloured  examples  this  does  not  appear,  but  all 


* This  is  the  general  colour;  some  are  of  a very  pale  yellow;  the  ova  of 
both  colours  are  of  similar  size. 


THE  CHAR. 


163 


have  the  two  or  three  first  rays  and  their  connecting  membrane  dusky,  and  the 
remainder  red,  and  of  a deeper  hue  than  on  any  part  of  the  body  : anal  fin  partaking 
at  its  base  of  the  colour  of  the  part  of  the  body  to  which  it  is  attached,  dusky 
towards  the  tip  ; white  margin  to  the  first  ray  in  some  of  the  brighter-coloured 
specimens  only  : caudal  fin  gray,  of  different  shades  in  all ; in  the  brightest  in- 
dividual varied  with  red,  which  appears  at  the  base  of  the  lower  lobe. 

“ The  males  are  generally  more  gracefully  formed  than  the  females,  and  most 
of  them  rather  brighter  in  colour,  but  there  is  no  external  character  so  strikingly 
different  as  to  lead  to  a certain  knowledge  of  the  sex;  some  of  the  largest  finned 
are  females — in  the  Loch  Grannoch  char  the  males  had  much  the  larger  fins 
and  the  sex  was  as  unerringly  distinguished  by  the  colour  as  by  the  form,  the 
accuracy  of  the  distinction  in  both  cases  being  established  by  dissection.  Both 
sexes  of  the  Lough  Melvin  fish  represent  the  Welsh  char. 

“ The  colour  of  the  flesh  when  boiled  was  rather  pale,  between  the  ‘sienna 
yellow’  and  ‘flesh  red’  of  Syme’s  Nomenclature  of  Colours;  no  difference  of 
colour  in  that  of  the  sexes.  The  milt  and  roe  were  in  these  specimens  ready  for 
exclusion.  The  ova,  severally  reckoned  from  a fish  11  inches  in  length,  and 
which  had  not  shed  any,  wrere  959  in  number,  and  of  a pale  yellowish  colour — 
the  ova  generally,  though  equally  mature,  were  lighter  coloured  than  in  the 
Loch  Grannoch  char ; they  were  of  the  same  size,  2 lines  in  diameter. 

“ The  remains  of  food  were  found  in  only  one  out  of  the  twelve  specimens,  and 
appeared  to  be  a portion  of  the  case  of  a caddis-w'orm.  The  vertebrae,  as  reck- 
oned in  two  specimens,  male  and  female,  were  60  in  number.* 

“ Lord  Cole  informs  me  that  this  fish  is  called  ‘ Freshwater  Herring  ’ at  Lough 
Melvin,  though  in  the  same  part  of  the  country  the  term  ‘ char  ’ is  applied  to 
the  more  ordinary  state  of  the  species  as  taken  in  other  lakes.  Its  differing 
from  the  so-called  char,  in  being  an  insipid  bad  fish  for  the  table,  and  pale  in 
the  flesh,  is  the  chief  reason  of  its  being  considered  distinct  from  it.  It  will, 
however,  be  seen  in  the  following  pages,  that  the  term  ‘ Freshwater  Herring  ’ 
is  applied  to  the  char  of  several  of  the  lakes  in  Connaught,  and  from  one  of 
which  an  example  before  me  is  identical  with  the  fish  of  the  English  lakes. 
Examples  of  the  Lough  Melvin  char,  taken  at  the  same  time  as  those  just 
noticed,  were  sent  by  Lord  Cole  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  and  in  the  Supplement  to  this 
author’s  History  of  British  Fishes  (p.  27)  are  noticed  as  identical  with  the 
Welsh  species. 

“ London,  May,  1840. — During  the  latter  half  of  this  month  I had  the  opportu- 
nity of  seeing  quantities  of  char  from  Windermere  exposed  for  sale  at  Mr. 
Groves’,  the  well-known  fishmonger  in  Bond  Street.  On  examination  they  differed 
much  from  each  other  in  size  of  fins  : their  colour  was  precisely  that  of  the  Lough 
Melvin  fish ; and,  like  it  too,  the  flesh  of  specimens  I bought  in  the  last  week  of 
the  month  was  pale-coloured  and  soft — they  were  now  in  such  bad  condition  that 
Mr.  Groves  ceased  to  purchase  them.f 

“ So  far,  the  examples  of  char  treated  of  were  examined  when  fresh.  The  fol- 
lowing, after  being  preserved  in  spirits  or  in  a dry  state,  have  been  received  from 
the  undermentioned  Scottish  lakes : 

“ L.  Inch — which  is  one  of  the  localities  for  char  noticed  by  Pennant.  Hence 
two  fine  specimens,  about  14  inches  in  length,  were  kindly  sent  me,  in  May, 


* The  vertebrae  reckoned  in  a male  and  female  of  the  Loch  Grannoch  fish 
were  in  the  former  60,  and  in  the  latter  62  or  63 ; this  must  be  considered  an 
accidental  variation. 

f When  at  the  inn  at  Waterhead,  at  the  northern  extremity  of  Coniston  Water, 
during  a tour  to  the  English  lakes  in  June,  1835,  a number  of  char  from  this  lake 
were  kept  alive  by  our  host  in  a capacious  wrooden  box  or  trough,  into  which  a 
constant  stream  of  water  poured.  They  were  fine  examples  of  the  species,  about 
a foot  in  length.  Here  I was  informed  that  a supply  of  this  delicate  fish  was 
always  kept  up,  that  the  “ curious  ” visitor  might  gratify  his  taste  at  any  season 
by  having  fresh  char  set  before  him  at  the  rate  of  ten  shillings  for  the  dozen  of 
fish. 

m 2 


164 


M ALACK)  P TER  YG II . 


1837,  by  Professol*  Allen  Thomson  of  Aberdeen.  They  would  be  called  the 
‘ Northern  Char.’  The  stomach  of  one  of  these  was  crammed  with  food,  con- 
sisting of  insect  larvae,  entomostracous  Crustacea,  a small  Notonecta,  or  Boat-fly, 
bivalve  shells  of  the  genus  Pisidium,  and  minute  gravel.  Its  caeca  were  38  in 
number. 

“ L.  Corr  and  L.  Killin,  Inverness-shire.  From  these  lakes  examples  of 
char  were  brought  me  by  my  relative  Robert  Langtry,  Esq.,  of  Fortwilliam, 
near  Belfast,  on  his  return  from  Aberarder,  after  the  sporting  season  of  1838; 
The  Loch  Corr  specimen — a ‘Northern  Char’ — is  in  beauty  of  colour,  and 
elegance  combined  with  strength  of  form,  the  finest  example  I have  seen  ; it  is 
of  a fine  deep  gray  on  the  upper  parts,  becoming  lighter  towards  and  below  the 
lateral  line,  about  which  it  is  adorned  with  white  spots  ; on  the  lower  portion 
of  the  sides  it  is  silvery,  and  beneath  of  the  most  brilliant  red.  This  specimen 
is  16  inches  in  length,  and,  with  another  of  similar  size,  was  taken  by  my  friend 
when  angling  with  an  artificial  fly,  on  the  25th  of  September.  The  other,  which 
was  eaten,  was  excellent  and  high-flavoured,  the  flesh  firm  and  red.  Loch  Corr 
is  described  to  me  as  a deep  mountain-lake  or  basin,  less  than  a mile  in  length, 
with  rocks  rising  precipitously  above  it  at  one  part ; at  another  it  is  shallow  and 
sandy,  and  here  this  fish  is  taken  in  some  quantity  when  spawning.  A beauti- 
fully clear  river  issues  from  the  lake.  About  fifteen  miles  from  Loch  Corr  is 
Loch  Killin,  situated  in  the  pastoral  vale  of  Stratherrick.  Three  specimens  of 
char  have  thence  been  brought  me.  They  are  remarkably  different  from  the  L. 
Corr  example,  are  of  a clumsy  form,  have  very  large  fins  like  the  Welsh  fish, 
and  are  very  dull  in  colour — of  a blackish  leaden  hue  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  the  sides,  the  lower  portion  of  which  is  of  a dull  yellow ; no  red  appear- 
ing anywhere.  So  different,  indeed,  is  this  fish  from  the  char  of  the  neighbour^ 
ing  localities,  that  it  is  believed  by  the  people  resident  about  Loch  Killin  to  be  a 
species  peculiar  to  their  lake,  and  hence  bears  another  name — ‘ Haddy  ’ being 
strangely  enough  the  one  bestowed  upon  it.  This  fish  is  only  taken  when  spawn- 
ing, but  then  in  great  quantities,  either  with  nets,  or  a number  of  fish-hooks  tied 
together  with  their  points  directed  different  ways.  These,  unbaited,  are  drawn 
through  the  water  where  the  fish  are  congregated  in  such  numbers  that  they  are 
brought  up  impaled  on  the  hooks.  The  largest  of  my  specimens  is  16  inches  in 
length,  and  others  of  similar  size  were  brought  to  my  friend  at  the  same  time — • 
on  the  26th  or  27th  September,  when  about  a ‘cart-load’  of  them  was  taken. 
The  flesh  of  some  was  ‘ white  and  soft.  They  contained  ova  the  size  of  peas.’  * 
On  dissection  my  specimens  were  found  to  be  male  and  female  ; externally  the 
sex  could  not  have  been  told  with  certainty.  Their  stomachs  and  intestines 
were  empty.  This  fish  bears  a resemblance  to  the  Lough  Melvin  char,  but 
differs  from  it  in  some  characters.  It  will  have  been  remarked  that,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Irish  fish,  the  sexes  present  little  difference  externally  either  in 
form  or  colour,  that  their  flesh  is  soft  and  insipid  and  very  pale,  and  that  neither 
is  designated  Char.  The  remarks  of  Lord  Cole  on  the  L.  Melvin  fish,  and  of  Mr. 
Langtry  on  the  L.  Killin  one,  were  in  every  respect  similar.  To  the  latter  gen- 
tleman the  dozen  of  L.  Melvin  fish  were  shown  the  day  they  were  received,  and 
in  colour,  &e.,  they  were  pronounced  just  the  same  in  appearance  as  the  L. 
Killin  fish  in  an  equally  fresh  state. 

“ In  the  following  instances  the  Char  of  Ireland  have  been  noticed  : — In 
Camden’s  Britannia  it  is  remarked—  ‘ Lough  Esk,  near  Townavilly  [Co.  Done- 
gal], yields  the  char  in  great  abundance:  a most  delicate  fish,  generally  about 
9 inches  long.’  (Gough’s  ed.  vol.  iii.  p.  644.)  I have  seen  a specimen  from 
this  locality  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  collection  ; it  was  supplied  to  him  by  Lord  Cole, 
and  is  noticed  in  the  Supplement  to  his  British  Fishes  (p.  27)  as  <8.  Umbla. 
Smith,  in  his  History  of  Waterford,  p.  208,  observes — ‘In  these  mountains 
[Cummeragh]  are  four  considerable  loughs,  two  of  which  are  called  by  the  Irish 


* At  this  very  time,  the  char  from  the  neighbouring  Loch  Corr  were  in  high 
condition.  This  is  one  out  of  numerous  instances  which  might  be  adduced  re- 
specting the  different  period  of  spawning  in  contiguous  localities. 


THE  CHAIl. 


165 


C.ummeloughs,  and  the  other  two  Stilloges,  the  largest  of  which  contains  about 
five  or  six  acres.  In  these  loughs  are  several  kinds  of  trout ; and  in  the  former 
is  a species  of  fish  called  cliarrs,  about  2 feet  long, — the  male  gray-,  the  female 
yellow-bellied ; when  boiled  the  flesh  of  these  charrs  is  as  red  and  curdy  as  a 
salmon,  and  eats  more  delicious  than  any  trout.  It  is  remarkable  that  this  kind 
of  fish  is  often  found  in  such  lakes  situated  in  mountainous  places,  as  we  learn 
from  Dr.  Robinson’s  Natural  History  of  Westmoreland  and  Cumberland.’  In 
the  British  Zoology  of  Pennant  (vol.  iii.  p.  409,  ed.  1812)  it  is  mentioned  on  the 
authority  of  ‘ Dr.  Yyse,  an  eminent  physician  and  botanist  at  Limerick,  that  the 
chair  is  found  in  the  lake  of  Inchigeelagh,  in  the  County  of  Cork,  and  in  one  or 
two  other  small  lakes  in  this  neighbourhood.’  In  Dubourdieu’s  History  of  the 
County  of  Antrim  (vol.  i.  p.  119)  there  . is  a communication  from  Mr.  Temple- 
ton on  the  char  of  Lough  Neagh,  illustrated  by  a figure;  it  is  here  stated  to  be 
the  same  as  the  char  of  Windermere,  as  distinguished  from  the  S.  Salvelinus,  Don. 
Mr.  Templeton  here  informs  us  that  this  fish  is  taken  in  L.  Neagh  4 from  the  end 
of  September  to  the  end  of  November  in  nets  along  with  pollans  [Coregonus 
Pollan'].  They  always  keep  the  deepwater,  except  in  warm  weather,  when 
they  are  sometimes  found  in  the  shallow.  The  best  time  for  taking  them  is  in 
nights  that  are  calm,  clear,  and  a little  frosty ; the  capture  of  the  pollans  begins 
to  fail  sooner  than  that  of  the  whitings,’— the  name  by  which  the  char  is  known 
at  this  lake.  It  is  likewise  remarked,  that  ‘ the  whiting  is  generally  about  12 
inches  long,  though  I have  seen  one  of  15.’  Again,  in  his  Catalogue  of  Irish 
Vertebrate  Animals  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.  new  series),  Mr.  Templeton  ob- 
serves,— 4 In  a lake  of  the  County  of  Donegal,  near  Dunfanaghy,  I observed  some 
boys  catching  small  char  with  lines  and  hooks  baited  with  common  earthworms. 
* * * In  L.  Eaghish,*  in  the  County  Monaghan,  I have  known  them  caught 
agreeing  exactly  in  their  colour  with  those  of  L.  Neagh.’  In  two  of  the  locali- 
ties just  noticed  the  char  have  become  very  scarce,  it  may  be,  even  extinct, 
in  February,  1839,  I was  informed  by  Professor  Allman,  that  in  the  lakes 
at  the  source  of  the  river  Lee — those  alluded  to  in  the  British  Zoology- 
celebrated  till  within  the  last  ten  years  for  their  fine  char,  and  which  were 
abundant,  that  they  are  not  now  to  be  procured,  and  are  nearly,  if  not  altogether, 
destroyed.  Their  destruction  is  attributed  by  anglers  and  the  people  of  the 
neighbourhood  to  the  pike,  this  voracious  fish  having  much  increased  of  late 
years ; the  natural  haunts  of  the  pike  and  the  char  are,  however,  very  different. 
When  visiting  some  of  the  fishing  stations  at  Lough  Neagh,  in  September,  1834, 
I was  told  by  the  fishermen  about  Crumlin,  Antrim,  Toome,  &c.,  that  they  have 
not  known  any  char  to  be  taken  in  the  lake  for  at  least  ten  years,  although 
about  twenty  years  ago  they  were  abundant.  Subsequently  I was  informed  by 
a most  intelligent  man,  now  resident  in  Belfast,  but  who  lived  for  a long  period 
at  Glenavy,  on  the  shore  of  L.  Neagh,  and  spent  much  time  in  fishing,  that 
char  were  abundant  at  the  period  just  mentioned;  he  has  seen  fite  hundred 
taken  at  one  draught  of  the  net,  and  this  not  in  the  breeding  season.  A part  of 
the  lake,  which  was  the  deepest  (36  fathoms)  within  his  range  of  fishing,  was 
called  the  whiting-hole,  from  being  the  chief  haunt  of  this  species.  In  1837  I 
offered  a handsome  reward  for  a Lough  Neagh  whiting,  but  it  was  in  vain  that 
the  fishermen  of  Glenavy  endeavoured  to  procure  one,  although  the  once  favoured 
haunts  of  the  species  were  tried,  including  the  whiting-hole.  The  fishermen  at 
a second  station  tried  with  no  better  success. 

44  The  cause  of  its  disappearance  from  such  a vast  body  of  water  as  is  con- 
tained in  this  lake,  or  at  least  from  its  old  haunts  there,  I cannot  pretend  to 
explain  ; one  fisherman  questioned  on  the  subject  did,  however,  and  without 
hesitation,  account  for  it  by  saying,  that  4 they  once  went  down  the  river  Barm 
to  the  sea,  and  never  came  back  again.’  f 


* Incorrectly  printed  44  Esk  ” in  the  Magazine. 

f The  char  is  stated  in  Black’s  Picturesque  Tourist  of  Scotland,  1844  (third 
edition),  p.  303,  to  have  of  late  years  disappeared  from  Loch  Leven  (Queen 
Mary’s).  The  lake  is  there  described  to  be  from  10  toll  miles  in  circum- 


166 


MALACOPTEKY  GII. 


“ From  the  following  Irish  lakes,  in  addition  to  Loughs  Melvin  and  Eask, 
already  mentioned,  I have  seen  examples  of  char  : — 

“ L.  Kindun,  County  Donegal.  A specimen  taken  by  Mr.  Wm.  Marshall,  of 
Belfast,  when  fly-fishing  here,  at  the  end  of  June,  1837,  was  kindly  submitted 
to  my  examination.  In  length  it  was  8^  inches,  and  agreed  with,  the  ‘ Northern 
Char.’  In  an  accompanying  note  it  was  stated  that  ‘ its  stomach  contained 
numerous  small  worms.’ 

“ L.  Gartan,  County  Donegal.* *  Hence,  on  July  18,  1838,  I was  favoured 
with  a specimen  by  John  Yandeleur  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  Rockhill,  Letterkenny. 
This  gentleman  remarked  at  the  same  time,  that  it  was  taken  with  the  fly  about 
five  weeks  previously,  and  that  there  are  a great  many  char  in  the  lake,  which  is 
seven  miles  distant  from  Letterkenny.  It  is  10  inches  in  length,  and  a fine 
example  of  the  ‘ Northern  Char ; ’ the  spots,  which  are  numerous,  are  nearly  all 
below  the  lateral  line. 

“ L.  Dan,  County  Wicklow.f  From  this  lake  several  char  have  been  kindly 
sent  me  by  my  friend  Mr.  R.  Call  well,  of  Dublin.  None  are  above  7^  inches  in 
length  ; they  present  some  of  the  characters  both  of  the  Northern  and  Welsh 
char,  but  appertain  more  to  the  former.  In  February,  1839,  Mr.  George  Smith, 
of  Baggot  Street,  Dublin,  informed  me,  that  in  summer,  four  or  five  years  since, 
he,  when  using  small  showy  flies  (with  which  they  are  often  captured  here),  took 
thirteen  char  in  this  lake  within  half  an  hour  ; the  water  was  very  rough — they 
were  all  taken  within  the  space  of  two  yards,  though  he  fished  to  some  little  dis- 
tance on  every  side.  In  the  summer  of  1838  this  gentleman  saw  about  a dozen 
char  lying  dead  and  much  swollen  on  the  banks  of  Lough  Dan.  Mr.  Smith  has, 
within  the  last  few  years,  seen  char  about  15  inches  long  caught  in  Llanberris 
lake,  in  North  Wales.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Pennant  mentions  this  fish 
as  once  found  here,  but  as  entirely  destroyed  by  the  mineral  streams  from  the 
copper  mines  contiguous  to  the  lake. 

“ Loughnabrack,  County  Longford.  In  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  collection  is  a char 
from  this  locality. 

“ L.  Corrib,  County  Galway.  I have  been  favoured  with  an  example  from 
this  extensive  lake  by  Mr.  W.  R.  Wilde,  who  states  that  char  are  captured  here 
in  great  quantity  (especially  about  Cong)  in  draught-nets  along  with  salmon 
throughout  the  season  for  taking  this  fish — from  the  1st  May  to  the  12th 
August.  It  is  commonly  called  here  Murneene , and  by  those  who  give  an  Eng- 
lish name,  ‘ Freshwater  Herring.’  These  names  are  applied  to  the  char  in  three 
lakes  in  the  County  Mayo,  and  from  all  of  which  Mr.  Wilde  has  seen  specimens. 
The  example  from  L.  Corrib  is  13f  inches  in  length,  and  would  be  called  the 
Northern  Char — in  a dry  state,  and  after  being  preserved  for  some  time,  it  is  in 
all  respects  identical  with  my  specimens  from  Windermere. 

“ A few  very  brief  remarks  may  be  offered  in  conclusion.  It  would  appear 
that  the  differences  here  noticed  in  the  char  are  chiefly  induced  by  locality ; but 
this  in  itself  is  rather  an  effect  than  a cause.  The  cause  is,  I conceive,  based 
on  geological  influences,  as  the  ‘ formation  ’ in  which  the  lake  inhabited  by  this 
fish  is  situated,  and  whether  there  be  a prevalence  of  rock,  gravel,  sand,  or  peat, 
— if  fed  by  springs  or  a goodly  river,  and  if  the  latter  the  formation  through 
which  it  flows, — the  depth  of  water,  &c.  According  to  these  features,  the 
quality  of  the  water  and  the  minute  animals  constituting  the  food  of  the  char 
will  vary,  and  the  latter  not  only  in  quantity  produced,  but  in  species.  Accord- 
ing to  its  food  the  external  appearance  of  this  fish  is  influenced,  as  well  as  the 
flavour  and  colour  of  its  flesh.  No  proper  comparison,  again,  can  in  any  respect 
be  made  between  the  char  of  different  localities,  unless  the  examples  be  in  similar 
condition,  and  which,  as  before  mentioned,  they  sometimes  are  not  in  adjacent 


ference.  This  matter  is  worthy  of  notice  in  connexion  with  the  disappearance 
of  the  char  from  Lough  Neagh. 

* When  visiting  Lough  Derg  in  this  County,  in  the  autumn  of  1837,  I was 
assured  that  char  are  abundant  in  it. 

f In  the  lake  of  Luggela,  in  this  County,  the  char  is  likewise  taken. 


THE  SMELT. 


167 


lakes  at  the  same  period  of  the  year.  A great  deal  might  be  said  oil  the  manifold 
influences  affecting  this  species,  but  it  is  for  my  friends,  the  authors  of  the  two 
great  works  now  in  progress, — M.  Agassiz,  in  his  Fresh-water  Fishes  of  Central 
Europe,  and  Sir  W.  Jardine,  in  his  Scottish  Salmonidee, — to  descant  upon  them. 

“ When  my  attention  was  first  given  to  this  subject,  I intended  to  enter  fully 
into  the  history  of  the  char  as  a British  species.  This  would  now  be  superfluous, 
and  I content  myself  with  contributing  the  rough  notes  made  upon  the  subject, 
as  ere  long  we  shall  doubtless  have  before  us,  in  the  works  just  mentioned,  a 
most  ample  history  of  th e Salmo  Umbla.” 

Oct,  1851. — I have  been  informed  by  Mr.  Black,  gamekeeper  at  Donard 
Lodge,  that  the  char  is  common  in  Lough  Owel.  He  has  seen  60  to  70 
dozen  taken  in  a draught-net  in  summer.  From  the  end  of  May  till  the 
end  of  June  he  has  seen  2 dozen  taken  in  a day  with  the  natural  and 
artificial  fly,  particularly  the  former,  the  “ green  drake  ” being  the  favour- 
ite ; in  these  cases  the  fly  was  sunk  three  or  four  feet  beneath  the  surface. 
For  a few  successive  years  not  a char  would  be  taken  in  the  lake,  and 
again  appear  to  be  as  numerous  as  ever ; they  were  in  this  lake  at  least 
down  to  1846.  They  were  very  round  in  the  body,  and  reach  from  1£  to 
2 lbs  ; he  thinks  he  has  seen  some  of  3 lbs.  weight. 

I have  since  received  notes  of  a few  additional  localities  in  Ireland 
where  the  char  is  said  to  exist,  viz.  Lough  Shessuck,  in  County  Donegal 
(W.  J.  Ffenell,  Esq.)  ; Loughs  Kindrum  and  Keel  in  the  same  County 
(G.  C.  Hyndman,  Esq.) ; Lough  Erne,  in  County  Fermanagh  ; a lake  in 
County  Cavan,  about  2 miles  westward  of  Drumlane  (E.  Getty,  Esq.)  ; 
Belvidere  Lake  in  County  Westmeath  (Dr.  Ball) ; Lough  Bofin  and 
several  neighbouring  lakes  in  County  Galway  (W.  It.  Wilde,  Esq.). 

Mr.  Hyndman  mentioned  to  me  that  when  he  was  at  Barn’s  Island,  in 
Lough  Neagh,  in  the  year  1844,  a fisherman  accounted  for  the  disappear- 
ance of  this  fish  from  the  lake  by  saying  that  at  a certain  season  they 
went  to  the  “ deep  pools  ” near  the  three  islands,  where  they  were  all 
taken. 

A char  is  reported  to  have  been  caught  at  Bann-foot  Ferry  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1844. 

“ In  the  lake  of  Castlebar,  near  that  town,  is  the  char  and  the  Gillaroo  trout.” 
— Daniel’s  Rural  Sports,  vol.  ii.  p.  217. 

The  Smelt,  Spieling,  oe  Spaeling,  Osmerus  Eperlanus,  Flem., 

Is  recorded  by  Templeton,  in  his  Catalogue,  as  follows  : — 

u Osmerus  (Arted.)  Eperlanus,  Flem.,  the  Smelt,  is  sometimes  taken  on  our 
coasts  in  considerable  abundance ; but  often  several  years  intervene  during  which 
they  are  rarely  to  be  met  with.” 

This  species  has  not  occurred  to  me  in  Ireland.* 

The  Grayling,  Thymallus  vulgaris,  Cuv. 

This  fish,  which  is  not  nowr  known  as  an  Irish  species,  is  noticed  in  Rutty’s 
Dublin,  but  evidently  in  error,  as  it  is  made  “ a sea-fish.” — Dr.  P.  Browne 
enumerates  it,  perhaps  without  any  better  reason;  he  published  in  1774,  Rutty 
in  1772.  The  parr  has  been  sent  to  me  from  the  South  of  Ireland,  under  the 
name  of  Grayling.  Perhaps  this  name,  as  applied  to  the  parr,  may  be  a cor- 


* [On  28th  March,  1853,  we  procured  fresh  examples  of  the  smelt,  and  also 
of  the  atherine  or  land-smelt  ( A therina  presbyter),  in  Belfast  market,  but  on 
inquiry  we  ascertained  that  the  former  had  been  imported  from  England,  the 
latter  came  from  Portaferry.  Ed.] 


168 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


ruption  of  the  word  Graveling , which  is  generally  applied  to  that  fish  in  the 
southern  counties. 

The  Pollan,  Coregonus  Pollan,  Thomp., 

Is  the  only  species  of  Coregonus  yet  found  in  Ireland.  It  occurs  in 
Loughs  Neagh,  Erne,  and  Derg,  probably  also  in  Lough  Corrib. 

The  following  notices  of  the  pollan  have  already  been  published  by 
me  : — 

“ In  September  last  (1834)  a comparison  of  the  Lough  Neagh  Coregonus  with 
the  Vendace  of  Lochmaben  (whence  I procured  specimens  through  the  kindness 
of  Sir  William  Jardine,  Bart.)  proved  to  me  that  these  species  are  distinct. 
The  disagreement  of  the  former  with  the  Gwyniad  or  Coregonus  of  Wales,  as 
described  by  Pennant,  was  at  the  same  time  very  obvious ; and  from  the  exam- 
ination of  an  individual  of  the  latter  species  (lately  favoured  me  by  Mr.  Yar- 
rell),  and  specimens  of  the  Lough  Neagh  fish,  I am  fully  satisfied  that  they  are 
specifically  different. 

“ From  the  gwyniad,  the  pollan  or  Lough  Neagh  Coregonus  differs, — in  the 
snout  not  being  produced  ; in  the  scales  of  the  lateral  line ; in  having  fewer  rays 
in  the  anal  fin,  and  in  its  position  being  rather  more  distant  from  the  tail ; in  the 
dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  fins  being  of  less  dimensions  ; and  in  the  third  ray  of 
the  pectoral  fin  being  longest,  the  first  being  of  the  greatest  length  in  the 
Gwyniad. 

“ From  the  pollan,  the  vendace  or  Lochmaben  Coregonus  differs  so  essentially, 
in  its  lower  jaw  being  the  longer,  as  well  as  in  its  being  turned  upwards,  as  to 
render  further  comparison  unnecessary. 

“ The  pollan  is  very  uniform  in  size,  its  ordinary  length  being  about  10  inches; 
none  that  I have  ever  seen  exceeded  12.  The  relative  length  of  the  head  to  that 
of  the  body  is  as  1 to  about  3| ; the  depth  of  the  body  equal  to  the  length  of  the 
head;  the  jaws  equal,  both  occasionally  furnished  with  a few  delicate  teeth; 
the  tongue  with  many  teeth : the  lateral  line  sloping  downwards  for  a short  way 
from  the  operculum , and  thence  passing  straight  to  the  tail ; nine  rows  of  scales 
from  the  dorsal  fin  to  the  lateral  line,  and  the  same  number  thence  to  the  ventral 
fin  ; the  row  of  scales  on  the  back,  and  that  of  the  lateral  line,  not  reckoned  ; 
the  third  ray  of  the  pectoral  fin  the  longest. 

D.  2+12;  P.16;  Y.  Ill;  A.  2+11;  C.  19;  B.  9.  Vertebrce  59. 

Colour  to  the  lateral  line  dark  blue,  thence  to  the  belly  silvery;  dorsal, 
anal,  and  caudal  fins  towards  the  extremity  tinged  with  black ; pectoral  and 
ventral  fins  of  crystalline  transparency,  excepting  at  their  extremities,  which  are 
faintly  dotted  with  black.  Irides  silvery,  pupil  black. 

“ As  not  one  of  the  Coregoni  of  which  I can  find  descriptions  agrees  with  the 
Lough  Neagh  species,  I am  induced  to  consider  it  as  new,  and  venture  to  pro- 
pose for  it  the  name  of  Coregonus  pollan ,*  as  by  this  trivial  appellation  it  is  in- 
variably known  in  its  native  district.”  f 

The  above  description  of  the  pollan  was  read  before  the  Zoological  Society  of 
London  on  the  9th  of  June,  1835.  The  following  particulars  1 then  looked  for- 
ward to  publish  in  a paper  on  the  fishes  generally  that  inhabit  Lough  Neagh, 
but,  until  this  can  appear,  the  present  contribution  towards  the  history  of  a spe- 
cies which  is  certainly  distinct  from  the  gwyniad  and  vendace  (the  only  other, 


* Although  the  pollan  accords  not  with  any  Coregonus  yet  described,  it  was 
with  much  hesitation  that  I bestowed  on  it  a new  name,  being  fully  aware  that 
the  same  species  is  often  very  differently  described  by  different  authors,  and  un- 
der the  impression  that  it  may  eventually  prove  identical  with  some  of  the  con- 
tinental Coregoni,  with  which  I had  not  an  opportunity  of  comparing  it, — the  ac- 
tual examination  of  specimens  being  the  only  true  criterion  by  which  to  judge  of 
such  closely  allied  species  as  this  genus  presents. 

f Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  for  1835,  p.  77. 


THE  POLLAN. 


169 


Coregoni  known  with  certainty  as  British  at  the  present  time)  may  even,  in  this 
incomplete  state,  possess  some  interest. 

The.  earliest  notice  of  the  species  that  I have  seen  is  in  Harris’s  History  of  the 
County  of  Down,  published  in  the  year  1744,  where,  as  well  as  in  the  Statistical 
Surveys  of  the  Counties  of  Armagh  and  Antrim,  it  has  subsequently  been  intro- 
duced as  one  of  the  fishes  of  Lough  Neagh,  under  the  name  of  Pollan ; but,  as 
may  be  expected  in  works  of  this  nature,  little  more  than  its  mere  existence  is 
mentioned.* 

The  habits  of  this  fish  do  not,  with  the  exception  of  its  having  been  in  some 
instances  taken  with  the  artificial  fly,  differ  in  any  marked  respect  from  those 
of  the  vendace  and  gwyniad,  and  are  in  accordance  with  such  species  of  conti- 
nental Europe  as  are  confined  to  inland  waters,  and  of  whose  history  we  have 
been  so  fully  informed  by  Bloch.  The  pollan  approaches  the  shore  in  large 
shoals  not  only  during  spring  and  summer  but  when  the  autumn  is  far  advanced. 
The  usual  time  of  fishing  for  it  is  in  the  afternoon,  the  boats  returning  the 
same  evening.  On  the  days  of  the  23rd,  24th,  and  25th  of  September,  1834, 
which  I spent  in  visiting  the  fishing  stations  at  Lough  Neagh,  it  was,  along  -with 
the  common  and  great  lake  trout  (S.  Fario  and  S.  ferox),  caught  plentifully 
in  sweep-nets,  cast  at  a very  short  distance  from  the  shore.  About  a fort- 
night before  this  time,  or  in  the  first  wreek  in  September,  the  greatest  take  of 
the  pollan  ever  recollected  occurred  at  the  bar-mouth,  where  the  river  Six-mile 
Water  enters  the  lake.  At  either  three  or  four  draughts  of  the  net  140  hundreds 
(123  individuals  to  the  hundred)  or  17,220  fish  were  taken ; at  one  draught  more 
were  captured  than  the  boat  could  with  safety  hold,  and  they  had  consequently 
to  be  emptied  on  the  neighbouring  pier.  They  altogether  filled  five  one-horse 
carts,  and  were  sold  on  the  spot  at  the  rate  of  3s.  4 d.  a hundred,  producing  £23 
6s.  8c?.  From  3s.  4c?.  to  4s.  a hundred  has  been  the  ordinary  price  this  season 
at  the  lake  side,  or  directly  from  the  fishermen ; some  years  ago  it  was  so  low 
as  Is.  8c?.  a hundred,  but  at  that  time  the  regular  system  of  carriage  to  a distance, 
as  now  adopted,  did  not  exist.  At  the  former  rates  they  are  purchased  by  car- 
riers, who  convey  them  for  sale  to  the  more  populous  parts  of  the  neighbouring 
country,  and  to  the  towns  within  a limited  distance  of  the  lake.  They  are  brought 
in  quantities  to  Belfast,  and  when  the  supply  is  good  the  cry  of  “ fresh  pollan  ” 
prevails  even  to  a greater  extent  than  that  of  “ fresh  herring,”  though  both  fishes 
are  in  season  at  the  same  period  of  the  year.  In  the  month  of  June,  1834,  50 
hundreds  (6150  individuals)  of  pollans  and  125  lbs.  weight  of  trout  were  taken 
at  one  draught  of  a net,  at  another  part  of  the  lake,  near  Ram’s  Island,  which  was 
the  most  successful  capture  made  there  for  twenty-four  years.  In  1834  this 
fish  was  more  abundant  than  ever  before  known.  Like  the  gwyniad  and  ven- 
dace, the  pollan  dies  very  soon  after  being  taken  from  the  water, f and  likewise 
jfeeps  for  a very  short  time.  It  is  not  in  general  estimation  for  the  table,  but  is, 
I think,  a very  good  and  well-flavoured  fish. 

'Though  permanently  resident,  the  pollan  is  very  far  from  being  generally  dif- 
fused throughout  Lough  Neagh,  and,  unlike  the  herring,  shows  but  little  caprice 
in  the  parts  of  the  shore  it  periodically  approaches,  rarely  appearing  in  places 
bordering  its  chief  haunt,  and  which  offer  to  our  view  in  every  respect  a similar 
character.  An  example  of  this  is  afforded  by  a comparison  of  the  beach  between 
the  river  Mayola  and  Toome,  where  it  rarely  occurs,  and  that  from  the  Six-mile 
Water  to  Shane’s  Castle,  its  favourite  resort.  A few  houses  contiguous  to  the 
latter  locality  were,  so  long  as  they  existed,  dignified  with  the  name  of  Pollan’s 


* In  Harris’s  “ Down,”  and  Coote’s  “ Armagh,”  it  is  supposed  to  be  the  same 
as  the  shad.  In  Dubourdieu’s  “ Antrim,”  the  scientific  appellation  of  Salmo 
lavaretus  is  given  in  addition  to  its  provincial  name. 

f Pennant  states  this  of  the  gwyniad,  and  Sir  William  Jardine  of  the  vendace 
(Edin.  Journ.  of  Nat.  and  Geog.  Science) ; Dr.  Knox,  however,  says  of  the  latter 
species,  ‘ ‘ that  they  live  as  long  as  most  fishes  on  being  removed  from  the  water.” 
— Trans.  Roy.  Soc.  of  Edin.  vol.  xii.  p.  505. 


170 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Town ; but  within  the  last  few  years  they  have  been  pulled  down  to  make  way 
for  “the  park’s  extended  bounds.”* 

In  the  months  of  November  and  December  this  fish  deposits  its  spawn 
where  the  lake  presents  a hard  or  rocky  bottom.  On  the  4th  of  December, 
1835,  a quantity  of  the  largest  pollans  I have  seen  were  brought  to  Belfast 
market.  Several  which  I obtained  for  examination  were  13  inches  in  length, 
and  all  on  dissection  proved  to  be  females.  Most  of  them  were  in  full  roe 
(the  ova  from  -^th  to  g-th  of  an  inch  in  diameter),  but  some  had  partly  shed  it ; 
one  of  the  former  was  in  total  weight  9§  oz.,  the  roe  alone  weighing  2§  oz.  In 
the  others  the  proportion  of  roe  was  similar.  On  the  11th  of  the  same  month, 
several  male  specimens  of  full  size  that  I procured,  and  which  contained  milt 
most  prominently  developed,  measured  but  llg  inches.  Thus  showing  that  in 
maturity  the  female  fish  exceeds  the  male  in  length,  in  the  proportion  of  13  to 
Its  average  weight  when  in  season  is  about  6 oz.  One  specimen,  men- 
tioned to  me  as  the  largest  taken  within  the  last  ten  years,  weighed  2|  lbs.  The 
only  food  that  I have,  without  resorting  to  the  microscope,  detected  in  the  sto- 
mach of  the  pollan  was  a full-grown  specimen  of  the  bivalve  shell  Pisidium  pul- 
chellum.  A pebble  of  equal  size  was  also  found  along  with  it.  In  one  which  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  sending  to  Mr.  Yarrell,  he  met  with  a species  of  Gamma- 
ms.  f — Yarr.  Brit.  Fishes,  vol.  ii. 

The  Buddagh,  or  Great  Lake  Trout,  is  occasionally  taken  on  night  lines  baited 
with  the  pollan ; for  which  purpose  the  perch,  divested  of  its  spinous  dorsal  fin, 
is  also  used.  The  lesser  black-backed  gull  (Lams  fiuscus,  Linn.),  which  fre- 
quents the  lake  in  considerable  numbers,  is,  in  consequence  of  being  believed  to 
subsist  on  this  fish,  called  there  commonly  by  the  name  of  Pollan  Gull. 

As  yet  the  pollan  is  known  to  me  only  as  inhabiting  Lough  Neagh.  In 
Harris’s  “ Down  ” (p.  238),  it  is  stated,  “that  Lough  Erne,  in  the  County  of 
Fermanagh,  has  the  same  sort  of  fish,  though  not  in  so  great  plenty.”  This  is 
probably  correct,  as  Lough  Erne  is  of  very  considerable  extent,  ranking 
amongst  the  lakes  of  Ireland  as  the  second  in  size ; being  inferior  only  to  Lough 
Neagh. 

Coregonus  clupeoides,  Nilsson  ? Cunn. — In  a letter  from  the  Rev.  T. 

Knox,  of  Toomavara,  dated  Jan.  29,  1838,  and  accompanying  a specimen  of  a 
fish  procured  at  my  request,  was  the  following  observation  : “We  have  at  last 
been  able  to  get  the  little  fish  mentioned  by  the  fishermen  as  being  found  in 
the  Shannon  in  winter — it  was  sent  from  Killaloe.  I believe  it  goes  down  the 
river  with  the  eels  every  winter;  it  takes  no  bait.”  The  Rev.  C.  Mayne  of 
Killaloe — by  whose"  kind  attention  the  specimen  was  secured — informs  me,  in 
reply  to  some  queries,  “ that  it  is  called  a Cunn  by  the  fishermen  of  that  place, 
who  state  that  it  is  never  taken  but  in  the  eel-nets  about  Christmas,  when  the 
‘run  of  eels’  is  nearly  over,  and  that  they  never  saw  more  than  seven  or  eight 
caught  in  a year,  seldom  indeed  so  many.”  Killaloe,  it  should  perhaps  be 
stated,  is  not  less  than  eighty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Shannon.  In  the 
hope  of  ascertaining  the  occurrence  of  this  fish  at  Portumna,  about  twenty 
miles  higher  up  the  river,  I wrote  to  a correspondent  there,  at  the  same  time 
describing  the  species,  and  on  the  24th  of  March  last  received  the  following  re- 
ply. “I  think  it  very  uncertain  whether  there  is  such  a fish  in  the  Shannon, 
but  still  some  old  fishermen  say  there  is,  and  that  they  are  a little  smaller  than  the 
common  herring,  but  exactly  the  same  shape  and  colour ; ” and  he  again  observes, 
—“after  making  every  inquiry,  I learn  that  about  half  a dozen  white  fish,  like 


* Shane’s  Castle  Park,  near  Antrim. 

f June  10,  1836.  On  opening  the  stomachs  of  six  pollans,  I found  them  all 
filled  with  food,  consisting  chiefly  of  mature  individuals  of  Gammarus  aquations , 
and  the  larvae  of  various  aquatic  insects ; some  shells  of  the  genus  Pisidium , 
one  of  the  fry  of  the  three-spined  stickleback  (Gasterosteus) , and  a feAV  frag- 
ments of  stone,  also  occurred. — W.  T.  (From  Magazine  Zoology  and  Botany, 
vol.  i.) 


THE  POLLAN. 


171 


herrings,  were  go!  in  Lough  Derg  [a  mere  expansion  of  the  river  Shannon]  very 
near  this,  about  four  years  ago  in  the  eel-nets,  but  none  since,  at  least  in  this 
quarter.”  So  far  only  is  the  history  of  the  species  known  to  me : that  the 
ichite  fish  were  this  Coregonus  I think  hardly  admits  of  doubt. 

On  examining  the  specimen,  the  nearest  approximation  I find  to  it  is  the 
Salmo  clupeoides  of  Pallas,* * * §  and  Cor.  clupeoides  of  Nilsson, f who  with  a query 
marked  Pallas’s  as  synonymous  with  his  species. 

Although  there  is  a tolerable  general  agreement,  yet  a want  of  accordance  in 
some  characters  between  my  specimen  and  the  description  in  the  Zoographia 
renders  it  doubtful  whether  they  be  the  same  fish.  Between  it  and  Nilsson’s  C. 
clupeoides  I perceive  no  specific  (though  a considerable  individual)  difference, 
and  consider  them  identical,  if  the  phrase  “ tereti-compresso,”  applied  to  the 
body  in  his  specific  characters,  be  taken  singly,  and  be  translated,  roundly  com- 
pressed ; but  if  “ tenue,”  J applied  again  to  the  body  in  the  detailed  descrip- 
tion, mean  that  it  is  thin  or  compressed,  the  species  cannot  be  the  same,  the  in- 
dividual under  consideration  being  very  thick  for  one  of  the  Coregoni. 

Nilsson  is  altogether  silent  on  the  history  of  this  species,  stating  merely  that 
it  was  sent  him  with  other  fishes  from  Lake  Wettern.  As  this  lake  communi- 
cates with  the  Baltic,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  are  not  informed  whether  the 
Coregonus  be  stationary  in  it,  or  migrate  to  the  sea,  as  the  Shannon  species  is  be- 
lieved to  do. 

Desc. — General  form,  gracefully  elongated,  sloping  equally  from  the  centre 
of  back  to  the  head  and  tail,  the  anterior  and  posterior  portions  of  the  ventral 
profile  also  corresponding  to  each  other,  but  rather  more  convex  than  the  dorsal ; 
rounded  in  the  back  (like  Atherina  presbyter) ; considerable  thickness  main- 
tained throughout.§  Length  4^  inches ; depth  where  greatest,  at  origin  of 
dorsal  fin,  9 lines,  or  compared  with  the  entire  length  as  1 to  5| ; thickness 
more  than  half  the  depth,  just  behind  the  head  5 lines,  the  same  at  the  middle, 
and  \ of  an  inch  before  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  2 lines ; lateral  line  for  ~ of 
an  inch  from  its  origin  sloping  downwards,  thence  to  its  termination  straight, 
and  except  at  the  tail,  where  it  is  equidistant  from  each,  placed  rather  nearer 
the  dorsal  than  the  ventral  profile  ; head  1 1 lines  long,  or  about  as  1 to  in 
the  entire  length ; eye  large,  placed  at  the  distance  of  its  own  diameter  from  the 
snout,  and  occupying  \ the  length  of  head ; upper  jaw  truncated,  lower  round- 
ish-oval, and  when  the  mouth  is  closed  projecting  § a line  beyond  the  snout  (in 
this  respect  exceeding  that  of  the  vendace,  Cor.  Willughbei , Jard.).  The  only 
teeth  apparent  with  the  aid  of  a lens  are  a few  placed  regularly  on  both  upper 
and  under  jaws,  none  apparent  on  the  tongue  or  the  vomer  ; pre-opercle  nearly 
describing  the  segment  of  a circle,  opercle  from  the  posterior  base  gradually 
narrowing  upwards.  Fins ; dorsal  originating  half-way  between  extremity  of 
lower  jaw  and  base  of  caudal ; pectorals  pointed,  nearly  ~ the  length  of  head, 
these  and  the  ventrals  of  about  equal  length ; the  latter  commencing  in  a line 
with  the  first  quarter  of  dorsal ; when  laid  close  to  the  body,  the  dorsal  ap- 
proaches the  tail  more  nearly  than  the  ventral ; anal  distant  its  own  length  from 
the  first  short  ray  of  caudal ; adipose  ending  nearly  on  the  same  line  as  the  anal. 

D.  15  (1st  very  short) ; P.  15  ; ||  Y.  1 + 11  ; A.  16  or  17  ; C.  20{|=Br.  7. 

Scales  (judging  merely  from  their  impressions',  they  having  been  rubbed  off) 


* Zoographia  Russo-Asiatica,  iii.  pp.  410,  411.  To  this  -work  I have  not  had 
access,  but  am  indebted  to  my  friend  Mr.  Ogilby  for  transcribing  from  it  the  full 
description,  and  sending  it  me  from  London, 

f Prodromus  Ichthyologise  Scandinavicse,  p.  18. 

X The  commencement  of  the  specific  characters  is  “ C.  corpore  elongato, 
tereti-compresso;  ” the  detailed  description  “Corpus  elongatum,  tenue.” 

§ It  is  so  formed,  especially  the  anterior  half,  that  like  the  Coregonus  qucidri- 
lateralis  of  the  Fauna  Boreali-Americana  (pi.  89,  fig.  1),  it  might  be  called 
“ four-sided  with  the  angles  rounded  off.” 

||  This  number  appears  in  both  fins;  which  are  somewhat  injured. 


172 


M ALA  COPTER  YGII. 


about  85  on  the  lateral  line  ; 10  ? from  it  to  the  origin  of  the  dorsal  fin  ; and  12  ? 
from  it  to  the  ventral  profile  : the  scales  not  being  always  precisely  defined,  the 
numbers  cannot  be  accurately  determined. 

Colour  (in  spirits),  bluish  black  along  the  back,  thence  olive  to  the  lateral 
line,  where  it  becomes  somewhat  silvery,  and  beneath  it  of  a bright  silver  to 
near  the  base,  where  a gloss  appears  as  if  when  recent  it  had  been  tinged  with 
pink  ; belly  opake  white,  slightly  tinged  with  silver  anteriorly,  opercula  bright 
silver,  irides  silvery,  bounded  by  a blackish  line  above  and  beneath. 

Although  the  expression  of  “common”  be  at  variance  with  what  I could 
learn  of  the  history  of  this  species,  it  is  probably  in  allusion  to  it  that  Sir  Wm. 
Jardine  remarked,  in  a letter  to  me  in  November,  1836,  that  he  had  heard  of  a 
fish  called  the  “ fresh-water  herring”  being  common  in  Lough  Derg. 

All  the  Coregoni  hitherto  recorded  as  British  are  lacustrine  species,  thus  ren- 
dering the  addition  to  the  Fauna  of  the  present  one,  which  frequents  the  river 
Shannon,  more  than  ordinarily  interesting.  That  it  migrates  to  the  sea,  as  do 
others  of  the  genus,  both  in  this  and  the  western  hemisphere,  is  by  no  means 
improbable  ; but  as  yet,  instead  of  proof  of  the  fact,  we  have  simply  the  con- 
jecture of  fishermen,  who  would  not  be  unlikely  to  draw  such  an  inference  from 
the  mere  circumstance  of  capturing  it  at  the  same  time  with  eels,  which  they 
know  to  be  on  their  migration  seawards.*  —Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii. 

Cor  eg  onus  clupeoides,  Nilss.  ? 

By  the  continued  kind  attention  of  the  Rev.  C.  Mayne  (Vicar-general  of 
Cashel)  a second  specimen  of  this  fish,  taken  in  the  river  Shannon  near  Killa- 
loe,  was  forwarded  to  me  on  the  9th  of  November  last.  This  individual,  being 
quite  perfect,  enables  me  now  to  supply  a figure  of  the  species,  and  to  offer 
some  further  remarks  upon  it.  On  comparing  it  in  every  character  with  my  de- 
scription of  the  individual  first  obtained  (£  Annals  ’ for  Dec.  p.  267),  which  was 
divested  of  its  scales,  and  injured  in  some  of  the  fins,  I find  very  few  additional 
observations  to  be  requisite.  Its  length  is  4§  inches,  depth  lOf  lines;  number 
of  scale?  on  lateral  line,  and  from  it  to  dorsal  and  ventral  profile,  as  described  in 
last,  judging  in  that  instance  from  their  impressions  merely ; the  scales  rounded 


* Coregonus  Pollan,  Thomp.  A few  observations  on  the  pollan,  the  only 
other  species  of  Coregonus  yet  detected  in  Ireland,  will  not  be  out  of  place  here. 
When  my  paper  on  this  fish  was  published  (Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.  vol.  i.),  I had 
seen  specimens  only  from  Lough  Neagh;  but  from  Harris’s  History  of  the 
County  of  Down  it  was  quoted,  “ that  Lough  Erne  in  the  County  of  Fermanagh 
has  the  same  sort  of  fish,  though  not  in  so  great  plenty  [as  L.  Neagh].”  This  I 
am  now  enabled  to  verify.  That  the  pollan  is  not  “ in  so  great  plenty  ” there, 
I became  well  satisfied  during  a visit — which  was  indeed  a very  hurried  one — 
to  the  lake  in  the  autumn  of  1 837,  when  by  inquiry  from  many  persons  I could 
not  learn  anything  of  such  a fish.  But  by  the  kind  attention  of  Viscount  Cole, 
who  resides  within  a few  miles  of  Lough  Erne,  I have  been  lately  favoured  with 
examples  of  the  C.  Pollan  from  that  locality.  On  the  22nd  of  October  last  I 
received  a specimen  which  was  taken  two  days  before,  and  was  stated  to  have 
been  the  first  caught  this  season.  On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  I was  obliging- 
ly supplied  with  more  examples;  and  in  a letter  dated  .from  Florence  Court 
the  preceding  day  Lord  Cole  remarked,  in  reference  to  the  species,  “I  have 
now  procured  in  all  about  ten  or  twelve.  I cannot  make  out  that  they  are  ever 
caught  in  any  numbers  in  Lough  Erne ; indeed  they  are  never  sought  after — 
those  which  I have  got  were  taken  in  eel-nets  in  the  upper  lough.  I have 
heard  that  three  or  four  were  caught  in  the  lower  lough  this  year  in  a drag- 
net. This  is  all  I at  present  know  about  them.” 

Since  my  account  of  the  pollan  appeared,  I have  been  favoured  by  Dr.  Par- 
nell with  a specimen  of  the  Coregonus  of  Loch  Lomond  (see  his  paper  on  this 
subject  in  the  Annals  of  Natural  History,  vol.  i.  p.  161),  and  by  Sir  Wm.  Jar- 
dine with  one  of  the  Ullswater  species ; both  of  which  are  distinct  from  the  Cor. 
Pollan,  this  having  not  as  yet  been  foundiin  any  of  the  lakes  of  Great  Britain. 


THE  POLLAN. 


173 


at  the  posterior  margin,  and  smaller  than  in  any  other  British  Coregonus.  D. 
14 ; P.16;  V.  1 + 11 ; A.  14?  C.  20j§=  Br.  9.  In  the  dorsal,  the  4th  and  5th 
rays  longest,  and  of  about  equal  length  ; the  few  anterior  rays  of  the  pectorals 
about  equal,  the  first  much  the  stoutest;  4th  and  5th  longest  in  the  anal,  and 
about  equal ; axillary  scale  of  ventrals  rather  more  than  one-third  their  length. 
Colour  of  specimen  (from  spirits),  body  above  lateral  line  and  a short  way  be- 
low it  pale  yellowish-olive  when  viewed  in  the  shade,  but  with  the  light  striking 
on  it  of  a delicate  silvery  blue,  thence  to  the  belly  silvery;  dorsal  and  caudal 
fins  marked  over  the  rays  and  membrarie  with  black  points,  imparting  to  them 
when  closed  a blackish  tinge ; pectorals,  ventrals,  and  anal,  excepting  a very 
few  black  points  on  last,  colourless. 

It  is  desirable  to  institute  a comparison  of  the  chief  differences  between  this 
species  and  Cor.  Willughbei,  the  only  other  British  fish  of  the  genus  having  the 
lower  jaw  exceeding  the  upper  in  length.  The  C.  clupeoides  differs  from  this  in 
the  mouth  being  less  obliquely  cleft,  or  in  having  the  lower  jaw  less  ascending 
(when  the  mouth  of  C.  Willughbei  is  closed,  the  point  of  the  lower  jaw  is  so 
elevated  as  to  be  on  a line  with  the  upper  margin  of  the  pupil  of  the  eye;  in  the 
other  it  is  on  a line  with  the  centre  of  the  pupil)  ; opercle  broader  and  less 
rounded  off  at  the  base,  and  with  the  ascending  margin  more  oblique,  in  C.  clu- 
peoides ; * its  scales  very  much  smaller  ; outline  of  dorsal  fin  very  different,  the 
membrane  in  this  falling  considerably  short  of  the  points  of  the  rays,  and  its  out- 
line from  the  longest  ray  to  the  extremity  of  the  fin  being  somewhat  rounded. 
This  comparison  was  made  between  two  specimens  of  C.  clupeoides  ? from  4 to 
5 inches  in  length,  and  two  of  C.  Willughbei  about  6 inches  long. 

From  the  continental  species,  Cor.  Maroenula,  as  described  by  Bloch  (and 
which,  like  the  C.  Willughbei , agrees  with  that  under  consideration  in  the  lower 
jaw  being  the  longer),  the  C.  clupeoides  differs  chiefly  in  having  a greater  number 
of  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin  (14  or  15  to  10),  in  having  teeth  in  the  under  jaw  (on  this 
difference  alone  I should  not  lay  any  stress,  the  teeth  being  so  small  as  to  be 
easily  overlooked),  and  in  the  negative  character  of  wanting  such  an  appearance 
on  the  lateral  line  as  would  come  under  the  description  of  “ garnie  de  cinqtiante- 
huit  points  noirs  ; ” the  scales  on  the  back  and  greater  part  of  the  sides  are  dotted 
with  very  minute  black  points  visible  under  a lens,  and  of  which  those  on  the 
lateral  line  have  share,  but  not  so  many  as  the  row  just  above,  the  number  of 
these  points  gradually  decreasing  from  the  back  downwards. 

Should  this  fish  eventually  prove  to  be  distinct  from  the  C.  clupeoides  of  Nil- 
sson, I would  suggest  that  the  specific  name  of  elegans  be  applied  to  it. 

Coregonus  Pollan. 

In  connexion  with  the  figure  C.  Pollan  now  given  to  accompany  that  of 
Cor.  clupeoides , the  following  remarks  are  offered.  The  characters  in  which 
the  pollan  differed  from  the  two  British  species  known  at  the  time  it  was  an- 
nounced were  pointed  out  in  the  original  description.  From  the  two  speci- 
mens since  recorded,  it  may  in  the  first  place  be  stated  to  differ  from  C. 
microcephalus , the  Loch  Lomond  fish,  in  having  the  head  longer,  the  fins 
less  (and  of  a lighter  colour),  and  the  scales  rather  smaller;  from  the  C.  clu- 
peoides the  pollan  differs  in  being  much  larger,  in  the  jaws  being  equal, f the 
scales  rather  larger  and  in  the  form  of  the  dorsal  fin. 


* The  difference  in  this  respect  between  these  two  species  is  not  greater  than 
we  sometimes  see  in  different  sexes  of  the  same  species  of  Salmo:  the  Core- 
goni  not  having  been  dissected,  their  sexes  are  unknown  to  me. 

f This  seems  to  be  the  best  general  character;  I have  seen  some  individuals 
with  the  upper  rather  exceeding  the  lower  jaAv,  others  with  the  lower  slightly 
projecting  beyond  the  upper,  and  the  difference  was  not  sexual.  It  is  perhaps 
unnecessary  to  observe,  as  it  would  apply  to  fishes  generally,  that  other  indi- 
viduals examined  vary  much  in  relative  proportions  from  those  which  served  for 
the  original  description ; the  proportion  of  head  to  depth  of  body,  it  is  obvious, 
must  vary  in  the  sexes  at  particular  periods  ; that  of  head  to  entire  length  I 


174 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Of  a female  pollan,  Ilf  inches  in  length,  procured  from  Lough  Neagh  on  the 
28th  of  November  last,  the  entire  weight  was  9 oz.,  that  of  the  ova  subsequently 
extracted  2 oz.  3 drachms  ; of  this,  which  was  just  ready  for  exclusion,  1 had  a 
drachm  weighed,  and  reckoned  the  number  of  ova  it  contained;  taking  for 
granted  that  this  would  be  alike  in  each  drachm  throughout  the  whole,  (and 
from  the  uniform  size  of  the  ova,  each  a line  in  diameter,  there  can  be  very 
little  difference,)  the  number  of  ova  altogether  would  be  6156.  This  too  I 
should  consider  about  the  average,  as  the  specimen  was  of  ordinary  size, 
and  contained  a similar  quantity  of  ova  with  several  others  dissected  at  the 
same  time.  Of  the  stomachs,  &c.  of  twelve  pollans  examined  on  this  occasion, 
the  greater  number  were  empty,  but  two  or  three  contained  minute  Entomos- 
traca , two  Pisidia,  and  a Limneus  pereget — this  last  was  three  lines  in  length. 

Jan.  1,  1839.  I received  from  the  Rev.  C.  Mayne  a full-grown  specimen  of 
the  Cor.  Pollan , taken  near  Killaloe,  either  on  the  river  Shannon  or  its  expan- 
sion, Lough  Derg. — Annals  Nat,  History,  vol.  ii. 

“ Examinations  of  more  specimens  of  the  fish  described  as  Coregonus  clupe- 
oides,  Nilss.  ? has  proved  its  identity  with  C.  Pollan.  Different  as  the  figures 
and  descriptions  of  these  Coregoni  may  appear,  I have  now  seen  individuals  (so 
liable  are  they  to  variation)  exhibiting  all  the  intermediate  characters.” — Annals 
Nat.  History,  vol.  iv.  p.  70. 

July  22nd,  1847. — On  examining  the  contents  of  an  adult  pollan  to-day, 
from  Lough  Neagh,  I found  the  stomach  filled  with  minute  Entomostraca. 
The  ova  were  the  size  of  clover-seed,  or  l-30th  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 

July  12 th,  1851. — Yesterday  and  to-day  hundreds  of  very  large  pollan 
from  Lough  Neagh  were  in  Belfast  market.  One,  a male,  which  has  been 
preserved,  weighed  13  ounces ; and  others,  not  fit  to  be  preserved, 
weighed  15  ounces.  The  large  ones  were  sold  at  10 d.  per  dozen ; those 
of  herring-size  at  4c?.  per  dozen.  The  contents  of  the  stomach  of  one  pre- 
served and  brought  to  me,  proved  to  be  wholly  of  the  genus  My  sis* 
excepting  a Limneus  per  eg er  with  its  animal  (both  perfect). 

“ About  Lough  Tron  and  Lough  Direvragh  there  is  found,  in  the  month  of 
May  only,  a small  fish,  without  spot,  of  almost  the  same  shape  as  a herring— a 
fish  very  pleasant  and  delightful,  but  not  taken  in  great  quantities  ; the  natives 
call  it  Goaske.  I know  not  by  any  name  to  English  it.” 

From  a Description  of  the  County  of  Westmeath,  written  a.d.  1682,  by 
Sir  Henry  Piers,  Bart.  See  No.  I.  of  a work  entitled  Collectanea  de  Rebus 
Hibernicis,  printed  in  Dublin,  1774. 

In  the  contents  appears — 

“ Goaske,  a species  of  fish  peculiar  to  Loughs  Tron  and  Direvragh,  found  in 
the  month  of  May  only.” 

“ A fish  peculiar  to  this  lake  (Lough  Erne),  about  the  size  of  a herring,  and 
called  Goaske,  is  taken  only  in  May.” — Daniel’s  Rural  Sports , vol.  ii.  208. 

March,  1850.  Lord  Enniskillen  agrees  with  me  that  the  pollan  must  be 
meant,  but  he  never  heard  the  term  Goaske  applied  to  it  at  Lough  Erne. 

have  found  to  be  as  1 to  5,  as  well  as  “ 1 to  3|,”  and  the  vertebrae  60.  The 
two  following  characters  were  before  unnoticed : axillary  scale  of  ventral  fins 
about  one-third  their  length — about  84  scales  on  the  Hateral  line  : this  is  the 
number  attributed  by  Dr.  Parnell  to  both  of  the  Loch  Lomond  Coregoni  ; in  a 
specimen  of  one  of  these,  C.  microcephalus,  under  10  inches  in  length  (much 
less  than  the  size  they  attain),  with  which  I have  been  favoured  by  its  describer, 
there  are  but  76  ? scales  on  this  line.  This  induced  me  to  examine  various-sized 
pollans,  to  see  whether  there  might  be  any  difference  in  this  respect,  when  none 
appeared  in  the  individuals  inspected,  which  were  from  9|  to  13  inches  in 
length. 

* Not  less  than  one  hundred  of  these. 


THE  ARGENTINE. 


175 


The  Argentine,  Scopelus  borealis , Nilsson,  Argentina  sphgrcena,  Penn. 

“ A specimen  of  this  extremely  beautiful  little  fish  was  found  in  a dying  state 
on  the  beach  at  Killiney  Bay,  near  Dublin,  by  Professor  Oldham,  on  the  11th 
of  March,  1847.  It  was  shown  to  me  on  the  following  morning  in  Dublin,  by 
that  gentleman,  who  subsequently  deposited  it  in  the  Dublin  University  Mu- 
seum. 

“ This  specimen  is  2|  inches  in  total  length,  and  so  fully  agrees  with  that  de- 
scribed and  figured  by  Dr.  W.  B.  Clarke  in  the  2nd  volume  of  Charlesworth’s 
Magazine  of  Natural  History  (1838),  as  to  render  any  description  unnecessary. 
It  having  been  dried  up  before  being  transferred  to  spirits,  a positive  enumeration 
of  the  rays  in  the  fins  is  impracticable,  but  they  are  in  all  the  fins  about  the 
number  given  by  Dr.  Clarke  : the  anal  fin,  however,  extends  considerably  further 
along  the  body  (for  4§  lines)  than  represented  in  his  figure,  although  it  there 
appears  as  extending  to  twice  the  length  that  it  does  in  Pennant’s  fish.  It  com- 
mences in  the  specimen  under  examination,  as  Dr.  Clarke  and  Mr.  Yarrell 
(B.  F.  vol.  ii.  p.  164,  2nd  edit.)  figure  it,  in  a line  with  the  last  gutta  of  the 
upper  row,  but  extends  as  far  as  the  first  gutta  on  the  ventral  line  beyond  the 
vacant  space.  The  guttee  in  all  the  series  are — what  I did  not  anticipate — pre- 
cisely in  number  as  in  Dr.  Clarke’s  specimen,  and  even  where  he  remarks  that 
one  ‘ appears  to  have  been  obliterated  ’ in  the  row  of  the  smallest  guttee  extend- 
ing from  the  commencement  of  the  anal  to  that  of  the  caudal  fin,  it  is  wanting  on 
both  sides  of  the  specimen  under  examination.  See  Dr.  Clarke’s  paper,  p.  23,  and 
Yarrell,  p.  164,  for  a detailed  notice  of  these  guttae.  Some  writers  on  the  argen- 
tine— as  Dr.  Clarke  at  p.  23,  and  Mr.  Yarrell  at  p.  25  of  the  same  volume,  in  his 
remarks  on  that  gentleman’s  communication — seem  inclined  to  believe  that  among 
the  very  few  examples  of  this  fish  obtained  on  the  British  coasts,  two  species 
have  been  taken.  The  anal  fin  certainly  is  very  short  in  Pennant’s  figure , but 
the  author  himself  is  silent  respecting  the  fin  and  its  number  of  ray's,  so  that  we 
have  only  the  engraving  on  which  to  form  a judgment.  By  making  a fair  allow- 
ance for  the  injury  that  may  have  occurred  to  the  very  delicate  and  fragile  fins 
of  this  species,  and  for  a due  want  of  critical  accuracy  in  the  draughtsman  and 
engraver,  there  is  not  in  my  opinion  sufficient  reason  for  believing  that  the 
argentines  hitherto  noticed  as  taken  in  the  British  seas  were  of  more  than  one 
species,  nor,  judging  from  Nilsson’s  description  of  the  specimen  taken  on  the 
coast  of  Norway,  do  I see  reason  for  considering  it  as  distinct.  This  author 
refers  Pennant’s  fish  to  his  Scopelus  borealis” — [Published  by  Mr.  Thompson  in 
Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xx.  p.  171. — Ed.] 

The  Herring,  Clupea  Harengus , Linn., 

Is  common  around  the  coast. 

Authors  referred  to  : — Payne  ; Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall ; M‘Skimmin. 

This  fish  is  so  generally  distributed,  and  the  usual  modes  of  capturing 
it  have  been  so  frequently  described,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into 
details  respecting  the  latter.  Along  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim 
large  quantities  have,  of  late  years,  been  taken  by  means  of  hand-lines. — 
The  hooks  are  dressed  with  feathers,  and  the  time  of  fishing  is  in  the 
evenings  and  about  sunrise.  The  practice  seems  to  have  been  borrowed 
from  the  Scottish  Highlanders. 

I received  from  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  two  young  herrings,  taken  in  his 
presence  at  the  quay,  near  the  Custom  House,  Dublin,  in  July,  1834, 
where,  for  a considerable  time,  he  remarked  some  boys  amusing  them- 
selves by  catching  them  in  great  numbers— almost  as  fast  as  they  could 
draw  them  up,  nearly  all  being  taken  without  any  bait.  The  lines  were 
kept  constantly  moving  on  the  water,  which  was  muddy,  and  the  fishes 
probably  mistook  the  hooks  thus  in  motion  for  living  objects : nearly  all 
of  them  were  caught  by  the  mouth.  They  differed  very  little  in  size. 


176 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


The  preserved  specimens  are  similar  in  this  respect,  being  4i  inches 
in  length. 

1st  specimen.— D.  18  ; P.  17 ; V.  9 ; A.  16;  C.  20. 

2nd  specimen. — D.  18  ; P.  17  ; V.  9 ; A.  17  ; C.  20. 

In  the  number  of  fin-rays  these  agree  with  C.  Leachii  (Yarr.),but  differ 
in  being  serrated  on  the  belly. 

On  comparing  these  two  with  two  sprats  of  similar  size,  I find  the  fol- 
lowing difference  : — In  the  former,  the  D.  fin  originates  midway  between 
the  snout  and  the  first  quarter  of  the  longest  caudal  ray.  In  the  sprats 
the  D.  fin  commences  midway  between  the  snout  and  the  last  third  (§)  of 
the  longest  caudal  ray.  In  young  herrings  the  D.  originates  as  far  before 
the  V.  as  the  V.  do  before  the  D.  in  the  sprats  (7.  e.  about  ^ of  the  length 
of  the  V.). 

In  the  form  of  the  posterior  margin  of  operculum  there  is  a strongly 
marked  difference,  that  of  the  sprats  being  somewhat  rounded,  whilst  in 
the  herrings  the  corresponding  parts  become  broader  towards  the  base. 

I undertook  the  above  comparison  on  account  of  these  specimens  being 
serrated  on  the  abdomen,  which  Jenyns  (p.  434)  and  Yarrell  state  the  C. 
Harengus  is  not ; but  the  differences  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Jenyns  between 
the  C\  Harengus  and  C.  Sprattus , under  the  head  of  the  latter,  apply  ex- 
actly to  those  existing  between  the  specimens  compared  above.  On  this 
comparison  Mr.  Jenyns  (p.  435)  observes  of  the  C.  Sprattus,  “ Keel  of  the 
abdomen  more  sharply  serrated  than  in  that  species  (C.  Harengus),”  thus 
admitting  that  the  abdomen  of  C '.  Harengus  is  serrated. 

A number  of  small  herrings,  in  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  possession,  were  also 
taken  at  the  Dublin  quays,  below  the  Custom  House,  on  unbaited  hooks. 
The  line  was  swept  quickly  through  the  water,  and  three  fish  brought  up 
almost  invariably,  one  to  each  hook  ; the  hooks  were  black,  and  the  fish 
all  taken  by  the  mouth. 

In  Belfast  Bay  the  herring  is  generally  taken  from  May  to  November  ; 
but  I have  notes  of  occasional  captures  in  January  and  February. 

The  late  Mr.  Nimmo  and  Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  on  the  Galway 
coast  there  are  two  distinct  seasons  for  the  herring  fisheries,  viz.  one  in 
autumn,  when  the  “ Harvest  Herring  ” is  obtained,  and  the  other  in  the 
latter  end  of  January  and  in  February. 

In  August,  1845,  I obtained  two  herrings  brought  from  Drontheim  to 
Belfast,  and  could  see  no  difference  between  them  and  herrings  (examined 
when  fresh)  taken  in  Belfast  Bay  : they  are  11  inches  in  length. 

The  Sprat,  Clupea  Sprattus,  Bloch, 

Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

Localities  noted : — Donegal ; Tory  Island  (Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman) ; Bel- 
fast Bay  ; Newcastle  (County  Down)  ; Dublin  and  Youghal  (Dr.  It.  Ball)  ; 
Island  of  Achill ; Galway  (Mr.  M‘Calla). 

Authors  referred  to: — M‘Skimmin  ; Templeton;  Rutty  and  Smith 
(Cork). 

There  is  no  fishery  for  sprats  on  the  coasts  of  Antrim  or  Down,  but 
they  are  taken  in  great  abundance  in  the  South. 

From  the  stomach  of  a large  Holibut  ( Hippoglossus  vulgaris)  brought 
from  Carrickfergus  to  Belfast  market,  on  10th  Feb.,  1837,  I obtained  ten 
full-grown  sprats,  the  two  largest  5f  inches  long.  Excepting  the  loss  of 
scales,  they  were  in  excellent  preservation.  The  fin-rays  of  one  which  I 
examined  were — D.  17;  A.  18  ; P.  17 ; V.  7 ; C.  19.  In  a specimen 
received  from  Youghal  they  were — D.  17  ; A.  19 ; P.  16  ; Y.  7 ; C.  19. 


THE  TWAITE  SHAD. 


177 


The  following  notes  have  reference  to  the  County  of  Cork  : 

“ Jan.,  1839. — Sprats  were  taken  in  such  abundance  in  the  S.  W.  of 
Cork  about  10  years  ago,  that  great  quantities  were  used  as  manure  : the 
tanpits,  &c.,  were  filled  with  them.” *  * 

“ Sprats  are  occasionally  so  abundant  on  the  South  coast  of  Ireland, 
that  as  many  as  seven  millions  have  been  caught  in  a single  haul.  The 
fishermen  at  Youghal  distinguish  several  kinds  as  true  Sprat,  soft-head , 
hard-head , &c.”  f 

“ About  Christmas,  1846,  vast  numbers  of  sprats  died  in  Cork  Harbour, 
and  were  carried  off  in  basketsful,  dying  and  dead.  The  people  ate  them, 
and  considered  them  very  good ; it  was  the  year  of  the  famine.  They 
had  mostly  a ‘ pearl,’  or  white  appearance,  in  the  eye  while  living  : some 
had  both  eyes,  and  others  only  one  of  them,  diseased.”  { 

The  Pilchard,  Clupea  Pilcliardus,  Bloch, 

Is  taken  chiefly  on  the  more  southern  coasts,  where  a few  occur  every 
year.  Great  numbers  are  occasionally  captured. 

Localities  noted: — Belfast  Bay;  Newcastle  (County  of  Down)  ; Youghal 
(Dr.  It.  Ball) ; South-West  of  County  Cork  (Professor  Allman) ; Galway 
(Mr.  Nimmo  and  Mr.  M‘Calla.) 

In  Belfast  market  I have  seen  but  one  pilchard,  a very  fine  specimen, 
which  was  taken  with  herrings  in  the  Bay  on  26  May,  1836. 

The  Twaite  Shad,§  Alosa  Finta,  Cuv., 

Annually  ascends  some  of  the  southern  rivers. 

Butty  mentions  the  “ Shad  ” as  having  been  found  in  the  Liffey,  near 
Ring’s  End.|| 

In  Tighe’s  Kilkenny  (1802),  p.  155,  it  is  remarked  that 

“ The  Shad,  Clupea  Alosa,  Linn.,  comes  up  the  river  (Nore  ?)  in  the  end 
April,  and  returns  to  the  sea  about  the  end  of  May,  not  remaining  above  a month 
in  the  fresh  water.  Though  a good  fish  when  dressed  like  a herring,  it  is  not 
much  esteemed,  on  account  of  its  bones.” 

I do  not  know  which  species  is  here  alluded  to ; but  that  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Blackwater  we  know,  from  Dr.  Ball’s  attention  to  the  subject,  to 
be  the  A.  Finta. 

For  the  following  note  on  this  species  I am  indebted  to  Dr.  Ball : — 
“ Early  in  May  they  are  taken  abundantly  in  the  Blackwater,  at  Cappo- 
quin,  where  the  water  is  brackish.  They  are  called  4 bony  horsemen, ’ and, 
not  being  esteemed,  are  sold  for  one  penny  each- — even  the  largest,  which 
reach  20  inches.” 

When  visiting  Donegal  in  1837,  I heard  of  the  recent  capture  of  two  or 
three  fish,  such  as  had  never  been  caught  there  before.  From  the  descrip- 
tion given,  I had  no  doubt  of  their  having  been  of  this  species. 

On  29th  April,  1842,  I received  from  Dr.  Hodges  the  head  of  one  of 
these  shads  (judging  from  the  presence  of  teeth),  which  was  taken  at 
Dundrum,  County  Down,  where  the  species  had  never  before  been  ob- 
served by  the  fishermen ; and  I have  seen  a drawing  taken  from  one, 
caught  in  the  river  Moy,  at  Killala,  on  26th  July,  1840. 

The  Allice  Shad,^[  Alosa  communis,  Cuv., 

Is  said  to  be  taken  on  the  coast  of  Derry. 

* Dr.  G.  J.  Allman.  f Dr.  R.  Ball.  % Mr.  Robert  Warren,  jun. 

§ Yarrell. 

jj  The  Shad  he  alludes  to  as  from  Loughs  Neagh  and  Erne  is  the  Pollan. 

*11  Yarrell. 

N 


178 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


“ ( Alosa  communis,  Cuv.,  Yarr.)  Shad. — By  no  means  uncommon.  It  attains 
a considerable  size,  the  extreme  length  of  the  specimen  examined  being  2 feet  2 
inches.” — Ord.  Survey , Derry , p.  15. 

In  Sampson’s  L.  Derry  (1802)  it  is  remarked,  p.  343  (8vo  edit.),  that 
“ there  is  a fish  called  rock-herring  of  which  the  fishermen  speak.  It  is  taken 
singly,  not  in  shoals.  I suspect  they  mean  the  alosa  or  shad.” 

They  may  mean  this  species  ; but  the  name  of  rock-herring  is  applied 
by  some  persons  to  the  scad,  or  horse  mackerel  ( Caranx  Trachurus),  on  the 
coast  of  Derry  and  Donegal.  It  is  probably  from  some  confusion  about 
scad  and  shad  that  the  latter  has,  in  various  places,  had  the  name  of  bony 
horseman. 

The  Common  Cod-Fish,*  Gadus  Morrhua,  Linn., 

Morrhua  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast.  The  principal  fishmonger  in  Belfast  con- 
siders the  cod-fish  to  be  in  season  from  November  to  April.  The  average 
weight  here  is,  he  says,  from  16  to  18  lbs.,  but  he  saw  one  weighing  50 
lbs.,  and  has  been  told  of  two  taken  on  Holywood  bank  (Belfast  Bay) 
which  weighed  56  and  60  lbs.  They  were  caught  on  the  same  day. 

All  the  living  inhabitants  of  the  deep  that  it  can  master  would  seem 
to  be  sacrificed  to  the  voracity  of  the  cod, — fishes,  Crustacea,  star-fishes,  mol- 
lusca,  worms,  &c.,  & c., — and  I have  had  proof  that  they  scruple  not  to 
consume  the  young  of  their  owrn  species. 

I have  ample  notes  of  the  food  found  in  many  of  them ; but  they  are 
such  indiscriminate  feeders,  that  it  seems  to  me  useless  to  enumerate  the 
species  sacrificed  by  them.  The  stomachs  of  some  which  I examined 
were  nearly  filled  with  Hermit  crabs,  all  of  which  had  been  dragged  from 
the  shells  they  inhabited,  as  these  latter  were  not  in  the  stomach ; in  one 
instance  a large  shell  of  the  Fusus  despectus  did  occur  to  me  in  a cod. 

Mr.  Sinclaire  has  frequently,  at  Ballantrae,  seen  fine  full-grown  herrings 
taken  from  cod-fish : when  uninjured  for  food,  they  are  very  wisely  used 
by  the  people  there  for  that  purpose,  the  children  especially  attending  the 
cutting  up  of  the  cod-fish,  that  they  might  get  the  herrings  contained  in 
them  to  carry  off  to  their  homes. 

Rock-cod  is  a mere  variety  of  the  common  species,  inhabiting  rocky 
localities  (as  the  name  rock-cod  denotes),  and  of  a reddish  brown  colour ; 
a fact  of  which  I have  myself  had  evidence  on  different  parts  of  the  coast 
of  the  Brit.  Islands.  Pennant  remarks,  in  note  to  p.  239,  “ Codlings 
are  often  taken  of  a yellow,  orange,  and  even  red  colour,  while  they  re- 
main among  the  rocks,  but  on  changing  their  place  assume  the  colour  of 
other  cod-fish.” 

The  rock-cod  is  considered  good  at  all  seasons,  owing  perhaps  to  its 
preying  more  on  Crustacea  than  the  cod  frequenting  different  feeding- 
grounds. 

I have  found  specimens  of  the  common  cod,  agreeing  so  with  the  de- 
scription of  Gadus  punctatus,  Turt.,  as  to  satisfy  me  that  this  is  not  dis- 
tinct from  it. 

March  3,  1840.  I obtained  from  Belfast  Bay  a singularly  malformed 
cod,  similar  to  that  figured  by  Yarrell,  vol.  ii.  p.  229.  Its  length  was  22 
inches,  colour  as  usual  in  the  common  cod.  A month  afterwards,  I saw 


* Commonly  known  by  the  name  of  cod : the  young  are  called  codling.  A 
fisherman  at  Portaferry  remarked  to  me  that  it  there  bore  three  names,  viz.  cod- 
ling when  young,  buddagh  when  middle-sized,  and  cod-fish  when  adult. 


COD-FISH. 


179 


another  in  Belfast  market  of  the  same  form,  but  of  the  reddish  colour  of 
the  rock-cod.  These  specimens  are  preserved  in  the  Belfast  Museum. 

A beautifully-marked  example  of  the  cod,  of  large  size,  also  came  under 
my  inspection  here.  It  was  of  a pale  lilac  grey  colour,  closely  studded 
over  with  large  reddish  grey  spots,  which  were  as  close  as  I have  ever 
seen  them  in  any  species  of  trout. 

Pennant  gives  a full  historical  account  of  the  cod-fish,  and  Yarrell  treats 
of  it  amply. 

The  Dorse,  or  Variable  Cod,  Gadus  Callarias,  Linn., 
Morrhua  — Cuv., 

Has  been  taken  on  the  coasts  of  Antrim  and  Cork,  as  stated  in  the  fol- 
lowing note,  which  I contributed  to  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.  p.  358 : — 

“ Gadus  Callarias,  Linn.  Dorse. — An  examination  of  the  fishes  before- 
mentioned  as  taken  on  the  coast  of  Cork,  and  forwarded  for  my  inspection  by  Dr. 
R.  Ball,  enables  me  to  restore  this  species  with  certainty  to  the  place  it  once 
held  in  the  British  Fauna.  Two  small  specimens  thus  received  are  in  length  re- 
spectively 3§  and  6 inches  ; in  the  latter  the  number  of  fin-rays  are,  D.  14,  18, 
18 ; A.  20,  17  ; P.  18  ; V.  6;  C.  24. — Br.  7.  In  both  individuals  the  1st  and 
2nd  rays  of  the  ventral  fin  are  produced  in  slender  filaments,  of  which  the 
second  is  the  longer ; eyes  invested  with  a membrane  as  in  G.  luscus , &c. ; 
head  to  entire  length  as  1 to  3 in  the  larger,  as  1 to  3~  in  the  smaller  specimen; 
no  pores  visible  about  the  mouth  as  in  G.  minutus.  In  other  characters  these 
individuals  agree  with  the  G.  Callarias  as  described  by  Bloch  and  Nilsson. 
They  were  taken  in  sprat-nets  at  Youghal  in  the  autumn  of  1834,  when  a third 
specimen  also  occurred. 

“ Subsequently  I had  the  satisfaction  of  recognising  a G.  Callarias  among  some 
native  fishes  presented  by  Mr.  Wm.  Marshall  (Memb.  Nat.  Hist.  Society)  to  the 
Belfast  Museum  without  regard  to  species.  Upon  inquiry,  I learned  from  this  gen- 
tleman that  it  had  been  captured  by  himself  when  fishing  in  the  month  of  June 
or  July,  about  the  entrance  to  Larne  Lough,  County  of  Antrim,  and  using  the 
lug- worm  ( Lumbricus  marinus)  for  bait.  Its  length  is  8 inches.  We  thus  find 
that  the  species  occurs  both  on  the  North  and  South  shores  of  Ireland.” — 
Annals  Nat.  History , vol.  i. 

Having  given  little  attention  to  the  subject  since  the  publication  of 
the  foregoing  notice  of  this  fish,  I have  nothing  particular  to  add  respect- 
ing it;  but  as  no  other  British  naturalist  seems  to  have  noticed  the  species 
of  late  years,  I may  mention  that  it  attracted  the  attention  of  Dr.  It.  Ball, 
who,  in  sending  me  a number  of  fishes  from  Youghal,  and  not  having 
leisure  himself  to  attend  to  the  matter,  asked  what  the  two  specimens 
already  referred  to  were,  distinguishing  them  from  the  other  Gadi  at  first 
sight. 

The  Haddock,  Gadus  JEglefinus , Linn., 

Morrhua  — Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast,  but  the  numbers  seem  to  vary  much  in  the 
same  localities.  Dublin  Bay  has  long  been  famous  for  its  haddock,  and  in 
Belfast  market  this  fish  is  estimated  more  highly  than  the  cod,  the  price 
being  generally  4 d.,  very  rarely  under  3d.,  per  lb.  It  is  considered  to  be 
in  season  from  November  to  April.  The  largest  haddock  of  which  I have 
any  well-authenticated  notes  were,  one  taken  at  Groomsport,  County  Down, 
which  Mr.  Meenan  weighed,  and  found  to  be  25  lbs.  ; and  one  taken  in 
Dublin  Bay  in  August,  1851,  which,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Ball,  weighed  18  lbs. 

In  Belfast  Bay  they  are  occasionally  found,  and  Mr.  B.  Meenan  informs 
me  that  he  obtained  one  from  18  to  20  lbs.  At  Killough  (County 
Down),  where  the  numbers  taken  are  very  great  and  the  fish  of  excellent 
N 2 


180 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


quality,  they  do  not  appear  to  attain  so  large  a size,  the  average  weight 
being  about  4 lbs.,  although  individuals  weighing  10  lbs.  are  sometimes 
sent  thence  to  Belfast. 

The  baits  most  frequently  used  in  Belfast  Bay  are  mussels — both  the 
horse-mussel  and  the  edible  species.  It  is  said  that  the  Ballantrae  fisher- 
men come  to  Belfast  for  these  shell-fish. 

Pennant  refers  to  haddock  of  uncommon  SIZE  (as  14  lbs.  weight)  be- 
ing “ extremely  coarse,”  and  that  the  best  for  the  table  weigh  from  2 to 
3 lbs.,  but  in  the  Irish  markets,  the  larger  the  haddock  the  more  it  is 
generally  prized.  I have  never  met  with  a finer-flavoured  fish  than  one 
of  10  lbs.  of  which  I partook. 

The  food  of  this  fish  varies  according  to  locality.  Many  examples  pur- 
chased by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  and  by  myself  in  Belfast  market  during 
one  season,  contained  only  the  remains  of  Ophiurce , and  were  almost  in- 
variably filled  with  the  most  spinous  species  of  this  genus,  Oph.  rosula. 
In  his  valuable  papers  on  the  Irish  Entozoa,  published  in  the  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  Dr.  Drummond  attributed  the  absence  of  intestinal  worms  in  the 
haddocks  which  he  had  examined,  to  the  circumstance  of  the  stomach  and 
intestines  of  the  fish  containing  the  spines  of  Oph.  rosula.  Almost  every 
haddock  that  I have  opened  had  the  stomach  and  intestines  filled  with  the 
remains  of  Ophiurce  * & c.  &c.  The  cod-fish,  although  often  exhibiting  an 
extraordinary  variety  of  food,  I sometimes  find  quite  empty ; and  we 
rarely  see  any  food  in  the  salmon. 

In  the  month  of  February  my  attention  was  once  called  in  Belfast 
market  to  a large  haddock  in  fine  condition,  which  was  singularly  co- 
loured. It  was  clouded  over  the  sides  with  an  extremely  pale  stone  colour, 
apparently  as  if  the  skin  had  been  taken  off,  but  this  was  the  natural 
colour,  and  all  the  scales  were  on.f 

Oct.  \4:th,  1848. — One  of  these  fishes,  18  inches  in  length,  and  in  good 
condition,  was  brought  to  me  from  Belfast  market  on  account  of  its  colour. 
Where  usually  grey  or  dark-coloured,  i.  e.  over  the  upper  half  of  the 
body  and  head,  it  was  of  a beautiful  rich  salmon  colour,  of  which  also  all 
the  fins  partook,  except  the  caudal  one  at-  its  extremity,  which  was  dusky ; 
more  than  its  basal  half  was  salmon-coloured,  the  V.  and  A.  fins  were 
lighter  than  the  D.  The  whole  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  sides  and  belly, 
usually  white,  were  very  faintly  blushed  over  with  light  salmon  colour. 
The  blackish  marks  near  the  pectoral  fins  were  extremely  faint.  Not  a 
greyish  or  dusky  hue  was  seen  anywhere  on  the  fish  except  at  the  tip  of 
the  caudal  fin,  and  at  the  nearly  obliterated  blackish  spots  below  P.  fin. 

A specimen  taken  off  the  entrance  to  Strangford  Lough  and  brought  to 
Belfast  market,  on  21st  March,  1850,  was  of  the  following  singular  colour. 

The  upper  surface  of  the  head  and  the  back  were  of  a pale  golden  yel- 
low, of  which  the  dorsal,  caudal,  and  pectoral  fins  partook,  the  D.  and  C. 


* [The  MS.  contains  full  notes  of  the  various  kinds  of  food  which  Mr.  Thomp- 
son found  in  119  haddocks,  examined  by  himself  during  a period  of  16  years. 
The  results  may  be  thus  briefly  stated  : — In  102  of  these  fishes  were  fragments 
of  Ophiura  rosula , which  in  many  instances  completely  filled  the  stomach.  Other 
species  of  the  Ophiuridce , small  Crustacea,  shells,  a few  sea-mice  ( Aphrodita 
aculeata),  and  Nereidce,  sea-urchins,  one  Actinia , twro  small  fishes,  viz.  a Cottus 
(species  not  mentioned)  and  a young  herring,  constituted  the  remainder  of  the 
food.  Ed.] 

t “ On  one  occasion  a large  haddock  wras  obtained  of  a canary  colour ; on  an- 
other, a small  fish  of  a light  rose  red,  by  Dr.  Ball,  in  Dublin.” 


THE  BIB. 


181 


fins  having  besides  the  usual  blackish  margining.  The  golden  colour  does 
not  reach  so  low  as  the  lateral  line,  which  line  is  white  as  well  as  all  the 
body  beneath  it,  the  usual  blackish  mark  on  each  side  being  consequently 
wanting. 

It  was  a deep,  finely-made  fish,  length  27  inches,  depth  of  body  measur- 
ed in  a straight  line  6u  inches. 

The  Bib,  Pout,  and  Whiting  Pout,*  Gadus  luscus,  Linn., 

Morrhua  lusca,  Cuv., 

Is  of  occasional  occurrence  on  all  quarters  of  the  Irish  coast. 

I have  seen  specimens  at  every  season  of  the  year  in  Belfast  market, 
but  rarely  more  than  one  at  a time ; they  are  brought  from  the  Antrim 
and  Down  coasts. 

March  1( )th,  1835. — I purchased  the  specimen  in  Belfast  market  of 
which  the  following  are  particulars  : 

Length  15  inches. 

D.  i3,  23,  17  ; P.  17  ; V.  6;  A.  33—21  ; C.  28  ; B.  7. 

The  1st  and  2nd  rays  of  V.  fin  “ produced  and  Setaceous.”  Flem.  and 
Don.  say  1,  Pennant  2. 

Depth  of  body  4-T  inches. 

Teeth  in  both  jaws  and  on  vomer. 

Bubble-like  membrane  blown  over  each  eye. 

Process  from  under  jaw  1 inch  long. 

Colour  of  body  uniform  grey  glossed  with  gold  and  silver,  more  espe- 
cially about  the  head  ; belly  dirty  white. 

D.  and  C.  fins  pale  grey  edged  with  a darker  grey,  the  latter  terminated 
by  a narrow  black  band. 

P.  pale  grey  with  a conspicuous  black  spot  on  the  centre  of  one  and  at 
the  base  of  both.  A.  fins  of  a darker  brown  than  the  others,  and  uniform 
in  colour;  a white  stripe  on  the  body  of  the  fish  at  base  of  first  anal  fin. 

Irides  silver  clouded  with  blackish  brown. 

On  dissection  I found  this  specimen  to  be  a female,  the  roe  being  very 
large.  It  was  taken  at  Killough-.  Called  Hen-Jish  in  the  market. 

Feb.  21th,  1837. — I bought  a Gadus  luscus  in  Belfast  market,  brought 
from  Killough.  It  was  13^  inches  long,  and  a female  containing  pea — 
each  ovum  being  at  least  ^ less  than  ordinary-sized  clover  seed.  The 
stomach  was  filled  with  the  remains  of  small  crabs  (Brachyuri),  and  con- 
tained a specimen  of  Trochus  tumidus.  Another  specimen  which  I ex- 
amined contained  the  remains  of  fish. 

The  Poor  or  Power  Cod,  Gadus  minutus,  Linn., 

Morrhua  minuta,  Cuv., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-East,  the  South,  and  the  West  coasts. 

The  following  note  was  contributed  by  me  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist, 
vol.  i. 

“ Gadus  minutus , Linn.  Poor. — Among  some  fishes  taken  in  a trawl-net  by 
Mr.  Hyndman  in  Belfast  Bay  in  the  month  of  September,  1835,  and  kindly  pre- 
served for  me,  are  three  individuals  of  this  species,  which  as  British  has  hitherto 
been  known  only  to  the  southern  coast  of  England.  These  specimens  are  under 
4 inches  in  length  ; their  fin-rays  about  the  number  described  by  Mr.  Jenyns, 
but  it  maybe  observed  that  in  the  1st  and  2nd  D.  fins  the  second  ray  is  longest; 


* Called  Hen-Jish  in  Belfast  market,  and  (according  to  Mr.  M‘Calla)  Crow- 
Jish  in  Galway  Bay. 


182 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


in  the  3rd  D.  fin,  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  rays  are  longest,  and  of  about  equal 
length ; in  the  1st  A.  fin  the  rays  gradually  increase  in  length  posteriorly  to  the 
seventh,  which,  with  the  eighth  and  ninth,  are  of  about  equal  length.  Tail 
slightly  forked,  just  as  represented  in  both  editions  of  Pennant’s  British  Zoology. 

“ Feb.  19th,  1836.  In  Belfast  market  I obtained  a G.  minutus  which  was  taken 
along  with  a quantity  of  atherines  (A.  Presbyter ) in  Strangford  Lough.  Its  length 
is  6 inches  ; the  exact  number  of  fin-rays  are,  D.  13,  24,  20  ; A.  27,  22  ; P.  14; 
Y.  6 ; C.  20  (with  many  side  rays). 

“ Lateral  line  curved  anteriorly  for  very  nearly  half  its  length,  remainder 
straight.  Colour  just  as  described  by  Bloch ; above  the  lateral  line  pale  yellow- 
ish brown,  marked  with  extremely  minute  black  dots,  below  it  silvery  minutely 
dotted  with  black,  which  latter  marking  prevails  in  the  pectoral  and  anal  fins ; 
irides  silvery,  tinged  with  black  above. 

“ In  the  same  jar  with  the  last-mentioned  Gadus  Callarias  were  three  specimens 
of  G.  minutus , which  I learned  from  Mr.  Marshall  were  taken  at  the  same  time 
and  place  with  it,  and  with  the  same  bait.  The  largest  is  8§  inches  long,  dia- 
meter of  its  eye  8f  lines.  Jan.  12th,  1838,  I received  a G.  minutus  8 inches  in 
length  from  Killough,  on  the  coast  of  Down.  Among  fishes  from  Youghal, 
submitted  to  my  examination  by  Dr.  R.  Ball,  in  July,  1837,  were  two  indivi- 
duals of  this  species,  one  8f  the  other  10§  inches  in  length. 

“ The  figures  of  G.  Callarias  and  G.  minutus  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes 
are  very  characteristic  ; the  curve  of  the  lateral  line,  however,  approaches  the 
tail  more  nearly  in  my  specimens  of  the  latter  than  is  represented  in  the  figure 
— in  all  of  them  about  one  half  of  this  line  is  curved.” 

This  species  is  permanently  resident  on  the  shores  of  Ireland,  evinced 
by  my  obtaining  them  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

On  the  coast  of  Down  and  Antrim  they  are  chiefly  taken  in  our  shel- 
tered bays,  where  I have  no  doubt  they  breed. 

The  fishermen  distinguish  them  from  all  the  other  Gadi,  by  their  gold- 
coloured  backs,  the  silvery  aspect  of  the  lower  portion  of  their  sides,  and 
the  deciduousness  of  their  scales.  The  largest  example  which  I have 
seen  (with  the  exception  of  that  already  mentioned  as  measuring  104- 
inches)  was  taken  at  Killough,  County  Down;  it  was  10  inches  long 
and  inches  deep. 

In  the  stomachs  of  those  examined  Crustacea  chiefly  are  found ; in  one 
was  a full-grown  Pagurus  Bernhardus,  which  must  have  been  dragged 
from  its  shell  and  eaten. 

Fragments  of  the  marine  plants  Zostera  marina  and  Asperococcus  jistu- 
losus  have  also  occurred. 

The  observation  of  Mr.  Couch,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Yarrell  (p.  242,  vol. 
ii.  2nd  ed.),  that  this  fish  frequents  the  edges  of  rocks,  although  doubtless 
correct,  induces  me  to  remark,  that  most  of  the  examples  which  have  come 
under  my  observation  were  taken  on  a soft  oozy  bottom,  and  some  of  these 
in  the  middle  and  deepest  portion  of  Belfast  Bay. 

The  Whiting,  Merlangus  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  taken  commonly  around  the  coast.  In  the  North  it  is  not  held  in  much 
estimation,  and  it  is  consequently  sold  at  a low  rate.  At  Killough  (County 
Down),  where  this  species  is  abundant,  examples  weighing  5 lbs.  are  said 
to  be  occasionally  taken.* 

The  whiting  is  considered  best  in  spring. 


* Mr.  B.  Meenan. 


THE  COAL-FISH. 


183 


The  Pollack,  Whiting  Pollack,  or  Lythe, 

Merlangus  Pollachius,  Cuv., 

Is  a common  species  around  the  coast. 

The  largest  example  seen  by  myself  was  brought  to  Belfast  market  in 
Nov.  1836.  It  was  2 feet  9 inches  in  length,  and  weighed  about  12  lbs. 
In  its  mouth  was  a large  specimen  of  Sertiilariafalcata.  I have  heard  of 
individuals  weighing  20  lbs.  being  captured  in  Larne  Lough,  where  the 
species  is  very  abundant. 

As  an  article  of  food  the  pollack  is  considered  superior  to  the  coal-fish  ; 
but  both  of  these  fishes  are  sold  at  a very  low  price. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  on  the  Galway  coast  small  fresh-water 
eels,  ingeniously  fastened  on  the  hooks,  are  use  as  bait  for  the  pollack. 

The  Coal-Fish,  Merlangus  Carbonarius,  Cuv., 

Is  one  of  the  most  common  fishes  around  the  coast. 

Its  provincial  names  are  more  numerous  than  those  of  any  other  of  our 
native  species.  At  Portaferry  (Co.  Down)  it  passes  under  four  names : 
the  fry  are  called  Gilpins  ; next  size  Blockan ; then  Greylord ; and  to 
very  large  fish  the  term  Glashan  is  applied.*  In  some  parts  of  the  South 
and  West  it  is  called  Black  Pollack  and  Glassin. 

In  the  season  I have  seen  this  fish  angled  for  by  boys  from  the  quays 
wherever  I have  been  around  the  coast,  and  generally  taken  in  abund- 
ance. It  is  rarely  eaten  but  by  the  poorer  people. 

The  late  Mr.  Nimmo,  jun.,  of  Rounds  tone,  informed  me  that  in  4 or  5 
hours  he  has  caught  1000  of  these  fish  there,  from  \ lb.  to  1 lb.  in  weight, 
of  which  size  he  considered  them  better  for  the  table  (being  firmer)  than 
larger  fish. 

M‘Calla  states  that  the  terms  used  at  Roundstone,  of  Glossan  and 
Moulroush,  apply  to  the  coal-fish  in  different  stages  of  growth,  and  that 
coal-fish  is  applied  to  the  full-grown  fish. 

In  Belfast  Bay  a few  large  examples  of  this  fish  are  not  unfrequently 
taken  in  mullet  nets,  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  I have  seen  them  of  25 
and  30  lbs.  so  taken.  The  largest  specimen  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  of  which 
I ascertained  the  weight,  was  32  lbs. ; this  fish  was  2 feet  9 inches  in  length. 
Two  others,  captured  in  the  month  of  December,  of  which  I took 
measurements,  must  have  considerably  exceeded  that  weight,  as  they  were 
each  3 feet  in  length  and  a foot  in  depth,  not  reckoning  the  curve  of  the 
body  ; they  were  in  high  condition,  well-shaped,  and  firm.  I have  noted 
a few  other  examples  here  3 feet  in  length  ; these  last  were  taken  in  mid- 
winter. 

The  food  which  I have  most  frequently  found  in  the  stomachs  of  coal- 
fish  was  small  Crustacea,  as  Idotea,  & c. ; and  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  who 
opened  many  of  them  during  his  researches  on  Entozoa,  almost  invariably 
found  the  stomachs  filled  with  Onisci.  I have  occasionally  observed 
fishes  in  them,  and  once,  on  opening  a couple,  I found  a Patella  ccerulea 
in  each.  They  are  said  to  swim  in  shoals  when  in  pursuit  of  herrings, 
and  to  be  very  destructive  to  these  fishes. 

At  Newcastle,  Down,  I have  seen  them  brought  in  from  the  deep  sea,  all 
caught  with  the  lug- worm. 

Pennant’s  observation,  that  the  colour  of  this  species  deepens  with  age, 


* [The  young  are  also  called  Cudden  and  Pickey  in  some  localities. — Ed.] 


184 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


is  perhaps  correct,  as  of  general  application  ; but  I have  remarked  numer- 
ous individuals  from  1 to  2 feet  in  length,  taken  in  company,  to  be  all  of 
the  same  dark  greenish-black  hue. 

Dr.  Drummond  describes  as  a beautiful  sight  a play  of  these  fish,  as 
once  witnessed  by  him  near  Larne.  The  whole  sea  about  the  boat  was 
alive  with  them  playing  about  in  all  attitudes,  with  a rich  evening’s  sun 
illuminating  their  sides.  They  never  minded  the  boat  going  among  them, 
being  intent  only  on  their  gambols,  and  were  drawn  into  it  in  numbers 
with  an  instrument  like  a boat-hook. 

Merlangus  from  Bally  waiter,  May,  1836. 

A specimen,  about  7 inches  in  length,  seems  intermediate  between 
M.  PoUachius  and  M.  Carbonarius,  both  of  which  I obtained  at  same  time 
and  place,  and  of  similar  size  to  this. 

In  the  form  of  the  lateral  line  it  is  intermediate,  taking  the  form  of  the 
D.  profile,  instead  of  the  curve  of  M.  PoUachius,  and  the  straight  line  of 
M.  Carbonarius. 

Jaws  equal,  but  snout  projecting  a very  little  beyond  lower  jaw. 

Tail  more  forked  than  in  M.  PoUachius. 

D.  15,  20,  21  ; A.  25,  20 ; P.  20 ; V.  6 ; C.  36,  and  many  short ; B.  8. 

Colour  much  the  same  as  in  M.  Carbonarius ; lateral  line  whitish. 

The  Green  Cod,  Merlangus  virens,  Cuv. 

I have  often  looked  for  this  fish,  and  have  obtained  examples  agreeing 
with  the  brief  descriptions  of  British  authors,  but  they  were  nothing  more 
than  M.  Carbonarius. 

It  seems  to  me  that  positive  characters  are  wanting  by  which  to  dis- 
tinguish the  M.  virens  of  British  Authors  from  M.  Carbonarius.  I speak 
from  an  examination  of  numerous  examples  of  fishes  in  a recent  state, 
some  of  which  agreed  as  well  with  M.  virens  (as  described)  as  with 
M.  Carbonarius. 

In  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vi.  p.  404,  Mr.  M‘Coy,  in  reference  to  this 
fish,  says  : — 

“ Merlangus  virens. — Rare  in  Dublin  Bay.” 

The  Hake,  Merlucius  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Prevails  around  the  island,  but  is  most  common  on  the  southern  coast. 

Mr.  Yarrell  says  the  hake 

“is  so  abundant  in  the  Bay  of  Galway,  that,  according  to  a recent  writer,  this 
Bay  is  named  in  some  ancient  maps,  the  Bay  of  Hakes.  On  that  part  of  the 
Nymph  Bank,  off  the  coast  of  Waterford,  this  fish  is  also  so  plentiful,  that  1000 
have  been  taken  by  six  men  with  lines  in  one  night.”  * 

The  late  Mr.  Nimmo  (Boundstone)  informed  me  that  this  fish  is  caught 
upon  the  Galway  coast.  Commonly  in  November  four  or  five  men  in  one 
boat  will  take,  with  hand-lines,  from  600  to  700.  Sometimes,  but  very 
rarely,  1000  are  captured,  but  only  when  herrings  are  in  the  Bay : it  feeds 
on  them. 

Professor  Allman  states  that  hake  is  chiefly  caught  on  the  S.JW.  coast 
of  Cork  with  a slice  cut  out  of  one  of  its  own  species. 

It  is  so  little  esteemed  in  Belfast  market  that  it  is  not  often  exposed 
here  for  sale  ; but  I have  seen  examples  occasionally  in  winter,  measuring 
about  3 feet  9 inches  in  length.  I have  also  observed  adult  fish  taken  on 

* Br.  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  259.  The  information  contained  in  this  extract  seems 
to  have  been  obtained  from  Griffith’s  edition  of  Cuvier  and  from  Pennant. 


THE  LING. 


185 


the  Down  and  Antrim  coasts  in  June  and  July.  In  October,  1851,  a large 
hake  which  had  been  left  in  shallow  water  by  the  receding  tide,  near 
the  town  of  Belfast,  was  captured  and  thrown  upon  the  deck  of  a lighter. 
When  it  was  apparently  dead  a by-stander  incautiously  took  hold  of  it, 
when  the  fish  “ seized  his  thumb  with  such  earnestness,  that,  in  order  to 
release  himself,  he  was  obliged  to  bring  away  three  of  its  formidable  teeth, 
deeply  imbedded  in  his  flesh.” 

In  Donegal  Bay  the  hake  fishery  begins  in  September. 

The  few  examples  of  hake  critically  examined  by  me  at  different  times 
had  all  the  posterior  portion  of  the  anal  and  dorsal  fins  produced  so  as  to 
form  a rounded  lobe.  (See  Yarr.  Br.  Fish.  ii.  261.) 

The  Ling,  Lota  Molva,  Cuv., 

Is  found  around  the  coast. 

In  the  North  they  are  generally  taken  with  conger-eels,  the  two  spe- 
cies being  sought  for  together.  The  largest  native  specimens  of  which 
I have  a record  weighed  59  lbs.  and  was  captured  near  Carrickfergus. 

In  Belfast  market  I have  seen  examples  4 feet  long.  Mr,  Wm. 
Darragh  caught  one  which  measured  5 feet  in  length  in  Belfast  Bay, 
not  far  from  the  town,  and  he  describes  it  as  having  evinced  great  fero- 
city when  brought  into  the  boat.  The  bait  used  was  the  flesh  of  a 
flounder.  On  one  occasion  I found  a dab  ( Platessa  Limanda ) in  the 
mouth  of  a ling  in  Belfast  market. 

“At  Roundstone  (County  Galway)  this  fish  is  taken  in  quantity,  15  to  20 
dozen  being  caught  in  a day  on  a long  line.  Fishermen  whose  chief  object  is 
ling-fishing  generally  remain  out  from  home  for  a week,  but  come  in  every  night 
to  a harbour  in  Boifin  Islands.  One  boat  with  six  men,  if  plenty  of  herrings 
are  to  be  had  for  bait,  will  take  each  man  with  a spilliard  60  or  70  dozen  of 
cod,  ling,  and  haddock  in  one  day.”  * 

The  ling  is  a prettily-coloured  species  in  a young  state.  A description 
of  a small  example  may  be  worth  a place  here,  especially  as  Mr.  Yarrell 
had  not  a specimen  of  the  ling  to  describe  from. 

A specimen  obtained  in  Belfast  market,  January  12tli,  1838,  was  as 
follows : — 

Total  length  11^-  inches. 

D.  14 — 65;  A.  60;  P.  19;  C.  about  40;  Y.  6.  Upper  jaw  the  longer. 
Teeth  numerous,  small  and  rasp-like  in  upper  jaw,  a single  row  of  much 
larger  teeth  in  lower  jaw,  in  which  they  are  few  in  number,  the  largest 
teeth  on  palatine  bone,  throughout  which  a row  extends.  Barbule  on 
lower  jaw  8 lines  long  or  nearly  |rd  the  length  of  head.  Posterior 
part  of  2nd  D.  rather  the  most  elevated  part.  A.  pretty  equal  in  height 
throughout.  Lateral  line  for  ^rd  from  above  operculum  extending  in  a 
straight  line  down  to  centre  of  body,  thence  to  C.  fin  straight.  Jenyns 
says  merely  straight,  which  is  not  strictly  correct.  Colour  of  back  and 
sides  yellowish  olive,  handsomely  broken  and  divided  throughout  into 
patterns  by  lines  of  pale  lilac. 

The  1st  D.  similarly  coloured  with  a narrow  margin  of  white,  just  with- 
in which,  at  its  transverse  termination,  is  a very  conspicuous  large  black 
spot. 

The  2nd  D.  fin  similarly  coloured  to  near  the  margin,  within  which  a 
line  of  pale  yellowish  brown  extends,  the  margin  itself  exhibiting  a nar- 
row line  of  white  ; just  within  the  white  margin,  rising  at  a right  angle 


* Mr.  Nimmo. 


186 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


from  the  body,  is  a conspicuous  black  spot,  and  from  this  a narrow  line  of 
black  runs  for  some  distance  forward  between  the  white  and  brown  mar- 
ginal lines  just  mentioned. 

A.  fin  transparently  colourless  with  a very  narrow  white  margin,  and 
black  as  in  the  D.  within  the  white  line  which  terminates  it  transversely, 
and  the  black  runs  forward  for  some  way  near  the  margin. 

C.  fin  coloured  like  the  body  till  towards  the  margin,  where  a broad 
band  of  rich  brown  and  black  intermixed  appears,  and  is  margined  with 
white. 

P.  fins  dull  yellow. 

Y.  fins  white.  Under  parts  white  with  a delicate  lilac  hue. 

The  Three-bearded  Rockling,  Motella  tricirrata , Nilss., 

— vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  found  sparingly  around  the  coast. 

Its  colour  is  very  variable.  Mr.  Yarrell  remarks  that  “ young  fish  of  this 
species  are  of  a uniform  brown  colour  until  they  have  acquired  6 or  7 
inches  in  length,”  but  the  first  specimen  of  it  which  I captured  (in  Jan.) 
was  only  3f  inches  long,  and  of  a brown  colour,  thickly  spotted  over  the 
head,  opercula,  back,  and  .sides  with  pale  yellow  spots : it  was  taken  in 
Strangford  Lough. 

A 2nd  example  9 inches  in  length,  and  captured  in  Belfast  Bay,  was 
similarly  marked.  Small  examples  under  3 inches  in  length  taken  at 
Lahinch,  Co.  Clare  at  the  end  of  July,  under  stones  between  tide-marks, 
were,  together  with  examples  of  the  five-bearded  species  taken  at  the 
same  time,  uniform  in  colour. 

Of  two  specimens  of  10  and  14  inches  long  which  I received  from  the 
rocky  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim,  the  smaller  was  marked  with  a few 
black  pea-sized  spots  more  numerous  posteriorly,  and  the  other  displayed 
numerous  black  markings  just  as  represented  in  Donovan’s  Fishes,  plate 
2:  the  ground  colour  of  both  fishes  rich  brown.  The  pupil  of  the  eye 
was  dark  blue,  irides  silvery  clouded  with  brown ; the  stomach  contained 
a small  crab  ( Platgcarcinus  Pagurus ) and  the  remains  of  a fish.  In  Dr. 
R.  Ball’s  collection  is  a specimen  from  Youghal  20  inches  in  length,  2nd 
D.  56 ; A.  51 ; P.  21 ; V.  8 ; C.  34  in  all. 

Two  males  which  I received  from  Donaghadee  early  in  the  month  of 
Oct.  had  the  milt  highly  developed.  This  species  is  said  to  be  “ very  com- 
mon in  Roundstone  Bay,  Connemara.”  * 

The  Five-bearded  Rockling,  Motella  Mustela,  Nilss., 

— quinquecirrata,  Cuv., 

Is  distributed  around  the  coast,  and  is  more  common  than  the  three- 
bearded  species.  I have  obtained  specimens  taken  in  rock-pools  from 
numerous  localities,  and  also  one  example  dredged  by  Mr.  G.  C.  Hynd- 
man  in  water  from  3 to  6 fathoms  deep  in  Belfast  Bay.  Some  young 
ones  which  I obtained  at  Lahinch  in  the  month  of  June  were  less  than  2 
inches  in  length. 

The  Torsk  or  Tusk,  Brosmus  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  said  to  have  been  taken  on  the  coast. 

We  can  only  quote  on  this  species,  as  Irish,  the  five  words  used  in 


Mr.  M‘Coy,  in  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vi.  p.  404. 


THE  GREAT  FORKED  BEARD. 


187 


M‘Skimmin’s  History  of  Carrickfergus,  viz.  “ Gad.  brosme,  Torsk,  very 
rare.” 

This  is  a northern  fish : in  Great  Britain  it  is  sometimes  taken  in  the 
Forth  becoming  more  common  northwards.  About  the  Orkney  Islands 
it  is  common,  and  at  the  Shetlands  abundant. 

The  Great  Forked  Beard,  Phycisfurcatus,  Cuv., 

Has,  in  a very  few  instances,  been  taken  on  the  North-East  coast. 

In  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  14, 1 published  the  following  note  : — 

“ Physis  furcatus , Flem.,  Common  Fork -beard.  — To  Cortland  G.  M. 
Skinner,  Esq.,  of  Glynn  Park,  Carrickfergus,  I am  indebted  for  a remarkably 
fine  specimen  of  this  fish,  which  was  kindly  secured  for  me  on  its  being  stated 
by  the  fishermen  who  captured  it  to  be  a species  quite  unknown  to  them.  It 
was  taken  on  February  24,  1836  (a  calm  day),  with  a gaff  or  hook,  as  it  ‘ lay 
floundering  ’ on  the  surface  of  the  water ; was  very  violent  when  brought  on 
board,  and  before  dying  had  struggled  so  hard  as  to  divest  itself  of  nearly  all  its 
scales.* 

“ The  discrepancies  of  authors  relative  to  the  Phycisfurcatus  induce  me  to  add 
the  following  description  of  this  individual : length  25  inches ; greatest  depth  of 
body  6|  inches ; weight  6§  lbs.  With  Cuvier’s  short  description  (Reg.  An.  t.  ii. 
p.  335),  and  which  is  adopted  in  the  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals, 
it  agrees  in  only  one  of  the  three  specific  characters,  that  of  the  first  dorsal  being 
more  elevated  than  the  second.  Its  3rd  D.  ray  is  longest, f being  3 inches  in 
length,  and  terminating  in  a filament ; the  2nd  ray  is  2 inches,  and  the  first  but 
10  lines  long.  Upper  jaw  much  the  longer  ; ventral  fin,  from  base  to  extremity 
of  the  longer  fork,  7f  inches  ; to  that  of  the  shorter  5f  inches.  Head  5 inches 
10  lines  long,  nearly  as  one  to  four  in  length  of  body  ; P.  fin  rather  more  than 
half  the  length  of  the  head,  and  central  between  the  dorsal  and  ventral  outline; 
profile  rather  angular  from  D.  fin  to  eye,  above  which  it  is  a little  depressed ; 
eye  exceeding  an  inch  in  diameter ; nostrils  double,  3 lines  apart ; beard  very 
slight,  1 inch  2 lines  long;  2nd  D.  and  A.  fins  increase  gradually  in  breadth 
posteriorly,  at  their  termination  cut  square,  or  at  right  angles  to  the  body ; no 
spines  before  the  A.  fin,  as  in  those  described  by  Mr.  Couch  (Linn.  Trans.,  vol. 
xiv.  p.  75) ; tail  obscurely  rounded  ; lateral  line  much  incurvated  for  two-thirds 
its  length  anteriorly  ; vent  10§  inches  from  snout ; ‘ jaws  and  front  of  the  vomer 
armed  with  several  rows  of  sharp  card-  or  rasp-like  teeth.” 

“D.  9 — 64;  A.  54;  P.  17  (6th  longest) ; V.  1 ; C.  24,  reckoning  all;  Br.  7. 

“ Colour  of  body  lilac  grey,  becoming  paler  towards  the  belly ; D.  A.  and  C. 
fins  lilac  grey,  terminated  with  black;  P.  fin  dark  grey ; V.  fin  greyish,  towards 
extremity  white  ; interior  of  gill-covers  rich  purple ; eyes  silvery  round  the 
pupil,  thence  to  circumference  brown. 

“ On  dissection  it  proved  a male,  the  milt  weighing  11|  oz.  The  stomach 
contained  some  Crustacea  and  two  small  whitings  ( Merlangus  vulgaris). 

“ Since  the  above  was  written,  I have  learned  that  a specimen  taken  about  the 
same  place  occurred  to  the  late  Mr.  Templeton  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  i.  p.  411, 
New  Series).  The  species  should  consequently  have  been  omitted  as  an  unre- 
corded Irish  one  ; but  as  a description  was  drawn  up,  and  specimens  had  not 
come  under  the  inspection  of  either  Yarrell  7 or  Jenyns  previous  to  the  publica- 
tion of  their  respective  works,  it  has  been  considered  better  with  this  notice  to 
retain  it.” — Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii. 


* Specimens  are  in  the  Ordnance  Collection. — R.  B. 

f The  error  of  Pennant  and  Cuvier  in  considering  the  1st  D.  ray  the  longest 
may  perhaps  be  attributed  to  a want  of  due  examination,  as  otherwise  it  does  so 
appear,  and  more  especially  in  a dried  specimen. 

X The  first  edition  of  Mr.  Yarrell’s  Br.  Fishes  was  here  referred  to. 


188 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Subsequently  to  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  particulars,  I saw  two 
examples  of  this  fish  from  the  same  locality  (Carrickfergus).  One  of 
these,  about  15  inches  in  length,  was  taken  in  March,  1839,  when  swim- 
ming on  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  other  was  procured  in  Dec.,  1840, 
and  was  26  inches  in  length. 

On  28th  Jan.,  1849,  a male,  22  inches  long,  taken  at  Portaferry  (County 
Down),  was  presented  in  a recent  state  to  the  Belfast  Museum  by  George 
Johnston,  Esq. — This  fish  had  “the  first  dorsal  fin  triangular,  much 
higher  than  the  second  ; the  anterior  rays  produced.” — The  ventral  rays 
7 inches  long ; head,  4f  inches  long. 

The  Lesser  Forked  Beard,  or  Tadpole-fish,  Raniceps  trifur catus, 
Flem., 

Has  been  taken  on  one  occasion,  as  noticed  by  me  in  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist, 
vol.  ii.,  from  which  I extract  the  following : — 

“ Raniceps  trifurcatus,  Flem.,  Tadpole-fish. — To  Capt.  Fayrer,  R.  N.,  I am 
indebted  for  a specimen  of  this  fish,  picked  up  on  the  21st  September,  1837,  as 
it  lay  floating  upon  the  sea  off  Donaghadee  harbour — it  was  received  in  a recent 
state.  Its  agreement  with  Dr.  Johnston’s  description  (Yarrell’s  Brit.  Fish.,  vol. 
ii.  p.  206)  * is  so  complete,  that  any  except  the  few  following  notes  on  the  in- 
dividual seem  to  be  unnecessary. 

“ Its  length  is  lOf  inches  ; in  number  the  fin-rays  are, 

“D.  3 — 63;  A.  (somewhat  injured)  57  ? P.  23  ; V.  6 ; C.  36. 

“ Second  ray  of  the  first  dorsal  fin  thrice  the  length  of  the  other  rays ; second 
ray  of  the  ventral  fins  considerably  the  longest ; no  tubercles  on  sides  sensible 
either  to  sight  or  touch  ; no  lateral  line  apparent ; body  all  over  ‘ smooth  and 
even  ; ’ cirrus  4§  lines  long. 

“ In  colour  it  is  entirely  of  a lilac  brown  except  the  belly,  -which  is  dirty  white 
very  faintly  tinged  with  lilac ; folding  of  the  lips  china-white ; fins  all  of  an 
uniform  lilac  black,  except  the  ventrals,  of  which  a portion  is  paler  than  the 
rest ; inside  of  mouth  pure  white  ; irides  of  a yellowish-brown  colour.” 

At  a meeting  of  the  Dublin  Nat.  History  Society  in  Jan.,  1852,  W. 
Andrews,  Esq.  noted  its  occurrence  in  Dingle  Bay  (County  Kerry),  hav- 
ing been  caught  on  a long  line  set  for  cod-fish. 

I have  been  favoured  by  the  late  H.  D.  S.  Goodsir,  Esq.,  with  speci- 
mens (of  which  he  at  different  times  obtained  several)  which  were  taken 
in  crab  pots  at  the  mouth  of  the  Firth  of  Forth. 

The  Mackerel-midge,  Motella  glauca , Jenyns. 

“ Motella  glauca , Jenyns,  Mackerel-midge. — Two  minute  specimens — the 
larger  If  inch  long — of  Motella  that  1 have  closely  examined,  and  which  were 
obtained  at  the  South  islands  of  Arran  (off  County  Clare),  by  R.  Ball,  Esq.,  in 
June,  1835,  agree  in  every  respect  with  the  Ciliata  glauca  of  Couch,  described 
in  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  vol.  v.  p.  16 ; at  the  same  time  I cannot 
perceive  any  specific  difference  between  them  and  M.  Mustela.”  — Ann.  Nat. 
Hist.  vol.  ii. 

“ Mackerel  Midge  is  by  no  means  rare  atKilmore  (County  Wexford).” 
Major  Walker,  Feb.  26th,  1847. 

Motella  glauca , Sept.  16 th,  1848.  One  was  dredged  in  winter  from  4 — 
6 fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay. 

“ A specimen  of  this  minute  fish  Avas  on  the  22nd  June,  1844,  taken  in  com- 


* First  edition. 


THE  MACKEREL  MIDGE. 


189 


pany  with  a few  others  of  allied  species  at  the  Kyles  of  Bute  by  Mr.  Hynd- 
man : they  were  at  the  surface  of  the  water.” — -Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xviii.  p. 
315  (1846). 

The  following  observations  on  this  species  were  published  by  me  some 
years  ago  in  Annals  of  Nat.  History,  vol.  ii. 

Description  of  a minute  Fish  allied  to  the  Ciliata  glauca,  Couch , and  Gadus 
argenteolus,  Mont.  Plate  XVI.  figs.  1,  2,  3. 

When  dredging  in  Strangford  Lough,  County  Down,  on  the  2nd  of  July 
last,  at  from  one  to  three  quarters  of  a mile  off  the  shore,  and  the  water  from  ten 
to  twenty  fathoms  in  depth,  1 for  upwards  of  an  hour  remarked  some  very  mi- 
nute fishes  coming  singly  to  the  surface.  They  ascended  in  a somewhat  verti- 
cal direction,  remained  but  momentarily  there,  and  again,  generally  in  a similar 
manner,  descended  until  lost  to  view.  Their  back  appeared  to  be  of  a dark 
colour,  but  their  sides  presented  the  brilliancy  of  the  brightest  silver.  Their 
size  was  rather  under  an  inch ; their  motion,  though  somewhat  wriggling,  sur- 
prisingly rapid  ; so  much  so,  that  although  the  boat  was  scarcely  moving,  and 
the  sea  quite  calm,  their  continuance  at  the  surface  was  so  short,  that  the  great- 
est activity  had  to  be  exerted  to  secure  them.  For  this  purpose  a small  canvass 
net,  otherwise  used  in  the  capture  of  minute  Medusa , was  available.  When 
brought  into  the  boat,  they  at  first  sight  called  to  mind  the  Ciliata  glauca  and 
Gadus  argenteolus  ; but  the  great  size  of  the  ventral  fins,  which  were  likewise 
of  a pitchy  blackness  for  nearly  the  last  third  of  their  length,  seemed  opposed  to 
their  identity  with  these  species.  The  boatmen  who  accompanied  me  had  not 
observed  this  fish  before,  nor  had  they  heard  anything  of  it. 

Desc. — General  form  elongate  ; belly  protuberant.  On  a close  examination 
of  all  the  specimens,  nine  in  number,  no  cirri  can,  with  a high  power  of  lens,  or 
on  the  field  of  the  microscope,  be  detected  on  either  jaw.  The  largest  individual, 
10f  lines  in  length,  may  be  characterized  as  having  the  upper  jaw  the  longer ; 
strong  and  pointed  teeth  in  both  jaws ; head  occupying  rather  more  than  \ of  the 
entire  length ; eye  equal  in  diameter  to  |rd  the  length  of  the  head  ; opercle 
rounded  at  the  base,  altogether  forming  a portion  of  a circle  ; first  dorsal  fin 
originating  just  over  the  opercle,  so  sunken,  and  its  rays  (which  are  thick  and 
blunt)  so  short,  as  to  be  hardly  distinguishable  in  the  profile  of  the  fish,  not  less 
than  25  rays ; second  dorsal  commencing  close  to  the  first,  and  before  the  end 
of  the  pectorals,  of  unequal  height,  extending  to  the  base  of  the  caudal,  not  less 
than  50  rays ; pectoral  fins  rather  less  than  ^th  of  the  entire  length,  of  moderate 
size  and  rounded,  placed  very  high,  somewhat  above  the  opercle,  about  20  rays  ; 
ventrals  placed  high,  commencing  rather  in  advance  of  the  pectorals,  somewhat 
square  at  the  end,  occupying  \ of  the  entire  length,  reaching  to  the  vent,  and  con- 
sisting of  about  6 rays  ; anal  fin  commencing  at  the  vent,  and  extending  to  the 
base  of  the  caudal,  unequal  in  height,  having  at  least  40  rays : caudal  fin  elon- 
gate, occupying  ^th  of  the  entire  length  (measured  from  last  vertebra  of  body), 
somewhat  rounded  at  the  end,  containing  about  30  rays;*  branchial  rays  about 
7';  vent  midway  between  snout  and  base  of  caudal  fin.  Colour  when  recent 
— back  rich  green  varied  with  dots  of  gold  and  black  ; operculum,  entire  sides 
and  under-surface  bright  silver ; pectoral,  dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  fins  uniformly 
of  a pale  colour ; ventrals  likewise  so  for  frds  from  the  base,  remainder  pitch 
black  ; irides  silvery. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  I have  been  favoured  by  Mr.  Yarrell  with  original 
specimens  of  Ciliata  glauca , obtained  from  Mr.  Couch,  and  from  these  the  Strang- 
ford species  differs  as  follows.  My  specimens,  under  11  lines  in  length,  do  not, 
like  the  Cornwall  fish — which  is  1 inch  5 lines  long — exhibit  cirri  on  either  jaw. 
The  ventral  fins  in  mine  are  equal  to  |th  of  the  entire  length,  in  the  English  spe- 
cimen to  about  |th ; in  the  latter  the  longest  rays  have  a fibrous  termination  (to 


* Although  the  number  of  rays  in  the  fins  cannot  be  given  with  certainty,  an 
approximation  to  it  has  been  thought  better  than  entire  silence  on  the  subject. 


190 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


the  extreme  of  which  the  length  of  the  fin  was  estimated),  whereas  these  fins 
are  somewhat  square  at  the  end  in  the  Strangford  specimens ; besides,  they  are 
in  these  of  a pitchy  blackness  for  the  last  third  of  their  length,  although  in  the 
otherof  a uniform  pale  colour  throughout.  These  differences  were  likewise  con- 
stant in  Cornwall  and  Strangford  specimens  of  similar  length. 

On  placing  the  authentic  Ciliata  glauca  and  a Motella  quinquecirrata  * of  equal 
size  together,  the  difference  is  very  great ; the  dull  hue  of  the  latter  presenting 
quite  a contrast  to  the  colour  of  the  other,  which  is  of  as  brilliant  a silver  as  any 
of  the  Clupeiadce.  Its  general  organization,  too,  is  much  more  delicate  than  that 
of  the  Motella  : in  the  form  of  the  head  they  are  different ; in  C.  glauca , the  se- 
parating line  between  the  opercle  and  pre-opercle,  both  of  which  are  silvery  and 
somewhat  hard,  is  conspicuously  marked ; in  the  Motella  the  opercle  appears  ex- 
teriorly undivided,  in  consequence  of  its  soft  and  fleshy  covering.  The  snout  of 
C.  glauca  is  shorter  than  that  of  the  other,  and  the' mouth  smaller ; this  is  differ- 
ently formed  from  that  either  of  a Motella  or  Clupea,  but  possesses  numerous 
sharp  and  curved  teeth  along  both  jaws.  Its  rictus  is  in  a line  with  the  first  third 
of  the  eye  ; that  of  the  M.  quinquecirrata  with  its  posterior  margin.  No  pores 
are  apparent  within  the  posterior  line  of  the  opercle,  as  in  the  species  just  named, 
but  a row  of  them  surmounting  the  upper  lip.  The  difference  in  the  ventral 
profile  is  considerable,  all  the  specimens  of  C.  glauca  being,  from  the  protuber- 
ance of  the  belly,  very  convex  anteriorly, — an  appearance  which  the  Motella  does 
not  present. 

When  announcing  this  species  in  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History  (vol.  v. 
p.  15),  Mr.  Couch  founded  a new  genus  upon  it,  which  he  called  Ciliata  ; but, 
subsequently,  in  the  works  of  Mr.  Jenyns  and  Mr.  Yarrell,  it  appeared  as  a Mo- 
tella. Although  its  possessing  the  very  few  characters  assigned  to  this  genus 
may  be  considered  sufficient  to  place  this  fish  under  it,  the  comparison  of  spe- 
cimens, of  which  the  result  has  been  given,  induces  me  to  think  that  it  should 
constitute  , a new  genus.  It  participates  in  the  characters  both  of  Clupea  and 
Motella,  resembling  the  former  in  its  silvery  brilliancy,  + and  in  almost  instantly 
dying  on  removal  from  the  water  (which  the  latter  genus  can  long  survive)  : its 
form,  posterior  to  the  head,  is  precisely  that  of  Motella,  with  which  it  likewise 
accords  in  possessing  cirri.  In  selecting  a generic  name,  that  of  Ciliata  should, 
by  reason  of  its  priority,  be  adopted,  were  it  not  pre-engaged.  J Such  being  the 
case,  I propose,  as  a compliment  well  merited  by  Mr.  Couch  for  his  practical 
knowledge  of  fishes,  that  the  genus  be  named  after  him,  Couchia.  To  the  Strang- 
ford species  the  name  of  minor  may  be  given. 

Generic  characters. — Couchia.  Body  elongate,  compressed  posteriorly ; first 
dorsal  fin,  like  that  of  Motella , very  low,  composed  of  soft  rays  unconnected  by  a 
membrane  ; pectorals  and  ventrals  placed  high ; second  dorsal  and  anal  fin  long ; 
divisions  of  opercle  well  defined  exteriorly. 


* One  of  the  two  individuals  which,  judging  from  their  agreement  with  the 
characters  assigned  to  C.  glauca,  were  noticed  as  such  in  the  Annals  for  Sep- 
tember last  (p.  14),  at  which  time  I had  not  seen  authentic  specimens.  In 
colour  there  certainly  was  a want  of  uniformity  with  the  description ; but  it  was 
considered  that  this  might  have  been  changed  by  the  preserving  liquor.  Com- 
pared with  the  figures  of  Couch  and  Yarrell  (chiefly  owing  to  their  being  unco- 
loured), no  obvious  difference  appeared.  By  the  accompanying  coloured  figures, 
though  taken  from  specimens  long  preserved  in  spirits,  I have  endeavoured  to 
show  this  difference  ; in  such  small  representations  it  is  almost  impossible  to  give 
more  than  the  general  aspect  of  the  fish. 

f It  has  a metallic  appearance,  as  if  covered  with  silver-leaf,  wholly  unlike 
the  silvery  whiteness  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  body  in  some  of  the  Gadidce,  as 
Gad.  minutus,  Merlangus  vulgaris,  &c. 

X Cities,  which  may,  I think,  be  considered  equivalent  to  Ciliata , though  I 
know  not  whether  this  term  itself  has  been  used,  appears,  from  Jourdan’s  Diet, 
des  Termes,  &c.,  to  have  been  adopted  in  a somewhat  similar  sense  by  four 
different  authors. 


THE  MACKEREL  MIDGE. 


191 


Specific  characters. — Couchia  minor.  Lesser  Mackerel-  Midge.  Upper  jaw 
the  longer  : ventrals  long  (from  ~ to  ^th  the  length  of  head),  and  black  at  their 
termination;  sides  silvery.* * * § 

The  Gadus  argenteolus  of  Montagu,  Wern.  Mem.  vol.  ii.  p.  449,  must  be 
adverted  to  in  connexion  with  the  present  species.  By  its  describer  it  is  stated 
to  be  “ nearly  allied  to  the  three-bearded  cod,  Gadus  Mustela,  in  most  particu- 
lars ; but  the  shape  of  the  head  and  the  colour  f are  essentially  different.”  It 
was  the  striking  dissimilarity  presented  by  a comparison  of  specimens  of  C. 
glauca  and  Mot.  quinquecirrata  in  these  very  characters,  that  led  me  to  re- 
separate them  generically ; and  consequently  the  C.  glauca  and  G.  argenteolus 
may,  from  agreement  in  these  points,  be  in  the  first  place  regarded  of  the  same 
genus  X as  here  defined.  On  looking  critically  to  the  detailed  description  of  G. 
argenteolus , and  applying  it  to  the  authentic  specimen  of  C.  glauca , there  is,  with 
one  exception,  such  a similarity  in  every  character  which  may  be  comprised  under 
form  and  colour , that  I am  fully  persuaded  they  constitute  but  one  species.  The 
single  discrepancy,  like  to  a specific  one,  is  that  of  three  cirri  only  being  at- 
tributed to  G.  argenteolus ; but  as  it  is  much  more  easy  to  overlook  two  than  to 
distinguish  all  the  cirri,  § I cannot  under  the  circumstances,  and  at  the  same  time 
not  forgetting  Montagu’s  great  accuracy  in  description,  consider  this  alone  a suf- 
ficient reason  for  separation.  The  localities,  too,  in  which  only  the  G.  argenteo- 
lus and  C.  glauca  are  hitherto  recorded  to  have  occurred,  tend  further  to  favour 
this  view;  by  Montagu  the  first-mentioned  was  obtained  on  the  south  coast  of 
Devonshire,  where  it  has  not  since  been  observed  ; but  by  Mr.  Couch  the  latter 
was  some  time  afterwards  procured  on  the  adjoining  shores  of  Cornwall.  It  is 
in  the  present  communication  that  the  range  of  this  genus  is  for  the  first  time 
shown  to  extend  beyond  the  South-West  of  England.  , Finally,  with  a full  belief 
of  the  identity  of  Montagu’s  and  Couch’s  fishes,  although  they  have  hitherto  been 
regarded  by  naturalists  without  any  specific  reference  to  each  other,  I would 
suggest  that  the  name  applied  by  the  former  author  should  be  retained,  and  that 
Couchia  argenteola  be  applied  to  the  species. 


* The  absence  of  cirri  is  not  given  as  a character,  as  better  vision  than  mine 
may  yet  detect  them. 

f The  name  of  Whitebait  ( Clupea  alba),  which  Montagu  mentions  as  applied 
to  the  G.  argenteolus  by  the  fishermen,  however  erroneously,  is  sufficiently  in- 
dicative of  its  Clupea-like  aspect. 

X Montagu  remarks  of  the  G.  argenteolus , that  “ the  whole  fish  is  of  a silvery 
resplendence  except  the  back,  which  is  blue,  changeable  to  dark  green ;”  and 
that  the  three-bearded  cod  he  has  “ taken  of  all  sizes,  from  the  most  minute  to 
its  full  growth  of  16  or  17  inches,  and  never  observed  it  to  vary  in  colour,  ex- 
cept as  it  grows  large  it  becomes  more  rufous,  and  throws  out  spots,  which  is 
never  observed  till  it  exceeds  6 or  7 inches,  but  is  invariably  rufous-brown 
in  its  infant  state.”  As  a general  description,  this  is  equally  applicable  to  the 
five-bearded  cod  (Mot.  quinquecirrata) , of  which  1 have,  however,  taken  spotted 
examples  smaller  than  has  been  just  noticed.  Specimens  now  before  me  of  dif- 
ferent sizes,  from  1 \ to  5|  inches  in  length,  are  of  a tolerably  uniform  brown  co- 
lour on  the  head,  back,  sides,  and  fins,  varied  only  in  the  larger  individuals  by 
yellowish  white  at  the  anterior  part  of  the  under  surface  of  the  body,  and  in  the 
smaller  by  the  white  extending  to  the  lower  portion  of  the  opercle,  and  here,  as 
well  as  beneath,  faintly  tinged  with  silver. 

§ As  before  stated,  cirri  could  not  be  detected  in  any  of  the  Strangford  spe- 
cimens ; lest  this  should  be  owing  to  want  of  discrimination  on  my  own  part, 
they  were  submitted  to  two  scientific  friends  who  are  well  accustomed  to  the 
use  of  the  microscope ; but  neither  could  they  detect  any  cirri  under  it,  nor  with 
the  aid  of  a lens:  the  specimens,  it  must  be  remembered,  were  small.  It  is 
only  by  very  close  examination  that  four  cirri  can  be  perceived  on  the  upper  jaw 
of  the  large  English  C.  glauca.  “ Cirri  three,  two  before  the  nostrils  and  one  on 
the  skin,”  are  Montagu’s  words,  leaving  us  in  doubt  on  which  jaw  he  perceived 
the  third  cirrus. 


192 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


Specific  characters. — Couchia  argenteola.  Upper  jaw  the  longer,  5 cirri,  four  on 
the  upper,  one  on  the  lower,  jaw ; ventrals  moderate  (from  | to  | the  length  of 
the  head),  and  of  a whitish  colour  ; sides  silvery. 

At  a meeting  of  the  Dublin  Natural  History  Society,  March,  1851,  Mr. 
Andrews  made  the  following  remarks  on  this  species : — 

“ Among  the  few  specimens  presented  to  your  notice  this  evening  is  one  that 
appears  to  be  extremely  rare,  and,  as  far  as  I am  at  present  aware,  the  first  record 
of  its  capture  on  the  Irish  coast— the  Motella  glauca,  or,  as  it  is  provincially  termed 
on  the  Cornish  coast,  ‘ the  Mackerel  Midge.’  I obtained  this  beautiful  little 
fish  in  July  last,  off  Ventry  Harbour,  Dingle  Bay.  Several  specimens  were 
brought  up  in  27  fathoms  water,  adhering  to  the  trawl-net,  the  soundings  very 
fine  soft  sand.  With  it  I collected  five  specimens  of  Gobius  minutus  and  Gobius 
bipunctatus,  showing  the  depth  of  water  that  these  fish  frequent,  as  well  as  the 
shoal er  grounds  of  a hai’bour.  The  mackerel  midge,  as  the  name  implies,  is 
exceedingly  minute  in  size,  being  scarcely  1£  inch  in  length,  yet  perfect  in  its 
proportions,  and  characteristic  of  the  true  Motella  or  rockling.  It  possesses  four 
pointed  barbules  in  the  upper  jaw,  one  in  the  lower,  its  anterior  dorsal  fin  im- 
perfectly defined,  in  other  details  similar  to  the  rockling.  The  most  striking 
feature  is  the  extreme  beauty  of  its  colouring  when  captured  alive,  the  shades  of 
the  sides  and  back  being  ultramarine  and  purplish-green,  the  belly  silvery. 
It  quickly  dies,  and  these  colours  soon  fade  to  a dull  bluish-green,  or  a leaden 
hue.  It  has  been  noted  of  a very  pretty  little  species  peculiar  to  the  Mediter- 
ranean, the  Motella  fusca,  that  in  the  living  state  its  appearance  is  of  a fine 
chesnut  colour,  but  after  death  changes  to  a dull  yellow.  The  account  given  in 
the  most  recent  work  on  British  Ichthyology,  Yarrell,  of  the  Motella  glauca , is 
from  the  MS.  of  Mr.  Couch,  who  observes  that  it  has  been  found  abundantly 
on  the  Cornish  coast,  yet  that  some  summers  it  does  not  appear.” 

Ciliata  glauca , or  Coitchia  minor. — It  is  identical  in  species  with  the 
specimens  obtained  by  me  in  Strangford  Lough  in  the  summer  of  1838, 
and  described  under  the  name  of  Couchia  minor  in  the'  2nd  vol.  of  the 
Ann.  N.  H.* 

Couchia  minor.  Thomp.  Ann.  vol.  ii.  p.  408. — I leave  for  further  observ- 
ation to  throw  additional  light  upon.  Greater  experience  leads  me  to 
believe  that  the  individuals  described  may  have  been  too  young  to 
present  the  character  of  the  adult  fish  ; still  the  notes  may  be  worth  re- 
printing. 

Motella  glauca.— My  fish  is  marked  in  a London  note  as  identical  with 
Yarrell’s  specimen  of  Ciliata  glauca.  April,  1846,  Mr.  Yarrell  gave  me  a 
specimen  of  Couch’s  C.  glauca,  with  which  at  a superficial  view  (i.  e. 
without  resorting  to  a lens)  my  fish  from  Strangford  is  identical.  The 
greater  comparative  length  of  . its  P.  fins  I consider  only  marks  its  juve- 
nility. f 

In  June  22nd,  1844,  Mr.  Hyndman  took,  floating  on  the  surface  in  the 
Kyles  of  Bute,  a fish  identical  with  my  C.  minor,  in  P.  fins,  size,  &c. 

The  Plaice,  Platessa  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  abundant  around  the  coast; — in  the  North  it  is  by  far  the  most  com- 
mon species  of  flat-fish,  and  consequently  the  cheapest,  but  it  is  neverthe- 
less in  general  estimation  for  the  table. 


* See  my  Report,  p.  400. 

f As  the  last  number  of  the  Annals  completed  a volume,  it  is  now  too  late  to 
notice  in  its  ordinary  place  a typographical  error  there  committed.  I take  the 
opportunity  of  correcting  it.  At  p.  424,  under  references  to  pi.  16,  “ for  Couchia 
glauca,  read  Fig.  3,  Motella  guinguecirrata.” — Ann.  N.  H.  vol.  iii. 


THE  PLAICE. 


193 


Mr.  Yarrell,  in  dwelling  upon  the  manifold  evidences  of  design  in  the 
P lei ( rone ctidce,  or  flat-fishes,  remarks,  “ having  little  or  no  means  of  de- 
fence, had  their  colour  been  placed  only  above  the  lateral  line  on  each 
side  (i.  e.  in  accordance  with  its  disposition  on  ordinarily  formed  fishes),  in 
whatever  position  they  moved,  their  piebald  appearance  would  have  ren- 
dered them  conspicuous  objects  to  all  their  enemies,” — vol.  ii.  p.  298,  2nd 
ed.  Even  further  than  this  provision  is  made  for  their  safety,  at  least  when 
in  a young  state.  My  friend  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me  that  he  has 
particularly  remarked  young  plaice  in  Larne  Lough  to  accord  in  colour 
with  the  bottom  which  they  frequent,  viz.  those  on  a sandy  bottom 
being  of  the  colour  of  the  sand,  and  those  on  muddy  ground  the  colour 
of  the  mud — in  each  case  being  hardly  distinguishable  except  when  in 
motion. 

Mr.  Yarrell  (vol.  ii.  304)  notices  flounders  so  changing;  and,  it  may  be 
presumed,  of  all  sizes. 

Some  friends  resident  in  Banffshire  and  other  parts  of  the  eastern  coast 
of  Scotland  have  informed  me  that  the  plaice  (so  called  by  them)  is  held 
in  such  little  estimation  that  they  never  saw  it  brought  to  table.  It  how- 
ever served  another  purpose,  as  all  the  examples  that  were  available  were 
opened  for  the  beautiful  shells  found  in  their  stomachs.  Some  of  these, 
which  were  preserved  and  kindly  sent  me  by  C.  G.  M.  Skinner,  Esq., 
were  finely  coloured  examples  of  the  Pecten  obsuletus.  Mr.  S.  remarks, 
that  these  shells  have  been  obtained  from  the  stomach  of  the  plaice  in 
the  Moray  Firth,  and  on  the  E.  coast  of  Scotland  generally.* 

Mr.  B.  Meenan  considers  that  trawling  has  diminished  the  number  of 
fishes  of  all  kinds  that  spawn  where  the  trawl  is  used,  although  ground 
that  has  been  dredged  over  is  the  best  to  shoot  lines  on  for  cod-fish,  &c., 
as  the  latter  go  there  to  feed,  in  consequence,  apparently,  of  food  being 
turned  up.  On  “ foul  ground  ” great  numbers  of  flat-fish  are  taken  along 
the  Antrim  and  Down  coasts  on  long  lines.  Lug-worms  and  pieces  of  the 
flesh  of  conger-eels  and  herrings,  especially  the  latter,  are  used  for  bait. 

The  Bev.  G.  M.  Black  told  me,  that  by  trawling  on  a forenoon  in  the 
summer  of  1842,  at  Red  Bay  (Co.  Antrim),  he  took  upwards  of  four 
hundred  good-sized  plaice ; they  were  captured  on  a beautifully  clean 
sandy  bottom,  the  net  coming  up  pure  as  possible. 

With  reference  to  the  season  at  which  the  plaice  spawns,  I may  men- 
tion that  on  1 Jan.,  1835,  an  example  only  3 inches  in  length  was  sent  to 
me  from  the  Down  coast.  I have  examined  specimens  2 inches  in  length, 
and  found  them  to  agree  in  fin-rays  and  all  other  characters  of  form  with 
the  adult  fish. 

Food.  My  notes  on  the  food  found  in  plaice  are  as  follow : 

Of  specimens  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  July,  1838.  Stomach  and  intestines 
of  a plaice  examined  by  Dr.  J.  L.  D.  and  myself,  crammed  with  Tellina 
tenuis,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  fragments  of  minute  shells  of 
Mactra  solida.  Same  month  one  examined  filled  entirely  with  shells  of 
the  Mytilus  edulis  about  4 an  inch  in  length.  Auyust , contents  the  same. 
March  39 th.  Of  two  individuals  examined,  one  was  entirely  filled  with 
the  young  of  Mytilus  edulis,  of  which  the  examples  only  two  or  three  lines 
in  length  displayed  the  dark  blue  stripes  from  apex  to  base  of  shell,  that 


* The  Clams  ( Pectenidce ) are  rare  with  us,  excepting  the  small  P.  obsoletus, 
which  is  the  favourite  food  of  the  flounder,  from  the  stomach  of  which  many 
specimens  can  generally  be  obtained. — Dr.  Johnston,  Bene.  Nat.  Club,  1835, 

p.  80. 

o 


194 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


are  exhibited  in  the  adult  variety.  The  other  was  filled  exclusively  with 
the  Amphitrita  auricoma. 

June  10 th,  1843.  Stomach  and  intestines  of  very  large  plaice  contained 
ten  full-grown  Aphrodita  aculeata  and  remains  of  several  Buccinum  un- 
datum, of  which  two  shells  of  mid  growth  or  size  were  perfect ; also  remains 
of  two  species  of  Decapod  Crustacea. 

April  9th,  1848.  Stomachs  and  intestines  of  two  large  plaice  examined 
at  Belfast  wholly  filled  with  Lucina  radula. 

Amphidesma  prismatica,  Amphi.  Boysii,  Tellina  tenuis,  Trochus  cine- 
rius,  Echinocyamus  pusillus,  sent  me  by  Dr.  Farran  in  1843,  as  from 
stomachs  of  plaice  bought  in  Dublin  market. 

April  21  st,  1848.  Stomach  and  intestines  of  one  caught  in  Belfast  Bay 
(a  large  fish)  almost  wholly  filled  with  Solen  pellucidus,  in  fragments ; in 
addition  were  fragments  of  young  Mytilus  edulis,  a Corbula  striata,  a 
valve  of  Venus  laminosa,  Amphidesma  Boysii,  and  Amphidesma  inter- 
media. 

July  1st,  1848.  Stomachs  of  three  taken  at  Groomsport  were  filled 
with  remains  of  Solenes  (razor  fish),  almost  wholly  of  S.  pellucidus,  but 
these  mixed  with  the  young  of  the  larger  species. 

Mr.  Hyndman  informs  me  that  he  has  at  various  times  looked  to  the 
contents  of  the  stomachs  of  plaice  bought  in  Belfast  market  (in  all  up- 
wards of  a dozen),  and  that  in  every  instance  he  found  only  fragments  of 
Tellina  tenuis. 

The  tenacity  of  life  exhibited  by  this  species  is  very  great.  An  individual 
about  10  inches  in  length,  taken  by  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman  and  myself  on  third 
Jan.,  1835,  lived  30  hours  after  being  removed  from  the  water  : it  was  kept 
for  ten  hours  in  a very  warm  room  and  lay  on  a dry  plate  all  the  time. 

May  ls£,  1846.  I bought  a full-grown  plaice  in  Belfast,  the  upper  side 
of  which  was  marked  as  usual  with  orange  spots,  and  the  anterior  half  of 
the  lower  side  was  of  the  same  hue  as  the  upper  side.* 

The  Flounder  or  Fluke,!  Platessa  Flesus,  Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast. 

This  species  is  not  confined  to  the  sea,  but  is  also  taken  in  brackish 
water  and  in  rivers  where  the  water  is  perfectly  fresh.  It  is  the  only 
one  of  our  flat-fishes  known  to  me  as  inhabiting  water  of  this  nature.  * 

Although  brought  to  Belfast  market  in  considerable  numbers,  the 
flounder  is  not  much  esteemed  here  : the  plaice  is  in  greater  estimation, 
and  one  hundred  of  it  are  sold  for  one  of  the  former. 

April  10 th,  1851.  The  contents  of  the  stomachs  of  three  flounders  which 
I examined  consisted  of  Bissoa  ulvce  much  broken  up.— (See  foot-note  to 
last  species). 

Reversed  varieties  of  the  flounder  are  of  occasional  occurrence  on  the 
Irish  coast : Dr.  Ball  says  they  are  not  uncommon  at  Youghal,  and  they 
also  occur  in  the  North. 

The  colours  of  the  flounder  are  vrey  various ; I saw  two  examples  in 
Belfast  market  on  9th  March,  1836,  that  exhibited  the  orange  spots  of 
the  plaice  ; one  was  full  grown,  the  other  about  9 inches  long.  I never 


* A specimen  of  12  lbs.  weight  obtained  for  the  Dublin  University  Mu- 
seum.— R.  B. 

f Generally  called  Fluke  in  Ireland.  In  Belfast  Bay  it  is  sometimes  called 
Black-back,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  other  species  of  flat-fish. — Mr.  Yarrell  men- 
tions flounders  of  a dark  colour  being  called  Black  Butts  at  Yarmouth. 


THE  DAB. 


195 


saw  a plaice  with  a greater  number  of  orange  spots,  or  having  them 
of  a brighter  colour,  than  this  latter  specimen. 

Jan.  20th,  1837.  Mr.  Savage  of  Portaferry  sent  a female  flounder  to 
the  Belfast  Museum,  thinking  it  very  rare  on  account  of  being  coloured 
on  both  sides.* 

It  is  9f  inches  long,  of  the  ordinary  greyish  and  olive-brown  entirely 
over  on  both  sides,  with  round  dull  orange-brown  spots  of  different  size, 
and  chiefly  near  the  D.  and  A.  fins.  The  colouring  here  described  I have 
frequently  seen,  and  I only  notice  this  specimen  for  what  is  really  singu- 
lar, a malformation  of  the  head  just  similar  to  what  is  represented  of  the 
Brill  in  Yarrell’s  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  242.  It  is  preserved  for  the  Museum. 
The  stomach  was  filled  with  soft  matter. 

In  July,  1833,  I saw  a man  catch  some  flukes  about  a foot  in  length, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Bann,  in  the  following  manner.  He  had  a wooden 
instrument  in  the  form  of  two  sides  of  a garden  reel  with  a spike,  which 
is  stuck  in  the  ground ; to  this  there  are  about  forty  yards  of  a line  with 
hooks  attached,  and  a very  heavy  sinker,  with  the  aid  of  which  the  line  is 
flung  into  the  water  at  full  length.  The  hooks  are  baited  with  pieces  of 
crabs  ( partans ),  by  which  name  only  they  are  known  to  the  fishermen. 

The  Dab,  Platessa  Limanda , Cuv., 

Is  found  around  the  coast,  but  does  not  occur  in  such  numbers  as  to  be  a 
commonly-known  species. 

Owing  I presume  to  its  not  being  much  brought  to  market,  Templeton 
noted  it  as  “ a rare  fish  in  Ireland.”  Rutty  names  it  as  a Dublin  species, 
and  it  is  mentioned  in  Smith’s  Waterford  as  taken  there.  Dr.  R.  Ball 
includes  this  among  the  Youghal  fishes,  and  Mr.  M‘Calla  stated  that  it  is 
pretty  frequent  on  the  Galway  coast.  The  dab  is  seldom  seen  in  Belfast 
market,  where — by  the  very  few  who  know  it  from  the  flounder — it  is 
much  esteemed.  To  my  taste  it  is  a high-flavoured,  excellent  fish. 

Five  specimens  about  If  inch  in  length  were  dredged  up  by  Mr.  G. 
C.  H.  and  myself  at  Ballyhome  Bay  (County  Down),  on  Sept.  3rd,  1834. 
These  agreed  with  Donovan  (pi.  44),  in  figure  and  description,  fin-rays, 
medial  line,  &c.,  corresponding.  There  were  however  a few  black  spots 
and  markings  over  the  body  and  fins  of  all  five  specimens ; they  had  all  be- 
sides at  the  base  of  D.  fin  about  six  round  white  spots  at  regular  distances, 
and  about  four  similar  white  spots  regularly  disposed  at  base  of  anal  fin. 

This  species  is  very  commonly  taken  in  the  dredge  in  Belfast  and 
Strangford  Loughs  of  small  size,  under  2 inches;  these  almost  invariably,  if 
not  always,  have  exhibited  the  white  spots  described. 

The  contents  of  the  stomach  examined  at  various  periods  mainly  con- 
sisted of  the  young  of  Mytilus  edulis ; Solen  pellucidus ; Nucula  ; Car- 
dium;  Pagurus  Bernhardus  ; and  Aphrodita  aculeata. 

March  7th,  1837.  I got  a dab  from  the  mouth  of  a Ling-fish  in  Bel- 
fast market.  It  is  6 inches  long,  D.  and  A.  fin-rays  as  in  Yarrell ; a spine 
before  the  A.  fin ; colour  pretty  uniform,  yellowish  brown,  but  with  a round 
white  spot  at  the  lower  base  of  P.  fin,  and  several  similar  round  white 
spots  on  the  body  at  the  base  of  D.  and  A.  fins.  Upper  side  rough,  under 
side  smooth,  except  on  lateral  line  and  some  way  in  from  D.  and  A.  fins. 
P.  fin  considerably  shorter  on  under  than  upper  side. 

* [A  flounder  with  both  sides  of  a uniform  dark  colour  was  sent  from  Porta- 
ferry to  the  Belfast  Museum  in  March,  1853. — Ed.] 
o 2 


196 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


D.  78 ; A.  62  (spine  not  counted) ; C.  18  ; P.  11  on  each  side  ; Y.  6 ; 
D.  commencing  above  middle  of  eye. 

March  15th,  1837.  I bought  a dab  in  Belfast  market. 

Its  length  is  10^  inches. 

D.  74;  A.  60  (spine  not  counted) ; P.  12  (on  each  side)  ; Y.  6 ; C.  18 
(in  all). 

Before  the  A.  fin  is  a short  strong  spine ; P.  on  upper  side  considerably 
longer  than  on  under. 

Both  sides  rough  throughout. 

“ Teeth  sharp,  a little  distance  from  each  other.”  Jen.  p.  456. 

Colour,  entire  upper  side,  including  D.,  A.,  and  C.  fins,  brown,  of  different 
shades  begrimed  with  black ; on  these  fins  and  in  some  parts  of  the  body 
many  inconspicuous  roundish  spots  of  a brownish  orange  over  the  body, 
similar  to  what  I have  remarked  on  Pleuronectes  Flesus  ; P.  fin  brownish 
orange. 

Eye,  pupil  dark  blue,  irides  golden,  a little  obscured  by  brown. 

On  dissection  it  proved  a female,  the  ova  extremely  minute. 

Its  stomach  contained  fragments  of  one  of  the  bivalve  shells,  Solen 
(neither  of  the  2 smaller  species),  and  of  corallines,  amongst  which  Ser- 
tularia  dichotoma  was  apparent. 

The  Lemon  Dab,  or  Smooth  Dab,*  Platessa  microcephala,  Elem., 

Is  occasionally  taken  around  the  coast,  but  not  in  large  numbers  on  any 
part  of  it. 

I noticed  it  as  an  addition  to  our  Fauna  in  the  Zool.  Proc.  1835,  p.  81, 
but  subsequently  learned  that  it  had  been  known  to  Templeton.  (See  his 
Catalogue  afterwards  published.)  It  is  occasionally  brought  from  the 
coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim  to  Belfast  market,  at  all  seasons,  but  espe- 
cially in  spring,  and  is  to  my  taste  a much  better  fish  than  plaice,  although 
not  just  so  good  as  sole,  nor  so  sweet  as  the  dab. 

Small  specimens  are  sometimes  taken  in  the  dredge  in  Belfast  Bay : 
one  of  these,  7^  inches  in  length,  thus  obtained  on  3rd  Oct.,  1846,  did  not 
exceed  inches  in  breadth  of  body  between  the  bases  of  the  dorsal  and 
anal  fins  at  any  part.  This  specimen  I preserved  to  show  the  elongate 
form  of  the  immature  fish.  Dr.  It.  Ball  has  rarely  seen  specimens  from 
the  coasts  of  Dublin  and  Cork.  Mr.  M‘Calla  notes  it  as  a Connemara  fish, 
but  scarce. 

March  3rd,  1835.  In  Belfast  market  I obtained  a specimen  of  this  fish 
which  was  taken  near  Killough  (County  Down),  length  13^  inches. 

D.  93;  P.  9 ; V.  5;  A.  76  ; C.  19  (reckoning  side  rays,  comprising  in 
all  4 ?) ; B.  4,  I can  only  reckon. 

This  specimen  is  free  from  spots,  as  Donovan  describes  ; it  is  obscurely 
marked  on  the  upper  side  and  on  D.,  A.,  and  C.  fins  with  many  different 
shades  of  brown  and  grey  and  dull  yellow ; the  orange  stripe  round  the 
base  of  operculum,  as  figured  by  Donovan,  is  very  conspicuous. 

It  proved  with  roe,  on  dissection.  Irides  very  pale  yellow,  much  clouded 
with  brown. 

March  17 th,  1835.  I bought  another  example  in  Belfast  market,  which 
was  taken  at  Ardglass.  Its  length  is  16  inches.  B.  4?  D.  93;  P.  9;  Y. 
5 ; A.  76  ; C.  19  in  all.  Irides  as  above.  Colour  as  above ; under  side 
white  in  both  specimens,  and  not  spotted  after  the  manner  described  by 

* In  Belfast  market  this  fish  is  called  Lemon  sole,  which  is  said  to  be  the 
name  given  to  it  at  Bath; — French  sole  at  Youghal. 


THE  LEMON  DAB. 


197 


Pennant.  About  an  inch  behind  the  bases  of  pectoral  fin  on  upper  side, 
but  nearer  the  D.  fin  than  its  origin,  a lemon-formed  markf  of  an  inch  in 
length,  and  in  colour  dull  yellow,  appears  in  both  specimens,  whence  pro- 
bably the  name.  Orange  stripe  edging  the  operculum  not  so  conspicuous 
as  in  last  specimen,  being  clouded  a little  with  brown.  The  body  of  this 
fish  is  covered  with  a thick  slime,  whence  Pennant  remarks  its  name  of 
Smear  dab  originated. 

March  18 th,  1836.  I procured  a specimen  in  Belfast  market.  Its 

length  is  10  inches  ; D.  85 ; P.  9 ; V.  5 ; A.  74 ; C.  19  in  all. 

Colour  as  in  first  specimen. 

It  is  well  described  generally  by  Jenyns.  Its  stomach  contained  a 
Nereis  6 inches  long. 

April  11  th,  1837.  I obtained  a specimen  in  Belfast  market  which  was 
brought  from  Killough.  It  is  16l  inches  long. 

D.  95  ; A.  78 ; P.  10  (on  both  sides  1st  ray  short)  ; V.  5 (the  4th 
ray  on  upper  fin  branching  from  the  base) ; C.  20  in  all  (an  accessory  ray 
is  interposed  between  two  of  the  ordinary  long  rays) ; P.  fins  pretty 
equal  in  size. 

Lateral  line  sloping  equally  on  both  sides. 

Mucous  secretion  prevailing  much  over  the  fish. 

Colour.  Entire  upper  side  including  head  and  fins  brown  of  every 
shade,  in  fact  the  fish  looks  like  a painter’s  pallet  on  which  every  possible 
shade  of  brown  was  dashed  at  random.  A stripe  of  orange  on  posterior 
edge  of  operculum  only  below  P.  fin,  a line  of  pale  reddish-white  marks 
the  remaining  edge  of  operculum  ; lips  brownish  red.  No  lemon-formed 
mark,  as  in  other  specimens  I examined  (see  notes) ; under  side  wholly 
pure  white. 

On  dissection  it  proved  a female  exhibiting  a vast  number  of  ova 
about  half  the  size  of  ordinary  clover  seed.  The  stomach  was  filled 
with  specimens  of  Nereis,  some  6 inches  long,  nothing  whatever  else 
appeared. 

The  Long  Rough  Dab,  or  Sandnecker,  Platessa  Limandoides,  Jenyns. 

A specimen  of  this  rare  fish  was  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Todhunter,  off 
Cape  Clear,  in  the  winter  of  1848.  The  specimen  is  now  in  the  Dublin 
University  Museum. 

The  Pole,  Craig  Fluke— called  White  Sole  in  Ireland— 
Platessa  Pola,*  Cuv., 

Is  taken  on  the  North-East,  East,  and  South-West  coasts. 

Mr.  Yarr  ell,  in  his  Br.  Fish.,  vol.  ii.  p.  316,  published  in  1841,  after 
mentioning  two  specimens  of  this  fish,  adds,  “ these  are  the  only  examples 
of  this  fish  taken  in  our  seas  that  I am  acquainted  with.  He  was  not, 
however,  aware  that  I had  noticed  the  sp.  in  the  Zool.  Proc.  1837,  and 
had  given  the  following  detailed  descriptive  account  in  the  Annals  for 
Sept.,  1838  : — 

uPlatessa  Sola,  Cuv.,  Pole.  — On  April  26,  1837,  I procured  in  Belfast 
market  six  specimens  of  this  fish,  which  had  been  taken  along  with  turbot,  &c., 
at  Ardglass,  on  the  coast  of  Down.  Such  is  the  difference  in  the  number  of  rays 


* Not  the  P.  Pola  of  Cuv.,  according  to  a writer  in  Weigmann’s  Archiv.,  who 
quotes  Yarr.,  Jenyns,  Thompson’s  P.  Pola  as  Pleuronectes  cynoglossus,  Linn. : 
mine  is  the  same  as  Yarr.  and  Jenyns’s  fish,  called  P.  Pola. 


198 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


in  their  fins,  especially  in  the  anal,  that  it  seems  to  me  desirable  to  be  noticed 
at  full  length. 


No.  1.  Length  14f  inches ; D. 

102; 

A. 89;  V. 

6. 

2.  — 14i  — 

102 

88 

6 

CO 
1 1 
CO  4^ 
1 1 

108 

92 

6 

110 

100 

6 

5.  — 13  — 

102 

86 

6 

6.  — 12  — 

106 

91 

6 

1. 

P.  12 

on  upper,  10  on  under  side ; 

C.  19 

a la  Cuv.,  or  23  altogether. 

2. 

12 

— 10  — 

19 

— 

23  — 

3. 

11 

on  each  side ; 

19 

— 

23  — 

4. 

11 

— 

19 

— 

25  — 

5. 

12 

on  upper,  10  on  under  side ; 

19 

— 

23  — 

6. 

11 

10  — 

19 

— 

22  — 

“ Branchiostegous  membrane  in  each  specimen  consisting  of  five  rays  ; in  each 
likewise  a short  strong  bony  spine,  directed  forwards  before  the  anal  fin,  but 
which  cannot  be  called  a spinous  ray  : in  some  individuals  the  skin  covers  it,  in 
others  the  point  is  exposed. 

‘‘With  the  short  specific  characters  in  the  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate 
Animals  these  individuals  agree,  with  one  exception,  that  of  the  lateral  line  not 
being  4 straight  throughout  its  course,’  although  it  is  nearly  so  ; — from  the  origin 
it  slopes  gently  over  the  pectoral  fin,  and  thence  to  the  tail  is  straight.  They 
correspond  in  every  detail  with  the  general  description  in  the  same  w'ork,  except 
in  the  following  particulars,  in  which  the  specimens  exhibit  considerable  differ- 
ence. Mr.  Jenyns  remarks,  ‘ greatest  elevation  of  the  [dorsal]  fin  contained 
five  times  and  a half  in  the  breadth  of  the  body,’  p.  459  ; in  some  of  these  it  is 
contained  but  3|,  in  others  4 and  4f  times,  and  this  is  not  owing  to  difference  of 
size  in  individuals  ; in  the  female  specimen,  which  is  of  the  largest  size,  the  dor- 
sal fin  is  rather  lower  compared  with  breadth  of  body  than  in  the  others.  In 
the  individual  examined  by  Mr.  Jenyns,  the  ventral  fins  are  described  to  have 
equalled  the  pectorals  in  length,  but  in  all  these  the  latter  are  considerably  longer, 
in  some  being  one-third,  in  others  one-fourth  longer  than  the  ventrals.  With 
Mr.  Yarrell’s  description  they  generally  agree. 

“ The  colour  of  the  upper  side  of  these  six  specimens  is  one  uniform  tint, 
intermediate  between  the  ‘yellowish  brown’  and  ‘wood  brown’  of  Syme’s 
‘ Nomenclature  of  Colours.’  The  fins  are  all  merely  of  a darker  shade,  owing  to 
the  membrane  being  minutely  spotted  with  a deeper  brown ; the  hinder  portion 
of  the  upper  half  of  the  P.  fin  is  black,  thus  resembling  this  fin  in  all  the  British 
species  of  sole ; ‘ the  edges  of  all  the  fins  darker  than  the  rest,’  as  described  by 
Mr.  Yarrell ; the  under  side  of  the  three  larger  is  pure  white,  of  the  three  smaller 
white  also,  but  closely  dotted  over  with  extremely  minute  black  spots,  which, 
without  close  examination,  give  to  this  portion  the  appearance  of  soiled  white  ; 
pupil  purplish  black  ; irides  silvery,  in  some  of  them  tinged  with  gold. 

“ On  dissection,  five  of  these  individuals  exhibited  milt,  and  one  of  them  roe  ; 
the  ova  of  a very  small  size,  and  the  milt  not  much  developed.  Excepting  the 
stomach  of  one,  which  was  empty,  they  all  contained  a few  fragments  of  Solen 
pellucidus  or  minutus ; in  addition  to  this  shell,  three  of  them  exhibited  the 
remains  of  Ophiurce ; one,  besides  the  Solen  and  Ophiurce,  presented  some 
Crustacea ; and  another,  in  addition  to  the  Solen , the  remains  of  marine  worms, 
apparently  Planarice. 

“ On  May  5,  1837,  I obtained  a seventh  specimen  of  P.  Pola,  "which,  like  the 
others,  was  taken  by  trawling,  at  Ardglass.  It  was  12^  inches  long,  and  exhi- 
bited milt  moderately  developed.  Its  stomach  contained  fragments  of  Solen 
pellucidus , and  a specimen  of  Bidla  lignaria.” — Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii. 

March  25,  1839. — A small  creel-full  of  these  fishes  was  brought  to  Bel- 
fast market  from  Newcastle  (Down),  near  to  which  place  they  were 
taken  by  trawling.  There  were  about  120  of  them,  and  with  them  were 
a Pleuronectes  Megastoma,  a Platessa  microcephala,  both  full  grown,  and 


THE  POLE. 


199 


two  very  small  specimens  of  hake  ( Merlucius  vulgaris)  about  a foot  in 
length  : all  were  captured  at  the  same  haul.  The  four  last-named  speci- 
mens I bought,  together  with  seven  of  the  Poles.  Of  these,  four  were 
between  14  and  15  inches  long,  two  between  15  and  16,  and  one  16f 
inches  in  length.  All  but  one  were  females.  In  the  largest  the  ova  were  of 
the  greatest  size,  or  1-1 6th  of  an  inch  each  in  diameter : in  the  others  they 
were  very  well  developed.  Of  their  stomachs,  1 was  empty,  3 contained 
only  the  remains  each  of  one  ascidia-like  animal,  1 fragments  of  a shell 
(Solen  pellucidus)  and  a Planaria-like  worm,  and  2 contained  each  the 
remains  of  one  crustacean.  The  under  side  of  the  head  in  all  was  marked 
with  numerous  dimples  of  the  size  that  a pea  would  make. 

The  form  of  the  body  and  height  of  the  D.  and  A.  fins  varied  consider- 
ably, as  in  those  before  examined,  though  in  that  case  they  were  generally 
males,  as  in  this  they  are  females.  The  fins  are  not  lower  in  these 
females  than  they  were  in  the  males  then  examined : in  this  respect  there 
is  no  sexual  difference. 

On  inquiry  of  the  man  who  brought  these  fish  from  Newcastle,  he  said, 
such  a take  of  White  Sole,  as  he  called  them  (and  as  they  were  named  in 
the  market  by  the  dealers),  had  never  been  known  there  before,  and  he 
had  for  many  years  been  a fisherman.  About  70  more  of  these  fishes  had 
been  taken  at  the  same  time,  although  not  brought  to  Belfast.  He  never 
before  knew  more  than  “ an  odd  one  ” to  be  captured.  The  Whiff  he  would 
include  under  the  name  offthe  White  Sole,  I presume,  as  he  had  not  re- 
marked the  individual  I got  to  differ  from  the  others. 

The  Pole  being  unknown  in  the  market  here,  they  met  with  a miserable 
sale.  I bought  4 of  the  best  for  Is.  (sole  would  have  been  4s.)  on  the 
first  day,  and  the  next  day  I saw  about  35  couple  that  seemed  unsaleable. 

We  had  five  of  them  dressed  for  dinner,  and  considered  them  passably 
good  fish,  but  not  at  all  flavoured  like,  nor  equal  to,  the  sole.  Cuvier 
remarks  that  in  Paris  the  PL  Pola  is  as  much  esteemed  as  the  sole  ; but 
it  is  not  so  in  Ireland.  In  Dublin,  where  the  White  Sole  is  well  known,  it 
is  reckoned  so  inferior  that  the  cry  of  the  peripatetic  fishwomen  is,  “ had- 
dock and  black  sole,”  by  which  latter  name  the  Solea  vulgaris  is  distin- 
guished from  its  lighter-coloured  congener.  They  are  much  thinner  than 
soles  ; indeed  I would  think  that  almost  twice  as  much  food  is  on  a sole 
of  equal  size  as  on  one  of  them.  To  close  sales,  54  of  the  lot  already 
mentioned  and  of  considerable  size  were  on  the  second  day  sold  for  2s. 

The  Holibut,  Hippoglossus  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  occasionally  taken  on  all  parts  of  the  coast. 

Since  my  attention  was  first  given  to  fishes,  not  more  than  seven  or 
eight  holibuts  in  the  year  have  been  brought  to  Belfast  market. 

Thirteen  examples,  noted  down  as  seen  here  by  me  within  a few  years, 
were  chiefly  taken  on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim,  including  Belfast 
Bay,  where  they  occur  from  December  to  March  inclusive.  In  one 
instance  only  were  two  offered  for  sale  on  the  same  day  ; the  largest  of 
these  did  not  exceed  5 feet  in  length  and  120  lbs.  in  weight;  but  examples 
weighing  1^  cwt.  and  2|  cwt.  have  been  brought  to  Belfast  market.  This 
last  one  was  captured  at  Ballywalter  (Co.  Down)  some  years  ago. 

The  holibut  would  seem  from  the  testimony  of  English  authors  to  be 
little  esteemed ; but  though  deficient  in  any  high  flavour,  like  the  turbot 
and  the  sole,  I consider  it  a very  good  fish,  as  do  numerous  friends  whom 
I have  prevailed  on  to  try  this  giant  of  our  flat-fishes. 

Some  years  ago  it  was  unsaleable  in  our  market,  but  it  is  now  readily 
sold  at  4 d.  per  lb. 


200 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


It  is  generally  taken  on  cod  lines,  and  with  the  buckie  ( Bucc . undatum) 
as  bait.  ( Templeton  too  has  noticed  this.)  The  fishermen  tell  me  that  it 
is  a simple  fish  and  easily  killed,  and  that  they  never  lose  one  in  conse- 
quence of  its  weight. 

From  the  stomach  of  a holibut  I once  took  ten  full-grown  sprats,  the 
two  largest  5f  inches  long,  and  a fragment  of  Millepora  polymorpha. 
Another,  of  about  120  lbs.  weight,  exhibited  the  remains  of  a ray  (or 
skate),  the  tail  alone  of  which  was  about  a foot  in  length.  The  position 
of  the  victim  showed  that  it  had  been  swallowed  head-foremost.  Another 
was  filled  with  crabs,  and  contained  a valve  of  Venus  Cassina.  On  all  the 
holibuts  I have  seen  recent,  were  specimens  of  the  parasite  Hirudo 
hippoc/lossi,  Muller. 

May  1,  1846. — One  of  90  lbs.  weight  in  Belfast  market  contained  only 
three  of  our  edible  crab,  C.  pagurus.  They  were  each  about  4 inches  across 
the  shell. 

Nov.  19,  1847. — The  stomach  of  one  (a  small  one  feet  long)  was 
filled  with  the  remains  of  well-sized  Portuni  (P.  depurata  was  distin- 
guishable) and  Ophiura  rosula,  of  which  last  there  was  a large  quantity. 

The  Turbot,  Pleuronectes  maximus,  Linn., 

Rhombus  — Cuv., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast,  and  is  the  most  highly  valued  of  all  our  flat- 
fishes. 

Rutty  says — “ It  is  a delicious  fish,  and  for  its  excellent  taste  is  called 
the  Pheasant  of  the  water.”  Yol.  i.  p.  350. 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  informs  me  that — 

‘ he  once  got  at  Magilligan  22§  dozen  of  turbots,  which  were  taken  in  one 
day,  average  18  lbs.,  or  7 to  30  lbs.  Above  three  times  that  number  were  taken 
by  five  boats  on  the  same  day,  and  all  on  long  lines.  Fresh  herrings  he  considers 
the  best  bait  for  them  or  for  any  other  fish.  He  states  that  in  1844  one  26  lbs. 
weight  was  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  within  If  mile  of  the  town.” 

Average  price  in  Belfast  market  Qd.  to  Id.  per  lb. 

Some  years  ago  one  was  taken  near  Springvale,  Co.  Down,  by  the  late 
Geo.  Matthews,  Esq.,  that  weighed  44f  lbs.  My  informant  saw  it  weighed. 
It  was  captured  in  a trammel-net  in  4-fathom  water. 

12 th  March,  1835. — I purchased  a turbot  in  Belfast  market  of  which 
the  following  are  particulars 

Length,  13  inches. 

D.  67 ; P.  12  ; V.  6 ; A.  47  ; C.  15  ; B.  6. 

Irides  as  in  Brill  bought  same  day. 

Upper  jaw  the  longer  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 

Tubercles  very  prominent  on  upper  side  ; under  side  entirely  free  from 
them. 

This  specimen  agrees  well  with  Donovan’s  figure. 

On  dissection  this  fish  exhibited  roe  which  was  not  well  developed.  In 
its  stomach  was  a very  long  intestinal  worm  alive,  strongly  resembling 
the  human  tapeworm. 

“No  place  is  better  supplied  than  Londonderry  with  this  fish.  I have  bought 
a large  one  for  2s.  8fe£.” — Sampson's  Derry.  [2s.  6d.  present  currency. — Ed.] 

Newcastle,  Co.  JDoivn,  Sept.  1 6th,  1851. — To-day,  and  for  several  days 
past,  the  weather  has  been  so  calm  and  the  sun  so  bright,  that  large 
quantities,  chiefly  of  flat-fish,  have  been  taken  with  spears  off  Newcastle. 
These  spears  are  32  or  33  feet  long,  with  an  iron  barb  at  the  end,  and  the 
fishermen,  seeing  their  prey  at  the  bottom,  even  several  feet  deeper  than 
he  length  of  the  spear,  drive  it  at  them,  and  the  fish  when  struck  rises 


THE  BRILL. 


201 


on  the  spear  to  the  surface.  Fish,  greatly  finer  than  I have  seen  taken 
during  the  season  on  lines,  have  been  captured  in  this  manner  for  the  last 
few  days.  Turbot  between  20  and  30  lbs.  are  sometimes  so  taken.  Even 
Gurnard  are  captured  with  the  spear.  There  is  no  rope  fastened  to  it, 
that  the  fisher  might  retain  in  his  hand. 

The  above  is  one  fisherman’s  (Sterling’s)  account.  Another  (Mason) 
tells  me  that  he  always  holds  his  spear  by  the  top  when  striking  at  a fish.* 
The  Brill,  or  Britt, f Pleuronectes  Rhombus,  Linn., 
Rhombus  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast  and  taken  with  the  turbot,  but  is  in  much 
greater  abundance  than  that  fish,  on  the  North-east  coast  at  least  4 to  1. 

It  brings  a good  price  in  Belfast  market,  but  not  more  than  half  that  of 
turbot.  It  is  considered  best  in  spring.  The  largest  I have  seen  here 
was  2 feet  in  length. 

A fine  large  fish  of  this  species  once  attracted  my  attention  here  in 
autumn  by  the  beauty  of  its  colour.  It  was  covered  over  with  large 
stellate  white  markings  on  a very  rich-coloured  dark  “ ground,”  looking 
precisely  as  if  a shower  of  snow  had  fallen  on  it. 

March  12,  1835. — I purchased  a specimen  in  Belfast  market,  which  was 
as  follows : — 

Length  15  inches. 

D.  76;  P.  11  ; V.  6;  A.  60;  C.15;  B.  6. 

This  fish  agrees  tolerably  well  with  Donovan’s  figure  ; the  lateral  line, 
however,  turns  abruptly  upwards  over  the  pectoral  fin,  and  is  not  gradually 
sloped  as  in  Donovan’s  figure ; white  spots  not  so  numerous  as  in  the 
latter. 

Irides  golden  for  about  a hairbreadth  round  the  dark  blue  pupil,  a sub- 
crescent-formed silvery  mark  occupying  the  upper  portion  of  upper  eye, 
and  the  lower  portion  of  lower  eye. 

Lower  jaw  longest  when  the  mouth  is  closed. 

Bloch’s  Top-knot,  Pleuronectes  punctatus,  Bloch, 

Rhombus  — Yarrell, 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-east  coast. 

The  following  communication  was  made  by  me  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist, 
vol.  ii.  p.  271. 

“ Pleuronectes  punctatus , Bloch.  Bloch’s  Top-knot. — One  of  these  very  rare 
fishes,  of  which  two  British  specimens  only  are  on  record  (the  first  obtained  at 
Zetland  and  the  other  at  Weymouth),  was  taken  on  the  16th  of  June  last  [1838], 
by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  when  dredging  within  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay. 
Together  with  the  other  fishes  at  the  same  time  captured,  comprising  specimens 
of  Solea  Lingula  and  8.  variegata,  it  was  with  kind  consideration  promptly  sent 
to  me. 

“ The  following  notes  were  made  from  the  recent  specimen  : length  4f  inches  ; 
number  of  fin-rays, 

D.  72  and  3 ; A.  56  and  5 ; P.  10  ;+  Y.  6 ; C.  16  in  all. 

* Turbots  with  head  reversed  occasionally  occur  in  the  Dublin  market. 
Those  sent  from  Derry  that  I have  seen  are  marbled  with  white  on  the  back. — 
B.  Ball. 

f Universally  called  “ Britt  ” in  Belfast  market. 

X The  dorsal  fin,  strictly  considered,  has  but  seventy-two  rays,  and  the  finlet 
connected  with  it  extending  under  the  tail  three  rays  ; of  these  the  two  first 
divide  near  the  base,  and  each  division  becomes  forked ; the  third  ray  divides 
into  three  near  the  base,  each  division  likewise  becoming  forked.  The  anal  fin 
has,  independently  of  a similar  finlet,  fifty-six  rays ; finlet  with  five  rays,  the 


202 


M A.LACQPTER  Y GII. 


“ Compared  with  a specimen  of  P.  hirtus,  Mull.  (6|  inches  in  length,  and  like- 
wise taken  on  the  coast  of  Down),* *  the  ridge  between  the  eyes  is  much  more 
elevated,  the  difference  being  strikingly  conspicuous  when  the  two  species  are 
placed  together  ; lateral  line  on  both  sides  much  arched  within  the  range  of  the 
pectoral  fins,  thence  straight  to  the  tail. 

“ The  upper  side  presents  as  a ground  colour  a mixture  of  various  shades  of 
light  brown,  with  a round  dark  spot,  3 lines  in  diameter,  commencing  an  inch 
from  the  tail ; it  is  likewise  marked  with  a very  few  smaller  inconspicuous  round 
dark-coloured  spots,  and  blotched  irregularly  with  very  dark  rich  brown.  The 
fins  do  not  exhibit  any  round  spots,  as  shown  in  Dr.  Fleming’s  figure  (Phil,  of 
Zool.,  vol.  i.  pi.  3),  but  are  all  irregularly  marked  on  the  upper  side  with  many 
different  shades  of  brown ; irides  reddish-golden  ; under  side  of  body  white, 
with  a very  pale  reddish  tinge.  In  all  characters  not  mentioned  here  this  spe- 
cimen accords  with  Mr.  Jenyns’  description  (p.  462). 

“ With  Mr.  Yarrell  I agree  in  considering  the  Rhombus  unimaculatus  of  Risso 
(Hist.  Nat.  i’Eur.  Mer.  t.  iii.  p.  252,  f.  35)  identical  with  this  species.  In  the 
number  of  rays  in  the  fins,  individuals  appear  to  differ  considerably,  but  perhaps 
not  more  so  than  might  have  been  expected  when  so  great  is  their  number.” 

August  19 th,  1844. — Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman,  when  dredging  in  Belfast  Bay,  be- 
tween Carrickfergus  and  Graypoint,  in  from  3 to  6 fathoms  water,  captured  two 
fishes  of  this  species  3 inches  each  in  length — beautiful  little  creatures,  which  I 
have  preserved.  See  Zool.  Proc.  1837,  p.  60. 

Top-knot  Flounder,  Pleuronectes  punctatus,  Penn.,  vol.  iii.  p.  322,  pi.  51. 

March  ‘Ibth,  1835. — -I  procured  a specimen  of  this  fish  in  Belfast  market, 
which  was  taken  at  Ardglass.  The  fish- venders  had  not  seen  a similar  specimen 
before.  Its  length  is  6§  inches.  B.  7 ; D.  95;  P.  6 rays  on  the  upper  and  11 
on  the  under  fin,  the  rays  on  the  former  longer  and  much  stouter  than  in  the 
latter ; Y.  6 (which  are  not  only  connected  by  a membrane  with  the  A.  but  look 
in  profile  like  a continuation  of  this  fin)  ; A.  69  ; C.  17  (in  all). 

In  the  above  enumeration  of  the  D.  and  A.  fin-rays,  the  rays  in  the  finlets  at 
the  posterior  extremity  of  each  are  not  reckoned.  These  finlets  have  a very  sin- 
gular appearance,  and  are  each  composed  of  several  single  bifurcated  and  tri- 
furcated rays;  they  should  perhaps  be  called  second  D.  and  second  A.,  though 
from  being  placed  on  the  under  side  these  terms  might  be  misapplied. 

Colour  of  upper  side,  including  all  the  fins,  dark  brown  marbled  over  and 
obscurely  spotted  with  darker  shades  of  brown  ; a small  silver  spot  at  base  of  P. 
fin  is  all  the  contrast  that  appears  to  the  general  brown  appearance,  a band  of 
very  dark  brown  runs  in  an  oblique  direction  towards  the  back  from  the  upper 
eye,  and  a similar  one  towards  the  vent  from  the  lower,  under  side  white,  D. 
and  A.  fins  broadest  towards  the  posterior  extremity. 

Irides  silvery  clouded  over  with  brown,  pupil  black,  no  sea-green  appears,  as 
described  by  Pennant  (“  la  prunelle  est  noir  et  l’iris  d’un  verd  demer,”  Bloch, 
vol.  ii.  p.  238)  ; but  the  specimen,  though  quite  fresh,  may  possibly  have  lost 
this  appearance.  Lateral  line  on  upper  side  has  three  turns  within  the  first  or 
anterior  portion,  comprising  about  1 1 inch ; thence  to  tail  quite  straight.  Lateral 
line  on  under  side  differs  in  some  degree  from  this. 

Both  jaws  very  thickly  set  with  teeth. 

Lateral  line  strongly  marked  on  upper  side,  though  stated  “ to  be  rather  in- 
distinct ” in  Dr.  Fleming’s  specimen  (Wern.  Mem.  vol.  ii.  p.  241). 

“ Jaws  nearly  equal,”  as  described  by  Fleming. 

Breadth  of  body,  exclusive  of  fins,  2 inches  7 lines. 


three  last  dividing  each  into  two  near  the  base,  which  divisions  again,  as  in  the 
opposite  one,  become  forked.  This  explanation  will  perhaps  account  for  the 
less  number  of  D.  and  A.  fin-rays  set  down  to  the  present  specimen  than  is 
generally  attributed  to  the  species.  The  divisions  here  mentioned  have  probably 
been  reckoned  as  distinct  rays.  Pectoral  fin  larger  on  the  upper  than  on  the 
under  side  ; ten  rays  in  each. 

* See  Proceedings  Zool.  Soc.,  1837,  p.  60. 


muller’s  top-knot. 


203 


Muller’s  Top-knot,  Pleuronectes  hirtus,  Mull., 

Rhombus  — Yarrell, 

Has  been  taken  on  the  East  coast. 

As  noticed  in  the  Zool.  Proc.  1835,  p.  81,  I procured,  on  the  25th  March  that 
year,  a recent  specimen  of  this  fish  (6§  inches  in  length),  which  was  taken  at 
Ardglass,  County  Down,  where  it  must  be  very  rare,  being  quite  unknown  to 
the  fishermen. 

The  following  more  lengthened  notice  of  this  individual  was  published  in  the 
Zool.  Proc.  for  1837. 

“ Pleuronectes  hirtus , Mull.  Muller’s  Top-knot. — If  not  inconsistent  with  the 
brevity  characteristic  of  the  ‘ Zoological  Proceedings,’  I would  remark  that  the 
fish  which  I exhibited  at  the  meeting  of  this  Society,  on  June  9th,  1835,  under 
the  name  of  £ Pleuronectes  punctatus,  Penn.,’  is  identical  with  the  ‘ P.  hirtus. 
Mull.,’  of  Mr.  Jenyns’s  Manual  of  the  British  Vertebrata,  and  the  ‘Rhombus 
hirtus  ’ of  Mr.  Yarrell’s  British  Fishes,  a circumstance  which  reference  to  the 
synonyma  of  this  species  might  indeed  indicate,  but  I am  induced  to  notice  the 
subject  on  account  of  the  specific  name  ‘ punctatus  ’ being  applied  in  both  works 
to  a nearly  allied  species. 

“ My  specimen,  critically  examined  when  recent,  exhibited  the  following  cha- 
racters, which  are  unnoticed  in  the  description  of  P.  hirtus,  given  in  the  above- 
mentioned  works. 

“ P.  fin,  which  is  quite  perfect,  on  the  upper  side  9|  lines  long,  and  containing 
6 rays ; on  the  under  side  6§  lines  long,  and  having  12  rays.  Lateral  line  on  the 
under  side  less  strongly  marked  than  on  the  upper,  and  considerably  less  curved 
towards  its  origin.  A bright  silver  spot,  two  lines  in  diameter,  at  the  base  of  the 
P.  fin  on  the  upper  side ; irides  silvery,  clouded  with  brown  : they  are  described 
as  sea-green  by  Hanmer  (Penn.  Brit.  Zool.,  vol.  iii.  p.  323,  ed.  1812).  It  is  in 
allusion  to  this  individual,  which  I had  the  pleasure  of  showing  Mr.  Yarrell,  when 
in  London  in  June,  1835,  that  he  remarks,  ‘ I have  a record  of  one  [Rhombus 
hirtus ] that  was  caught  on  the  coast  of  the  County  of  Down  in  Ireland.’  Brit. 
Fish.  vol.  ii.  p.  245.’ — Zool.  Proc.,  1837. 

On  30th  September,  1842,  Dr.  Ball  obtained  one  of  these  fishes  7f 
inches  in  length,  on  Kingston  Pier,  where  it  had  just  been  captured  by  a 
boy,  from  whose  “ string  of  fishes  ” he  selected  it.  Dr.  Ball  sent  me  an 
accurate  drawing  of  the  specimen,  accompanied  by  the  following  note  : 

“ The  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  almost  continuous,  being  interrupted  only  by 
the  mouth;  they  pass  under  the  tail,  and  are  orange  so  far  as  they  are  shaded  by 
the  tail,  where  they  are  in  apposition.” 

Two  more  specimens  have  been  obtained  in  Dublin,  one  by  the  late 
Surgeon  Carmichael,  and  one  by  Robert  Warren,  Esq.,  both  sent  to  the 
Dublin  University  Museum. 

The  Whiff,*  Pleuronectes  Megastoma , Don., 

Rhombus  — Yarrell, 

Is  of  occasional  occurrence  from  North  to  South  along  the  eastern  line 
of  coast.  From  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim  single  individuals  are 
brought  with  other  Pleuronectidce  to  Belfast  market.  They  are  taken  at 
all  seasons. f Dr.  R.  Ball  has  obtained  specimens  at  Dublin  and  Youghal. 

The  four  largest  which  have  come  under  my  inspection,  or  have  been 


* Called  “ she  sole”  in  Belfast  market;  “ox  sole,”  and  also  “white  sole,” 
in  Dublin  market. 

fi  A small  basket  of  fish  taken  about  Newcastle  (County  Down)  and  brought 
to  Belfast  on  2nd  Sept.,  1843,  contained  six  specimens  of  the  whiff,  five  of  which 
were  about  2 feet  in  length. 


201 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


nored  by  me,  were  22,  23,  and  two  of  them  231-  inches  in  length.  In  the 
stomach  of  one  I found  a Callionymus  Dracunculus  3 inches  in  length,  and 
the  remains  of  three  small  Gadi : in  another  were  three  examples  of  Mer- 
langus  vulgaris,  about  3 inches  long ; a third  contained  only  shrimp-like 
crustaceous  animals.  A whiff  purchased  here  on  Oct.  21,  1836,  had  just 
shed  her  ova,  as  evinced  by  a few  mature  ones  only  remaining. 

The  colours  of  this  fish  are  peculiarly  unattractive.  Of  nine  examples 
of  which  the  colour  and  markings  were  noted  down,  I find  that 
the  greater  number  were  of  a greyish  brown  (a  washy  ground),  with 
blackish  markings  of  a hue  as  if  originally  black,  but  partly  washed  out. 
In  some  specimens  small  and  numerous  markings  (more  so  than  in 
Donovan’s  fig.)  ; in  others,  several  large  roundish  markings  only.  Only 
one  example  could  be  called  handsomely  marked.  It  was  of  a rich  colour, 
although  light,  brown  with  conspicuous  markings  all  over,  but  aksome  little 
distance  from  each  other,  with  small  dark  brown  spots. — Under  side  white 
without  markings. 

Whiff?  Pleuronectes  Megastoma?  Don.  pi.  51. 

Length  22  inches. 

D.  86  ; P.  12  ; V.  6 ; A.  67  ; C.  15  (not  reckoning  lateral  rays,  of 
which  there  are  two  at  each  side,  making  in  all  19) ; B.  This  specimen, 
which  I purchased  from  Nichol,  was,  he  informs  me,  procured  by  him  in 
Belfast  market,  late  in  spring,  1833. 

D.  and  A.  fins  widest  towards  posterior  extremity,  and  not  in  the  cen- 
tre, as  described  by  Donovan  and  Fleming,  p.  196,  to  be  the  case  in  those 
of  the  whiff. 

Whiff,  Pleuronectes  Megastoma,  bought  in  Belfast  market,  Oct.  21, 
1836.  It  was  taken  at  Bangor. 

Length  22  inches,  lateral  line  as  figured  by  Donovan,  but  the  anterior 
arch  not  just  so  abrupt. 

D.  89;  A.  67  ; V.  6 ; P.  11  (on  upper  side  1st  very  short,  4th  longest, 
length  2\  inches) ; P.  10  (on  under  side,  1st  very  short,  6 and  7 equal, 
and  longest  1^  inch  long) ; C.  17  in  all. 

Greatest  breadth  of  fish,  without  reckoning  fins,  8 inches,  and  central 
between  base  of  tail  and  upper  jaw.  It  differs  from  Mr.  Yarrell’s  descrip- 
tion in  the  eyes  being  equal ; they  are  1 or  2 lines  from  anterior  to  pos- 
terior (not  in  diameter,  as  they  are  not  round),  pupil  black  encircled  with 
a narrow  line  of  silver  colour  tinged  with  pale  yellow.  The  arch  at  the 
anterior  part  of  the  lateral  line  much  more  conspicuous  than  the  straight 
line  forming  its  base,  and  scales  similar  to  those  extending  posteriorly  in  a 
straight  line  to  tail. 

Colour  of  entire  upper  side  and  fins  ? but  of  a greyish  brown,  with  ob- 
scure spots  much  more  numerous  and  smaller  than  appear  in  Donovan’s 
figure  ; under  side  white. 

Pleuronectes  Megastoma.  See  notice  of  specimen  described  by  me  in 
Oct.  21,  1836. 

Jan.  3,  1837.  I bought  a specimen  in  Belfast  market  taken  at  Ard- 
glass.  Length  23^  inches,  lateral  line  as  figured  by  Donovan,  but  the  arch 
not  so  abrupt  posteriorly. 

D.  87  ; A.  69;  V.  6 ; P.  11 ; on  upper  side,  10  (on  under  1st  ray  very 
short  on  both  sides,  it  and  the  second  ray  simple  on  both  sides,  remainder 
branched)  ; C.  17  in  all.  Branchiostegous  membrane,  7 ; 3rd  ray  of  P.  long- 
est. P.  2|  inches  long  on  upper,  1^  inch  long  on  under  side.  Greatest 
breadth  of  body,  exclusive  of  fins,  7^  inches,  and  central  between  base  of 
tail  and  upper  jaw. 


THE  SOLE. 


205 


Upper  eye  the  larger,  the  socket  from  anterior  to  posterior  being  ]a 
inch,  that  of  lower  eye  inch  ; the  ridge  separating  them  is  not  pro- 
minent (see  Yarr.  p.  253,  vol.  ii.)  though  “ bony,”  nor  was  it  so  in  the 
specimen  of  21st  Oct. ; pupil  blue,  encircled  with  a narrow  line  of  a silver 
colour  tinged  with  gold. 

The  arch  at  the  anterior  part  of  lateral  line  much  more  conspicuous  than 
the  straight  line  forming  its  base,  and  scales  similar  to  those  extending 
posteriorly  from  it  in  a straight  line  to  the  tail. 

Colour  of  entire  upper  side  and  fins  greyish  brown,  with  a few  small 
dark  brown  markings,  irregular  in  form  and  irregularly  disposed  over  it ; 
though  perhaps  as  numerous,  these  are  much  smaller  than  in  Donovan’s 
plate,  and  more  irregularly  scattered. 

This  specimen  was  called  “ White  Sole  ” in  the  market. 

It  proved  a male  on  dissection.  The  stomach  contained  only  a frag- 
ment of  some  shrimp-like  crustacean. 

The  Scald-fish,  or  Megrim,  Pleuronectes  Arnoglossus,  Schn., 
Rhombus  — Yarr  ell. 

A specimen  of  this  very  rare  fish  was  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Todhunter 
on  the  Galway  coast,  in  Sept.,  1848.  The  specimen  is  in  the  Dublin 
University  Museum.  It  has  been  taken  on  the  coast  of  Cork.  R.  Rail. 

The  Sole,  Solea  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Prevails  around  the  Irish  coast.  On  some  banks  where  properly  sought 
for  it  is  obtained  in  large  quantities,  and  of  the  finest  quality. 

Dublin  is  generally  well  supplied  with  them  ; Belfast  not  by  any  means 
so  well — consequently  they  fetch  fully  as  high,  indeed  generally  higher 
prices  here  than  in  the  London  market. 

The  sole  of  the  North  of  Ireland  vary  considerably  in  form  and  colour, 
so  that  when  commencing  the  study  of  our  native  fishes,  I was,  on  two  or 
three  occasions,  induced  to  purchase  specimens  so  differing,  for  critical 
examination  : they  all  proved  to  be  merely  S.  vulgaris. 

In  the  general  outline  of  the  body  some  appertained  as  much  to  the 
form  of  the  solenette  (Yarr.  Br.  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  355)  as  the  sole  (p. 
347,  same  work),  or  in  other  words,  some  of  equal  length  were  consider- 
ably narrower  and  tapered  more  to  the  tail  than  others. 

In  colour  some  were  of  the  ordinary  dark  brown  umber  hue,  as  repre- 
sented by  Donovan ; others  much  lighter,  from  the  centre  of  each  scale 
being  yellowish.  In  some  examples  the  ground  colour  is  yellowish  brown, 
varied  by  being  marked  all  over  with  large  and  small  roundish  spots 
of  dark  brown.  The  largest  and  thickest  examples,  20  inches  in  length 
and  upwards,  which  I have  seen  in  Belfast  market,  were  of  this  light  hue. 

In  two  specimens  11  inches  in  length,  their  greatest  breadth  (exclusive 
of  A.  and  1).  fins)  was  less  by  an  inch  than  1 to  3 of  the  entire  length. 
The  fin-rays  of  these  specimens  differed  in  number.  In  one  of  13  inches 
the  breadth  a little  exceeded  a third  of  the  length. 

Iricles  of  a golden  hue  clouded  with  brown. 

In  their  stomachs  were  small  Crustacea  and  marine  worms. 

Dr.  Farran  has  favoured  me  with  the  following  notes  upon  the  food  of 
this  species : — 

“ The  first  examination  I made  of  the  stomach  of  the  black  sole  [Solea 
vulgaris ) was  in  the  beginning  of  Oct.,  184L  I found  in  two  or  three  spe- 
cimens of  the  fish  the  Cardium  elongatum  abundantly,  but  generally 
broken  ; with  them  also  a few  of  the  Bulla  aperta,  and  a number  of  spe- 
cimens (13)  of  the  Echinocgamus  pusillus  ; in  about  a month  subsequently 


206 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


another  stomach  afforded  the  Amphidesma  Boysii  of  large  size,  a specimen 
of  Dentalium,  and  a few  specimens  of  Amphidesma  prismatica ; after  a like 
interval  the  stomachs  of  three  or  four  individuals  were  well  supplied  with 
beautiful  specimens  of  Amphidesma  prismatica , Nucula  tenuis,  a small 
Anomia, Amphidesma  Lysteri  (small  size).  Lens  of  fish  eye.  Donax  trunculus, 
but  in  the  latter  examinations  of  about  a dozen  altogether,  at  different 
times,  all  shells  have  disappeared  with  the  exception  of  the  Amphidesma 
prismatica,  and  that  sparingly ; the  stomach  was  filled  with  a green 
vegetable  substance,  and  in  the  last  stomach  which  I examined,  I found 
two  specimens  of  the  Trochus  umbilicatus. 

“ It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  after  October  I did  not  obtain  a single  spe- 
cimen of  Cardium  elongatum  or  Amphidesma  Boysii,  and  that,  although 
all  the  specimens  were  evidently  recent,  having  the  epidermis  very  per- 
fect, nevertheless,  with  the  exception  of  Nucula  Tenuis  and  Trochus  cine- 
reus  the  shells  were  all  empty.” 

The  Lemon  Sole,  Solea  Pegusa,  Yarrell. 

A specimen  of  this  fish  was  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Todhunter  on  the  Gal- 
way coast  in  1848. 

It  is  now  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum. 

In  the  2nd  edition  of  his  Br.  Fishes,  Mr.  Yarrell  inadvertently  men- 
tions this  fish  as  Irish  in  connexion  with  my  name.  It  had  not  then,  so 
far  as  I am  informed,  been  met  with  on  the  Irish  coast. 

Specimens  sent  to  Dr.  Ball.  Length  10  inches;  breadth  of  body,  ex- 
clusive of  fins,  44  inches.  Papillary  eminences  numerous  on  under  side 
of  head,  less  so  than  in  the  Solea  vulgaris.  “Very  many  specimens  were 
obtained”  by  Mr.  Todhunter,  but  the  exact  locality  not  mentioned. 
Three  specimens  were  sent  from  County  Galway,  Sept.  7th,  1848,  by  Mr. 
Todhunter  to  Dr.  Ball;  the  largest  was  12  inches  in  length;  the  skin 
only  preserved ; it  was  taken  at  Bunowen. 

The  Solenette  or  Little  Sole,  Solea  Lingula,  Rond., 
Monochirus  linguatulus,  Cuv., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-East,  East,  South,  and  West  coasts. 

The  following  notices  of  this  species  were  contributed  by  me  to  the 
Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii. 

“ Solea  Lingula,  Rond.,*  Red-backed  Sole. — On  the  23rd  of  August,  1836, 
three  small  specimens  of  this  fish  were  captured  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself 
when  dredging  on  a sandy  bottom  off  Dundrum,  in  the  County  of  Down. 

No.  1.  Length  3^  inches;  D.  68  ; A.  56. 

2.  — — 72  56. 

3.  — 2|  — 66  54. 

No.  1.  P.  4 upper  side,  2 under  side;  V.  5;  C.  18  altogether. 

2.  4 — 2 — 5 18  — 

3.  4 — 2 — 5 19  — 

Breadth  of  body  of  No.  1, 13  lines.  In  form  they  differ  considerably  from  Solea 
vulgaris,  by  tapering  towards  the  tail.  Dorsal  and  anal  fins  similarly  connected 
with  the  caudal,  the  last  ray  of  each  exhibiting  a low  inconspicuous  membrane, 
which  extends  to  the  base  of  the  outer  caudal  ray — these  three  fins,  merely 
touching  in  this  manner,  appear  at  a cursory  view  unconnected,  In  the  number 
of  rays  in  the  fins,  and  characters  generally,  they  correspond  with  Donovan’s 


* Solea  parva  sive  Lingula,  Rondeletius ; see  his  figure  of  “ la  petite  sole,”  p. 
260;  also  Willughby’s  figure  and  description,  p.  102,  F.  8,  fig.  1. 


THE  SOLENETTE. 


207 


description  of  the  Pleuronectes  variegatus  (vol.  v.  p.  117),  but  differ  remark- 
ably from  his  figure  in  colouring  ; nor  in  this  respect  do  they  agree  entirely 
with  Hanmer’s  figure  (Penn.  Brit.  Zool.,  vol.  iii.  pi.  48,  ed.  1812),  with  which 
I consider  them  identical,  as  they  want  the  blotches  of  black  represented  on 
the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.  They  also  differ  a little  from  each  other  in  colouring, 
the  largest  being  of  an  uniform  reddish  brown  on  the  upper  side ; the  two 
smaller  of  a paler  shade,  with  a series  of  roundish  black  spots  on  the  body,  a 
short  way  inwardly  from  the  back  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  a few  similar 
spots  on  the  lateral  line : in  one  the  spots  approaching  the  fins  just  named 
are  eight  in  number,  in  the  other  they  are  fewer  and  less  conspicuous.  In  the 
three  specimens  all  the  fins  except  the  ventral  have,  at  irregular  intervals,  an 
occasional  ray  black  ; the  rays  only  exhibiting  this  colour. 

“ Mr.  Jenyns  has  called  attention  to  the  difference  of  colour  and  number  of  rays 
in  the  fins  of  the  specimen  he  examined  (p.  468)  compared  with  the  individual 
described  by  Mr.  Hanmer.  In  both  respects  it  appears  the  species  is  subject  to 
considerable  variation.  Dr.  Parnell  has  more  recently  described  (Mag.  Zool. 
and  Bot.,  vol.  i.  p.  527)  what  he  considers  to  be  a new  species  of  sole,  and 
names  Monochiras  minutus ; but  a comparison  of  my  specimens  with  his  de- 
scription satisfies  me  of  their  identity.  The  specific  character  of  M.  minutus 
is,  ‘ every  sixth  or  seventh  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  black,’  which  mark- 
ing appears  in  the  individuals  under  consideration,  though  less  regularly;  their 
dorsal  fins  are  connected  with  the  caudal  as  in  this  fish,  although  the  junction, 
as  before  mentioned,  is  only  observable  on  close  examination.  Two  of  my  three 
specimens  at  the  same  time  display  ‘ blackish  spots,  which  extend  beyond  the 
base  of  the  rays  [of  the  D.  and  A.  fins]  towards  the  body  of  the  fish,’  a cha- 
racter remarked  by  Dr.  Parnell  as  distinguishing  M.  Lingula  from  his  new 
species.  My  specimens  generally  possess  in  common  the  characters  of  M.  Lin- 
gula and  M.  minutus. 

“ In  Mr.  Yarrell’s  collection  there  is  a dried  specimen,  4|  inches  long,  from  the 
Mediterranean,  identical  with  mine,  and  like  them  displaying  conspicuously,  at 
irregular  intervals,  the  black  markings  on  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.* 

Addendum. 

“ Solea  Lingula  and  Solea  variegata.  Belfast,  June  18th,  1838.  Among  some 
small  fishes  taken  by  dredging  within  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay  by  my  friend 
Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond*,  on  the  16th  instant,  and  considerately  forwarded  to  me 
when  quite  recent,  were  five  specimens  of  Solea , or  Monochirus  (Cuv.).  Of 
these,  which  with  one  exception  were  examined  before  being  transferred  to 
spirits,  four  individuals,  varying  from  to  4^  inches  in  length,  are  the  Solea 
Lingula , Rond. ; and  one,  2f  inches  long,  the  Pleuronectes  variegatus  of  Dono- 
van. In  our  two  latest  and  best  works  upon  the  subject — Yarrell’s  British 
Fishes,  and  Jenyns’s  Manual  of  British  Vertebrate  Animals — these  names  are 
brought  together  as  synonymous,  or  representing  but  one  species,  with,  however, 
an  expression  of  doubt  as  to  its  correctness  by  the  latter  author.  A compara- 
tive examination  of  the  present  examples  satisfies  me  that  they  apply  to  two 
distinct  species. 

“ In  placing  the  individuals  together,  the  most  obvious  differences  appear  in  the 
dark  blotches  and  transverse  bands  of  S.  variegata  ( Pleur . variegatus,  Don.) 
contrasted  with  the  comparatively  uniform  tint  of  S.  Lingula ; in  the  scales  of 
S.  variegata  being  very  much  smaller, f in  its  eyes  being  relatively  to  each  other 


* Dublin,  June,  1838. — A specimen  of  this  sole  3|  inches  long,  and  taken  at 
Youghal,  three  or  four  years  ago,  is  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  Ball.  Its  upper 
side  does  not  exhibit  any  variegation  of  colours,  but  is  of  a uniform  reddish- 
brown  hue.  The  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  occasionally  black,  as  in 
all  individuals  of  this  species  I have  seen. 

f Although  I here  speak  only  relatively  to  the  size  of  the  scales  of  S.  Lingula , 
the  remark  may  without  explanation  seem  inconsistent  with  Donovan’s  “ specific 
character  ” of  the  variegated  sole,  in  which  the  scales  are  stated  to  be  “ large  ;” 


208 


MALACOPTEKYGII. 


placed  more  vertically,  in  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  being  rather  more  distant 
from  the  caudal  fin,  and  in  the  general  form  of  the  body,  which  tapers  less 
towards  the  tail ; the  rays  too  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  considerably  fewer 
in  number  than  in  S . Lingula. 

“ The  colour  generally  of  the  S.  variegata  is  very  similar  to  that  of  Donovan’s 
figure  (British  Fishes,  vol.  v.  pi.  117),  being  of  a pale  yellowish  brown,  with  the 
three  conspicuous  dark  transverse  markings  approximating  more  the  form  of 
bands,  and  equidistant  from  each  other,  the  last  extending  entirely  across  the 
body ; the  indication  of  a fourth  band  appears  above  the  termination  of  the 
opercle,  one  (narrow  and  inconspicuous)  at  the  base,  and  another  near  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  caudal  fin ; the  body  is  likewise  marbled  with  blackish  brown, 
towards,  and  spreading  over,  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins ; between  the 
bands  are  faint,  markings  of  pale  brown ; dorsal  and  anal  fins  pale  yellowish 
brown,  marked  irregularly  with  black  towards  the  tail. 

“ The  four  specimens  of  S.  Lingula,  though  not  all  exactly  of  the  same  shade 
of  colour,  are  on  the  upper  side  of  a pale  brown,  entirely  and  closely  freckled 
over  with  a darker  tint,  and  exhibiting  several  small  roundish  dark  brown  and 
white  spots  on  the  body  at  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  along  the 
lateral  line  : these  brown  and  white  spots  are  often  disposed  alternately.  The 
largest  individual  presents,  in  addition  to  them,  small  white  specks  over  the  body 
generally.  Rays  of  dorsal  and  anal  fins  occasionally  black.  Pupil  dark  blue, 
surrounded  by  a golden  ring  of  about  a hair’s  breadth.  The  number  of  fin-rays 
in  my  specimen  of  S.  variegata  are,  D.  63;  A.  49  ; P.  4 ;*  V.  4 ; C.  19  in  all. 
In  two  of  the  specimens  of  S.  Lingula,  varying  most  from  each  other  in  size, 
there  are  72  rays  in  the  dorsal  and  56  in  the  anal  fin  ; two  others  have  the  dorsal 
with  76  and  the  anal  with  58  and  59  rays. 

“ Both  species  have  papillae  on  the  under  surface  of  the  head,  are  rough  with 
ciliated  scales  on  the  under  as  well  as  the  upper  side,  and  have  the  nostrils 
tubular,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  Risso,  terming  the  projection  a ‘ barbillon,’ 
figures  that  of  his  Monochirus  Pegusa. 

“ The  variegated  sole  of  Donovan  and  Yarrell  appears  to  be  the  same,  and 
with  it  I consider  the  individual  under  consideration  identical.  With  Mr. 
Jenyns’s  description  of  S.  Lingula  my  other  specimens  accord,  as  they  also  do 
with  Mr.  Hanmer’s  description  and  figure  of  the  red-backed  sole  (Pennant’s 
British  Zoology,  vol.  iii.  p.  313,  pi.  48,  ed.  1812),  with  the  exception  of  the 
black  markings  on  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  extending  over  several  rays  and  their 
connecting  membrane,  instead  of  being  confined  to  a single  ray,  as  in  all  the 
specimens  I have  examined. 

“ It  is  worthy  of  investigation  whether  the  Monochirus  Pegusa  of  Risso  (t.  iii. 
p.  258,  f.  33,  ed.  1826)  be  different  from  the  Solea  variegata  here  treated  of. 
The  figure  and  description  of  that  species,  though  not  in  every  respect  accordant 
with  each  other,  present  many  characters  in  common  with  it. 

“ The  8.  variegata  is  here  for  the  first  time  recorded  as  occurring  on  the  coast 
of  Ireland.” — Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  Sept.,  1838. 

“ By  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Parnell  in  supplying  me  with  specimens  of  the  red- 


but  a reference  to  his  general  description  will  show  that  it  is  the  comparative 
magnitude  of  its  scales  to  those  of  the  common  sole  (S.  vulgaris ) to  which  he 
alludes,  and  in  which  he  is  correct,  as  he  likewise  is  in  describing  those  of  the 
latter  species  to  be  “remarkably  diminutive.”  The  scales  of  my  specimen  ac- 
cord in  size  with  those  of  Donovan’s  figure  of  P.  variegatus  : being  reckoned 
from  the  origin  of  the  lateral  line  to  the  base  of  the  rays  of  the  caudal  fin 
(those  on  the  rays  not  being  enumerated)  they  are  about  eighty-five  in  number  ; 
in  the  specimen  of  S.  Lingula  examined  there  are  about  seventy  scales  within 
the  same  space.  The  scales  lie  more  closely  to  the  body  in  8.  Lingula  than  in 
8.  variegata. 

* This  refers  to  the  upper  side,  in  which  the  second  ray  is  the  longest,  and 
terminated  by  a filament;  length  of  this  ray  and  filament  1|  line:  P.  fin  on 
under  side  rudimentary,  half  a line  in  length,  and  rays  undistinguishable. 


THE  SOLENETTE. 


209 


backed  flounder  of  Hanmer,  Pennant’s  Brit.  Zool.  (vol.  iii.  p.  313,  pi.  48,  ed. 
1812),  and  the  Mon.  minutus,  Parn.,  I am  enabled  to  speak  decidedly  on  some 
points  which,  in  my  previous  remarks  on  these  species,  Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol. 
ii.  p.  19,  could  only,  from  a want  of  specimens,  be  treated  of  problematically. 
This  I now  proceed  to  do  as  supplementary  to  what  appeared  in  the  Annals  ; 
but  it  may  be  well,  in  the  first  place,  to  give  a slight  sketch  of  the  British 
Monochiri,  in  so  far  as  our  present  knowledge  extends. 

“ The  first  British  Monochirus  I am  aware  of  being  noticed,  is  that  figured 
under  the  name  of  Variegated  Sole  in  Donovan’s  British  Fishes  (pi.  117),  the 
individual  represented  having  been  purchased  in  the  London  market  in  April, 
1807,  but  where  captured  is  not  mentioned.  In  the  edition  of  Pennant’s  British 
Zoology,  published  in  1812,  Mr.  Hanmer  figured  and  described  a species  by  the 
appellation  of  Red-backed  Flounder,  and  stated  it  to  be  ‘ common  in  the  spring 
upon  the  coast  near  Plymouth.’  In  the  sixth  volume  of  the  Magazine  of  Natural 
History,  p.  530,  a specimen  of  Solea  variegata  is  noticed  by  Dr.  Scouler  to 
have  been  taken  at  Rothsay  in  the  isle  of  Bute.  Mr.  Jenyns,  in  his  Manual  of 
British  Vertebrate  Animals,  p.  468,  takes  his  description  from  one  procured  at 
Weymouth ; and  Mr.  Yarrell,  in  his  History  of  British  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  262, 
figures  and  describes  an  individual  supplied  from  Cornwall  by  Mr.  Couch,  and 
mentions,  in  addition,  from  the  MS.  of  Montagu,  that  this  natui*alist  received  a 
specimen  9 inches  in  length  from  Dr.  Leach,  who  purchased  it  with  two  others 
in  Plymouth  market,  in  August,  1808.  Thus  far  our  authors,  with  the  exception 
of  Mr.  Jenyns  (who  leaves  it  to  be  proved  by  future  investigation  whether 
there  be  not  a second  species),  speak  only  of  one  Monochirus. 

“ In  the  first  volume  of  the  Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany,  p.  526,  Dr. 
Parnell  described  a Monochirus , which  is  taken  at  Brixham,  under  the  specific 
name  of  minutus , introducing  it  doubtfully  as  a new  species,  but  witlf  certainty 
as  distinct  from  the  £ red-backed  sole,  Mon.  Lingula ,’  and,  as  such,  an  addition 
to  the  British  Fauna.  Lastly,  the  September  number  of  the  Annals  contains 
observations  by  myself  on  two  species  of  Monochirus  taken  on  the  coast  of 
Ireland. 

“ To  attempt  placing  the  species,  of  which  notices  are  here  brought  together, 
in  a clearer  light,  is  the  object  of  tlie  present  communication ; and  although  this 
may  to  a certain  extent  be  done,  the  sequel  will  show  that  it  cannot  be  performed 
effectively. 

“ First : — The  variegated  sole  as  figured  and  described  by  Donovan  and  Yar- 
rell, the  specimen  recorded  by  Dr.  Scouler,*  and  the  individual  noticed  by  my- 
self under  the  name  of  Solea  variegata , are  identical.  The  localities  in  which 
this  species  has  been  procured,  are  the  coasts  of  Cornwall  in  England,  of  the 
island  of  Bute  in  Scotland,  and  of  Down  in  Ireland.  As  suggested  in  my  pre- 
vious paper  on  this  subject,  it  may  be  worthy  of  investigation,  whether  the  Mon. 
Pegusa  of  Risso,  obtained  from  the  Mediterranean,  be  this  species  (t.  iii.  p.  258, 
f.  33,  ed.  1826). f Of  the  references  in  Mi\  Yarrell’s  work,  those  relating  to 
Rondeletius,  Willughby  and  Cuvier  apply,  I conceive,  to  the  species  next  to  be 
noticed  ; Duhamel  I have  not  for  consultation ; Fleming  merely  quotes  Donovan 
and  Pennant. 

“ Spec.  char.  Mon.  variegatus.  Pectoral  fin  about  ~ the  length  of  head : 
scales  on  lateral  line  about  85  ; dorsal’and  anal  unconnected  with  caudal  fin. 

“ Secondly : — The  Solea  Lingula  of  Jenyns’s  Manual  (excepting  the  short 
specific  characters  and  colours  which  are  copied  from  Hanmer),  the  Mon.  minutus 
of  Parnell,  and  the  Solea  Lingula , Rond.  (Mon.  linguatulus) , described  by  me 
in  the  Annals,  are  the  same  species ; — of  the  identity  of  these  two  last  I judge 


* As  this  fish  is  very  briefly  noticed  in  the  Magazine,  I wrote  to  Dr.  Scouler 
respecting  it,  and  was  informed  in  reply  that  it  may  be  considered  identical  with 
the  variegated  sole  of  Yarrell. 

t The  large  size  of  the  pectoral  fin,  as  represented  in  the  figure,,  marks  a 
Solea  rather  than  a Monochirus ; but  it  is  described  as  the  latter  by  Risso,  and 
the  figure  referred  to  as  such  by  Cuvier,  Reg.  An.,  t.  ii.  p.  343,  2nd  ed. 

P 


210 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


from  a comparison  of  specimens.  Being  of  opinion  that  Mr.  Jenyns’s  descrip- 
tion, so  far  as  taken  from  the  individual  before  him,  related  to  this  species ; and 
that,  rather  than  describe  the  colours  from  a specimen  preserved  in  spirits,  he 
had  copied  them  from  Hanmer’s  description  of  the  red-backed  flounder,  believ- 
ing it  the  same,  though  it  is  in  reality  a distinct  species,  I communicated  with 
him  on  the  subject,  and  his  reply  confirmed  my  views.  The  opportunity  of 
examining  specimens  of  this  latter  fish,  which  Mr.  Jenyns  had  not,  but  through 
the  kindness  of  Dr.  Parnell  I have  had,  could  alone  have  settled  this  point,  the 
describer  of  it  having  been  silent  on  such  characters  as  the  length  of  the  pectoral 
fins,  and  number  of  scales  on  the  lateral  line,  by  which  chiefly  it  is  distinguished 
from  the  present  species. 

“ This  is,  I consider,  the  Solea  parva  sive  Lingula  described  and  figured  by 
Rondeletius,  and  again  repeated  in  the  works  of  Gesner  (lib.  iv.  p.  669),  Aldro- 
vandus  (p.  237),  and  Willughby  (p.  102,  pi.  F.  8,  f.  1).  With  reference  to  this, 
the  following  note  on  three  specimens  obtained  since  the  publication  of  my 
paper  in  the  Annals  may  be  here  given.  Of  these,  which  are  from  3 to  3|-  inches 
in  length,  one  has  the  outline  of  Solea  vulgaris  ; but  the  other  two  differ  much 
from  it  in  being  narrower,  and  tapering  more  towards  the  tail,  thus  precisely 
resembling,  even  to  the  turn  of  the  caudal  fin,  the  Solea  parva  sive  Lingula  as 
represented  by  these  authors : the  lateral  line  too  approximates  the  form  given 
in  the  figure  of  this  species,  but  in  the  specimens  is  placed  rather  higher  on  the 
body ; in  these  it  originates  considerably  above^the  middle,  and  for  some  way 
slopes  gradually  downwards,  until  it  takes  a course  midway  between  the  dorsal 
and  ventral  profile.*  A figure  of  this  fish  illustrates  Dr.  Parnell’s  paper  before 
referred  to  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Magazine  of  Zoology  and  Botany. 

“ The  two  localities  in  which  this  species  has  occurred  in  England  are  southern : 
at  Weymouth  in  Dorsetshire,  whence  the  single  specimen  was  obtained  that 
served  for  Mr.  Jenyns’s  description ; and  at  Brixham  on  the  adjoining  coast  of 
Devonshire,  where,  Dr.  Parnell  informs  us,  it  is  taken  in  the  trawl-nets  through- 
out the  year.  In  Ireland  it  has  been  procured  with  the  trawl  or  dredge  both  in 
the  North  and  South ; in  the  month  of  August  in  the  open  sea  off  Dundrum, 
County  of  Down  ; in  June  and  October  within  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  and 
at  Youghal  in  the  County  of  Cork.  (See  Annals,  loc.  cit.)  Of  its  occurrence  in 
Scotland  I have  not  seen  any  record.  This  is  described  to  be  a Mediterranean 
species. 

“ Spec.  char.  Mon.  linguatulus. — Upper  pectoral  fin  about  one-seventh  the 
length  of  head  ; scales  on  lateral  line  about  70  ; an  occasional  black  ray  through- 
out the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  this  colour  not  spreading  over  the  adjoining  mem- 
brane. 

“ Thus  far  all  seems  clear,  the  British  specimens  recorded  being  allocated  under 
the  two  species  just  treated  of,  with  the  exception  of  Hanmer’s  red-backed 
flounder  obtained  at  Plymouth,  and  Montagu’s  specimen  from  the  same  locality. 
All  that  is  wanted  to  fix  the  species  of  the  first-mentioned  is  an  examination  of 
a moderate-sized  Mon.  variegalus.  This  Mr.  Yarrell  possesses  ; and  now  sup- 
plying him  with  the  specimens  by  which  I arrived  at  the  above  conclusions,  I 
leave  this  point  to  be  determined  in  the  forthcoming  Supplement  to  his  History 
of  British  Fishes.  As  all  the  British  Monochiri  and  Solece  are  taken  on  the 
southern  coast  of  England,  it  signifies  little  to  which  of  the  species  Montagu’s 
specimen  belonged. 

“ It  may  not  be  useless  to  mention  some  of  the  comparative  differences  between 
Hanmer’s  red-backed  flounder  (of  which  two  specimens,  procured  by  Dr.  Par- 
nell at  Brixham, f are  now  before  me),  the  Mon.  linguatulus  and  Mon.  variega- 


* These  specimens  may  further  be  described  as  of  a reddish-brown  colour, 
minutely  freckled  over  with  a darker  shade,  and  having  the  roundish  spots  of 
dark  brown  and  of  white  on  the  lateral  line  and  on  the  body  some  way  inwards 
from  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  as  had  the  individuals  obtained  in  J une 
last.  See  Annals,  vol.  ii.  p.  21. 

f It  was  between  these  or  similar  specimens  that  Dr.  Parnell,  calling  them 


THE  SOLENETTE. 


211 


tus.  From  the  M.  linguatulus  it  is  at  once  seen  to  be  specifically  different,  by 
the  greater  length  of  its  pectoral  fin  (about  | that  of  head,  whereas  it  is  about 
one-seventh  in  the  other),  by  its  smaller  scales  (about  85  in  the  lateral  line,  the 
other  having  about  70),  and  by  the  conspicuous  blotches  of  black,  of  which  part 
is  on  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  part  on  the  body  of  the  specimens.* *  With 
M.  variegatus  the  red-backed  flounder  accords  in  the  length  of  pectoral  fins,  the 
number  of  scales  on  the  lateral  line,  and  in  general  form ; in  every  character  in- 
deed, so  far  as  I can  judge  from  comparison  with  a specimen  of  M.  variegatus 
under  3 inches  in  length,  except  in  colour.  This  difference,  in  itself  cer- 
tainly not  specific,  is  nevertheless  very  striking ; my  specimen  of  M.  variegatus , 
2f  inches  long,  Mr.  Yarrell’s  5 inches,  and  Donovan’s  9 inches  in  length,  all 
presenting  similar  variegated  markings.  The  colour  of  the  upper  side  of  Han- 
mer’s  fish  is  described  to  be  ‘ a very  light  brown  tinged  with  red,’  and  is 
figured  of  a uniform  colour.  Such  Dr.  Parnell’s  (preserved  dry)  likewise  are, 
becoming  darker  at  the  margin,  over  which  the  black  blotches  on  the  dorsal  and 
anal  fins  occasionally  extend  for  a few  lines ; this  marking,  as  represented  in 
Hanmer’s  figure,  is  characteristic  of  that  in  the  specimens  at  present  under  ex- 
amination ; but  these  exhibit  rather  more  black  on  the  dorsal  fin.  Hanmer’s 
specimen  was  6f  inches  long,  Dr.  Parnell’s  are  7\  and  8§  inches. 

“ The  number  of  denticles  and  form  of  the  scales  of  the  Monochiri  will  not  prove 
to  be  a positive  character,  though,  relatively  considered,  they  may  be  of  service 
in  the  elucidation  of  species.  On  examining  one  of  my  specimens  of  M.  lin- 
guatulus as  to  the  number  of  these  denticles,  I found  that  a scale  taken  from  the 
lateral  line  had  21  ; another  from  the  next  row  had  22  and  2 rudimentary  points ; 
a third  from  an  adjacent  part  of  the  body  had  likewise  22.  The  outline  of  these 
scales  was  different,  the  first  being  conspicuously  contracted  about  the  middle  at 
one  side,  and  straight  throughout  the  other ; the  second  slightly  contracted  about 
the  middle  on  both  sides,  and  the  third  with  the  sides  quite  straight.  In  each  of 
two  scales  taken  from  the  lateral  line  of  Dr.  Parnell’s  specimen  of  M.  minutus 
there  are  22  large  strong  denticles,  with  rudimentary  points  between  them ; 
outline  of  these  scales  different,  and  as  in  the  individual  just  described.  In  my 
specimen  of  M.  variegatus , two  scales  which  touched  upon  the  lateral  line  ex- 
hibited only  10  and  13  points  ; but  this  paucity  may  be  owing  to  its  diminutive 
size.  A scale  from  the  lateral  line  of  Dr.  Parnell’s  smaller  specimen  of  the  red- 
backed  flounder  exhibited  19  denticles,  one  off  the  third  row'  from  it  18.  The 
form  of  scale  in  all  the  individuals  examined  is  much  the  same,  being  broader 
for  its  length  than  that  of  scales  I took  from  Solea  vulgaris  ; they  were  generally, 
but  not  always,  contracted  about  the  middle,  either  at  one  or  both  sides.  The 
scales  were  all  examined  separately  under  the  microscope,  and  hence  is  a differ- 
ent result  in  the  number  of  denticles  from  what  would  have  appeared  had  they 
been  reckoned  on  the  body  of  the  fish.” — Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  Feb.  1839. 

The  solenette  has  since  been  taken  on  the  Dublin  coast  by  Dr.  It.  Ball : 
Mr.  M‘Calla,  in  a letter  written  in  1840,  mentioned  his  also  having  taken 
it  off  Dublin  Bay,  and  on  the  Down  coast. 

In  July,  1840,  during  an  excursion  to  the  western  coast,  in  company 
with  my  friends  Dr.  Ball,  Professor  E.  Forbes,  and  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman, 
we  dredged  a few  specimens  off  Bundoran. 

The  Variegated  Sole,  Solea  variegata , Flem., 

Monochirus  variegatus , Thomp., 

Has  been  once  obtained  on  the  North-East  coast.  The  specimen  of  this 


Mon.  Lingula , clearly  showed  the  characters  in  which  they  differed  from  his 
Mon.  minutus. — See  Mag.  of  Zool.  and  Bot.  vol.  i.  p.  528. 

* The  black  spots  mentioned  in  my  description  of  the  colours  of  Sol.  Lingula , 
Rond.  (Annals,  loc.  cit.),  differ  entirely  from  these  by  appearing  on  the  body 
only ; they  are  small  roundish  spots,  generally  about  a line  in  diameter, 
r 2 


212 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


fish,  referred  to  in  connexion  with  the  solenette,  [ante,  p.  207,  208,]  is  the 
only  Irish  one  which  has  come  under  my  inspection. 

The  Cornish  Sucker,  or  Ocellated  Sucker, 

Lepadogaster  Cornubiensis,  Flem., 

Has  been  taken  on  the  North-East  and  West  coasts. 

The  following  notes  were  published  by  me  in  the  Proceedings  of  the 
Zoological  Society  for  1835  : — 

“ The  only  Irish  specimen  of  this  fish  which  I have  seen  was  taken  by  Pro- 
fessor Harvey  on  the  coast  of  Clare.  The  number  of  fin-rays  in  this  specimen 
differs  very  much  from  that  stated  by  Pennant  and  Donovan  to  exist  in  the 
ocellated  sucker : 

Pennant  gives  . . D.  11  ; A.  9 ; V.  4 ; 

Donovan  . . . D.  11;  A.  10;  P.  17  ;C.  6; 

Dr.  Harvey’s  specimen  has  D.  20  ; A.  11  ; Y.  4;  P.  19  ; C.  14;  B.  6; 
and  exhibits,  in  addition  to  the  two  filaments  which  appear  before  each  eye,  a 
third  fleshy  appendage  placed  nearer  to  the  eye,  and  unconnected  with  the 
others.  Notwithstanding  these  discrepancies,  the  general  accordance  of  Dr. 
Harvey’s  fish  with  the  figures  of  the  Ocellated  Sucker  given  by  the  authors  above- 
quoted,  and  its  possessing  the  character  whence  the  trivial  name  has  been  de- 
rived, make  me  unwilling,  without  further  investigation,  to  consider  the  species 
distinct.” 

In  the  Ordnance  Memoir  of  County  Londonderry  (Notices,  p.  14),  it  is 
stated  that 

“several  specimens  were  received  in  Oct.,  1837,  from  Portrush  (near  the 
Giant’s  Causeway).  Their  colour  was  a rich  blue,  the  spots  behind  the  eyes 
being  of  a deeper  tint.” 

At  Lahinch,  in  the  County  of  Clare,  Professor  E.  Forbes  and  I obtained 
two  specimens  in  July,  1840,  between  tide-marks.  Early  in  August,  1845, 
several  examples,  all  full  grown  or  nearly  so,  were  taken  under  stones 
between  tide-marks,  at  Tory  Island,  off  Donegal,  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

The  Bimaculated  Sucker,  Lepadogaster  bimaculatus,  Flem., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-East,  East,  and  West  of  the  island. 

The  following  notice  of  this  species  was  communicated  by  me  to  the 
Linnaean  Society,  in  the  Session  1834-5,  and  is  referred  to  in  the  Proceed- 
ings of  the  Zool.  Society,  1835,  p.  82. 

“ Cyclopterus  bimaculatus,  Don.,  Lepadogaster  bimaculatus,  Flem. — The  only 
localities  in  which  I find  it  stated  that  the  Cyclopterus  bimaculatus  has  occurred 
being  the  more  southern  shores  of  England,  I trust  that,  in  connexion  with 
what  I have  before  had  the  honour  of  communicating  to  the  Linnaean  Society 
on  the  subject  of  the  Cyclopterus  Montagui,  the  following  observations  in  proof 
of  the  former  species  having  a more  extensive  geographical  range  than  yet  al- 
lotted to  it,  will  be  at  least  deemed  worthy  the  brief  space  they  occupy. 

“ When  dredging  near  to  Bangor,  in  the  County  of  Down,  on  the  3rd  Sept., 
1834,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  a specimen  of  Cyclopterus  was  brought 
up  from  a depth  of  5 or  6 fathoms,  which  seemed  to  me  C.  bimaculatus.  The 
spots  from  which  this  species  derives  its  scientific  as  well  as  trivial  English 
name,  were,  however,  found  to  be  wanting,  though  the  specimens  are  of  adult 
size  ; the  tail  to  be  rounded  and  not  ‘ even  at  the  end,’  as  that  of  the  C.  bima- 
culatus is  described  by  Pennant  and  Montagu,  and  the  pectoral  fin  to  consist 
of  about  18  instead  of  11  rays,  as  attributed  to  it  by  Donovan  and  Fleming. 

“ All  these  differences,  including  the  immaculate  appearance,  exist  in  the  only 
other  specimen  I have  obtained,  which  was  taken  in  Strangford  Lough,  from 
a similar  depth,  during  another  dredging  excursion  in  company  with  Mr.  Hynd- 
man, on  the  11th  of  Oct.  last. 


THE  BI MACULATED  SUCKER. 


213 


“Notwithstanding  the  existence  of  these  and  some  other  points  of  minor  differ- 
ence between  the  specimens  in  question  and  the  C.  bimaculatus,  as  described, 
I conceive,  from  their  agreement  in  other  characters  and  in  economy,  that  they 
are  of  one  species. 

“ In  length  these  specimens  are  respectively  1 inch  10  lines,  and  1 inch  5 lines. 
The  former  has  5 rays  in  the  dorsal,  about  18  in  the  pectoral,  4 in  the  ventral, 
and  about  12  in  the  caudal  fins.  The  latter  has  a similar  number  in  the  dorsal, 
pectoral,  and  ventral,  but  the  caudal  presents  at  least  13,  and  the  anal  (owing 
possibly  to  its  being  injured)  only  3. 

“ The  prevailing  colour  of  the  larger  fish  is  pale  4 reddish  orange,’  that  of  the 
smaller  dark  reddish  orange,  in  both  specimens  varied  with  round  spots  and 
irregular  markings  of  white ; the  latter  also  exhibits  large  blotches  of  pale 
vermillion  along  its  back.  In  both,  the  belly  and  organ  of  adhesion  are  yel- 
lowish. 

“These  specimens  agreed  with  Montagu’s  observations  on  the  C.  bimaculatus 
by  4 instantly  attaching  themselves  to  the  hand  when  taken  out  of  the  water,’ 
and  by  4 preserving  their  beautiful  pink  colour  in  spirits, ’ or  I should  rather 
say  simply  of  preserving  their  colour,  as,  although  differing  in  this  respect,  they 
have  retained  their  original  brightness  unimpaired. 

44  Besides  the  above  differences,  there  is  not  any  other  observable  between  these 
fishes  and  the  descriptions  and  figures  of  the  C.  bimaculatus  in  the  works  quoted 
that  seems  to  demand  attention.” 

I was  pleased  to  find,  on  the  subsequent  publication  of  Mr.  Templeton’s 
Catalogue,  that  this  species  was  known  to  him.  He  notes  44  two  specimens 
found  in  a dredge,  August,  1811.”  By  subsequent  deep  dredging  in  Bel- 
fast Bay  and  Strangford  Lough,  specimens  have  been  obtained.  On  one 
occasion  I took  upwards  of  a dozen  specimens  of  this  fish  at  the  former 
locality,  on  some  of  which  the  spots  were  wanting.  The  species  is  noted 
in  the  Ord.  Surv.  as  44  from  Larne.” 

Mr.  Hyndman,  when  dredging  (20th  June,  1844)  off  St.  John’s  Point, 
County  of  Down,  brought  up  from  a depth  of  fifteen  fathoms,  a perfect 
and  full-grown  specimen  of  the  bivalve  shell,  Venus  virginea,  in  which 
were  a L.  bimaculatus,  with  its  ova  and  young,  some  only  of  which  had 
made  their  appearance  ; and  the  same  gentleman,  at  the  end  of  August  in 
the  same  year,  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  a single  full-grown  valve  of  Pectun- 
culus  pilosus,  the  hollow  of  which  was  close  studded  over  for  the  space  of 
a square  inch  with  the  ova  of  this  species,  each  ovum  touching  or  close  to 
the  next  one.  These  ova  are  deposited  singly  over  the  surface  of  the  shell  on 
which  every  one  rests,  each  ovum  globular,  about  1-1 6th  of  an  inch  in  dia- 
meter, which  is  remarkably  large  for  a species  which  I have  not  known  to 
exceed  2 inches  in  length. 

I had  frequently  seen  this  species  when  brought  up  in  the  dredge  with- 
in old  single  valves  of  bivalve  shells,  but  until  the  instances  just  men- 
tioned occurred  I was  not  aware  of  the  cause  of  its  partiality  to  them. 

March  30,  1846.  A specimen  about  2 inches  long  was  brought  to  me 
alive  in  Belfast  market,  having  been  found  among  Killinchy  oysters 
(probably  taken  from  the  water  twenty-four  hours  before).  The  whole 
upper  surface  of  the  living  fish  was  of  a dark  purplish  brown  colour,  with 
minute  yellow  spots  disposed  over  it : the  under  surface  was  whitish  flesh 
colour,  but  pinkish  with  darker  spots  of  red  in  the  hollow  portion  to- 
wards sucker. 

Eye  proper  dark  blue  with  brilliant  orange  irides. 

April,  1846.  After  being  in  spirits  for  some  little  time,  this  specimen  is 
of  the  usual  red  colour  on  the  upper  surface. 

In  1839,  I saw  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection  a specimen  dredged  by  him  off 


214 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


the  Dublin  coast ; and  in  July,  1840,  when  on  excursion  with  him  and 
others  to  the  West  of  Ireland,  this  species  was  dredged  in  Roundstone 
Bay,  on  the  Galway  coast. 

In  Nov.,  1842,  I obtained  a fine  specimen  within  an  oyster,  dredged  in 
L.  Ryan,  Scotland , and  brought  to  Belfast  market. 

I have  not  seen  any  notice  of  this  species  having  been  obtained  on  the 
coast  of  Scotland. 

The  Connemara  Sucker,  Lepadogaster  cephalus,  Thompson, 

Has  been  once  taken  on  the  western  coast,  as  mentioned  in  the  following 
communication  which  I published  in  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  iii.  p.  34 : — 
“ Lepadogaster  cephalus,  mihi,  Connemara  Sucker. 

“ In  the  collection  of  Dr.  Ball  of  Dublin  there  is  an  apparently  undescribed 
species  of  Lepadogaster  which  was  taken  in  Roundstone  Bay,  Connemara,  on  the 
western  coast  of  Ireland.  From  the  two  British  species  already  known,  L. 
bimaculatus  and  L.  Cornubiensis,  this  fish  is  very  different.  It  cannot  be  that 
alluded  to  in  his  paper  on  the  Fishes  of  Cornwall,  by  Mr.  Couch  (Linn.  Trans, 
vol.  xiv.  p.  88),  as  allied  to  the  latter,  nor  can  it  be  mistaken  by  any  ichthyologist 
for  the  L.  Cornubiensis,  which  has  been  described  so  differently  by  authors  as 
to  have  led  Mr.  Jenyns  to  remark  in  reference  to  it  that  ‘possibly  we  may  have 
two  species  in  our  seas,  which  have  been  hitherto  confounded.’  Man.  Brit.  Vert. 
An.,  p.  470.  A critical  comparison  shows  that  the  fish  under  consideration 
agrees  not  with  any  of  the  eleven  or  twelve  ? (see  p.  274)  species  described  by 
Risso  as  inhabiting  the  Mediterranean,*  Hist.  Nat.  l’Eur.  Mer.  t.  iii.  p.  271 — of 
these,  the  L.  biciliatus  is  considered  by  Mr.  Yarrell  to  be  the  same  as  the  L. 
Cornubiensis.  Although  in  the  depressed  form  of  the  head  this  fish  resembles 
more  the  minute  species  L.  bimaculatus  than  the  L.  Cornubiensis,  yet  its  equal- 
ling the  latter  in  size,  and  having  with  it  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  occupying  a 
considerable  portion  of  its  length,  renders  it  only  necessary  to  be  compared  with 
this  species.  In  general  form  it  differs  much  from  L.  Cornubiensis ; f though 
narrower  in  the  snout  it  is  of  greater  breadth  across  the  posterior  part  of  the 
head  ; it  is  also  much  more  depressed  in  the  anterior  half,  and  narrows  suddenly 
behind  the  ventral  disk,  being  to  the  tail  compressed  and  tapering — in  L. 
Cornubiensis  the  body  slopes  gradually  from  the  head  posteriorly. 

“ Desc.  Length,  2§  inches ; skin  smooth  ; fin-rays  in  number,  D.  15  ; A.  10 ; 
P.  25  and  4;  C.  15  (conspicuous,  or  20  in  all)=Br.  5.  Head  very  broad  pos- 
teriorly, thence  to  the  snout  (which  is  truncated  and  14  line  across)  J sub-conical, 
occupying  rather  more  than  | of  the  entire  length ; from  this  part  to  a little  be- 
yond the  portion  of  the  body  above  the  termination  of  the  ventral  disk  likewise 
sub-conical ; thence  to  the  tail  rather  compressed  and  tapering ; in  advance  of 
each  eye  and  on  a line  with  its  upper  margin  an  extremely  minute  cirrus,  hardly 
visible  without  a lens ; eyes  large,  lateral,  the  space  between  them  twice  their 


* This  genus  is  either  limited  in  geographical  distribution,  or  there  is  much 
yet  to  be  learned  respecting  it.  In  the  general  work  of  Bloch  there  is  not  a 
single  species  included  ; in  the  Prodromus  Ichthyologise  Scandinavicse  of  Nilsson, 
published  in  1832,  there  are  none ; and  in  the  Fauna  Boreali- Americana  it  is 
remarked  that  none  of  the  genus  has  yet  been  detected  in  America. 

Since  this  article  was  sent  forward  for  publication  I have  seen  Mr.  Lowe’s 
Synopsis  of  the  Fishes  of  Madeira,  just  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Zoological  Society  of  London  (vol.  ii.  part  3).  Here  I find  a species  of  Lepa- 
dogaster described,  but  with  much  doubt,  as  the  L.  Candollii  of  Risso. — The  few 
characters  of  the  Madeira  fish  given  by  Mr.  Lowe  accord  with  those  of  L. 
cephalus ; but  without  a more  detailed  description  of  it,  any  opinion  as  to  the 
identity  of  the  species  must  be  premature. 

f The  comparison  is  drawn  up  between  the  L.  cephalus  and  an  individual  of 
L.  Cornubiensis  of  similar  size. 

X 2~  lines  in  the  specimen  of  L.  Cornubiensis. 


THE  CONNEMARA  SUCKER. 


215 


diameter,  distant  from  snout  If  of  their  diameters,  occupying  f the  length  of 
head ; gape  wide,  the  lower  jaw  rather  the  shorter ; teeth  pointed  and  very 
numerous  in  both  jaws,  the  outer  ones  of  the  upper  jaw  the  largest ; gill  opening 
small ; pectoral  fins  placed  just  behind  it,  and  ‘ extending  downwards  to  the 
lower  surface  of  the  body,  where  the  rays  [4  in  number]  become  suddenly 
stronger,  and  the  membrane  doubling  forwards  passes  on  to  unite  with  that  of 
the  opposite  fin  under  the  throat ; the  membranes  of  the  pectorals  thus  united 

enclose  a disk,  and  form  a [slight]  hemispherical  cavity [but  smaller 

and  of  different  structure  from  that  of  L.  Cornubiensis\  formed  by  the  united 
ventrals  : ’ dorsal  fin  originating  behind  the  middle  of  the  entire  length,  and  con- 
tinued to  near  the  caudal  fin,  with  which  it  is  unconnected ; anal  fin  commenc- 
ing nearer  the  caudal,  from  which  it  is  separate ; last  ray  of  dorsal  and  anal  fins 
when  laid  close  to  the  body  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  outer  rays  of  caudal  fin, 
their  posterior  rays  about  equal  in  length  to  the  depth  of  the  body  at  their  base  ; 
caudal  fin  occupying  about  f of  the  entire  length,  central  rays  longest ; rays  of 
all  the  fins  articulated  but  not  branched ; vent  situated  midway  between  the 
posterior  part  of  ventral  disk  and  the  extremity  of  caudal  fin : a short  anal 
tubercle  as  in  the  genus  Gobius — this  the  L.  Cornubiensis  and  L.  bimaculatus 
also  possess. 

“ Colour  (in  spirits) — entire  upper  surface,  sides  of  head  and  body,  of  an  uni- 
form dull  flesh-colour  (having  been  probably  crimson  when  recent),  pectoral 
fins  and  under  surface  of  a paler  hue  ; dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  fins  pale  carmine 
at  the  base,  changing  gradually  to  deep  carmine  at  the  extremities. 

“ Spec.  char.  A single  very  minute  cirrus  before  each  eye  ; dorsal  and  anal 
fins  unnconnected  with  the  caudal ; ventral  disk  small. 

“ When  noticing  the  Lepadogaster  Cornubiensis  as  an  Irish  species  before  the 
Zoological  Society  of  London,  in  June,  1835  (Proceedings  Z.  S.,  p.  81),  I called 
attention  to  the  very  great  discrepancy  in  the  number  of  fin-rays  in  the  specimen 
then  exhibited,  compared  with  that  attributed  to  the  species  by  the  British 
authors  who  had  to  that  period  described  it ; stating  at  the  same  time  that  I 
could  not  but  consider  the  Irish  specimen  the  L.  Cornubiensis.  The  individuals 
who  furnished  the  descriptions  to  the  works  of  Mr.  Jenyns  and  Mr.  Yarrell  since 
published  have  accorded  with  mine,  and  the  view  taken  by  these  authors 
respecting  the  synonyma  is  similar. 

“ Dr.  Fleming  in  describing  the  L.  Cornubiensis  (Brit.  Anim.  p.  189)  remarks, 
that  it  ‘ differs  from  the  L.  Gouani  and  L.  Balbis  of  Risso ; ’ and  adds,  ‘ the 
former  of  these,  figured  by  Gouan,  Ich.  p.  177,  gen.  xxxiv.  t.  1,  f.  6,  7,  differs 
in  the  spots  behind  the  eyes  being  crescent-shaped,  and  the  dorsal  fin  having  a 
greater  number  of  rays.’  Here  there  is  some  confusion — what  is  stated  in  refer- 
ence to  the  spots  in  Gouan’s  figure  is  correct,  but  not  so  the  number  of  fin-rays,  as 
in  the  figure  of  the  upper  side  of  the  fish  1 1 rays — the  number  Dr.  Fleming  attri- 
butes to  the  L.  Cornubiensis — are  represented  in  the  dorsal  fin  ; in  the  engrav- 
ing of  the  under  side  10  rays  only  appear  in  this  same  fin ; in  the  anal  fin  like- 
wise one  ray  less  is  given  in  the  view  of  the  under  side  than  in  that  of  the  upper 
(9) : it  thus  seems  as  if  the  precise  number  of  rays  was  not  intended  to  be  repre- 
sented. Besides  the  form  of  the  markings  behind  the  eyes  being  different  in 
Gouan’s  figure  from  those  of  the  L.  Cornubiensis  as  mentioned  in  the  extract 
above  quoted,  the  separation  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  from  the  caudal  fin  (suppos- 
ing the  engraving  to  be  correct)  at  once  shows  his  to  be  distinct  from  this  species. 
Risso,  referring  to  Gouan’s  figure  as  an  illustration  of  the  Lepadogaster  that  he 
has  named  L.  Gouani , gives  16  as  the  number  of  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin.”  * 

The  Lump  Sucker,  or  Lump  Fish,  Cyclopterus  Lumpus,  Linn., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

This  fish  is  chiefly  known  from  adult  specimens,  which,  in  the  spring 
of  the  year — March  till  May — resort  to  the  shores  to  spawn,  when  they 

* Hist.  Nat.  l’Eur.  Merid.  t.  iii.  p.  271.  There  is  a typographical  error  here  ; 
Gouan,  i.  67,  being  quoted  instead  of  [t.]  i.  [fig.]  6 and  7. 


216 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


are  taken  (seldom  on  the  N.  E.  coast  more  than  one  or  two  at  a time) 
in  the  nets  set  for  various  fish. 

It  is  not  eaten  here : the  female  greatly  exceeds  the  male  in  size. 

In  the  Annals  Nat,  Hist.  vol.  iii.  (p.  43),  I published  the  following  notes 
on  this  species. 

“ Cyclopterus  coronatus,  Couch.  Coronated  Lump-fish.  Cornish  Fauna, 
p.  47;  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.  p.  382. — Of  this  fish,  considered  by  Mr. 
Couch  distinct  from  the  C.  lumpus,  I procured  two  specimens,  rather  exceeding 
10  lines  in  length,  by  dredging  in  Strangford  Lough  on  the  1st  of  Oct.  ; the 
particular  date  is  mentioned  in  reference  to  the  question  whether  the  C.  corona- 
tus may  not  be  the  young  of  C.  lumpus.  Without  offering  any  opinion  on  this 
point,  it  seems  to  me  proper  to  notice  the  capture  of  this  minute  fish  elsewhere 
than  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  where  one  individual  only  has  been  observed.” 
Ann.  Nat.  History,  vol.  v. 

“When  dredging  in  Strangford  Lough,  County  Down,  on  the  2nd  of  July 
last,  and  whilst  engaged  in  capturing  specimens  of  Couchia  minor  (see  Annals 
for  February)  on  the  surface  of  the  sea,  the  dredge  * brought  to  light  two  in- 
dividuals of  the  Gobius  minutus  of  the  Zoologia  Danica.  In  classification  these 
belong  to  the  genus  Cyclopterus  as  now  restricted,  and  in  the  Prodromus  Ich- 
thyologise  Scandinavicse  of  Nilsson  (p.  61)  are  brought  under  this  genus,  the 
specific  name  of  minutus  being  retained. 

“ Desc.  These  specimens  are  each  half  an  inch  long, — the  greatest  length  at- 
tributed to  the  species  in  Zool.  Dan,  is  2 inches, — and  when  viewed  from  above, 
like  the  young  of  C • lumpus , are  much  of  a tadpole  form,  or  about  one  half  of 
the  entire  length  somewhat  globose,  thence  to  the  caudal  fin  much  compressed : 
first  dorsal  fin  lobiform  as  in  that  species,  second  dorsal  originating  just  behind 
it,  and  extending  to  near  the  caudal  fin  : anal  commencing  at  some  little  dis- 
tance from  the  vent,  and  ending  on  the  same  plane  with  the  second  dorsal — the 
number  of  rays  in  the  above  fins  could  not  be  accurately  estimated;  pectorals 
about  16  rays,  large,  ‘uniting  under  the  throat  and  enclosing  the  disk  of  the 
ventrals,’  as  in  C,  lumpus ; disk  likewise  similar  (as  it  also  is  to  that  of  Lipa- 
ris  Montagui ),  with  five  lines  diverging  from  the  central  one ; caudal  fin  square 
at  the  end,  rays  from  8 to  10  ; vent  at  about  the  middle  of  the  entire  length ; 
no  spines  anywhere  visible. 

“ Colour  (when  recent). — One  individual  has  the  body  of  a very  pale  dull 
yellow,  and  under  the  lens  appears  closely  studded  with  extremely  minute  black 
points  ; besides  these  it  exhibits  at  intervals  all  over  the  body  conspicuous  round 
spots  of  a reddish  rust-colour ; a blue  line  extends  from  each  eye  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  mouth  just  beneath  ; first  dorsal  fin  dusky  or  blackish,  other  fins 
pale-coloured ; a blackish  band  across  the  tail,  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin. 

“Of  the  second  specimen  the  general  hue  is  slightly  reddish,  and  conse- 
quently the  rust-coloured  spots  are  less  conspicuous ; they  are  likewise  fewer 
in  number  ; tail  dusky  and  not  exhibiting  the  band  like  the  first  described  ; in 
other  respects  similar ; no  dull  ferruginous  striae  apparent  on  dorsal  or  caudal 
fins  of  either  specimen  are  described  in  the  Zool.  Dan.f 

“ Having  since  the  autumn  of  1836  possessed  very  small  specimens  of  a Oy- 
clopterus  a few  lines  longer  than  those  just  described,  and  which  I was  disposed 
to  consider  the  Cycl.  minutus  of  authors,  I compared  them  with  those  of  the 
Gob.  minutus , when  the  difference  seemed  consequent  on  variety  of  colour  and 


* They  were  taken  in  a sheltered  bay  in  which  the  water  was  about  25 
fathoms  in  depth ; but  although  brought  up  in  the  dredge,  they  might  have 
been  captured  anywhere  between  the  bottom  and  the  surface  of  the  water,— the 
warmth  and  calmness  of  the  day  was  such  that  it  might  have  attracted  them 
thither. 

f The  specific  characters  here  given  are  ‘ Gobius  albicans,  ferrugineo-macu- 
latus,  radiis  dorsalibus,  et  caudalibus  ferrugineo  obsolete  striatis.” 


THE  LUMP  SUCKER. 


217 


on  age  only.  Those  looked  upon  as  Cycl.  minutus,  again  compared  with  un- 
doubted specimens  of  Cycl.  lumpus  a very  little  larger,  were  evidently  this  spe- 
cies in  a younger  state.  To  understand  this  some  detail  is  requisite. 

“First. — With  reference  to  the  identity  of  Gob.  minutus  and  Cycl.  minutus , 
Pallas,* * * §  it  may  be  observed  that  the  two  specimens  of  the  former  have  what  may 
be  termed  three  tubercles  on  the  snout  (a  character  attributed  to  Cycl.  minutus , 
Pall.,  and  apparent  on  the  specimens  believed  to  be  of  this  species  now  before 
me), f from  the  bone  (?)  advancing  forward  so  as  to  form  two  points  above  the 
upper  lip,  and  central  between  them,  but  placed  higher  up  is  a third  prominence. 
With  the  following  exceptions  they  have  all  the  characters  of  any  value  in  com- 
mon. The  tubercles  which  appear  on  the  side  of  the  others  are  wanting  in  Gob. 
minutus , but  a series  of  specimens  of  C.  lumpus  I have  examined  sufficiently 
prove  that  these  are  only  acquired  by  individuals  of  a larger  size ; and  their  ab- 
sence is  consequently  attributed  in  the  present  instance  to  the  extreme  youth  of 
the  individuals.  The  reddish  spots  of  Gob.  minutus  would  seem  merely  to  in- 
dicate a variety ; an  opinion  which  is  strengthened  by  the  difference  the  two 
individuals  present  in  this  respect,  one  displaying  very  few  and  the  other  nu- 
merous spots,  and  further,  by  these  markings,  so  conspicuous  in  the  recent  state 
(having  been  quite  as  much  so  in  one  of  my  specimens  as  represented  in  Zool. 
Dan.),  becoming  very  obscure  after  the  fish  has  been  a short  time  preserved  in 
spirits.  Between  these  and  equally  small  ordinary  specimens  of  C.  lumpus  I 
perceive  no  difference  but  in  the  spotting.  The  Gob.  minutus , which  is  not  de- 
scribed as  possessing  spines  or  tubercles,  is  stated  to  attain  2 inches  in  length,  % 
a size  much  larger  than  any  specimens  I have  seen  without  tubercles ; but  as 
the  C.  lumpus  differs  much  with  respect  to  the  time  these  originate,  this  circum- 
stance does  not,  I conceive,  affect  the  question  of  their  identity. 

“ Secondly. — With  reference  to  specimens  intermediate  in  size  between  the 
Gob.  minutus  and  C.  lumpus  being  the  Cycl.  minutus , it  may  be  remarked,  that 
the  only  character  of  this  species  given  in  Tur ton’s  edition  of  the  Systema  Na- 
turae, that  seems  specifically  different,  is,  £ in  the  place  of  the  first  dorsal  fin  is  a 
tapering  reclined  long  spine  ’§  (vol.  i.  p.  905)  : in  my  specimens,  the  fleshy  ap- 
pendage which  takes  the  place  of  the  first  dorsal  fin  has  to  the  eye  a rigid  ap- 
pearance, but  is  in  reality  soft,  and  may  from  that  circumstance  have  led  to 
what  has  just  been  quoted  being  adopted  as  a character.  With  Pallas’s  de- 
scription of  Cycl.  minutus  my  specimens  generally  accord  : this  author  does  not, 
like  Turton,  speak  of  a dorsal  spine,  but  of  a spurious  dorsal  fin, — an  expression 
most  applicable  to  those  before  me  ; this  spurious  fin  is  comparatively  longer  in 
small  than  in  large  individuals.  One  of  my  specimens,  10  lines  in  length,  con- 
spicuously presents  three  tubercles  on  the  centre  of  the  body,  where  Cycl.  minu- 
tus is  stated  to  have  two  (‘  in  mediis  lateribus,  supra  pinnas  pectorales  proxime 
ad  sinum  branchialem  tubercula  duo  ossea,’  &c.,  Pallas),  but  at  the  same  time 


* I have  not  had  the  Spicilegia  Zoologica  to  consult,  but  judge  from  the  de- 
scription and  sketches  of  the  figures  most  kindly  copied  from  the  work  for  me 
by  Mr.  Yarrell.  Cuvier,  in  the  Rbgne  Animal,  tom.  ii.  p.  346  (note),  considers 
the  Gob.  minutus,  Zool.  Dan.,  and  Cycl.  minutus , Pall.,  as  distinct.  It  is  the 
latter,  without  any  allusion  to  the  Gob.  minutus,  that  is  enumerated  among  the 
fishes  given  in  the  Appendix  to  Ross’s  second  Voyage.  Since  this  note  was  so 
far  written,  I have  had  the  opportunity  of  meeting  Sir  James  C.  Ross,  the  author 
of  that  portion  of  the  work,  who  informed  me  that  he  was  of  opinion  that  the 
Gob.  minutus,  Z.  D.,  and  Cycl.  minutus , Pall.,  constituted  two  species — of  the 
former  he  judged  from  the  description,  accordant  with  which  specimens  had  not 
been  obtained  during  his  northern  voyages. 

f Some  individuals  are  so  plump  as  not  to  exhibit  these  points. 

X The  figures  given  as  of  adult  specimens  in  Zool.  Dan.  very  little  exceed 
one  inch. 

§ This  may  be  adopted  from  Gmelin,  whom  I see  quoted  for  the  species, 
which  was  not  described  by  Linnaeus  himself.  Turton’s  despription  seems  to  re- 
fer to  Pallas’s  fish. 


218 


MALACOPTERY  GII . 


on  close  inspection  has  a few  spines  beginning  to  appear  on  the  ridge  of  the 
back  and  on  each  side  of  the  belly,  as  in  C.  lumpus  ; but  these  are  not  more  than 
j the  size  of  those  on  the  middle  of  the  body — the  spines  on  this  row  (the  cen- 
tral one)  are  much  larger  than  those  forming  the  other  rows  in  a fully  armed 
specimen  of  C.  lumpus  (as  to  the  rows  of  tubercles)  an  inch  in  length.  The  fact 
of  these  tubercles  first  making  their  appearance  on  this  line  and  beginning  to 
do  so  near  the  head,  may  explain  why  these  only  should  be  described  in  ex- 
amples of  a certain  size. 

“ Mr.  Couch  mentions,  with  some  doubt  as  to  its  species,  a small  Cyclopterus 
taken  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall.  He  states  that  ‘ it  is  rarely  found  longer  than 
an  inch,  and  differs  from  the  C.  lumpus  in  the  skin  between  the  [rows  of]  tuber- 
cles being  quite  smooth.’  Linn.  Trans,  vol.  xiv.  p.  87.  Sir  James  C.  Ross  is 
disposed  to  consider  it  the  Cycl.  minutus,  Pall.  (App.  Ross,  2nd  Voy.  p.  xlvi.), 
which  I am  inclined  to  do  in  so  far  as  an  incidental  description  will  warrant  such 
a conclusion  ; and  at  the  same  time,  with  the  single  difference  pointed  out  be- 
tween it  and  C.  lumpus,  I should  consider  it  this  species,  as  in  the  very  young 
state  tubercles  such  as  cover  over  the  skin  of  the  adult  fish  are  not  apparent. 

“ The  specimens  otherwise  agreeing  with  the  description  of  Cycl.  minutus,  after 
having  been  preserved  in  spirits  for  two  years,  are  of  an  uniform  pale  dusky  tinge  ; 
the  ground  or  general  colour  is  light,  but,  being  densely  dotted  over  with  ex- 
tremely minute  black  points  (visible  under  a lens),  these  give  the  appearance 
described.  As  before  stated,  both  specimens  of  Gob.  minutus,  Mull.,  have  like- 
wise these  very  minute  dots,  though  much  more  sparingly ; but  in  addition  to 
them  exhibit  the  larger  reddish  spots  ; another  individual  similar  to  these  in  size 
is  of  a light  colour,  blotched  with  dusky  markings.  Instead  of  the  spotting  on 
the  body,  which  forms  the  most  prominent  character  of  the  Gob.  minutus,  the 
Cycl.  minutus  is  described  by  Pallas  and  Turton  to  be  whitish. 

“ The  specimens  of  Gob.  minutus,  Cycl.  minutus,  and  the  smallest  C.  lumpus  of 
adult  form,  and  possessing  all  the  rows  of  tubercles,  have  a straight  dark  line 
(which  in  the  recent  examples  of  Gob.  minutus  was  of  a blue  colour)  extending 
from  each  eye  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth  just  beneath  ; this  does  not,  however, 
bespeak  identity  of  species,  as  in  the  Liparis  Montagui  I have  observed  the  same 
marking.  All  of  these  specimens  but  the  last  are  comparatively  more  elongate 
in  form  than  the  mature  C.  lumpus.  A similar  remark  has  been  made  by  Mon- 
tagu respecting  the  Lepadogaster  bimaculatus,  the  fry  of  which  he  states  are  pro- 
portionably  longer  in  the  body  than  the  adults. — Wern.  Mem.  i.  92. 

“ Thirdly. — As  favouring  the  opinion  of  the  identity  of  Cycl.  minutus , Pall.,  and 
C.  lumpus,  it  may  be  remarked  with  respect  to  the  three  tubercles  on  the  snout, 
attributed  to  the  former  species,  that  they  are  likewise  possessed  by  specimens 
of  the  C.  lumpus  of  the  extremes  of  size  examined,  one  an  inch  long  (as  to  the 
rows  of  tubercles  a well-marked  C.  lumpus),  and  another  18  inches  in  length, 
equally  displaying  them. 

“ In  the  form  of  the  spines  or  tubercles,  a very  interesting  change  takes  place, 
analogous  to  that  in  the  Trigla  Cuculus  and  T.  Gurnardus  (see  Annals  for  Feb- 
ruary), but  to  a much  less  extent,  and  requiring  a much  shorter  time  to  be  per- 
fected. The  armature  first  appears  in  a spinous  form,  thus  — i*1  thesPe_ 

cimen  an  inch  long,  thus  Z ? or  like  a shark’s  tooth ; and  in  the  individual 


18  inches  long,  thus 


— in  the  adult  fish  only  one  slightly  projecting 


central  point  is  generally  present ; of  all  the  large  tubercles  on  the  body  of  the 
last-mentioned  specimen  two  only  exhibit  more  than  one  point : the  ‘ spurious 
dorsal  fin  ’ in  this  fish  is  a series  of  compressed  tubercles. 

“ The  C.  Lumpus  occurs  in  all  the  localities  in  which  the  Gob.  minutus  and 
Cycl.  minutus  are  stated  to  have  been  found.  The  first  of  the  two  latter  is  men- 
tioned by  Muller  and  Nilsson  merely  as  taken  on  the  shores  of  Norway ; the 


THE  LUMP  SUCKER. 


219 


latter,  by  Pallas  and  Sir  James  C.  Ross,  to  have  been  obtained  among  floating 
masses  of  sea-weed  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

“ 1 have  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  specimens  of  C.  Lumpus  (as  all  are 
considered  to  be)  taken  from  the  northern  to  the  southern  coast  of  Ireland.  Of 
the  individuals  particularized  in  this  article,  those  answering  to  the  Cycl.  minutus, 
Pall.,  were  taken  at  the  surface  of  the  sea  about  Larne  (in  September,  1836)  and 
Drumnasole  (in  August,  1837),  in  the  County  of  Antrim,  by  Mrs.  Patterson  of  Bel- 
fast, who  favoured  me  with  them.  In  the  month  of  July,  a few  years  ago,  Mr. 
Hyndman  (Memb.  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  of  Belfast)  took  in  Larne  Lough  several  mi- 
nute specimens  of  a Cyclopterus  under  an  inch  in  length,  and  which,  like  the 
Cycl.  minutus  of  Pallas,  were  among  masses  of  sea-weed  floating  on  the  surface 
of  the  water ; but  the  specimens  having  unfortunately  been  lost  before  they 
reached  me,  nothing  further  can  be  said  of  them.  Those  agreeing  with  the  Gob . 
minutus  were,  as  before-mentioned,  captured  in  Strangford  Lough,*  County 
Down.  In  Kingstown  harbour,  near  Dublin,  an  individual  nearly  as  minute  as 
any  here  described  was  taken  by  Dr.  R.  Ball  and  myself,  in  August,  1836,  by 
dredging.  A rare  fish  mentioned  by  a correspondent  as  occasionally  taken  at 
Wexford,  and  of  which  a figure  was  communicated  to  me,  proved  to  be  this 
species ; and  at  Youghal  examples  18  inches  in  length  have  been  procured  by 
Dr.  Ball — of  a similar  size  is  one  from  the  northern  coast  preserved  in  the 
Belfast  Museum. 

“ The  following  notes  from  my  journal  on  the  mature  Cyclopterus  Lumpus  may 
not  be  unacceptable. 

“ March  (15thi  1835. — A large  lump  fish,  taken  near  Carrickfergus,  was  brought 
to  me  yesterday  morning;  but,  not  being  purchased,  was  as  a curiosity  hawked 
about  the  streets  of  Belfast  throughout  the  day,  and  by  several  persons  my  at- 
tention was  directed  to  it  as  an  extraordinary  production ; its  semi-transparent 
dull  grey  colour,  much  diversified,  or  apparently  begrimed  with  black,  certainly 
gave  it  somewhat  of  a hideous  aspect.  No  purchaser  being  found  here,  it  was 
taken  this  morning  to  the  town  of  Lisburn,  about  seven  miles  distant,  and  was 
displayed  as  on  the  preceding  day,  but  with  more  success,  as  it  was  there  dis- 
posed of.  This  1 learned  in  the  afternoon,  by  the  taxidermist  to  whom  it  was 
sent,  calling  to  show  it  to  me  as  a strange  fish  just  received  from  the  inland  town 
of  Lisburn,  a locality  considered  to  enhance  its  rarity. 

“ April  8 th,  1836. — To  the  middle  of  April,  1835,  when  I left  home,  but  the 
one  lump  fish  had  been  brought  to  Belfast  market,  and  the  first  for  the  present 
season  was  brought  hither  to-day.  It  was  taken  in  the  bay  along  with  mullet 
( Mugil  Chelo ),  and  was  alive  when  I saw  it,  although  several  hours  out  of  the 
water.  As  in  the  specimen  of  last  year,  no  bright  colours  were  displayed,  the 
general  hue  being  blackish,  intermixed  with  dirty  white  ; the  under  surface  of 
the  latter  colour ; on  close  examination  a little  dull  red  was  visible  at  the  ex- 
treme tips  of  the  caudal  fin,  and  the  pectorals  presented  an  extremely  faint 
orange  tinge.  On  dissection  it  proved  to  be  a female,  and  contained  a vast 
quantity  of  ova,  of  a delicate  rose  colour.  The  ova  alone  weighed  25  oz. ; of 
this  I had  a drachm  weighed  and  carefully  reckoned  the  number  of  ova, 
each  nearly  a line  in  diameter,  that  it  contained,  and  found  the  whole  mass, 
if  considered  accordingly,  would  consist  of  the  amazing  number  of  101,935 
ova — the  produce  of  a fish  about  15  inches  in  length.  With  such  prolific 
powers  we  can  readily  imagine  that  this  species  should  abound,  as  it  is  reported 
to  do,  in  the  northern  seas,  its  chief  abode.  The  stomach  did  not  contain  any 
food. 

“ On  the  13th  of  this  month  another  female  specimen,  of  similar  size  and  colour 


* The  C.  Lumpus  has  been  described  to  me  as  entering  this  “ lough,”  or  arm 
of  the  sea,  in  spring, — the  period  of  depositing  its  ova. 

At  the  island  of  Lambay,  off  the  County  of  Dublin,  I,  early  in  the  month  of 
June  last,  captured  a Cyclopterus  which  was  equally  minute  with  those  obtained 
in  Strangford  Lough,  but  of  a dark  colour— it  did  not  possess  any  tubercles. 


220 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


and  taken  in  the  bay,  was  brought  to  me.  On  the  20th  of  this  same  month  two 
more  were,  like  that  of  the  8th,  captured  in  the  mullet-nets  at  Garmoyle,  a 
deep  part  of  the  bay,  about  three  miles  from  town.  One  of  these,  in  size  and 
of  a blackish  colour  like  those  hitherto  noticed,  proved  to  be  a female  ; but  the 
other,  a much  smaller  specimen,  was  of  a beautiful  deep  rose  colour  on  the  lower 
half  of  the  body,  this  hue  prevailing  to  a greater  extent  than  the  orange  repre- 
sented in  Donovan’s  figure  of  the  species  ; this  was  a male  fish. 

“Cuvier  remarks,  £ Le  Cycl.  gibbosus , Will.,  vol.  x.  f.  2,  ne  parait  qu’un  Lump 
male  empaille  ’ (Reg.  An.  tom.  ii.  346,  2 ed.),  the  correctness  of  which  seems  to 
admit  not  of  doubt.  It  may  be  added,  that  Willughby  copied  his  figure  from 
Gesner  (lib.  4,  paralipomena,  p.  29).  The  hump  appears  tome  to  have  been  a 
manufacture  of  the  preserver’s,  probably  to  add  to  the  effect  of  the  uncouth 
aspect  which  the  fish  at  best  presents,  a conjecture  which  I venture  to  make  on 
account  of  the  stretched  appearance  which  the  skin  presents  throughout  this 
dorsal  pyramid  (hence  the  appellation  of  pyramidatus  bestowed  on  it  in  Shaw’s 
General  Zoology,  vol.  v.  part  2,  p.  360,  pi.  167)  in  the  figure  of  Gesner,  and 
which  is  repeated  in  the  works  of  Willughby  and  Shaw.  Opposed  to  this  view, 
however  (which  might  suffice  were  one  specimen  only  recorded),  is  the  circum- 
stance, that  the  C.  gibbosus  is  stated  to  have  occurred  in  the  Baltic  Sea,  Northern 
Ocean,  and  (according  to  Sibbald)  on  the  coast  of  Scotland.” — Ann.  Nat.  Hist. 
vol.  iii. 

April  1th,  1840.  A female  lump  fish  was  found  adhering  to  a stone 
under  the  wheel  of  the  bridge  at  “ the  paper  mill,”  Belfast,  the  ex- 
treme point  to  which  the  tide  flows  at  high  water.  The  fish  was  dead 
when  discovered,  and  full  of  roe. 

March  8th,  1841.  The  largest  Cyclop,  lumpus  I have  seen  was  sent 
from  Portaferry  to-day,  for  the  Belfast  Museum.  It  is  23|  inches  long, 
is  a female,  with  ova  protruding,  and  has  no  red  markings  but  the  usual 
begrimed  appearance  of  this  sex. 

June  22nd,  1844.  Mr.  Hyndman  to-day  took  a number  of  the  young 
of  this  species,  from  f inch  to  1 inch  long,  but  none  exceeding  an  inch  in 
length,  but  floating  on  the  surface  in  the  Kyles  of  Bute  : a fortnight 
afterwards  he  saw  them  similarly  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  sea,  at  the 
Skerries  on  the  Dublin  coast : they  rested  by  attaching  themselves  to 
floating  sea- weeds. 

Cyclopterus  lumpus,  young.  Aug.  25th,  1846.  Mr.  It.  Patterson  brought 
me  this  morning  three  specimens  alive,  from  Cultra,  taken  on  the  22nd, 
about  an  inch  in  length : two  of  them  are  to  the  naked  eye  of  a uniform 
bright  green  colour  (but  differing  in  shade),  without  spots;  the  third  is  of 
a pale  green  covered  over  with  large  rust-coloured  spots,  like  the  C.  ini- 
nutus,  Zool.  Don.  pi.  154.  Their  fins  are  all  of  a beautiful  hyaline  trans- 
parency, and  when  the  fish  moves  quickly  are  consequently  invisible  : a 
bluish  line  tinged  with  gold  extends  from  each  eye  to  the  mouth  and  as 
far  behind  the  eye  in  a straight  line;  pupil  blackish,  irides  reddish 
golden. 

These  specimens  confirm  the  view  which  I took  in  a paper,  published 
in  the  Annals,  vol.  iii.  p.  38.  In  place  of  the  dorsal  lump  in  the  adult 
fish,  they  have  a fleshy  membrane  of  the  same  colour  as  the  body,  which 
serves  as  a fin  in  all  their  motions  ; three  or  four  points  like  those  of  rays 
project  a little  from  its  margin,  are  brownish,  under  parts  of  the  fish  are 
greenish-white,  pectoral  fins  orange  tipped  with  dusky. 

Mr.  Yarrell  says  : * 

“ Some  of  our  fishermen  consider  that  we  have  on  our  coast  two  species 
of  lump  fish,  which  they  distinguish  by  the  names  of  Red  Lump  and  Blue 


Br.  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  366. 


THE  UNCTUOUS  SUCKER. 


221 


Lump,  considering  the  first  only  as  eatable  ; but  the  difference  in  colour,  and 
also  in  the  quality  of  the  flesh,  is  only  the  effect  of  season,  the  fine  external 
colour,  as  well  as  the  firmness  of  the  flesh,  being  lost  to  the  fish  for  a time  by 
the  exhausting  process  of  spawning ; it  is  then  by  them  considered  as  the  worth- 
less blue  lump.” 

My  observations  lead  to  a different  conclusion,  viz.  that  the  red  lump 
is  the  male,  and  the  blue  lump  the  female. 

Scotland.  From  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  an  adult  specimen  was  once  sent 
me  in  spring,  and  in  August,  1839,  I saw,  when  there,  two  specimens 
which  had  been  taken  in  the  salmon  nets. 

The  Unctuous  Sucker,  or  Sea-Snail,  Liparis  vulgaris , Flem., 

Is  noticed  in  the  Ord.  Survey  Memoir  (p.  14,  Notices)  simply  as  ob- 
tained at  “Lough  Foyle  and  Larne.”  On  looking  critically,  however,  to 
eight  specimens  so  named  in  the  Ord.  collection,  and  labelled  “ Larne, 
1849,”  I considered  them  all  to  be  Montagu’s  sucking-fish,  L.  Mon- 
tagui. 

Mr.  M‘  Calla  wrote  to  me  of  his  having  procured  L.  vulgaris  at  Round- 
stone,  a specimen  of  which  Dr.  Ball  had  purchased  from  him ; but  on 
looking  to  this  I found  it  also  to  be  L.  Montagui. 

It  would  be  desirable  if  the  other  specimens  alluded  to  from  these  dif- 
ferent quarters  were  closely  examined ; but  until  this  be  done,  and  L. 
vulgaris  be  positively  found  among  them,  or  be  obtained  elsewhere,  it 
had  better  be  omitted  from  our  Catalogue. 

Montagu’s  Sucking-fish,  or  the  Diminutive  Sucker, 

Liparis  Montagui,  Flem., 

Has  been  taken  on  every  side  of  the  island. 

The  following  abstract  of  a paper  read  by  me  before  the  Linnsean 
Society,  on  6th  May,  1834,  appeared  in  the  Phil.  Mag.,  vol.  v.  p.  300 : — 

“ The  Cyclopterus  Montagui , Donov.,  which  stands  recorded  as  having  been 
taken  only  on  the  southern  coast  of  England,  and  there  but  by  its  discoverer, 
was  next  introduced  from  the  circumstance  of  a specimen  occurring  to  the 
author  on  the  coast  of  the  County  of  Down  in  Dec.,  1833. 

“ The  difference  consisting  chiefly  in  colour  and  markings  between  this  fish, 
which  was  mature,  and  Colonel  Montagu’s  as  described  in  the  Wern.  Mem. 
(vol.  i.  p.  92),  was  pointed  out.” 

I subsequently  ascertained  that  Mr.  Templeton  had  “found  an  individual 
adhering  to  a plant  of  Fucus  serratus  on  the  shore  of  Carrickfergus  Bay, 
about  two  miles  below  the  castle,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1807,”  although  he 
had  not  determined  the  species.  (See  his  Catalogue.) 

Since  the  publication  of  the  above  abstract,  several  specimens  have 
been  procured  on  the  N.  E.  coast,  and  I have  seen  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection 
examples  from  Tramore  (County  of  Waterford)  and  Youghal;  also  one 
from  Roundstone  Bay,  County  Galway.  (See  the  preceding  notes  on 
Liparis  vulgaris.) 

In  April,  1837  and  1838,  specimens  were  kindly  sent  to  me  from  Port- 
patrick  by  Captain  Fayrer,  R.  N.  In  one  instance  four  individuals  were 
taken  at  the  same  time  adhering  to  sea-weed  ( Fuel ),  after  it  had  been 
thrown  ashore  for  manure.  The  largest  of  these  was  3|  inches  long.  Dr. 
Johnston  has  met  with  this  species  on  the  coast  of  Berwickshire. 


222 


MA.LACOPTER.YGII. 


The  Common  Remora,  Echeneis  Remora , Linn., 

Has  been  once  obtained  on  the  Irish  coast,  as  mentioned  in  the  following 
notice,  which  I contributed  to  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xviii.  p.  314 : — 
“Remora,  Echeneis  Remora. — A letter  from  Dr.  R.  Ball,  dated  Dublin,  July- 
29,  1848,  informed  me  that  Mr.  N.  A.  Nicholson  had  that  morning  brought 
him  a fresh  specimen  of  this  fish,  which  he  found  adhering  to  the  gills  of  a large 
shark,  which,  with  the  aid  of  a fisherman,  he  captured  at  Clontarf,  Dublin  Bay, 
on  the  preceding  night : it  was  observed  in  shallow  water  and  driven  ashore.  A 
second  Remora  was  adherent  to  the  gills  at  the  opposite  side,  but  when  disturb- 
ed, as  is  stated,  it  made  its  way  inwards  by  the  branchial  orifices,  and  was  not 
seen  again.  Dr.  Ball  afterwards  obtained  the  fish  on  which  the  Remora  was 
found;  it  was  a blue  shark  ( Carcharias  glaacus ) of  a beautifully  blue  colour, 
and  10  feet  1 inch  in  length.” — Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xviii. 

The  second  specimen  of  Remora  was  not  discovered. — R.  B. 


Diy.  III. — Malacopterygii  Apodes. 

The  Sharp-nosed  Eel,  Anguilla  ticutirostris,  Yarrell, 

Is  abundant  in  the  waters  of  Ireland  and  around  the  coast. 

In  the  North  of  Ireland  this  species  is  principally  taken  at  Toome  and 
at  Portna,  on  the  lower  Bann,  a river  which  connects  Lough  Neagh  with 
the  sea.  They  may,  according  to  law,  be  taken  from  the  1st  of  June  until 
the  1st  of  March,  but  there  is  no  fishing  of  any  importance  until  about 
the  1st  of  August.  The  greatest  number  taken  this  season  * at  Toome 
in  one  night  was  10,000 ; the  greatest  which  I have  heard  of,  as  taken 
in  one  night,  was  70,000.  They  are  sold  at  the  fishery  at  2 d.  per  lb. : 
any  trout  taken  with  them  are  sold  at  the  same  price.  The  tank  into 
which  the  eels  are  thrown  when  caught,  will  hold  8000 ; their  value  is 
about  £40. 

“ They  are  taken  in  nets  which  may  be  compared  to  sugar-loaves  with  the 
tops  cut  off,  each  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  yards  long,  and  placed  between  weirs. 
At  an  early  period  of  the  summer  it  is  an  interesting  sight  (at  the  Cutts  near 
Coleraine,  on  the  lower  Bann)  to  mark  the  thousands  of  young  eels  there  ascend- 
ing the  stream.  Hay -ropes  are  suspended  over  the  rocky  parts  to  aid  them  in 
overcoming  such  obstructions.  At  these  places  the  river  is  black  with  the  mul- 
titudes of  young  eels,  about  three  or  four  inches  long,  all  acting  under  that  mys- 
terious impulse  that  prompts  them  to  push  their  course  onwards  to  the  lake.”f 

Two  men  at  the  locality  mentioned  are  paid  £5  each  for  assisting  the 
fish  in  their  progress,  by  placing  the  hay-ropes  up  which  they  climb.  In 
frosty  weather  the  eels  like  to  “ harbour  ” about  these  ropes  ; the  eels  are 
then  caught  in  baskets,  and  lifted  up  the  rock.  What  fishermen  term  a run 
of  eels  does  not  take  place  in  the  day-time,  or  on  a moonlight  night,  but 
when  the  night  is  dark.  A correspondent  X mentions  that  he  has  com- 
pletely stopped  their  progress  by  placing  three  large  lamps,  so  that  the 
rays  of  light  fell  on  the  surface  of  the  water : thunder  prevents  their 
“ running  ” when  all  else  is  apparently  favourable.  The  direction  of  the 
wind  is  also  of  importance  ; it  is  favourable  when  with  them,  or  from  any 


* No  date  in  MS. — Ed.  t Patterson’s  Zoology  for  Schools. 

X The  name  is  not  attached  to  the  note,  nor  do  we  recognise  the  hand-writing. 
— Ed. 


THE  SHARP-NOSED  EEL. 


223 


point  of  South  ; but  if  a sudden  change  occurs  they  will  cease  to  migrate 
for  the  night.  I saw  the  largest  eel  taken  that  had  been  caught  for  ten 
years  ; it  was  3 feet  7 inches  long,  and  weighed  lbs.  On  the  night  of 
the  24th  September,  when  I was  present,  3000  eels  were  taken  in  the  first 
net,  and  1500  on  the  same  night  in  the  next  three,  which  are  in  juxta- 
position. 

The  young  eels  seem  in  some  places  to  form  an  article  of  food.*  Dr. 
Ball  states  that  they  are  eaten  boiled  in  milk,  or  pressed  into  a sort  of 
cheese.  I wras  told,  in  Oct.,  1839,  by  It.  Barklie,  Esq.,  that  he  had 
seen  a water-spaniel  go  for  two  or  three  days  to  the  base  of  the  Fall  at 
Ballyshannon,  at  low  water,  and  feed  greedily  on  the  young  eels  waiting 
there  to  ascend  the  rock.  The  same  gentleman  informed  me  that  a dog 
belonging  to  Dr.  Casement  of  Larne  went  out  regularly  to  Larne  Lough 
to  fish,  and  when  he  set  his  foot  on  a fluke  would  lay  hold  of  it.  He  also 
caught  fish  otherwise  than  by  “ tramping,”  as  this  is  called,  a practice 
which  Mr.  B.  thinks  the  dog  had  acquired  by  going  out  with  boys  intent 
on  that  object. 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  informs  me  that  he  has  sometimes  got  a ton 
weight  taken  in  one  night,  from  different  weirs  on  the  river  Lagan : he 
considers  them  even  better  than  the  Toome  eels,  and  those  taken  in  the 
bay  as  good.  So  many  as  TO  stones  weight  have  been  taken  in  Belfast 
Bay  during  a day’s  fishing  by  one  person,  who  used  baskets  resembling 
lobster  pots,  baited  with  small  fish,  and  pulled  them  up  frequently. 

Eels  are  caught  in  the  river  flowing  through  Galway  by  garbage  thrown 
into  it,  round  which  they  congregate.  The  water  being  clear,  they  are 
seen,  and  caught  simply  by  a hook  fastened  to  the  end  of  a long  rod,  as 
we  witnessed,  1834. 

This  species  has  been  sent  alive  for  the  last  few  years  to  London.  The 
young  eels  only  are  known  to  ascend  the  Bann. 

The  following  communication  was  published  by  me  in  Annals  of  Nat. 
Hist.  vol.  vii.  p.  75 

“ Eels  killed  by  frost. — Although  it  is  well  known  to  naturalists  that  the 
eel,  otherwise  tenacious  of  life,  cannot  bear  excessive  cold,  I conceive  that 
the  following  facts  upon  the  subject,  though  by  no  means  so  satisfactory  as 
could  be  wished,  are  worthy  of  being  placed  on  record.  On  the  6th,  7th,  and 
8th  of  the  present  month  (February,  1841),  great  quantities  of  this  fish,  in  a dead 
state,  floated  down  the  river  Lagan  to  the  quays  at  Belfast.  Here,  upon  these 
days,  and  along  the  course  of  the  river  within  the  tide-way,  collecting  dead  eels 
was  quite  an  occupation  at  low  water,  and  to  the  numerous  loiterers  about  the 
quays  proved  in  some  cases  more  productive  for  the  time  than  the  ‘ chance 
jobs  ’ by  which  they  gain  their  livelihood.  One  individual  earned  his  two  shil- 
lings for  nearly  a bushel-full, f and  another,  selling  them  at  the  same  rate,  gained 
five  shillings  for  what  he  collected  at  the  fall  of  a tide.  Three  examples  sent  me 
by  my  friend  Edmund  Getty,  Esq.,  were  the  common  eel  (. Anguilla  acutirostris, 
Yarr.),  in  excellent  condition,  and  in  all  respects  of  ordinary  appearance ; one 
was  about  a foot,  the  others  were  two  feet,  in  length.  They  were  found  dead  of 
all  sizes  up  to  the  largest. 

“ The  only  experiment  I heard  of  being  made  on  these  eels  was  that  four  of 
them,  of  gradations  in  size  from  a foot  to  two  feet  in  length,  were  placed  in 
water  warmed  to  a high  summer  temperature,  to  see  if  they  would  revive  ; but, 
as  may  be  anticipated  of  such  a proceeding,  none  of  them  exhibited  any  signs  of 
life.  A highly  interesting  fact  connected  with  this  fatality  among  the  eels  is, 


* Ball’s  Lecture;  also  Boule’s  Nat.  Hist.  p.  191. 

f The  price  of  eels  in  our  market  is  three-pence  or  four-pence  per  pound. 


224 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


that  on  the  three  days  on  which  they  perished  from  the  cold  the  thermometer 
was  nearly  ten  degrees  higher  than  it  had  been  for  three  days  successively  in  the 
preceding  month,  when  none  were  known  to  have  suffered  from  it.  At  that 
time  the  wind  was  South-West  and  moderate.  When  they  were  killed  there 
was  a gale  from  the  East,  accompanied  by  hard  frost : to  the  human  body  the 
cold  was  at  this  time  extreme  and  piercing,  though  at  the  period  mentioned,  in 
January,  it  was  not  disagreeable.  At  low  water  a great  extent  of  mud-banks  is 
uncovered  at  the  part  of  the  river  where  the  eels  were  killed,  and  at  this  season 
these  fishes  are  believed  to  be  imbedded  in  the  mud  ; they  would  seem  to  have 
suffered  from  the  intense  cold  arising  from  the  rapid  evaporation  produced  by 
the  piercing  East  wind. 

“ Since  January,  1814,  such  a sensation  of  extreme  cold  has  not  been  expe- 
rienced at  Belfast,  and  at  that  time,  as  I am  informed  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  great 
quantities  of  eels  met  with  a similar  fate  in  the  river  Lagan.*  They  were  seen 
by  him  floating  down  the  stream  dead,  at  the  long  bridge  in  this  town.  It  is 
most  probably  in  reference  to  1814  that  Mr.  Templeton  has  remarked  in  his 
Catalogue  of  Irish  Vertebrate  Animals,  that  ‘ great  numbers  of  eels  inhabiting  the 
shallow  watery  mud  on  the  shore  of  Belfast  Lough  were  killed  during  a severe 
winter. ’f  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  at  the  time  just  mentioned  the  wind  wfas 
also  easterly.  In  the  Meteorological  Report  for  Jan.,  1814,  published  in  the  Bel- 
fast Magazine,  it  is  observed,  ‘ The  continuance  of  the  wind  in  the  East  for  a 
longer  time  than  usual  has  produced  such  a degree  of  cold  as  the  oldest  person 
in  Ireland  cannot  remember.  Notwithstanding  the  rise  of  the  tide,  a sheet  of  ice 
has  covered  the  Bay  of  Belfast,  strong  enough  to  enable  people  to  walk  about 
with  perfect  safety  over  the  channel,  and  full  half  a mile  from  the  quays.  Lough 
Neagh  has  also  been  so  much  frozen  as  to  allow  people  on  horseback  to  ride  into 
Ram’s  Island,  situated  two  miles  from  the  shore.’  I have  been  credibly  informed 
that  at  the  same  period  laden  carts  were  taken  over  the  ice  to  the  island,  and 
that  some  sportsmen  of  the  neighbourhood  had  a drag  or  trail  hunt  upon  the  lake, 
and  followed  the  hounds  on  horseback. 

“ A lighter,  when  coming  to  Belfast  on  the  6th  or  7th  of  the  present  month,  on 
breaking  the  ice  at  a part  of  the  river  where  the  banks  are  not  uncovered  to  the  same 
extent  at  low  water  as  where  the  eels  were  chiefly  killed,  exposed  a number  of 
them,  which,  though  not  dead,  were  so  weak  as  to  be  unable  to  offer  any  resist- 
ance, and  were  lifted  into  the  vessel.  On  the  days  which  proved  fatal  to  the  eels 
here  great  numbers  were  likewise  found  dead  in  the  bay  at  Dundalk. 

“ The  minimum  thermometer  at  the  Belfast  Library  indicated  on  the  morning  of 


January  7,  1841  . . 19.00  \ 

— 8,  — . . 18.50  } Wind  South-West ; moderate. 

— 9,  — . . 18.50  ) 

February  6,  — . . 27.75  j 

— 7,  — . . 27.75  > Wind  very  high  from  the  East ; dry. 

— 8,  — . . 27.50  ) 

“ Donegal  Square,  Belfast,  Feb.,  1841.” 


Eels  have  on  several  occasions  been  the  means  of  cutting  off  the  supply 
of  water  to  dwelling-houses  in  Belfast,  by  entering  the  pipes ; and  during 
an  extensive  fire  which  occurred  here,  on  the  night  of  8th  March,  1846,  a 
fire-engine  was  suddenly  stopped  in  the  midst  of  its  labours  to  extinguish 
the  flames,  and  the  hose  eventually  burst,  in  consequence  of  an  eel  about 
18  inches  in  length  completely  stopping  up  the  pipe  at  the  extremity  of 
the  hose,  where  it  was  held  by  the  fireman.  A portion  of  the  eel’s  head, 


* About  the  middle  of  February,  1855,  the  frost  was  so  intense  that  great 
numbers  of  eels  were  found  dead  in  the  Lagan,  near  Belfast ; and  Lough  Neagh 
was  so  completely  frozen  that  many  people  walked  from  the  mainland  to  Ram’s 
Island. — Ed. 

f Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  i.  new  series. 


THE  BROAD-NOSED  EEL. 


225 


which  projected  from  the  aperture  of  the  pipe,  was  caught  by  a man  in 
his  teeth,  and  the  fish  was  thus  extracted. 

The  following  story  of  an  eel  carrying  off  a knife  and  purse,  though  it 
occurred  nearly  two  centuries  ago,  is  still  told  by  old  people  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lough  Corrib  : — 

“ From  hence  (the  river  of  Cong)  an  eele  carried  a purse  of  13s.  4 d.  sterling, 
and  a knife,  for  about  16  miles,  thro’  Lough  Orbsen,  till  it  was  catched  on  the 
river  of  Galway,  which  thus  happened.  One  William  M‘Ghoill,  a fisherman  at 
Cong,  lighted  on  a good  eele,  and,  being  busie  about  catching  more,  thrust  his 
girdle  through  its  guill,  which  had  the  purse  and  knife  in  it : the  eele  by  chance 
slides  into  the  river  wdth  the  purse  and  knife.” — O’  Flaherty' s West  or  H-Jar 
Connazight , i.  p.  49,  written  in  1684.  Published  by  the  Irish  Archaeol.  Society 
in  1846.* 

Strangford  Eel. — I am  disposed  to  consider  this  eel  as  distinct  from 
the  three  British.  I have  been  always  of  this  opinion,  formed  at  first  from 
the  localities  (just  those  of  spotted  blenny)  being  different.  It  was  on 
hard  gravelly  and  sandy  places  that  I found  both  specimens. 

1st  specimen. — Length,  7^  inches. 

D.  begins  in.  from  snout  (2A  in.  7^).  Vent.  3 in.  2 lines  from 
extremity  of  lower  jaw,  nearly  a of  the  entire  length  before  the  P.  (11 
lines  before  to  75  behind  P.)  j gape  not  extending  so  far  as  to  be  on  a 
vertical  line  with  the  middle  of  the  eye.  Snout  short  and  rounded. 
“ Distance  from  the  eye  to  the  end  of  the  snout  equalling  full  twice  the 
diameter  of  the  former.” 

Snout  shorter  than  that  of  A.  acutirostris ; that  of  A.  mediorostris 
(which  this  approaches  most  nearly  of  the  three  British  species)  is  said  to 
be  longer. 

Sept.  16,  1835. — I obtained  from  under  a stone  at  Donaghadee  an  eel 
same  as  the  Strangford  species. 

The  Broad-nosed  Eel,  Anguilla  latirostris,  Yarrell, 

Inhabits  the  waters  of  Ireland,  Loughs  Neagh  and  Erne,  the  river  Shan- 
non, &c. 

Specimens  from  the  South  have  not  come  under  my  notice,  but  there 
can  be  little  doubt  of  its  being  found  there. 

“ When  at  Toome  (County  Antrim)  in  Sept.,  1834,  a kind  of  eel  was  described 
to  me  as  very  different  from  the  species  (A.  acutirostris ) taken  there  in  such  abund- 
ance when  entering  the  river  Bann  in  autumn,  on  their  passage  from  Lough 
Neagh  to  the  sea.  It  wras  called  f Culloch,  or  hunter-eel,’  and  was  stated  to  differ 
much  in  appearance  and  voracity  from  that  species.  A very  intelligent  fisher- 
man at  another  part  of  the  lake,  distinguishing  it  by  the  name  of  ‘ Gorb-eel,’  bore 
testimony  to  its  voracious  propensity.f  He  believes  it  to  live  chiefly  on  pollans 
{Coregonus  Pollan ) , from  the  circumstance  of  having  frequently  known  it  to  destroy 
these  fishes  when  in  the  nets  : the  nets  also  being  injured  by  them.  He  considers 
this  species  to  be  stationary  in  the  lake,  where  it  is  sought  for  during  summer 
with  night  lines,  generally  baited  with  very  large  worms  or  small  perch  : about 
5 lbs.  is  the  greatest  weight  he  has  known  it  to  attain. 

“ In  Belfast  market  I subsequently  saw  quantities  of  this  eel  from  the  above' 
locality,  when  they  proved  to  be  the  A.  latirostris.  On  pointing  them  out  to  an 
angling  friend,  I was  assured  that  he  had  seen  similar  eels  from  Lough  Erne  on 
sale  in  Enniskillen.  A correspondent  writing  from  Portumna,  in  allusion  it  is 


* Dr.  Ball  obtained  some  years  since,  from  the  Rev.  Charles  Mayne,  an  eel 
of  a uniform  light  yellow  ; it  was  taken  at  Killaloe  : the  colour  was  something 
like  that  of  a well-bred  ferret. 

f Hence  probably  the  name  “ Glut  Eel,”  by  which  it  was  known  to  Pennant. 
Q 


226 


M ALACOPTERY  GII. 


presumed  to  this  species,  mentions  a large-mouthed  eel,  which  preys  much  on 
fish,  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  river  Shannon. 

44  Mr.  Yarrell  observes,  4 In  its  habits  the  broad -nosed  eel  has  not  been  dis- 
tinguished by  any  peculiarity  that  I am  aware  of  from  the  other  common  eel  ’ 
(vol.  ii.  p.  299),  but  the  following  circumstances  incline  me  to  believe,  in  addi- 
tion to  what  has  been  mentioned,  that  there  is  a further  difference  in  this  respect. 
On  looking  over  some  thousand  eels  taken  in  the  nets  at  Toome,  on  the  night  of 
the  24th  of  Sept.,  I did  not  recognise  one  of  the  broad-nosed  species,  nor  have  I 
seen  it  among  eels  brought  from  this  place  to  Belfast  market,  nor  again  with  the 
A.  latirostris,  exposed  here  for  sale,  have  I detected  the  common  eel ; but  as  it 
is  from  an  examination  in  a very  few  instances  that  I speak,  this  may  perhaps 
apply  only  in  general  terms.  The  season  at  which  the  two  species  are  brought 
to  this  market  is  different,  the  time  for  the  A.  latirostris  being  summer,  and 
autumn  for  the  A.  acutirostris.  The  intelligent  fisherman  before  noticed  states, 
however,  that  he  has  taken  both  species  on  his  night  lines  at  the  same  time.  He 
knew  the  broad-nosed  from  the  common  eel  before  it  appeared  at  the  surface, 
by  the  greater  resistance  offered,  and  frequently  it  was  brought  up  twisted  round 
the  line  in  its  endeavours  to  become  extricated  from  the  hook. 

“ During  the  summer  months  the  A.  latirostris  is  brought  in  by  the  tide  as  it 
flows  over  the  banks  of  Belfast  Bay,  and  is  taken  by  eel-spearers.  A specimen 
4~  inches  long  that  I examined,  and.  which  was  procured  off  the  coast  of  the 
County  Antrim  at  mid-winter,  had  in  proportion  to  its  size  every  character  as 
strongly  marked  as  the  largest  of  its  species  : the  fleshy  prominence  on  each 
side  of  the  head  and  terminating  at  the  nape,  was  very  conspicuous.’’ — Ann.  Nat. 
Hist.,  vol.  ii. 

“ In  my  last  paper  on  fishes  (see  Annals,  p.  21  of  the  present  volume)  this 
species  is  stated  to  be  called  ‘ Culloch,’ — by  my  having  adapted  the  orthography 
to  the  sound  of  the  word, — at  Lough  Neagh.  It  should  rather  have  been  collach, 
as,  by  reference  to  O'Reilly’s  Irish  Dictionary,  I have  since  ascertained  this  word 
to  imply  4 wicked,’  and  hence  doubtless  the  origin  of  the  name,  the  species  being 
characterized  as  most  voracious  and  as  subsisting  chiefly  on  other  fish.  The 
person  who  described  it  to  me  by  the  name  of  collach  gave  a direful  account  of 
this  propensity,  by  stating  that  it  preys  on  other  eels,  more  especially  at  Coleraine 
Salmon-leap,  where  4 it  drinks  the  young  fry  in.’  The  provincial  names  of  Gorb 
and  Glut  Eel  have  obviously  been  bestowed  upon  it  for  a similar  reason.” — 
Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii. 

Mr.  W.  Todhunter , in  a note  dated  in  1839,  speaks  of  it  as  common 
about  Portumna ; but  it  is  never  taken  with  the  sharp-nosed ; he  thinks 
(as  the  fishermen  at  Lough  Neagh  do)  that  it  is  not  migratory. 

In  July , 1840,  we  took  the  young,  about  2 inches  in  length,  as  well  as 
those  of  A.  acutirostris  of  similar  size,  on  the  sea-coast  of  the  Co.  Galway. 

April  12,  1848. — I saw  a number  of  very  large  ones  in  Belfast  market, 
which  were  taken  to-day  in  the  bay,  where  they  sometimes  attain  4 lbs. 
weight.  They  were  very  typical  specimens,  the  head  being  as  round  in 
outline  as  half  a circle.  They  are  called  bulldogs,  or  bulldog-headed 
eels. 

Mr.  Meenan  says  it  is  sold  at  3d.  per  lb.  in  Belfast  market,  and  is  con- 
sidered coarse  compared  with  the  other.  It  is  said  by  the  Lough  Neagh 
fishers  not  to  leave  the  lake.  A few  odd  ones  are  taken  in  the  nets  at 
Toome,  and,  when  Mr.  Finiston  had  the  fishing,  these  were  thrown  to  the 
pigs.  The  people  who  bought  the  other  eels  rejected  them.  Mr.  M.  has 
got  2 cwt.  of  them  from  Lough  Neagh  in  a morning ; four  or  five  boats 
would  have  been  engaged  in  taking  them  on  their  hooks ; the  men  shoot 
their  lines  at  night,  and  draw  them  early  in  the  morning.  Taken  from 
April  to  July,  or  when  the  fishermen  leave  them  for  the  pollans ; not 
taken  in  winter. 


THE  SNIG  EEL. 


227 


The  Snig  Eel,  Anguilla  mediorostris  f Yarrell, 

Is  taken  in  the  North  and  South,  and  probably  in  lakes,  &c.,  over  the 
island. 

An  eel  of  the  size,  form,  colour,  and  habits  attributed  to  this  species  is 
commonly  taken  about  Belfast.  It  roves  and  feeds  by  day,  and  is  then 
usually  captured  by  rod  and  line,  with  an  earthworm  as  bait.  The  only 
one  of  these  which  I dissected  had  however  processes  to  the  first  five 
cervical  vertebrae,  which  according  to  Mr.  Yarrell  the  sp.  does  not  pos- 
sess : for  this  reason  a note  of  interrogation  is  given  after  the  species. 

Comparing  a specimen  which  I took  to  London  with  specimens  of  Mr. 
Yarrell’s,  they  were  externally  the  same. 

Mr.  Yarrell,  p.  399,  mentions  that  this  eel  is  considered  distinct  from  the 
common  sp.  in  Hampshire,  and  so  the  one  I allude  to  is  at  L.  Neagh,  where 
(the  late  Mr.  Templeton , in  his  Catal.  p.  10,  alludes  to  three  varieties)  the 
fishermen  distinguish  three  species ; this  they  call  the  Weed-eel ; the  A. 
acutirostris  they  call  Eel , Skull-eel,  or  Bann-eel,  par  excellence ; the  A. 
latirostris  they  distinguish  by  the  name  of  Gorb-eel,  and  Collach  or 
Hunter-eel,  on  account  of  its  comparative  voracity.  Small  specimens 
from  Youghal  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection  have  the  external  characters  of 
this  species. 

Oct.  31  st,  1836.  A few  days  ago  I obtained  an  eel  from  a person 
who  had  just  caught  it  in  the  Lagan  with  his  rod.  Its  “ snout  is  rather 
long  and  moderately  broad,”  gape  extending  to  middle  of  eye,  less  than 
^ of  the  entire  length  before  the  D.  (2  in.  5 lines  to  D.,  thence  to  end  of 
tail  5 in.  7 lines),  one-eighth  of  entire  length  before  P.  (1  inch  from  lower 
jaw  to  P.,  thence  to  end  of  tail  7 inches),  P.  small,  length  4 lines,  from 
lower  jaw  to  vent  3 in.  3 lines,  thence  to  tail  4 in.  9 lines. 

Nov.  14 th,  1836.  I to-day  examined  an  eel  from  the  Bann,  which  a 
few  days  ago  I at  once  recognised  amongst  a sackful  of  Bann  eels  as 
the  “ Weed-eel,”  which  I got  several  specimens  of  at  Toome,  in  Sept., 
1834,  believing  them  at  that  time  to  be  quite  distinct  from  the  true  Bann 
one  (A.  acutirostris).  This  specimen  agrees  in  having  the  “ snout  rather 
long  and  moderately  broad,  gape  extending  not  quite  to  a vertical  line 
from  the  posterior  part  of  the  orbit,  rather  less  than  ^ of  entire  length 
before  the  dorsals  (it  is  4^-  in.  to  10£  in.),  and  between  ~ and  ^ before 
the  pectorals”  (or  If  in.  to  13),  Jen.  p.  477,  vent  6l  in.  from  extremity  of 
lower  jaw,  thence  to  end  of  tail  8^-  inches.  The  colour  of  this  eel  is  just 
similar  to  that  of  the  specimen  I got  from  Lagan  on  31st  ult.,  greenish 
olive,  with  a yellow  tinge  on  back  and  sides,  and  rich  gamboge  yellow 
beneath.  I thought  it  the  A.  mediorostris,  until  on  dissection  I found 
it  possessed  spinous  processes  on  the  first  five  cervical  vertebrae. 

A specimen  from  Youghal  of  an  eel  6l  inches  long  agrees  in  all  cha- 
racters with  this  species  as  described  by  Mr.  Jenyns ; its  pectoral  fins  are 
rounded  as  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s  figure  of  this  species,  though  I believe  he 
says  nothing  on  this  subject : see  difference  between  his  fig.  of  acutirostris 
and  of  mediorostris , in  this  particular.  I find  the  difference  shown  in 
the  figures  in  specimens  of  both  species. 

The  Conger  Eel,  Conger  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast. 

It  is  sought  for  chiefly  in  the  months  of  May  and  June,  but  is  doubtless 
to  be  had  at  all  times.  Conger  eels  are  generally  caught  on  long  lines ; to 
nets,  when  captured  in  them,  they  are  very  destructive.  Mr.  Meenan  has 
Q 2 


228 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


known  them  to  destroy  £3  worth  of  net  in  a night ; he  has  got  seven 
or  eight  hooks  in  one  of  them  ; they  can  bite  through  rope  as  thick  as  his 
finger.  I have  seen  large  quantities  brought  ashore  by  fishermen  in 
summer  and  autumn,  at  various  parts  of  the  Down  coast,  all  of  which 
were  taken  on  hook  and  line.  They  do  not  sell  in  Belfast  market,  but 
Mr.  Meenan  gets  more  for  them  by  weight  in  Liverpool  than  for  cod-fish 
and  haddock. — April,  1850. 

Mr.  M.  tells  me  that  there  is  a kind  of  dark-coloured  conger  eel,  which 
frequents  rocky  ground,  and  does  not  average  more  than  half  the  weight 
of  those  taken  in  soft  ground.  I questioned  him  particularly  about  it, 
and  found  it  to  be  in  every  respect  analogous  to  rock  cod. 

A fisherman  at  Larne  Lough  states  that  these  eels  destroy  the  mullet 
caught  in  his  nets  so  much  that  he  sets  lines  outside  his  net  for  them, 
baited  with  what  he  calls  “ white  bait.”  He  has  the  double  object  of 
catching  the  eels  and  protecting  the  mullet.  He  dries  and  salts  the  eels 
like  ling  for  his  own  use,  with  the  difference  of  skinning  the  eels ; the 
skins  are  all  preserved,  they  are  used  for  the  hanging  of  flails,  &c. 

Robert  Langtry,  Esq.,  informs  me  that  he  once  cut  the  head  off  a 
conger,  and  holding  the  severed  head  in  his  hand  his  servant  set  about 
taking  the  hook  out  of  its  mouth,  when  the  teeth  closed  on  his  thumb, 
as  if  in  life,  and  bit  him  desperately.  It  was  only  by  cutting  the  jaws  to 
pieces  that  the  thumb  was  liberated.* 

Mr.  Templeton’s  note  on  this  species  is  as  follows  : — ■ 

“ Common. — Several  years  ago  a vessel  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Rathlin, 
laden  with  salt  herrings.  The  congers  ate  voraciously  of  the  salt  fish,  and  great 
numbers  died  and  were  washed  on  shore  after  this  unlucky  feast,  for  several 
days.” — Templeton' s Catalogue. 

The  conger  eels  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cork  suffered  from  the  effects 
of  cold  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1841,  about  the  same  time  that  a 
mortality  prevailed  among  the  sharp-nosed  eels  at  Belfast,  as  mentioned 
when  treating  of  that  species.  The  facts  relating  to  the  conger  were  com- 
municated to  me  by  Francis  M.  Jennings,  Esq.,  of  Cork,  in  a letter  dated 
18  March,  1841,  and  published  in  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vii.  p.  236. 
From  this  letter  the  following  extract  is  made  : — 

“During  the  5th,  6th,  and  7th  of  February,  the  ground  being  covered  with 
snow  and  the  weather  intensely  cold,  the  boatmen  in  the  vicinity  of  Passage, 
Monkstown,  and  Carrigaloe,  captured  considerable  numbers  of  the  conger  eel 
(. Anguilla  conger , Linn.)  of  all  sizes,  varying  from  a foot  to  five  and  six  feet  in 
length.  Many  of  them  were  left  on  the  strand  as  the  tide  receded,  some  dead, 
but  the  greater  number  alive ; others  were  followed  in  boats  as  they  swam  near 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  killed  with  sticks,  whilst  many  committed  suicide 
by  swimming  up  on  the  strand.  In  a similar  way  they  were  caught  from  Hop 
Island  to  Ringaskiddy,  a distance  of  five  miles  on  the  west  side  of  the  Lee,  and 
from  Smith  Barry’s  Bay  to  the  Limekiln  opposite  Monkstown,  (about  three 
miles)  on  the  east  side.  Those  which  were  taken  on  Hop  Island  seem  to  have 
been  washed  up  by  the  tide,  as  they  were  dead. 

“ It  appears  strange  that  a fish  like  the  eel,  usually  found  at  the  bottom  of  the 

* Mr.  R.  Patterson  was  witness,  many  years  ago,  at  Holywood,  to  a similar 
occurrence.  Two  fishermen  had  brought  the  produce  of  their  long-line  fishing 
to  the  shore ; among  their  captures  was  a large  conger  eel,  off  which  they 
chopped  the  head,  left  it  lying  on  the  beach,  and  departed  ; a little  bare-footed 
boy  strolling  along  soon  afterwards  began  “ poking  ” his  toes  into  the  mouth  of 
the  eel.  To  his  amazement  the  jaws  closed  on  his  foot,  and  held  him  fast  until 
his  cries  brought  the  neighbours  to  his  assistance. 


THE  ANGLESEA  MORRIS. 


229 


river,  should  be  affected  by  the  cold,  when  one  reflects  that  the  depth  of  the 
river  varies  in  some  of  these  places  from  forty  to  sixty  feet.  The  water  here, 
though  not  quite  so  salt  as  the  sea,  is  yet  very  salt.” 

The  Anglesea  Morris,  Leptocephalus  Morrisii,  Penn., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  north-eastern,  southern,  and  western  coasts. 

It  was  first  made  known  by  me  as  an  Irish  sp.  in  the  following  commu- 
nication to  the  Zool.  Soc.  in  1835  (see  Proc.  p.  82) : — ■ 

“ Leptocephalus  Morrisii. — By  the  kindness  of  scientific  friends  I am  enabled 
to  mention  the  occurrence  of  six  specimens  of  L.  Morrisii  on  the  coast  of  Ire- 
land. Dr.  Ball  has  thus  written  me  respecting  it.  4 The  first  I saw  was  at 

Cove,  in  1809 I was  at  the  capture  of  a second  at  Clonakilty,  in  1811. 

I caught  one  myself  at  Youghal,  in  1819,  and  procured  another  which  was  taken 
there.  The  fifth,  the  specimen  which  I have  preserved,  was  taken  in  a shrimp- 
net  at  Youghal  also,  in  1829,  the  four  others  having  been  found  under  stones 
near  low-water  mark.’  I also  got  one  from  Dr.  Allman,  which  he  took  on  the 
coast  of  Cork.  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me  that  when  in  Bangor  (Co. 
Down),  in  June,  1831,  a specimen  of  the  L.  Morrisii  about  4 inches  in  length 
was  brought  to  him.  It  had  been  just  taken  from  a pool  left  in  the  sand  by  the 
ebbing  tide,  and  was  almost  perfectly  transparent.” 

The  following  note  was  published  by  me  in  Chari.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist., 
vol.  ii.  p.  20 : — 

“Anglesea  Morris.  Leptoceplialus  Morrisii.  Early  in  the  summer  of  1837, 
Capt.  Fayrer  captured  a specimen  of  this  singular  fish  in  the  harbour  at  Port- 
patrick.  He  remarks  that  ‘it  appeared  in  an  active  state  of  health  and  vigour, 
sporting  now  and  then  on  the  surface,  and  as  quickly  descending.’  On  account 
of  its  delicate  organization,  it  was  judiciously  put  in  very  weak  preservative 
liquor,  about  one  part  only  of  common  spirits  to  four  of  water;  and  was  thus 
kept  by  me  for  four  months,  without  being  injured  as  a specimen.  It  was 
almost  equally  transparent  as  it  had  been  in  its  native  element.  When  put  in 
stronger  liquid,  for  permanent  preservation,  it  of  course  became  discoloured,  and 
more  opaque.  It  is  so  buoyant  as  to  float  on  the  surface  like  a cork,  and  on  the 
phial  being  reversed  as  quickly  attains  this  position.  The  specimen  is  5|  inches 
in  length  (the  size  of  Dr.  Ball’s  specimen) ; and  in  the  spotting  differs  from 
others  described  and  figured.  Distant  1|  inch  from  the  anterior  extremity 
small  black  dots  appear  on  the  lateral  line,  and  continue  to  the  tail ; f inch  from 
the  same  part  a row  of  black  dots — larger  than  those  on  the  lateral  line — com- 
mences, and  extends  on  each  side  to  within  f inch  of  the  end  of  the  tail ; from 
where  these  terminate  the  black  is  taken  up  by  the  base  of  the  anal  fin ; every 
ray — and  they  are  here  close  together — being  spotted  at  the  base.  Not  a spot 
appears  on  the  dorsal  ridge,  nor  anywhere  but  as  here  mentioned.  The  irides 
are  bright  silver.  I have  elsewhere  recorded  a Leptocephalus , which  was  taken 
on  the  opposite  coast  of  Downshire  (Zool.  Proc.  1835,  p.  82).” 

The  Ordnance  Collection  contains  a specimen  labelled  “ Cairnlough 
[Co.  Antrim],  1837  ; ” and  Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  in  1840  that  he  had 
obtained  three  fishes  on  the  Galway  coast  which  he  believed  to  be  of 
this  species.  One  of  them,  which  I saw  in  his  possession  at  Roundstone, 
preserved  in  muddy  spirits,  seemed  to  be  the  Anglesea  Morris. 

Dr.  Harvey  observes  (in  the  Cork  Fauna), — 

“ L.  Morrisii , Penn.,  Anglesea  Morris. — I watched  for  some  time  a number 
of  fish  in  Cork  Harbour,  a few  months  since,  which  I have  no  hesitation  in  con- 
sidering as  of  this  species.  I was  unable  to  procure  a specimen.  It  had  been 
found  by  Dr.  Ball  previously.” 

Dr.  Ball’s  specimen,  labelled  “Youghal,  1829,”  measures  5 ^ inches  in 
length.  (It  agrees  with  the  generic  description  of  Montagu,  Wern.  Mem., 
vol.  ii.  p.  438.) 


230 


MALACOPTERY  GII. 


“ 4£  lines  in  breadth  ; thickness  less  than  a line  ; the  dorsal  fin  is  to  the  un- 
assisted eye  transparent;  it  commences  at  the  back  of  the  head,  which,  perhaps, 
warrants  Pennant’s  description  of  the  * dorsal  fin  extending  the  whole  length  of 
the  back.’  ” 

Mont.,  yoI.  ii.  p.  438,  states  that  the  dorsal  fin  “ commences  at  nearly  ^ 
of  the  length  of  the  fish  from  the  head.”  Anal  fin  as  stated  by  Montagu  ; 
pectoral  fins  a line  in  length  ; gill  aperture  small ; a row  of  very  minute 
black  spots  on  the  margin  of  the  back  and  on  each  side  the  belly ; the 
lateral  line  is  in  the  centre,  and  is  marked  throughout  with  minute  black 
spots,  which  are  however  larger  than  those  before  mentioned. 

Dr.  Ball  observed,  in  reference  to  this  fish, — “ When  alive  it  is  so  trans- 
parent that  the  eye  alone  is  visible.”  * 

The  Beardless  Opeiidium,  Ophidium  imberbe,  Linn,, 

Is  known  as  an  Irish  species  only  from  the  memorandum  in  Mr.  Temple- 
ton’s Catalogue,  which  will  be  found  as  a foot-note  to  the  article  on  the 
next  species  in  the  present  volume. 

Drummond’s  Echiodon,  JEchiodon  Drummondii , Thompson, 

Has  been  once  taken  on  the  Antrim  coast. 

The  following  communication  was  made  by  me  to  the  Zool.  Society  in 
June,  1837,  and  is  here  transcribed  from  the  Society’s  Proceedings  for  that 
year. — 

“ XVI.  On  a new  Sub-genus  of  Fishes,  allied  to  Ophidium.  By  William 
Thompson,  Esq.,  Vice-President  of  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Bel- 
fast. Communicated  by  the  Secretary. 

Read  June  13th,  1837. 

The  species  of  fish  which  is  the  subject  of  the  present  communication 
ranks  under  the  Malacopterygii  Apodes,  and  in  its  genus  most  nearly 
approximates  Ophidium.  Although  with  Ophidium,  as  described  in  the 
Regne  Animal  (t.  ii.  p.  358,  2nd  ed.),  it  possesses  many  characters  in 
common,  others  are  at  the  same  time  presented,  which  have  suggested 
the  propriety  of  constituting  it  a sub-genus.  Cuvier  having  given  as  a 
character  of  Ophidium,  “ l’anus  assez  en  arriere,”  strictly  considered,! 
prevents  the  admission  of  the  present  specimen.  The  genus  is,  again,  in 
the  Regne  Animal,  subdivided  into  the  true  Ophidia  and  the  Fierasfers ; 
the  former  “ portent  sous  la  gorge  deux  paires  de  petits  barbillons,  ad- 


* A specimen  taken  in  Belfast  Bay  was  presented  to  the  Museum  of  the  Bel- 
fast Nat.  Hist.  Society,  in  1853,  and  exhibited  in  a recent  state  by  Mr.  Patterson 
at  a meeting  of  the  Society  held  on  the  23rd  Feb.  in  that  year.  It  had  been 
examined  by  him  when  alive  the  previous  day  ; its  very  beautiful  eye  was  the 
only  conspicuous  portion  of  the  body  as  it  swam  about.  When  dead  it  was 
spread  out  on  a newspaper,  by  Mr.  Garrett,  who  was  able  with  perfect  ease  to 
read  the  printing  as  seen  through  the  transparent  body  of  the  fish. — Ed. 

f It  may,  perhaps,  be  objected  to  this  strict  reading,  that  Cuvier  has  himself 
admitted  into  the  genus  the  Oph.  Vassalii,  which  is  described  by  Risso  as  hav- 
ing “l’anus  situe  pres  de  la  gorge”  (tom.  iii.  p.  212,  ed.  1826) ; but,  although 
the  characters  of  this  species  are  pretty  fully  detailed  in  the  Regne  Animal 
(tom.  ii.  p.  359),  the  one  here  quoted  from  Risso  is  not  mentioned.  The  last- 
named  author  similarly  describes  the  position  of  the  vent  in  the  Oph.  ferasfer. 
On  the  contrary,  both  of  the  British  Ophidia,  figured  by  Pennant  (Brit.  Zool. 
vol.  iv.  pi.  93,  ed.  1777)  and  Montagu  (Wern.  Mem.  vol.  i.  pi.  4),  accord  with 
Cuvier’s  generic  description  in  this  character. 


DRUMMOND’S  ECHIODON. 


231 


herents  k la  pointe  de  l’os  hyoide,”  and  the  latter  “ manquent  de  bar- 
billons,  et  leur  dorsale  est  si  mince,  qu’elle  ne  semble  qu’un  leger  repli 
de  la  peau.” 

In  external  characters — for  the  specimen  being,  so  far  as  known  to  me, 
unique,  I have  been  unwilling  to  injure  its  appearance  by  dissection — it 
is  excluded  from  the  Ophidia  proper,  in  consequence  of  not  having  the 
barbules ; and  though  agreeing  with  the  Fierasfers  in  the  negative  cha- 
racter of  wanting  these  appendages,  yet,  by  having  the  dorsal  fin  strongly 
developed  and  elevated,  it  ranges  not  with  them. 

Its  want  of  the  very  obvious  character  of  the  Ophidia  renders  all 
comparison  with  them  unnecessary  ; but  of  two  species  belonging  to  the 
Fierasfers,  and  which  approach  the  present  specimen  most  nearly,  I may 
state,  that  it  possesses  many  of  the  characters  of  the  Opli.  fierasfer  of 
Risso,  but  differs  from  that  species  in  the  teeth  (both  jaws  are  described 
as  armed  with  three  rows  of  sharp  and  hooked  teeth),  number  of  fin-rays, 
and  some  minor  characters ; besides,  there  is  nothing  said  of  the  remark- 
able teeth  terminating  both  jaws,  as  exhibited  in  my  specimen.  In  the 
Regne  Animal  we  again  find  an  Oph.  dentatum  described  as  having  in 
each  jaw  “ deux  dents  en  crochets,”  but  no  further  details  are  given.  In 
this  only  character,  however,  the  Oph.  dentatum  differs  from  my  fish, 
which  has  four  large  hooked  teeth  in  the  upper,  and  two  in  the  under,  jaw. 

The  specimen  under  consideration  was  found  dead  on  the  beach  at 
Carnlough  near  Glenarm,  in  the  County  of  Antrim,  by  my  friend  Dr.  J. 
L.  Drummond,  when  collecting  Algce  there  in  the  month  of  June,  1836, 
and,  along  with  some  other  fishes , &c.,  obtained  about  the  same  time,  was 
kindly  handed  over  to  me  on  his  return  to  Belfast.  Dr.  Drummond  in- 
forms me,  that  from  its  appearance  when  found  it  had  most  probably 
been  cast  ashore  by  the  tide  of  the  preceding  night,  when  a strong  easter- 
ly wind  prevailed. 

Genus  Echiodon. 

Corpus  valde  elongatum,  complanatum  et  lanceolatum. 

Caput  ovale ; rostrum  mediocriter  productum ; os  sub-oblique  fissum  ; 
maxillce  dentibus  armatae  sicut  ossa  palatina  vomerque ; dentes  duo 
utrinque  apud  maxillae  superioris  apicem  magni  et  praelongi ; maxilla 
inferior  utrinque  dente  unico  cylindraceo  terminata;  apertura  bran- 
chial is  magna ; operculum  satis  amplum. 

Pinnce  dorsales  et  anales  valdfe  productae. 

Anus  anteriora  versus  positus. 

Echiodon  Drummondii. 

Tab.  XXXVIII. 

Fch.  corpus  Iceve  ; maxillce  ambee,  vomer , ossaque  palatina  dentibus  parvis 
obtusiusculis  dense  ar mates ; maxilla  superior  longior,  [cujus  dentes  ex- 
terni  ore  clauso  conspicui;  vomer  admodum  prominens  antrorsumque 
valde  productus ; lingua  brevissima  ; pinnce  dorsales  analesque  cum  cau- 
dali  continuce,  et  postice  corpore  multo  altiores ; pinna  analis  ante  dor- 
salem  exoriens ; radii  pinnales  nulli  ramosi ; membrana  branchiostega 
septem  radiata. 

Total  length  11  inches;  greatest  depth  (at  1 inch  4 lines  from  the 
snout)  6 lines,  thence  posteriorly  gradually  narrowing ; greatest  breadth 
of  body  anteriorly  3 lines  ; at  the  middle  of  the  entire  length  1 line,  and 
thence  to  the  tail  becoming  gradually  more  compressed. 


232 


MALACOPTERYGIL 


Head  1 inch  2 lines  long,  or  rather  more  than  one-ninth  of  the  entire 
length  ; profile  sloping  forward  equally  on  both  sides  to  the  snout,  which 
is  truncated,  and  projects  1 line  beyond  the  lower  jaw;  narrow,  increas- 
ing in  breadth  very  gradually  from  the  snout,  its  breadth  as  1 to  3^  of 
its  length  ; height  half  its  length,  compressed  at  the  sides,  and  rather  flat 
above  from  the  eyes  backward ; from  the  eyes  forward  a central  bony 
ridge ; snout  viewed  from  above  somewhat  bifid  in  consequence  of  the 
forward  position  of  the  large  teeth  on  each  side.  A few  large  punctures 
extend  from  the  snout  below  the  eye,  and  are  continued  just  behind  it ; 
a series  of  small  ones  closely  arranged  extend  from  the  upper  portion  of 
the  eye  in  a curved  form  posteriorly  to  near  the  edge  of  the  pre-opercle, 
and  thence  a double  row  extends  downwards.  Nostrils  very  large,  placed 
just  in  advance  of,  and  before  the  centre  of  the  eye,  and  in  form  a some- 
what oval  transverse  aperture.  Eye  large,  occupying  the  entire  upper 
half  of  the  depth  of  the  head  ; its  width  greater  than  its  height,  in  the 
length  of  the  head,  occupying  the  place  of  1 in  4£ ; its  distance  from  the 
snout  3 lines,  or  equal  to  its  diameter ; consequently  2f  of  its  diameters 
are  contained  between  it  and  the  edge  of  the  operculum.  Operculum 
rounded  at  the  base,  terminating  above  in  a minute  point  directed  back- 
wards, strongly  radiated,  strice  distant ; pre-operculum  ascending  verti- 
cally; cheeks  smooth  and  soft.  Mouth  rather  obliquely  cleft.  Teeth, 
two  large  strong  ones,  placed  close  together,  and  curving  inwards  at  each 
side  the  extremity  of  the  upper  jaw,  the  two  inner  Jg-th  of  an  inch  apart. 
In  the  lower  jaw  one  slender  rounded  tooth,  nearly  1 line  long  on  each 
side,  curving  outwards  at  the  base,  and  inwards  at  the  point.  Entire 
upper  and  under  jaw  and  vomer  densely  studded  with  small  bluntish 
teeth,  somewhat  uniform  in  size ; vomer  extending  far  forward,  and  very 
much  developed,  forming  a cavity  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  in  advance  of  the 
tongue  when  the  mouth  is  closed ; a series  of  rows  of  teeth  similar  to 
those  last  described  on  the  palatine  bones ; all  the  teeth  of  the  upper  jaw 
exposed  to  view  when  the  mouth  is  closed.  Tongue  short,  not  reaching 
within  2i  lines  of  the  extremity  of  the  lower  jaw,  and  apparently  tooth- 
less. On  the  dorsal  ridge,  1 inch  from  the  snout,  or  21  lines  behind  the 
cranium , is  a short,  stout,  bony  spine,  not  very  conspicuous,  and,  except- 
ing its  extreme  point,  covered  with  skin : it  is  6 lines  in  advance  of  the 
first  ray  of  the  dorsal  fin.  Scales  none  * (?)  Lateral  line  inconspicuous, 
being  a slight  depression  extending  in  a straight  line  along  the  middle  of 
the  sides  posteriorly,  or  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  its  length,  but 
anteriorly  nearer  to  the  dorsal  than  the  ventral  profile.  Vent  1 inch  3 
lines  from  the  extremity  of  the  lower  jaw.  Branchiostegous  membrane 
opens  forward  rather  before  the  extremity  of  the  gape.  Dorsal  fin  com- 
mencing 1 inch  6 lines  from  the  snout,  low  at  its  origin,  but  gradually  in- 
creasing in  height  to  near  the  caudal  fin,  which  it  joins ; the  two  or  three 
anterior  rays,  which  are  very  short,  flexible,  and  simple  f (?),  remainder 
articulated.  Anal  fin  originates  just  behind  the  vent,  or  at  1 inch  3 lines 
from  the  point  of  the  lower  jaw,  joins  the  caudal  fin,  near  to  which  it  in- 
creases in  depth  posteriorly  from  its  origin,  deeper  than  the  dorsal  fin 
throughout ; about  1§  inch  from  the  caudal  fin  the  rays  are  in  length 
four  times  greater  than  the  depth  of  the  body  at  the  same  place,  the  rays 


* It  must  be  observed,  that  had  the  specimen  possessed  scales  of  the  same 
nature  as  those  of  the  Cepola  rubescens  (Yarr.  Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  i.  p.  197),  it  may 
have  been  divested  of  them  during  its  short  exposure  on  the  beach, 
t As  in  Cepola  rubescens . 


DRUMMOND’S  ECHIODON. 


233 


of  the  dorsal  fin  opposite  being  three  times  the  length  of  the  body  ; the 
first  and  second  anterior  rays  flexible  and  simple  (?),  remainder  articu- 
lated. Pectoral  fins  originate  1 line  behind  the  head,  and  are  equal  to 
half  its  length ; central  rays  longest,  all  very  flexible,  placed  below  the 
middle  of  the  sides.  Caudal  fin,  central  rays  longest.  Articulations  very 
long  on  the  rays  of  all  the  fins ; no  branched  rays  in  any  of  them. 

D.  180  P A.  180  P P 16  P C.  12?— Br.  7. 

Although  the  numbers  of  these  fin-rays  be  marked  with  doubt,  they  were 
reckoned  with  the  greatest  care ; but  without  injury  to  the  specimen  they 
could  not  be  ascertained  with  certainty  to  a single  ray.  Vertebrce , which 
distinctly  seen  through  the  skin  can  be  reckoned  with  accuracy,  98. 
Colours,  anterior  half  a dull  flesh-colour,  similar  to  specimens  of  Cepola 
rubescens  preserved  in  spirits,  hence  it  is  presumed  to  have  been  origin- 
ally red;  behind  this  portion  reddish-brown  markings  appear  on  the 
body  at  the  base  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  suddenly  increase  in 
number,  until,  from  an  inch  behind  the  middle,  the  whole  sides  are  closely 
marked  and  spotted  over ; the  entire  top  and  the  sides  of  the  head  before 
the  hinder  line  of  the  eye  are  similarly  spotted  ; just  behind  the  cranium  a 
few  spots  also  appear : the  posterior  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal,  and  the 
entire  caudal  fin  blackish.  Iris,  operculum,  and  under  surface,  a short 
way  beyond  the  vent,  bright  silver. 

The  two  large  teeth,  resembling  serpents’  fangs,  which  terminate  the 
upper  jaw  on  each  side,  have  suggested  the  generic  appellation  of  JEchio- 
don  (t%t£,  a viper,  and  odovg,  a tooth) ; and  the  specific  name  of  Drum - 
mondii  is  proposed  in  honour  of  the  discoverer.  * 

Although  when  this  jlsh  first  came  into  my  possession  I saw  that  it 
might  be  classed  under  the  Malacopterygii  Apodes,  and  be  placed  near 
Ophidium,  I considered  that  in  a natural  arrangement  it  would  best  con- 
stitute a new  genus  of  the  family  Tcenioidea.  In  being  apodal  it  was  not 
excluded  from  this  family,  as  two  genera  belonging  to  it  are  destitute  of 
ventral  fins.  I did  not  hesitate  to  place  it  under  the  Acanthopterygii,  as 
some  genera  which  are  included  in  this  order  are,  like  it,  strictly  Mala- 
copterygian,  their  natural  connexion  with  genera  having  fins  with  spinous 
rays  being  considered — and  in  my  opinion  most  philosophically — to  out- 


* In  Mr.  Templeton’s  Catalogue  of  Irish  Vertebrate  Animals,  published  in 
the  Magazine  of  Natural  History  (new  series)  for  T837,  we  find  the  following 
remarks  in  reference  to  Ophidium  imberbe.  “ The  only  specimen  I have  ob- 
served was  thrown  on  the  shores  of  Belfast  Lough,  near  the  White  House  Point, 
on  January  9,  1809.  It  was  a large  specimen,  not  less  than  a foot  long,  and 
agreed  so  exactly  with  the  figure  in  the  British  Zoology,  and  differed  so  much 
from  that  of  Mr.  Montagu  (Wern.  Mem.  p.  95,  pi.  4),  that  I am  led  to  believe 
there  are  two  distinct  species,  of  which  Pennant  has  described  the  one  and  Mon- 
tagu the  other.”  New  series,  vol.  i.  p.  412. 

In  endeavouring  to  gain  further  information  on  this  subject  from  the  late  Mr. 
Templeton’s  papers  (all  of  which,  through  the  kindness  and  liberality  of  his 
family,  are  accessible  to  me),  I have  been  only  able  to  find  the  following  note, 
which  appears  in  his  Journal,  under  date  January  10,  1809.  “Went  to  the 
White  House  to  look  for  Fuci;  found  a fish  about  18  inches  long,  more  taper 
than  an  eel,  at  the  thickest  part  about  an  inch  and  a half  diameter.  I think  it 
was  the  Ophidium  imberbe.  Brit.  Zool.  iii.  398,  t.  93,  in  vol.  iv.”  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  the  information  is  not  more  precise,  as  it  is  not  improbable 
that  the  species  alluded  to  may  have  been  identical  with  that  which  forms  the 
subject  of  the  present  article.  The  White  House  Point  and  Carnlough  Bay  are 
in  a direct  line  about  twenty  miles  distant. 


234 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


weigh  this  character  ; and  further,  I felt  less  reluctance  in  thus  placing 
it,  in  consequence  of  Cepola  rubescens,  which  it  assimilates  in  some  re- 
spects, having  but  one  spinous  ray,  and  that  in  the  ventral  fin.  At  the 
suggestion  of  John  Edward  Gray,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  I have,  however,  recon- 
sidered the  subject,  and  have  come  to  the  conclusion  above  advanced. 

As  a difference  of  opinion  may  still  exist  with  regard  to  the  position  of 
this  genus,  I subjoin  the  observations  originally  made. 

Like  certain  other  genera  which  are  comprehended  under  Acanthop- 
terygii , the  first  order  of  the  Osseous  Fishes,  its  fins  are  altogether  des- 
titute of  spinous  rays,  but  like  those  alluded  to,  such  as  Zocirces,  &c.,  its 
other  characters* * * §  seem  to  point  out  the  Tcenioides  as  the  family  to  which 
it  belongs.  Of  the  eight  f genera  of  Tcenioides  already  known,  viz.  Le- 
pidopus,  Trichiurus,  Gymnetrus,  Stylephorus,  Cepola , Lophotes,  Tracliyp- 
terus , and  Alepisaurus,\  the  specimen  under  consideration  agrees  with 
Trichiurus  and  Stylephorus  in  being  apodal,  or  wanting  ventral  fins,  but 
in  this  character  only  is  there  any  generic  accordance.  Though  con- 
siderably more  elongated,  from  the  head  posteriorly  it  approaches  most 
nearly  to  Cepola  rubescens  in  the  form  of  the  body  and  in  the  forward 
commencement  of  the  anal  fin,  which,  with  the  dorsal,  is  prolongated  until 
it  joins  the  caudal ; but  it  is  only  in  the  continuity  of  these  fins  until 
this  junction  is  effected  that  the  resemblance  holds,  as  in  my  specimen 
the  dorsal  rays  (of  which  the  five  foremost  are  very  short)  increase  in 
length  posteriorly,  and  near  the  caudal  fin  are  about  three  times  as  long 
as  the  depth  of  the  body  beneath  them  ; in  the  anal  fin,  which  is  through- 
out much  higher  than  the  dorsal,  the  rays  likewise  increase  posteriorly, 
and  near  the  caudal  are  in  length  four  times  greater  that  the  depth  of  the 
body  at  the  same  place.  The  length  of  the  posterior  rays  of  these  fins 
causes  the  dorsal,  anal,  and  caudal  to  appear  as  one,  whilst,  though  they 
do  join  in  Cepola  rubescens , the  last  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  being  much 
shorter  than  the  outer  rays  of  the  caudal,  may  at  the  same  time  be  said 
to  mark  distinctly  the  termination  of  each  fin.§  In  my  specimen  the 
anal  originates  two  lines  in  advance  of  the  dorsal  fin. 

In  the  form  of  the  head  and  in  dentition  it  differs  so  remarkably  from 
all  the  other  genera  as  to  render  a comparison  with  them  unnecessary. 
Its  absolute  characters  must  suffice  for  distinction. 

As  Mr.  Yarrell  has,  in  his  valuable  work  on  British  Fishes  (vol.  i.  p. 
185),  suggested,  that  of  the  two  specimens  described  as  Trichiuri  by  Mr. 
Hoy  in  the  Linnean  Transactions  (vol.  xi.  p.  210)  the  first  may  be  the 
type  of  a new  genus,  it  should  be  observed,  that  this  individual  approxi- 
mates the  specimen  under  consideration  in  but  one  generic,  and  that  a 
negative,  character,  namely,  the  want  of  ventral  fins.” 

A friend  who  has  seen  my  specimen  informs  me  that  in  June,  1841,  he 
saw  a fish  captured  on  a hook  baited  with  a sand-eel,  between  Bangor 
and  the  Copeland  Islands  (entrance  to  Belfast  Bay),  which  he  thinks  was 

* I allude  to  external  characters  only,  being  unwilling  to  dissect  a specimen 
as  yet  unique. 

f For  the  purpose  of  comparison,  all  the  genera  given  by  Cuvier  in  the 
Regne  Animal  and  Hist,  de  Poiss.  are  here  brought  together. 

X Zool.  Trans,  vol.  i.  p.  123. 

§ For  illustration  of  this,  see  Cuv.  and  Val.  Hist,  des  Poiss.  pi.  300.  Two 
species  of  Cepola  from  Japan,  the  C.  limbata  and  C.  marginata,  are  (as  has  been 
observed  in  this  work,  tome  x.  p.  403)  figured  by  Krusenstern  with  the  caudal 
fin  contiguous  to  the  dorsal  and  anal,  as  in  the  genus  Anguilla. 


THE  WIDE-MOUTHED  SAND  EEL. 


235 


of  this  species.  It  was  quite  unknown  to  the  fishermen,  and  I have  hardly 
a doubt  of  my  informant’s  correctness  as  to  the  species,  as  I showed  him 
all  the  figures  of  the  Tcenioides  and  Ophidimn-like  fishes,  in  Mr.  Yarrell’s 
work,  and  he  dissented  from  all  but  the  Echiodon : he  paused  on  Cepola, 
but  said  his  fish  was  of  a brown  colour.* 

The  Wide-mouthed  Sand  Eel,  (The  Sand  Eel,  Yarrell,  The  Wide- 
mouthed Launce,  Jenyns ,)  Ammodytes  Tobianus,  Linn., 

Is  taken  on  the  North-East  and  West  coasts:  probably  on  the  South  also. 

The  following  notes  were  published  by  me  in  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist, 
vol.  ii. : — 

“ Ammodytes  Tobianus,  Bloch.  Wide-mouthed  Sand  Eel. — This  species  is 
rare  on  the  shores  of  Ireland,  as  elsewhere,  compared  with  A.  Lancea.  Of  the 
latter,  were  specimens  of  Ammodytes  favoured  me  by  Dr.  Ball  from  the  coast  of 
Cork,  and,  with  one  exception,  all  that  I have  taken  from  the  stomachs  of  the 
cod  and  other  fishes.  Such  likewise,  judging  from  their  size  (£  4 to  9 inches  in 
length’),  are  those  described  in  the  Wild  Sports  of  the  West,  as  sought  for  on 
the  coast  of  Mayo,  and  also  those  taken  on  the  sands  adjoining  the  village  of 
Bushfoot  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway.  In  this  last  locality,  I speak  on  the  author- 
ity of  a gentleman  who  has  often  been  present  at  the  sand  eel  fishing,  and  who, 
on  being  shown  my  specimens  of  A.  Tobianus,  remarked  that  he  had  never  seen 
any  of  those  taken  there  at  all  approaching  them  in  size.  In  a paper  by  Dr.  J. 
D.  Marshall  on  the  Statistics  and  Natural  History  of  the  Island  of  Rathlin,  pub- 
lished in  a late  part  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  the  A.  To- 
bianus is  enumerated  among  the  fishes  of  the  island ; but  I have  the  authority 
of  the  author  for  stating,  that  it  is  the  common  species  now  distinguished  by  the 
name  of  A.  Lancea  fi  to  which  he  there  alluded. 

“ August  Tird,  1836. — On  inquiring  at  Dundrum  on  the  coast  of  Down  about 
sand  eels,  I ascertained  that  two  species  are  procured  in  the  extensive  sands  here ; 
the  larger  of  which  is  called  ‘ Snedden,’  and  the  smaller  ‘ Sand  Eel,’  and  that 
they  are  throughout  the  district  considered  as  distinct  as  any  two  species  of  fish. 
This  information  induced  me  to  attend  the  sand  eel  fishing  to-day,  when  at  the 
extreme  of  low  water  I had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  both  A.  Tobianus  and  A. 
Lancea  taken  indiscriminately.  From  the  loose  sand  covered  with  water  to 
about  the  depth  of  9 inches,' the  persons  engaged  in  this  occupation  with  great 
dexterity  drew  these  fishes  from  their  lurking-places,  using  for  the  purpose  old 
reaping-hooks.  These  are  run  through  the  sands  with  the  right  hand  drawn 
towards  the  left,  by  which  the  fish  is  seized  and  transferred  to  a basked  strapped 
round  the  waist  and  carried  in  front.  It  is  in  shape  like  the  angler’s,  but  much 
larger  and  open  at  the  top.  The  A.  Tobianus  is  said  to  be  always  scarce  here 
compared  with  the  A.  Lancea,  and  is  sometimes  not  to  be  found  at  all.  An  in- 
telligent fisherman  informed  me  that  the  greatest  quantity  he  ever  took  of  the 
former  species  during  1 one  ebb,’  was  twelve  or  thirteen  quarts.  It  is  by  measure 
both  kinds  are  estimated  and  sold,  the  A.  Lancea  producing  from  one  to  two- 
pence the  quart,  and  the  4 sneddens,’  being  more  highly  prized  on  account  of 
their  superior  size,  one-half  more.  On  inquiring  how  the  two  species  are  dis- 
tinguished when  of  equal  size,  one  man  stated,  by  the  difference  of  form,  and 


* The  Literary  Gazette  of  21st  February,  1852 — the  same  number  of  that 
Journal  which  records  Mr.  Thompson’s  death — mentions,  that  at  a meeting  of  the 
Zoological  Society  held  on  the  10th  of  February,  Mr.  Yarrell  in  the  chair,  that 
gentleman  exhibited  a specimen  of  this  Echiodon.  It  had  been  found  by  Miss 
Helen  Blackburn  on  the  shore  of  the  harbour  of  Valencia,  County  Kerry,  after 
a violent  storm  from  the  West.  This  specimen  was  smaller  than  Mr.  Thomp- 
son’s, measuring  only  8 inches  in  length,  but  quite  perfect. — Ed. 

t Both  species  were  until  the  last  few  years  considered  as  one,  which  was 
designated  A.  Tobianus. 


236 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


chiefly  in  that  of  the  head;  and  another  said  he  knew  them  by  colour  alone. 
Although  the  difference  was  in  each  respect  very  apparent  to  myself,  I put  both 
parties  to  the  test,  and  found  that  the  one  guided  by  form,  and  the  other  by 
colour,  drew  the  A.  Tobianus  from  his  basket  with  equal  dexterity,  and  without 
a moment’s  hesitation  singled  it  out  from  hosts  of  the  A.  Lancea.  This  fishing 
is  carried  on  here  daily  throughout  the  year,  except  in  winter,  when  being  full 
of  spawn  the  sand-eels  are  considered  unfit  to  be  eaten.  At  other  times  they  are 
used  by  all  classes  of  people.  In  the  excellent  hotel  at  Dundrum  they  were 
served  up  to  us  at  dinner  along  with  salmon,  and  were  fried  with  crumbs  of 
bread  strewed  over  them — for  breakfast  they  are  similarly  cooked.  The  poorer 
people  dry  them  in  the  sun,  and  in  bright  days  the  tables  and  trays  of  the  cottage 
are  sure  to  be  seen  set  out  before  the  doors  covered  with  sand  eels. 

“ August  27th. — At  Newcastle,  about  three  miles  South  of  Dundrum,  great 
quantities  of  sand  eels  were  taken  at  the  morning  ebb  of  the  spring-tide ; by 
some  individuals  so  many  as  forty  quarts.  In  the  evening  I reckoned  about 
eighty  persons  out  fishing,  and  having  two  one-horse  carts  in  readiness  beside 
them  to  carry  away  the  produce ; but  the  harvest  that  was  then  gathered  fell 
short  of  requiring  such  extra  aid.* 

“ Having  observed  a number  of  pigs  at  Newcastle  daily  frequenting  the  sand  at 
the  extreme  edge  of  the  retiring  waves,  I ascertained,  as  had  been  anticipated, 
that  they  were  in  search  of  sand  eels.  This,  however,  was  not  the  chosen  feed- 
ing-ground of  these  animals,  as  I subsequently  saw  them  regularly  driven  out 
there  to  forage  for  themselves.  The  A.  Tobianus , though  taken  here,  is  less  fre- 
quent than  at  Dundrum. 

“ When  at  Ballywalter,  on  the  coast  of  Down,  and  northwards  of  the  last- 
mentioned  place,  in  May,  1836,  I found  a few  of  A.  Tobianus  by  examining  the 
sand  eels  which  fishermen  were  using  as  bait ; and  in  the  month  of  March 
following,  obtained  a specimen  along  with  two  of  the  A.  Lancea  from  the  sto- 
mach of  a sea  trout  (S.  Trutta)  taken  at  Donaghadee.  On  questioning  some 
fishermen  at  Portaferry,  situated  just  within  the  entrance  to  Strangford  Lough, 
in  the  same  County,  respecting  the  two  species  of  sand  eel,  I learned  that  they 
had  not  been  as  such  distinguished  by  them.  It  was  however  stated,  that  they 
occasionally  obtained  much  larger  individuals  than  ordinary,  which  from  colour 
were  named  e green-backs,’  the  common  being  called  sand  eels ; the  former  both 
from  superior  size  and  different  colour  must  doubtless  be  the  A.  Tobianus. 

“ Amongst  a few  fishes  found  dead  on  the  beach  at  Cairnlough  near  Glenarm 
(County  of  Antrim)  in  June,  1836,  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  was  a specimen  of 
the  A.  Tobianus.  In  this,  as  well  as  every  other  instance  in  which  I have  seen 
the  last-named  species,  specimens  of  A.  Lancea  occurred  at  the  same  time. 

“ In  the  Wild  Sports  of  the  West  there  is  a short  but  graphic  account  of  sand 
eel  fishing  by  moonlight  on  the  coast  of  Mayo;  and  at  Strangford  Lough  and 
other  places  in  the  North  of  Ireland  it  is  likewise  a favourite  pastime  of  the 
young  in  the  moonlight  nights  of  summer.  It  is  said  that  from  the  silvery  bril- 
liancy of  the  fish  being  more  striking  by  night  than  day,  it  is  at  this  time  cap- 
tured with  greater  facility  ; but  is  it  not  rather  for  the  novelty  of  dry-land  fish- 
ing, with  the  additional  feature  of  being  achieved  by  moonlight,  that  the  sport  is 
at  this  time  practised  ? f Although  the  sand  eel  is  noticed  in  several  of  the 
Statistical  Surveys  of  the  Irish  Counties,  there  is  not,  that  I recollect,  any  re- 
mark which  would  lead  us  to  suppose  that  more  than  one  kind  has  been  ob- 
served ; but  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  both  species  are  found  elsewhere  than 
on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim. 

“ The  largest  specimen  of  A.  Tobianus  obtained  at  Dundrum  was  13  inches 


* “ The  coast  [at  Newcastle]  affords  plenty  and  variety  of  sea-fish ; and  such 
quantities  of  sand  eels  have  sometimes  been  taken  on  it,  particularly  in  the  late 
season  of  scarcity,  that  the  poor  carried  them  away  in  sacksful.” — Harris’s 
Down,  p.  81,  published  in  1744. 

f Mr.  Lukis  states  that  in  Guernsey  they  are  sought  for  by  moonlight. — Yarr. 
Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  ii.  p.  324. 


THE  COMMON  SAND  EEL. 


237 


long.  D.  56  (first  very  short)  ; P.  13;  A.  29;  C.  15.  In  all  the  characters  of 
form  and  relative  proportion  of  parts  it  agrees  with  the  descriptions  of  Yarrell 
"and  Jenyns.  In  colour  this  species  is  of  a dark  bluish  green,  while  the  A.  Lan- 
cea  is  of  a sandy  hue,  like  the  atherine  ( A . Presbyter ),  but  tinged  partially  on 
the  hack  and  sides  with  bluish  green.  From  the  mouth  of  the  specimen  described 

I took  a small  individual  of  its  own  species  :*  Bloch  and  Couch  mentions  simi- 
lar instances. 

“ The  largest  A.  Lancea  procured  at  Dundrum  was  8 inches  long.  D.  54  ; P. 

II  ; A.  27  ; C.  14. 

“ Dorsal  fin  commencing  e in  a line  with  the  last  quarter,’  and  not  above  ‘ the 
middle  ’ of  the  pectoral  fins.” 

Mr.  M‘Coy  mentions  (Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vi.  p.  405),  “ This  fish  is 
frequent  in  the  sand  at  Malahide,  County  Dublin,  in  company  with  the 
common  species.” 

The  Common  Sand  Eel,  (The  Sand-Launce,  Yarrell,  The  small- 
mouthed Launce,  Jenyns ,)  Ammodytes  Lancea,  Cuv., 

Is  common  around  the  coast. 

See  remarks  on  this  species,  incorporated  with  those  on  the  preceding 
one. 

Terns  and  various  other  aquatic  birds  prey  upon  the  sand  eel,  with 
which  they  frequently  feed  their  young.  Dr.  Jas.  D.  Marshall  says  it 
<c  furnishes  a favourite  food  to  the  different  sea-fowl  frequenting  the  island  of 
Rathlin,  Co.  Antrim.”  He  adds,  “ almost  every  sea-fowl  I had  an  opportunity  of 
examining  had  the  mouth  and  stomach  filled  with  the  fry  of  this  fish ; and  from 
the  innumerable  flocks  of  birds  which  reside  here  during  summer  the  quantity 
of  fry  devoured  at  this  period  must  be  quite  incalculable.”! 

Sand  Eels. — Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  July  26th,  1851.  I walked  to  the  inner 
bay  of  Dundrum  to-day  at  low  water,  and  came  up  with  an  old  man  and 
his  son,  who  were  on  their  way  to  the  sand  eel  fishing.  The  old  man  had 
a rudely  formed  fishing  basket  slung  behind  him,  and  the  boy  carried  an 
old  shovel ; to  my  inquiring  why  the  shovel  was  taken,  as  I had  never 
seen  anything  but  old  reaping  hooks  used  here,  it  was  replied  that  the 
fish  were  sometimes  so  deep  in  the  sands  that  they  required  to  be  dug 
out ; he  also  produced  an  old  hook  from  his  basket.  I joined  them  to  go 
to  the  fishing.  We  crossed  the  sand-hills  over  to  the  strait  which  lies 
between  the  outer  and  inner  bays  of  Dundrum,  and  suddenly  on  a high 
sloping  bank  above  the  fishing-ground  we  came  upon  about  twenty-five 
or  thirty  men,  women,  boys,  and  girls,  lying  there  with  their  fishing 
baskets  and  other  paraphernalia,  awaiting  the  falling  of  the  tide.  On 
my  remarking  that  it  was  a pity  of  the  poor  sand  eels  if  they  were  all 
going  to  attack  them,  it  was  said,  “We  are  not  near  all  come  yet.”  The 
fishing  soon  commenced,  and  I was  surprised  to  see  the  Ammodytes 
shovelled  out  from  shelly  and  gravelly  sand,  to  a depth  of  two  feet, 
on  the  surface  of  which  my  weight  hardly  left  a foot-mark.  I saw  many 


* An  observant  friend  once  saw  a sand  eel  about  4 inches  in  length  taken  with 
bait,  which  was  either  a piece  of  herring  or  a composition  of  feathers — the  latter 
a common  bait  for  the  coal-fish  ( Merlangus  Carbonarius ) in  the  Nortlnpf  Ire- 
land. 

f Paper  on  the  Statistics  and  Natural  History  of  the  Island  of  Rathlin.  Trans. 
Royal  Irish  Academy,  1836. 

[24  adult  sand  eels  were  taken  "from  the  stomach*  of  Mergus  serrator'Joy  Dr. 
Ball,  in  the  winter  of  1837 Ed.] 


238 


MALACOPTERYGII. 


taken  here,  of  various  sizes,  the  largest  with  the  milt  (almost  of  a milky 
whiteness)  flowing  on  the  slightest  pressure  of  the  body  ; and  the  ova  just 
ready  for  exclusion,  they  were  the  size  of  clover  seed.  The  people  said  they 
were  all  of  the  large  kind  here,  but  I,  thoughtlessly,  did  not  look  to  the 
point,  or  bring  away  any  of  the  fish.  Seven  inches,  however,  was  about 
the  greatest  length  of  any. 

The  males  and  females  were  at  once  distinguished  by  the  distended 
abdomen  of  the  latter.  None  were  taken  here  “with  a hook,”  but  this 
instrument  was  in  requisition  in  the  hands  of  two  men  elsewhere,  who 
waded  nearly  knee-deep  into  the  sea  ; and  there  stirred  up  the  sand  with 
it.  The  fishers  say  the  sand  eels  change  their  ground,  so  as  to  be  hardly 
ever  two  days  at  the  same  place ; they  never  feel  sure  of  finding  them 
anywhere.  I saw  the  fishing  going  on  yesterday  by  the  same  party,  about 
a mile  distant  from  where  they  were  to-day — to  the  North  of  the  entrance 
to  the  inner  bay. 

The  number  taken  is  extremely  variable ; the  greatest  my  informant 
has  known  by  one  person  during  an  ebb,  from  forty  to  fifty  quarts.  Dur- 
ing frosts,  it  is  said,  by  far  the  greatest  quantity  is  taken  ; they  are 
chiefly  eaten  by  the  fishers  and  their  families,  but  are  also  carried  for  sale 
to  the  neighbouring  small  towns,  including  Downpatrick  and  Ballyna- 
hinch,  but  not  farther.  They  are  sold  by  the  quart  measure. 

Aug.  23rd.  I saw  several  young  sand  eels  from  two  to  three  inches, 
long,  in  sandy  parts  near  Annalong  ; I endeavoured  to  catch  them  in  my 
net,  but  in  vain,  they  so  quickly  disappeared  in  the  sand  at  the  bottom  of 
the  pool. 

Sept  20 th.  I questioned  Mr.  Brown  of  Dundrum  and  a head-fisherman 
to-day,  respecting  sand  eels  here  ; the  purport  of  which  is,  that  at  spawn- 
ing time  in  winter  (when,  however,  the  fish  are  so  thin  as  not  to  be 
sought  after  generally  for  food)  one  man  has,  during  an  ebb,  taken  three 
bushels  of  them  ; in  summer,  too,  one  person  has  sometimes  taken  so  many 
at  a time  as  to  require  a donkey  to  draw  them  home.  They  come  far  up  the 
bay  to  spawn  : they  are  becoming  gradually  scarce,  being  more  regularly 
followed  and  used  as  bait  than  formerly,  yet  they  tell  me  that  down  to 
the  last  twenty  years  a thousand  people,  including  many  from  five  or  six 
miles’  distance,  would  come  once  annually  for  three  or  four  days  and 
bivouack  on  the  sand-hills,  living  on  sand  eels  and  the  potatoes  that  they 
would  take  from  the  nearest  fields.  On  such  occasions  party-fights  en- 
livened the  proceedings,  in  which  Dundrum  suffered  by  attacks  on  the 
windows,  &c.,  of  each  party.  They  were  very  lawless  and  uncivilized 
gatherings. 

At  spring  tides  the  sand  eels  are  sought  for  during  the  year,  excepting 
the  winter  months,  when  poor  from  spawning ; a thousand  persons  are  still 
occasionally  engaged  fishing  at  the  two  sides  of  the  inner  bay  (Dundrum 
and  Ballykinlar),  and  on  a good  day  will  average  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
quarts  * (about  a hundred  fish  to  the  quart) ; a good  fisher  will  take  sixty 
quarts.  This  season  there  was  but  one  very  successful  day,  when  seventy 
quarts  were  taken  by  the  best  fishers.  The  usual  price  at  which  they  are 
sold  is  1 d.  per  quart.  Lightning  has  a great  effect  upon  them  in  causing 
them  to  bury  themselves  in  the  sands. 

Atmjjfy.  Tobianus,  distinguished  as  Snedden  from  the  sand  eel  by  the 


* My  other  informant  (but  not  so  good  an  authority)  agreed  respecting  the 
number  of  persons,  but  thought  they  would  not  take  one-half  of  what  is  above 
stated. 


THE  GREAT  PIKE-FISH. 


239 


head  fishermen.  He  says  they  differ  from  the  latter,  by  keeping  to  softer 
sand,  as  they  cannot  quickly  conceal  themselves  where  it  is  hard,  but 
where  the  sand  suits  there  are  plenty  of  the  others  also ; it  feeds  chiefly 
on  the  small  ones  of  Ammodytes  Lancea ; it  comes  far  up  the  bay  to 
spawn,  attains  to  18  inches  in  length.  He  contradicts  the  preceding 
so  far  as  to  say  that  he  never  but  once  saw  sneddins  by  themselves  ; but 
during  one  tide  he  saw  them ; they  are  not  nearly  so  numerous  as  the 
smaller  species. 


ORDER  III.— LOPHOBRANCHII. 

DlV.  I. — OSTEODERMI. 

The  Great  Pipe-Fish,  Syngnathus  Acus,  Linn., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

Mr.  Templeton  says  of  it : — “ Rather  a scarce  fish,  although  found  on 
both  the  southern  and  northern  extremities  of  the  island.  — Seems  to 
breed  in  spring.” 

. To  myself  it  has  occurred  commonly  on  the  N.  E.  coast,  chiefly  in  the 
dredge  used  in  Belfast  Bay  and  Strangford  Lough,  and  I have  seen  spe- 
cimens from  all  other  sides  of  this  island. 

In  July,  1840,  when  with  Messrs.  R.  Ball  and  E.  Forbes  in  the  West  of 
Ireland,  it  was  taken  in  the  dredge  at  Roundstone  Bay.  Dr.  Ball  re- 
marks that  it  is  called  earl  in  the  South,  where  this  is  a generic  name  for 
the  Syngnathi. 

A friend  who  has  frequently  watched  the  movements  of  pipe-fishes  in 
Belfast  Bay  describes  them  as  skimming  along  the  surface  of  the  water, 
in  the  summer  evenings  especially,  like  a slate  thrown  horizontally. — He 
has  seen  them  skipping  for  20  or  30  yards  at  a time,  and  also  springing 
a foot  high  into  the  air. 

I am  indebted  for  the  following  notes  to  my  friend  R.  Patterson,  Esq. 

“ The  pipe-fish  now  sent,  which  I take  to  be  the  young  of  the  great 
pipe-fish  ( Syngnathus  acus),*  was  taken  in  a small  towing  net  on  the  8th 
Aug.,  1846,  near  Cultra.  Some  Crustacea  were  captured  at  the  same  time, 
and  one  of  them,  of  a common  species  of  Gammarus,  was  placed  with  the 
pipe-fish  in  a glass  vessel  of  sea-water.  About  half  an  hour  afterwards  I 
noticed  that  the  Gammarus  had  seized,  hold  with  its  feet  of  the  body  of 
the  fish,  which  it  clasped  a little  above  the  tail. 

“ The  fish,  apparently  to  get  rid  of  this  ‘ old  man  of  the  mountain/  be- 
gan lashing  the  water  vigorously  with  its  tail,  but  without  effect.  It 
rested  for  two  or  three  minutes,  and  renewed  its  efforts,  but  with  no  bet- 
ter success.  It  then  rested  again,  and  the  Gammarus  took  the  opportu- 
nity of  the  quiet  to  change  its  quarters  by  creeping  along  the  back  of  the 
fish : it  had  got  past  the  middle  when  the  fish  began  turning  round  on 
the  longitudinal  axis  of  the  body,  as  it  might  be  supposed  to  do  if  in  the 
process  of  being  roasted  on  a miniature  spit.  It  then  staid  quiet  for  a 
time,  and  the  Gammarus  got  further  forward,  and  exhibited  itself  in 
front  of  the  dorsal  fin.  The  fish  then  recommenced  its  revolutions,  but 
they  seemed  so  utterly  unavailing  that  at  length  we  took  pity  upon  it, 


* It  is  so.— W.  T. 


240 


LOPHOBRANCHII. 


and  removed  the  cause  of  its  uneasiness.  The  fish  was  now  placed  in  a 
common  white  earthenware  bowl,  where  it  seemed  to  enjoy  itself, 
spreading  out  the  fan-shaped  tail  on  the  bottom  of  the  bowl,  and  moving 
the  head  about,  the  entrance  to  the  tubular  jaws  being  at  or  near  the 
surface  of  the  water.  Mr.  Yarrell  mentions  its  power  of  expanding  the 
throat,  but  says  nothing  of  the  expansiveness  of  the  tube.  I do  not 
know  if  the  diameter  is  variable  (it  expands  to  double  its  ordinary  width, 
W.  T.),  but  the  length  is  certainly  so  : for  in  an  instant  it  becomes  Dne- 
half  longer,  or  one-third  shorter,  than  the  moment  before.  During  the 
day  it  was  in  my  custody  its  general  position  was  that  already  mention- 
ed, though  it  occasionally  swam  round  the  bowl.” 

“This  fish  is  abundant  in  Lough  Foyle,  the  largest  yet  met  with  measured  1 
ft.  3 in.  It  was  a female  and  contained  in  its  stomach  several  shrimps,  some 
broken,  some  whole.” — Ordnance  Mem.  of  Londonderry,  p.  15. 

The  Deep-nosed  Pipe-fish,  Syngnathus  Typhle,  Linn., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  coasts  of  Antrim  and  Cork. 

In  1837,  I recorded,  in  the  Zool.  Proc.,  the  occurrence  of  one  example 
of  this  fish,  taken  on  the  coast  of  Cork ; and  subsequently  in  the  Annals 
Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.,  I published  the  following  notice  of  the  same  specimen, 
and  of  the  only  other  Irish  one  which  I have  yet  seen : — 

“ Syngnathus  Typhle,  Linn.  Deep-nosed  pipe-fish. — An  individual  of  this 
species  above  8 inches  in  length,  and  obtained  in  1835  at  Glendore,  County  of 
Cork,  by  Dr.  Allman,  has  been  forwarded  for  my  inspection  by  Dr.  R.  Ball. 
Among  some  small  fishes  taken  along  with  Crustacea,  &c.,  in  Larne  Lough 
(County  of  Antrim),  during  the  summer  of  1836,  by  Mrs.  Patterson  of  Belfast, 
and  very  kindly  sent  to  me,  was  a specimen  of  S.  Typhle.  Though  only  1 inch 
2 lines  in  length,  every  character  in  proportion  to  its  size  was  as  strongly  mark- 
ed as  in  the  adult  fish.” — (An.  Nat.  History,  vol.  ii.)  Youghal.  Dr.  Ball. 

Mr.  Jenyns  (p.  486)  observes  with  reference  to  this  species,  that  it  is 
equally  common  with  the  great  pipe-fish,  if  not  more  so.  This  remark 
does  not  apply  to  the  Irish  coast,  so  far  as  my  own  observations  have 
extended. 

The  vEquopeal  Pipe-fish,  Syngnathus  JEquoreus , Linn., 

Is  occasionally  taken  on  all  sides  of  the  island. 

As  recorded  by  me  in  the  2nd  vol.  of  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist. : — * 

“ Syngnathus  JEquoreus,  Linn.  iEquoreal  pipe-fish. — A specimen  of  this 
fish  taken  at  Youghal  (County  Cork)  has  been  submitted  to  my  examination  by 
Dr.  Ball.  Its  length  is  19  inches,  rays  of  dorsal  fin  40.  It  corresponds  in  all 
respects  with  this  species,  as  admirably  characterized  by  Mr.  Jenyns  (p.  486)  ; 
as  also  does  another  individual  obtained  in  the  autumn  of  1836,  on  the  beach 
near  Larne  (County  Antrim),  by  Mr.  James  Manks  of  that  town,  who  present- 
ed it  to  the  Belfast  Museum.  This  specimen  is  21§  inches  long,  but  being  im- 
perfect at  the  caudal  extremity  must  when  entire  have  been  at  least  one  inch 
more.  Its  D.  rays  41. — March  15th,  1838.  I received  from  George  Matthews, 
Esq.,  of  Spring-vale  (County  Down),  a perfect  and  beautiful  specimen  of  this 
fish,  which  was  found  on  the  beach  there  after  a high  tide  during  the  boisterous 
weather  about  the  beginning  of  this  month.  Its  length  is  22|  inches.  D.  rays 
46 ; caudal  fin  apparent  to  the  naked  eye ; its  rays,  distinguished  by  a lens,  8 
in  number.  This  Syngnathus  was  in  the  present  instance  preserved  and  for- 


* See  also  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1837 


THE  PIPE-FISH. 


241 


warded  to  me  on  account  of  the  fishermen  being  unacquainted  with  it.” — Ann. 
Nat.  History,  vol.  ii. 

I have  since  seen  several  specimens  which  were  obtained  on  the  An- 
trim and  Down  coasts,  and  Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  it  occurs, 
though  rarely,  on  the  Galway  coast. 

A large  example  of  this  fish,  taken  at  Killiney,  was  presented  to  the 
Dublin  University  Museum,  in  June,  1846,  by  Surgeon  Carmichael. 

In  the  Ordnance  Mem.  (Notices,  p.  14),  the  following  note  occurs  in 
reference  to  this  pipe-fish  : — “ Specimens  of  this  fish,  in  various  stages  of 
growth,  have  been  obtained  during  this  season  (1837),  from  Larne  and 
Carnlough,  on  the  coast  of  Antrim/’ 

The  Snake  Pipe-fish,  Syngnathus  anguineus,  Jenyns, 

— Ophidian,  Bloch, 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  North-East,  South,  and  West  coasts. 

The  following  notice  of  this  species  was  contributed  by  me  to  the  Annals 
Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii. : — 

“ Syngnathus  Ophidian,  Bloch.  Snake  pipe-fish. — From  Dr.  R.  Ball  I have 
received  for  examination  two  specimens  of  8.  Ophidion,  one  procured  in  1835 
at  Glendore  (by  Dr.  Allman),  and  the  other  at  Youghal.  The  larger  one  is  up- 
wards of  a foot  in  length,  and,  with  the  unimportant  difference  of  its  having  41 
rays  on  the  dorsal  fin,  they  agree  in  every  character  with  the  descriptions  of  this 
species  by  Jenyns  and  Yarrell,  which  are  much  more  minute  than  Bloch’s  ac- 
count of  it.  Dr.  Ball  has  subsequently  informed  me  of  his  having  received  a 
third  specimen,  about  14  inches  in  length,  from  Youghal,  where  it  was  cap- 
tured in  July,  1836.  Soon  after  this  time  I received  a S.  Ophidion  from  the 
coast  of  the  County  of  Antrim.” 

To  this  I have  only  to  add,  that  in  1840  Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  of 
his  having  taken  this  species  under  stones  at  extreme  low-water  mark, 
Houndstone  Bay. 

The  Straight-nosed  Pipe-fish,  Syngnathus  Ophidion , Linn., 

Has  been  twice  obtained  on  the  Down  coast. 

The  first  specimen  which  came  under  my  observation  was  thus  noticed 
by  me  in  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist,  (new  series),  vol.  i.  1848 : — 

“ ‘ Syngnathus  Ophidion , Linn.,’  Yarr.  Brit.  Fish.  vol.  ii.  447,  2nd  edit. — A 
specimen  taken  in  the  dredge  with  oysters,  at  Killinchy,  Strangford  Lough,  in 
October  last,  happened  fortunately  to  be  brought  with  them  to  Belfast  market, 
where  I procured  it.  Its  length  is  eleven  inches  : the  characters  all  as  described 
by  Yarrell.  After  being  preserved  in  spirits  for  some  weeks  its  colours  are  a 
mixture  of  very  pale  bluish  and  brownish  olive,  with  a fine  black  interrupted  or  non- 
continuous  line  along  the  back  from  the  head  to  the  dorsal  fin : whitish  spots 
along  the  medial  line.” 

In  Oct.,  1851,  I obtained  the  second  example  among  Carrickfergus 
oysters.  It  is  about  8^  inches  long. 

The  Worm  Pipe-fish,  Syngnathus  lumbriciformis , Jenyns, 

Is  obtained  on  all  sides  of  the  island. 

In  the  Zool.  Proc.  for  1835,  I noticed  this  sp.  under  the  name  then 
applied  to  it,  of  S.  Ophidion , Linn.,  as  taken  by  Mr.  Hyndman  at  the  en- 
trance to  Strangford  Lough,  in  March,  1832.  The  specimens  were  all 
adult,  one  of  them  having  attained  to  6 inches  in  length. 

The  D.  fin-rays  in  this  specimen  were  30 : this  fin  commences  1 inch  9 

R 


242 


LOPHOBRANCHII. 


lines  from  snout;  occupies  or  extends  for  8 lines;  vent  1 inch  10  lines 
from  snout. 

I extract  the  following  note  from  the  Proc.  Zool.  Society  for  1837,  to 
which  it  was  contributed  by  me : — 

“ Syngnathus  lumbriciformis , Jenyns  ? Yarrell.  As  it  has  recently  been  dis- 
covered that  two  species  of  Syngnathi  have  hitherto  been  confounded  under  the 
name  of  8.  Ophidion,  it  should  be  stated  that  those  which  I brought  under  the 
notice  of  this  Society  on  June  9,  1835,  as  taken  in  Strangford  Lough,  are  iden- 
tical with  the  8.  lumbriciformis , as  described  by  Mr.  Yarrell  (Brit.  Fish.  vol.  ii. 
p.  340).  It  may  he  added,  that  from  Dr.  Ball  I have  since  received  nine  speci- 
mens which  were  taken  by  him  in  June,  1835,  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran,  off 
Galway,  and  from  Captain  Fayrer,  R.  N.,  several,  likewise  caught  in  the  same 
month  at  Donaghadee. 

“ The  dorsal  fin  and  vent  in  all  these  specimens,  including  one  from  Belfast 
Bay,  19  in  number,  which  are  from  under  3 to  6 inches  long,  about  one-third  of  the 
entire  length  from  the  snout,  and  the  head  occupying  about  one-twelfth  of  the 
whole  length.  In  these  characters  they  correspond  with  Mr.  Yarrell* s descrip- 
tion. Mr.  Jenyns  describes  the  £ dorsal  and  vent  at  about  the  middle  of  the 
entire  length,’  and  the  head  4 scarcely  one-seventeenth  ’ of  it.*  Some  of  them 
exhibit  ova  ‘ in  hemispherical  depressions,  on  the  external  surface  of  the  abdo- 
men, anterior  to  the  vent,’  as  mentioned  in  the  Manual  of  the  British  Verte- 
brata,  p.  489.” 

To  this  may  be  added,  that  specimens  have  since  been  taken  in  the 
dredge  used  in  deep  water,  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  and  also  at 
Larne  ; have  been  found  on  the  shore  of  Tory  Island  (Donegal),  by  Mr. 
G.  C.  Hyndman  ; were  obtained  by  ourselves,  in  July,  1840,  at  Round- 
stone,  on  the  Galway  coast,  and  at  Lahinch  (County  of  Clare),  under 
stones  between  tide-marks  ; and  specimens  taken  at  Youghal  and  at 
Courtmasherry  (County  of  Cork),  by  Dr.  Ball  and  by  Professor  Allman, 
have  come  under  my  notice.  It  has  been  taken  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 

This  and  S.  Acus  are  by  far  the  most  common — indeed  are  the  only 
species  to  which  the  term  common  can  be  applied — pipe-fish  on  the  Irish 
coast.  S.  lumbric.  seems  to  be  the  most  littoral  species,  which  may  per- 
haps account  for  my  having  seen  even  more  of  it  than  of  S.  Acus. 

Templeton,  in  his  Catalogue,  gives  S.  barbarus ; but  I do  not  know  to 
what  species  he  referred.  By  S.  Ophidion  he  probably  meant  the  S. 
lumbriciformis .f 

The  Short-nosed  Hippocampus,  or  Sea-Horse,  Hippocampus 
brevirostris , Cuv., 

Has  been  obtained  in  Dublin  Bay,  and  probably  in  other  localities. 

In  1849,  Robert  Callwell,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  lent  me  for  examination  a 
specimen  of  this  fish,  which  he  had  procured,  quite  fresh,  in  June,  1843, 
when  walking  on  the  North  Bull.  It  had  just  been  picked  up  on  the 
beach  by  a little  boy  who  put  no  value  on  it. 

Examples  of  the  genus  Hippocampus  had  been  previously  taken,  as 
mentioned  in  the  following  notes.  Some  of  these  captures  I recorded  in 
the  Zool.  Proc.  for  1837,  and  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ii.,  but  as  none 
of  the  fishes  had  been  preserved  the  species  was  not  ascertained. 

“ Hippocampus  brevirostris , Cuv.  ? Sea-horse. — In  July,  1 821,  a recent  speci- 
men of  Hippocampus,  presumed  to  be  this  species,  was  found  on  the  beach  at  Red 
Bay,  County  of  Antrim,  by  William  Ogilby,  Esq.,  F.L.S.” — Zool.  Proc.  1837. 


* This  has  since  been  shown  by  Mr.  Jenyns  to  be  a different  species, 
f Taken  in  dredging  in  the  river  Liffey  by  Dr.  Ball. 


pennant’s  globe-fish. 


243 


A Hippocampus  was  taken  alive  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  July,  1837,  by  my 
relative,  Richard  Langtry,  Esq.,  and  although  ordered  to  be  preserved  for 
me  it  was  unfortunately  lost. 

In  1838,  Dr.  R.  Ball  informed  me  that  about  four  years  previous  to  that 
time  a specimen  was  found  dead  on  the  beach  near  Youghal. 

Dr.  G.  J.  Allman  informed  me,  in  1839,  that  two  small  specimens  of 
Hippocampi , each  about  an  inch  long,  were  taken  by  John  Armstrong, 
Esq.,  from  the  stomach  of  a codling  caught  above  Carlisle  Bridge,  Dub- 
lin, in  Sept,  or  Oct.,  a year  or  two  previously. 


PLECTOGNATHI. 

ORDER  IV.— GYMNODONTES. 

Pennant’s  Globe-fish  (Yarrell),  or  Stellated  Globe-fish, 
Tetrodon  stellatus , Don.,  Tetrodon  Pennantii , Yarr., 

Is  only  known  to  me  from  the  following  brief  note  which  occurs  in  Mr. 
Templeton’s  Catalogue  : — 

“ Tetrodon  (Linn.),  stellatus  (Don.). — The  only  specimen  I have  known  to  be 
found  on  the  shores  of  Ireland  was  seen  on  the  Tramore  strand,  County  Water- 
ford, by  Dr.  Gabriel  Stokes.” 

In  Great  Britain  this  fish  has  only  been  taken  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall, 
where  three  specimens  have  at  different  periods  occurred.* 

The  Short  Sun-fish,  Ortliagoriscus  Mola,  Schn., 

Has  been  taken  on  each  side  of  the  coast. 

In  the  Ordnance  Survey  Memoir  (Notices,  p.  14)  it  is  stated  that  a 
“ specimen  was  procured  on  the  Magilligan  coast  in  the  winter  of 
1836-7.” 

A fish  described  to  me  as  taken  in  the  autumn  of  1841  at  Bushfoot, 
near  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  must  have  been  an  Ortliagoriscus. 

An  example  of  this  fish,  weighing  about  3 cwt.,  which  is  preserved  in 
Queen’s  College,  Belfast,  was  taken  on  15th  Sept.,  1851,  off  the  Gobbins 
(County  Antrim),  by  the  crew  of  the  revenue  cruiser  Wellington,  whose 
attention  was  attracted  by  one  of  its  fins  projecting  out  of  the  water.  It 
struggled  desperately  when  attacked.  This  specimen  was  advertised  for 
exhibition  at  Belfast  as  an  “ Odd  Jish.”  Another  individual  had  been 
captured  on  the  Antrim  coast  a few  days  previously,  and  was  exhibited 
in  Ballymena. 

Dr.  Jacob  described  a fish  of  this  species  in  the  Dublin  Phil.  Journal 
of  November,  1826,  which  was  taken  in  the  previous  month  of  August 
between  the  South-West  coast  of  England  and  Dublin  Bay.  Mr.  Yarrell 
remarks,  that  Dr.  Jacob’s  is  the  best  account  of  this  fish  that  he  is  ac- 
quainted with.f — Yarr.  Brit.  Fishes , vol.  ii. 

* Two  specimens  at  least  have  been  taken  since  Mr.  Thompson’s  death,  one 
on  the  coast  of  Wexford,  and  one  on  the  coast  of  Waterford. — R.  Ball. 

f In  the  figure  given  by  Dr.  Jacob  the  pectoral  fin  is  pointed  like  that  of  O. 
oblongus ; it  was  not  so  in  the  specimen  which  I saw,  but  was  a mistake  of  the 
artist.— R.  Ball. 


244 


PLECTOGNATHI. 


Dr.  Ball  informed  me  of  an  Orth.  Mola  being  taken  at  the  end  of  June, 
1839,  off  Arklow,  County  of  Wicklow.  It  measured  4 feet  in  length  and 
weighed  If  cwt. 

This  fish  was  very  fully  described  in  an  excellent  communication  made 
to  the  4th  vol.  of  Charlesworth’s  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  p.  235,  by  Dr.  Belling- 
ham of  Dublin,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  Four  species  of  Entozoa 
found  in  it  are  also  particularly  noticed.  I learned  from  Captain  Walker, 
in  1846,  that  large  specimens  of  the  short  sun-fish  have  occurred  on  the 
Wexford  coast. 

Between  the  years  1818  and  1825  Dr.  Ball  saw  off  the  coast  at  Youghal 
five  of  these  fishes,  three  of  which  he  preserved.  When  on  a visit  to  him 
in  July,  1834,  we  saw  for  some  time  at  a little  distance  the  D.  fin  of  a fish 
above  the  surface  of  the  water,  which  there  could  not  be  a doubt  was 
O.  Mola. 

Two  of  the  specimens  which  Dr.  Ball  had  procured  attracted  attention 
by  the  fin  being  thus  seen  above  the  surface,  and  were  captured  with  a 
gaff. 

Dr.  Harvey  tells  us  that  he  believes  a specimen  occurred  in  Cork  Har- 
bour in  1837  (Cork  Fauna). 

Mr.  J.  D.  Humphrey  mentions  that  three  were  taken  in  September, 
1846,  two  off  Cork  Harbour  and  one  off  Youghal : in  one  of  the  former 
several  Tritoma  coccineum  were  found. 

An  example  taken  in  Connemara,  and  weighing  6 cwt.  42  lbs.,  is  de- 
scribed by  Captain  Bedford,  R.  N.  See  Illustrated  London  Reading 
Book,  p.  170,  published  at  office  Illust.  Lond.  News,  1850. 

The  immense  specimen  in  British  Museum  is  noticed  in  Zool.  Proc., 
1849,  p.  6. 

The  Oblong  Sun-fish,  Orthagoriscus  oblongus,  Schn., 

Has  been  once  at  least  obtained  on  the  coast. 

A specimen  of  this  fish  was,  at  the  end  of  September,  1845,  found  by  a 
peasant  among  a mass  of  sea-weed  on  the  coast  near  Tramore,  County  of 
Waterford,  and  being  seen  by  Mr.  Trevor  E.  James,  a gentleman  con- 
nected with  the  Geological  Survey  of  Ireland,  was  fortunately  secured  by 
him.  It  was  given  by  that  gentleman  to  Dr.  Farran,  by  whom  it  was 
presented  to  the  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  of  Dublin,  and  who  kindly  wrote  me  of 
its  occurrence  at  the  time.  Mr.  Andrews,  the  secretary  of  the  society  just 
named,  drew  up  a minute  description  of  the  specimen,  which  was  read  to 
the  society  and  published  in  Saunders’  News  Letter  of  Nov.  17th,  1845. 

Dr.  Harvey  favoured  me  with  the  following  note,  in  1847  : — 

“ Orthagoriscus  oblongus , Mr.  Samuel  Wright  states  that  he  took  at 
Youghal  in  1837.  Its  weight  was  about  112  lbs.  He  says  it  exactly  cor- 
responded with  the  Oblong  Sun-Jish  of  Shaw’s  Zoology,  vol.  v.  part  i. 
pi.  176.”  _ 

There  is  a specimen  of  the  oblong  sun-fish  in  the  Dublin  University 
Museum,  supposed  to  be  a native  one,  taken  at  Wexford,  as  indicated  by 
an  old  list  of  donations. 


ORDER  V.— SCLERODERMI. 

The  File-fish  ( Batistes  capriscus,  Gmel.)  has  been  obtained  at  Galway  by 
Professor  Melville,  about  two  years  ago. — JR.  Ball,  1855. 


THE  STURGEON, 


245 


IT.  CARTILAGINEI. 


ORDER  VI. — ELEUTHEROPOMI. 

The  Sturgeon,  Acipenser  Sturio , Linn.,  (?) 

— Thompson™,  Ball,  M.  S., 

Is  taken  occasionally  in  the  large  rivers  from  North  to  South. 

The  existence  of  sturgeons  in  Ireland  has  been  mentioned  by  Sampson 
(Derry),  Tighe  (Kilkenny),  Rutty  (Dublin),  Smith  (Cork),  and  by  Tem- 
pleton in  his  Catalogue  : they  probably  occur  as  frequently  now  as  at  any 
former  period. 

March  4th,  1839. — I saw  one  about  6 feet  long  in  Belfast  market, 
brought  from  Coleraine,  where  it  was  captured  in  the  salmon  nets.  I 
should  think  it  not  less  than  80  lbs.  weight.  Another  was  taken  here  two 
years  ago ; this  fish  is  pointed  on  the  snout,  which  is  narrower  than  the 
mouth,  and  consequently  differs  from  Parnell’s  Acipenser  latirostris : the 
keel  of  the  scales  is  at  the  same  time  depressed,  as  he  figures  that  of  his 
A.  latirostris. 

June  11th,  1846. — I purchased  to-day  in  Belfast  market  a small  speci- 
men, which  was  taken  in  the  sea  last  night  at  Donaghadee  in  a net  with 
sea  trout  ( S . trutta) ; it  is  being  preserved  for  the  Belfast  Museum. 

I looked  critically  to  the  food  contained  in  its  stomach  and  intestines, 
more  especially  as  I always  considered  it  improbable  that  fishes  could,  as 
stated,  form  the  food  of  a species  having  a mouth  like  the  sturgeon’s. 
The  stomach  contained  several  specimens  of  minute  Crustacea  (Amphi- 
poda),  the  remains  of  a shrimp-like  species,  fragments  of  .Porphyra,  which 
probably  had  been  growing  on  the  sandy  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  a perfect 
minute  Tellina  tenuis ; it  likewise  contained  some  fine  sand,  with  which 
also  the  intestines  were  wholly  filled. 

It  is  4 feet  4^  inches  in  length. 

Fin-rays,  in  all  the  fins,  much  the  same  number  as  given  by  Jenyns,  but 
all  rather  exceeding  his.  No  specific  difference  in  the  numbers. 

Osseous  head-plates  different  in  form  from  any  of  the  four  figures  of 
native  sturgeons  of  which  Dr.  R.  Ball  made  drawings.  These  four  all 
differ  from  each  other  in  the  form  of  these  plates,  and  also  in  the  form  of 
the  head,  as  looked  down  upon.  The  form  of  the  bony  plates  in  my  spe- 
cimen resembles  more  in  form  those  of  A.  latirostris,  Parnell,  than  any  of 
the  others,  but  the  snout  of  my  specimen  is  decidedly  sharp-pointed. 

Judging  from  all  drawings  which  I have  seen  of  the  bony  plates  of  the 
head  of  sturgeons,  and  finding  them  so  variable,  I have  long  felt  certain 
that  their  precise  form  is  of  no  value  as  a specific  character  ; the  form,  too, 
of  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  fish  is  liable  to  much  variation,  from  being 
pointed  to  rounded. 

On  20th  December,  1849,  a sturgeon  was  taken  at  Belfast,  close  to  the 
County  Down  Railway  Station,  where  it  was  stranded  when  the  tide 
ebbed.  It  was  of  the  ordinary  sharp-nosed  kind,  and  about  4^  feet  long. 
I subsequently  learned  that  this  fish  lived  36  hours  out  of  water,  and  was 
at  last  killed  by  being  packed  in  ice  to  be  sent  to  Liverpool. 

April  29 th,  1851. — Thomas  Fortescue,  Esq.,  of  Ravensdale  Park  (the  pre- 
sent Lord  Clermont),  informs  me  that  in  the  river  at  Clermont  Park,  near 
that  place,  and  belonging  to  him,  a sturgeon  is  taken  almost  every  year : 


246 


ELEUTHEROPOMI. 


one  about  6 feet  long  was  captured  last  year  and  sent  to  him  when  in 
London.  It  being  a “ Royal  fish,”  he  presented  it  to  the  Queen. 

I have  also  notes  of  the  capture  of  sturgeons  at  Cushendall  (Antrim), 
Dundrum  (Down),  Dundalk,  Carrick-on-Suir,  and  Wexford. 

In  the  County  of  Cork  sturgeons  have  been  frequently  taken  in  the 
Blackwater  and  in  the  Bandon  rivers,  but  more  rarely  in  the  latter.  Dr. 
R.  Ball  has  critically  examined  several  Irish  specimens,  and  is  of  opinion 
that  they  are  not  only  distinct  from  the  two  species  which  have  been 
recognised  as  British,  but  are  undescribed : he  has  named  the  species 
A.  Thompsonii. 

I am  unable  to  reconcile  the  sturgeon  which  I have  called  Thompsonii  with 
the  Sturio  of  Linnseus.  I have  collected  a great  many  specimens,  and  the  sub- 
ject requires  to  be  worked  out.  I do  not  think  the  broadness  or  sharpness  of  the 
nose  a specific  distinction,  as  no  two  of  my  specimens  can  be  said  to  agree  in  the 
form  of  the  nose,  or  the  arrangement  of  the  scales  on  the  nose  and  head.  Pos- 
sibly more  species  than  should  be,  have  been  made  : I have  now  so  many  speci- 
mens that,  it  may  be,  a classification  of  their  variations  will  reduce  Sturio,  Thomp- 
sonii, and  latirostris  to  a single  species.  It  would  be  desirable  to  get  from  the 
Continent  a true  A.  Sturio  for  comparison. — R.  Ball,  2 June,  1855. 

“ Sturgeons  of  from  nine  to  ten  feet  in  length  are  occasionally  seen  in 
the  Dublin  market.” — R.  Ball. 

The  Isinglass  Sturgeon,  Acipenser  Huso,  Linn. 

In  1847  I contributed  the  following  note  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist., 
vol.  xx. : — 

“ Isinglass  Sturgeon,  Acipenser  Huso,  Linn. — A notice  of  the  occurrence  of  this 
species  on  the  coast  of  Cork,  in  July,  1845,  was  communicated  to  the  Annals 
(vol.  xvi.  p.  213)  by  Mr.  John  Humphreys  of  the  city  of  that  name.  This  gen- 
tleman, as  well  as  Dr.  Harvey  of  Cork,  who  subsequently  examined  the  speci- 
men, assures  me  that  it  was  A.  Huso  as  represented  in  Shaw’s  Zoology,  vol.  v. 
pi.  159.  Mr.  Humphreys  has  informed  me  of  the  capture  of  another  specimen, 
which  was  taken  in  the  second  week  of  April,  1847,  at  Carrigeen,  near  Curri- 
glass,  on  the  river  Bride,  not  far  from  its  junction  with  the  Blackwater.  It 
measured  7 feet  8 inches  in  length,  and  weighed  nearly  2 cwt.” 

Shaw’s  description  of  this  species  is  as  follows  : — 

“ Isinglass  Sturgeon,  Acipenser  Huso,  Linn. — A larger  fish  than  the  common 
sturgeon,  having  been  often  found  of  the  length  of  25  feet ; general  shape  the 
same ; colour  dusky,  or  blackish-blue  above,  silvery  on  the  sides  and  abdomen, 
with  a tinge  of  rose-colour  on  the  latter ; general  appearance  smoother  than  in 
the  common  sturgeon,  the  dorsal  tubercles  being  less  protuberant,  and  those 
along  the  sides  much  smaller,  and  in  some  specimens  of  a very  advanced  growth 
altogether  wanting;  mouth  much  larger  than  in  the  A.  Sturio,  with  thick 
crescent-shaped  lips  ; skin  smooth  and  viscid.  Native  of  the  Northern,  Caspian, 
and  Mediterranean  Seas,  migrating  from  them  into  the  adjoining  rivers  : found 
more  particularly  in  the  Volga  and  the  Danube.” — Shaw's  General  Zoology,  vol. 
v.  p.  375,  pi.  159. 


ORDER  VII.— ACANTHORRHINI. 

No  specimen  belonging  to  this  Order  has  yet  been  recorded  as  Irish.— Ed. 


THE  SMALL-SPOTTED  DOG-FTSH. 


247 


ORDER  VIII.— PLAOIOSTOMI. 

The  Small-spotted  Dog-fish,*  Scyttium  Canicula , Cuv., 

Seems  to  be  common  around  the  coast,  and  is  as  abundant  in  the  North  as 
in  the  South  of  Ireland,  which  does  not  appear  to  be  the  case  in  Great 
Britain.  (See  Dr.  Parnell’s  remarks  on  this  subject.) 

This  is  by  far  the  most  common  species  of  the  S 'qualidce  on  the  N.E.  coast, 
where  it  proves  a serious  nuisance  to  the  fisherman. 

May  2,  1838. — Of  this  fish  17  were  taken  to-day,  by  Richard  Langtry, 
Esq.,  when  mullet-fishing  off  the  White  House,  Belfast  Bay.  On  measur- 
ing, I found  the  few  largest  about  2\  feet  long.  There  was  no  difference 
in  colouring  according  to  sex,  though  a considerable  difference  in  that  of 
the  specimens  : not  one  had  any  tinge  of  yellow  as  a ground  colour,  such 
as  represented  by  Donovan  (pi.  55),  but  had  the  ground  colour  of  the  back 
and  sides  varying  from  grey  to  blackish, f and  studded  over  with  round 
spots  of  a darker  hue.  In  some  of  both  sexes  these  spots  were  very 
numerous  and  small;  one  large  male  exhibited  only  2 or  3 large  ones. 
Others  had,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary-sized  spots,  a few  large  black 
markings,  about  § an  inch  in  diameter.  Pennant’s  Spotted  and  Lesser 
Spotted  Shark  (pi.  19,  ed.  1812)  are  certainly  but  one  species,  as  remarked 
by  Jenyns. 

Jan . 3,  1839. — A female,  which  I obtained  from  Carrickfergus,  was  of 
a handsome  sfome-coloured  ground,  like  that  represented  by  Donovan 
(pi.  55),  and  covered  over  beautifully  with  small  round  spots,  more  than 
twice  as  numerous  as  those  on  Donovan’s  figure.  It  contained  a number 
of  eggs  the  size  of  marbles,  and  from  these  a series  down  to  mere  points  : 
they  were  all  round.  This  specimen  was  taken  on  a sandy  bottom,  and  I 
should,  a priori,  have  anticipated  the  difference  in  colour  between  it  and 
those  above  noticed,  the  haunts  being  different. 

Squalus  Canicula. — Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  says,  too  common  everywhere : 
has  seen  this  winter  three  creels-full,  a cwt.  in  each  creel,  taken  by  one 
boat  at  Island  Magee,  on  long-lines.  The  fishermen  use  them  for  putting  in 
“buckie”  creels  to  capture  these  shell-fish  ( Buccinum  undatum). 

Dog-fishes  are  said  to  be  eaten  at  Roundstone,!  as  well  as  at  the  Isle  of 
Man ; and  Dr.  J.  D.  Marshall  informs  us  that  they  are  valued  at  Rathlin 
for  the  oil  which  they  afford. 

The  stomach  of  one  which  I examined  contained  a Gunnellus  vulgaris, 
and  many  opercula  of  the  Buccinum  undatum.  Dr.  Drummond  states 
that  in  several  others  he  found  many  of  these  opercula. 

In  reference  to  the  season  at  which  the  young  are  produced,  I may  men- 
tion that  on  one  occasion,  in  the  month  of  May,  I found  a fresh  specimen 
lying  on  the  shore  at  Rockport,  Belfast  Bay,  from  which  some  of  the 
tendrils  that  envelope  the  case  containing  the  young  protruded. 

The  Large-spotted  Dog-fish,  or  Rock  Dog-fish, 

Scyttium  Stettaris,  Cuv., 

— Catulus  (sp.),  Linn., 

Frequents  the  North-East  coast,  and  not  improbably  the  coast  generally. 


* Also  called  “ Dog-fish,”  “ Blind  Dog-fish,”  and  “ Rough  Dog.” 
f It  is  worthy  of  note  that  they  were  taken  on  a soft,  oozy  bottom. 
t Mr.  Nimmo. 


248 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


Mr.  Templeton  noted  this  species  as  taken  “ occasionally.”  The  spe- 
cies has  not  come  under  my  notice  in  the  N.,  nor  can  Dr.  Ball  attest  to 
its  being  seen  by  him  on  the  Irish  coast,  but  some  ova  sent  to  the  Belfast 
Museum,  in  Dec.,  1843,  seemed  to  me  to  belong  to  this  sp.,  and  the  fol- 
lowing paper  drawn  up  on  them  was  published  by  me  in  the  Annals  Nat. 
Hist,  in  1844  : — 

“ On  Ova  believed  to  be  those  of  the  Large-spotted  Dog-fish,  Scyllium 
Catulus,  Linn.  (Sp.) 

u About  the  middle  of  December  last  there  were  sent  to  the  Belfast  Museum 
two  plants  of  the  tangle  ( Laminaria  digitata ),  dredged  together  off  Killinchy, 
Strangford  Lough,  from  a depth  of  between  two  and  three  fathoms,  and  having 
many  large  and  remarkable  ova  attached  to  them  by  tendrils,  like  those  on  the 
well-known  ‘ purses,5  as  they  are  called,  of  the  common  dog-fish  ( Scyllium  Ca- 
nicula), though  they  evidently  belonged  to  a different  species.  They  were  new  to 
me  and  interesting  in  several  respects.  To  the  one  plant  of  tangle  -s^bre  attached 
fourteen,  to  the  other  twelve,  of  these  ova ; of  the  fourteen,  six  were  very  old,  six 
of  ‘ middle  age,’  and  two  quite  fresh — of  the  twelve  attached  to  the  other  plant,  four 
were  very  old,  four  of  middle  age,  and  four  quite  fresh.  Those  called  fresh  had 
the  ‘ white  and  yolk,55  as  in  a newly-laid  hen’s  egg ; from  those  termed  of  middle 
age  the  young  fish  had  probably  long  since  escaped ; none  remained  to  bear 
testimony  to  its  species.  The  age  of  the  different  ova  was  denoted,  not  only  by 
their  own  appearance,  but  by  that  of  the  mollusca,  zoophytes,  &c.,  parasitical  upon 
them ; — on  the  oldest  were  Anomice  an  inch  in  diameter ; Discopora  hispida, 
Tubularia  ramosa,  Cellularia  reptans,  all  full-grown ; and  on  them,  and  those 
of  middle  age,  were  Lepralice  (Johnston)  of  various  species,  Nulliporce,  and 
masses  of  the  ova  of  Buccinum  undatum. 

“ The  number  of  ova  of  different  ages  suggested  certain  points  of  inquiry.  Their 
deposition  at  three  different  periods  of  time  on  the  same  plant  led  to  the  sug- 
gestion that  the  fish  may,  like  certain  birds,  as  the  different  species  of  Hirun- 
dines,  for  example,  return  time  after  time  to  the  same  spot  to  deposit  its  eggs. 
We  can  indeed  only  infer  that  the  same  individual  has  deposited  ova  on  the  dif- 
ferent occasions,  but  the  probability  is  in  favour  of  such  inference.  That  the 
salmon  ( Salmo  Salar ) returns  to  its  native  river — if  not  to  the  same  ‘bed  5 — to 
spawn,  we  have  a notable  example  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  where,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  the  fish  of  the  adjacent  rivers  Bann  and  Bush  being  distinguished 
from  each  other  by  certain  peculiarities,  those  of  every  age  from  each  river  in 
returning  to  the  fresh  water  from  the  sea  are  known  always  to  seek  the  ascent 
of  their  native  stream. 

“ Being  unable  to  find  any  ova  described  like  those  under  consideration,  I 
made  a sketch  of  one  and  submitted  it  to  my  friend  Mr.  Yarrell  for  his  opinion, 
together  with  several  queries,  remarking  at  the  same  time,  that  as  ‘ the  ova  are 
evidently  generically  related  to  those  of  8.  Canicula,  the  first  impression  is,  that 
they  are  those  of  the  most  nearly  allied  species,  Scyllium  Catidus,  especially  as 
we  find  those  of  the  next  nearest  ally,  at  least  among  British  species — Squalus 
annulatus,  Nils.  ( Pristiurus  melanostomus,  Bonap.) — to  be  of  a different  form  ; 
but  that,  if  they  belong  to  & Catulus , which  is  said  not  much  to  exceed  S.  Ca- 
nicula in  size,  it  will  be  singular  that  the  ova  should  so  greatly  exceed  those  be- 
longing to  that  species  as  to  be  double  their  size,  and,  in  consequence  of  their 
much  greater  strength,  about  four  times  their  weight.  The  transverse  markings 
represented  in  the  drawing  denote  plaits,  which  give  to  the  exterior  a handsome 
appearance ; but  they  are  not  of  specific  value,  the  surface  of  some  ova  being 
quite  smooth,  of  others  partially  or  wholly  plaited.5  It  was  added  — ‘ Is  it  known 
how  often  the  Scyllia  deposit  their  ova  ? how  many  are  deposited  at  one  time  ? 
how  long  after  deposition  the  young  fish  bursts  its  prison  ? 5 In  the  event  of 
Mr.  Yarrell’s  not  knowing  the  ovum  (which  proved  to  be  new  to  him  likewise), 
he  was  requested  to  send  the  drawing,  &c.,  for  Mr.  Couch’s  opinion.  With  re- 
spect to  8.  Canicula  Mr.  Yarrell  remarked, — 

“ I never  remember  to  have  observed  more  than  one  egg  in  each  oviduct  ready 


THE  LARGE-SPOTTED  DOG-FISH. 


249 


for  exclusion,  but  there  was  frequently  one  other  in  each  oviduct  at  the  upper 
end,  or  about  to  separate  from  the  ovarium,  one  on  each  side.  How  long  they 
are  in  passing  along  the  oviduct,  how  often  deposited,  and  how  soon  after  de- 
position the  young  fish  leaves  his  cell,  are  points  unknown  to  me  ; but  I suspect, 
in  reference  to  gaining  his  liberty,  the  young  fish  is  rather  in  a hurry,  for  1 have 
more  than  once  taken  very  small  spotted  sharks  swimming  at  large  before  the 
membranous  bag  of  nutriment  had  been  taken  up  into  the  abdomen,  and  before  the 
young  shark  had  begun  to  take  food  by  the  mouth.  I will,  however,  send  your 
sketch  and  queries  to  Mr.  Couch.’ 

“ This  gentleman  replied  : — 

‘ Polperro,  Jan.  25,  1844. 

‘ Dear  Sir, — I feel  an  impression  that  the  figure  of  a ‘purse  ’ which  I re- 
ceived in  your  letter  of  the  24th  December,  is  that  of  the  large-spotted  dog-fish, 
Scyllium  Catulus.  Both  the  British  spotted  dog-fishes  certainly  spawn  twice 
in  the  year,  as  do  many  other  species  of  fishes  that  are  not  commonly  supposed 
to  do  so,  a fact  which  I have  ascertained  by  observation  and  dissection.  But  I 
have  been  somewhat  unfortunate  in  reference  to  the  larger-spotted  dog-fish  in 
not  being  able  to  obtain  the  ova  of  that  fish  directly  from  the  body  ; a circum- 
stance which  arises  from  this  fish  going  into  deep  water  at  the  spawning  time, 
when  our  fishermen  do  not  find  it  convenient  to  follow  them.  I have  obtained 
specimens,  however,  which  I have  been  given  to  understand  proceeded  from  this 
fish,  and  they  very  closely  resemble  the  pencil  drawing  in  size,  form,  and  the 
raised  ridge  at  the  sides,  and  in  the  lengthened  tendrils  at  the  corners  ; the  co- 
lour a dark  brown ; but  I never  saw  any  specimen  with  transverse  plaits,  which 
may  throw  doubt  on  the  fact  of  its  appropriation.* 

‘The  ova  of  the  Scyllia  are  deposited  in  pairs,  an  ovum  descending  at  the 
same  time  to  each  corner  of  the  uterus,  but  I am  not  able  to  say  how  many, 
constitute  one  laying,  except  that  they  are  numerous.  They  certainly  remain  a 
considerable  time  before  exclusion,  a month  or  two  at  least,  and  perhaps  more  ; 
for  the  corals  to  which  they  have  been  attached,  and  especially  the  Gorgonice , 
are  often  seen  growing  luxuriantly  round  the  tendrils  in  a manner  to  show  that 
most  of  this  growth  must  have  taken  place  since  the  deposit.  Sometimes  also 
their  surface  is  studded  with  small  shell-fish,  as  Anomice  and  Pectens,  of  a size 
to  render  it  probable  that  the  time  I have  assigned  to  them  may  even  have  been 
exceeded.  Jonathan  Couch.’ 

“As,  reasoning  from  analogy,  I came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  ova  must  be 
those  of  S.  Catulus,  and  as  Mr.  Couch  has  received  similar  ones  which  were 
stated  to  be  the  produce  of  this  fish,  I have  thought  it  desirable  to  publish  so 
much  as  we  know  of  the  subject,  and  to  give  a figure  of  the  ovum,  although 
actual  proof  is  still  wanting  as  to  the  species  to  which  it  appertains.  Some  of 
my  queries  to  Mr.  Yarrell  bore  on  the  subject  noticed  in  the  conclusion  of  Mr. 
Couch’s  letter.  Were  it  known  how  long  the  ova  of  the  dog-fish  were  deposited 
before  the  young  fish  escaped,  we  could  say  that  the  adherent  mollusca,  zo- 
ophytes, &c.,  must  have  attained  a certain  growth  within  a limited  period,  but  our 
information  is  not  yet  sufficiently  positive  on  this  head.  The  most  newly  de- 
posited ova  under  consideration  were  externally  quite  free  from  all  parasitical 
growth,  which  was  at  first  sight,  or  before  they  were  opened,  a good  indication 
of  their  freshness.  But  whatever  the  time  may  be  in  which  the  ovum  of  the 
allied  species,  S.  Canicula , is  deposited  before  the  exclusion  of  the  fish,  proof  is 
afforded  by  one  in  my  collection,  containing  a young  dog-fish  of  this  species  all 
but  ready  for  his  escape,  that  before  its  birth  would  have  taken  place  the  Dis- 
copora  hispida  attached  to  the  outside  of  its  case  had  arrived  at  full  maturity,  f 


* As  before  mentioned,  these  plaits  are  not  of  specific  value. — W.  T. 
f Since  the  above  was  written,  I have  seen  in  the  collection  of  Dr.  It.  Ball, 
Dublin,  a similar  case  containing  a young  S.  Canicula , on  the  exterior  of  which 
were  groups  of  Lepralice  of  the  full  ordinary  size,  and  two  specimens  of  Serpula 
triquetra  nearly  an  inch  in  length. 


250 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


“ Length  of  recent  ovum,  of  Scyllium  Catulus  ? 4 inches  6 lines ; breadth  1 
inch  9 lines  ; depth  3 — 4 lines ; surface  smooth  or  plaited  transversely  ; sides 
very  strong  and  closely  plaited  throughout ; tendrils  very  strong.  Colour  a 
uniform  brown,  but  differing  in  shade  in  different  ova. 

“ Belfast,  May,  1844.” 

The  Blaok-mouthed  Dog-fish,  Pristiurus  melanostomus,  Bonap., 
Scyllium,  melanostomum , Bon., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  northern  coast. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Ord.  Survey  for  this  addition  to  our  Fauna, 
two  individuals  having  been  obtained  by  the  collectors  at  Portrush,  near 
the  Giant’s  Causeway.  Captain  Portlock,  in  contributing  a notice  of  this 
shark,  observed  that  “ in  the  work  of  Muller  and  Henle,  the  genus  Pris- 
tiurus, Bonap.,  is  described  as  having  a row  of  small  prickles  on  the  tail- 
fin,  and  Scyllium  Artedi  is  figured  and  described  by  itisso  as  having  but 
a single  row. — In  Yarrell’s  description  of  Scyll.  melanostomum  two  rows 
are  mentioned,  and  in  our  specimens  they  certainly  exist, — ought  not, 
therefore,  the  single  row  to  be  dropped  as  a generic  character,  and 
Risso’s  termination  of  his  specific  characters  used,  viz.  ‘ pinna  dorsi  ex- 
tremitate  [supra]  spinosa  ? ’ may  not  the  one  and  two-rowed  individuals 
be  of  distinct  species,  and  the  black  mouth  be  common  to  both  ? ” Mr. 
Yarrell,  in  his  second  ed.  of  Br.  Fishes,  vol.  ii.  p.  497,  says,  “ it  has  also 
been  taken  in  the  North  of  Ireland  by  Captain  Portlock,  to  whom  I am 
indebted  for  sketches,  from  which  the  different  subjects  forming  the 
vignette  at  the  end  were  taken.” 

The  Fox-shark,  or  Thresher,  Carcharias  Vulpes,  Cuv., 

Can  be  announced  only  on  circumstantial  evidence  as  frequenting  the 
Irish  coast. 

M‘Skimmin,  in  his  History  of  Carrickfergus  (3rd  edit.  p.  358),  notices 
the 

“ Squalus  Vulpes , Sea-Fox  Thresher ; sometimes  seen  off  the  Copeland  Islands, 
and  heard  after  night  making  a noise  with  its  tail  against  the  water.” 

Templeton  includes  the  species  in  his  Catalogue,  remarking  merely 
that  it  is  “ rare  on  the  coast,  but  occasionally  seen  about  the  Copeland 
Islands.” 

Major  Walker,  of  The  Lodge,  County  Wexford,  noticed  this  species  in 
a letter  written  to  me  in  July,  1846,  from  the  statement  of  fishermen  who 
had  seen  a large  fish  beating  a grampus  or  small  whale  in  the  Sound,  be- 
tween the  two  Saltee  Islands,  and  who  reported  that  every  blow  “ sounded 
like  the  distant  report  of  a cannon.”  This  description  will  apply  only  to 
the  species  under  consideration,  which  owes  its  name  of  Thresher  to  the 
propensity  here  mentioned. 

“ Mr.  Couch  says  it  is  not  uncommon  for  a thresher  to  approach  a herd 
of  dolphins  (Delphini)  that  may  be  sporting  in  unsuspicious  security,  and, 
by  one  splash  of  its  tail  on  the  water,  put  them  all  to  flight  like  so  many 
hares  before  a hound.” — Yarrell’s  Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  ii.  p.  523. 

The  Blue  Shark,  Carcharias  glaucus,  Cuv., 

Is  taken  on  the  coast,  chiefly  southwards. 

Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  this  species  is  occasionally  captured  at  the 
Nymph  Bank,  and  also  at  Youghal.  I examined  the  jaw  of  one  from  the 
former  locality,  in  that  gentleman’s  collection : the  fish  to  which  it  be- 


THE  PORBEAGLE,  OR  BEAUMARIS  SHARK. 


251 


longed  was  6 feet  long.  In  my  remarks  on  the  Remora  will  be  found  a 
reference  to  the  occurrence  of  the  blue  shark  at  Clontarf.  Dr.  G.  J. 
Allman  saw  a specimen  taken  at  Courtmasherry,  and  I learned  from  the 
late  Mr.  Nimmo  and  Mr.  M‘Calla  that  this  species  occurs  on  the  Galway 
coast. 

“ A blue  shark,  10  feet  1 inch  in  length,  was  taken  near  Glontarf  wall,  on 
Tuesday  evening.  It  was  seen  in  shallow  water  by  Mr.  N.  A.  Nicholson,  who, 
with  some  fishermen,  succeeded  in  driving  him  on  shore,  where  they  soon  de- 
spatched him.  Attached  to  the  head  were  two  of  that  curious  fish  the  remora, 
so  usually  found  on  sharks  in  the  tropical  seas.  This  species  of  shark  is  not 
unfrequent  on  the  Southern  coast,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  often  seen  of  so  great 
a size.  The  occurrence  of  the  remora  is,  perhaps,  the  first  authentic  record  of  its 
being  found  on  the  Irish  coast.  The  specimens  have  been  secured  for  the  Uni- 
versity Museum,  and  added  to  the  large  collection  of  Irish  fishes  there  accumu- 
lated.— Dublin  Evening  Packet .”  N.  Whig,  Aug.  4,  1846. 

The  Porbeagle,  or  Beaumaris  Shark,  Lamna  Cornubica,  Cuv., 

— Monensis,  Cuv., 

Has  occasionally  been  taken  on  different  parts  of  the  coast. 

Templeton  notices  one  as  caught  in  Belfast  Bay,  and  M‘Skimmin 
notes  the  species  as  rare  in  the  edition  of  his  work  published  in  1829. 
In  that  of  1811  it  has  not  a place;  from  which  circumstance  I am 
inclined  to  believe  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  occurrence  of  a spe- 
cimen in  1815  that  this  fish  was  included  at  all  in  his  list. 

Templeton  and  he  probably  alluded  to  the  same  individual  which  was 
noticed  in  the  Belfast  Newsletter  of  7th  July,  1815.  It  was  taken  in  a 
herring-net  at  Carrickfergus,  and  measured  5 feet  11  inches  in  length. 

Of  a specimen  taken  off  Dublin  Bay  in  September,  1838,  and  which 
came  under  my  observation  in  a recent  state,  I drew  up  the  following 
description : — [Several  have  since  been  obtained.  P.  B.~\ 

Length  45  inches.  Body  fusiform,  very  narrow  at  the  tail,  and  strongly 
keeled  there  on  eaclnside ; skin  smooth  when  stroked  backwards  (slightly 
rough  in  the  opposite  direction),  of  a uniform  greyish  black  colour  (under 
surface  from  jaw  to  C.  fin  white),  diameter  of  the  eye  each  way  1 inch,  5 
rows  of  teeth  on  upper,  6 on  lower  jaw,  2 rows  exposed  on  upper,  3 ex- 
posed on  lower.  1st  D.  originates  14f  inches  from  snout,  occupies  nearly 
4^  inches  of  back,  from  basal  termination  of  1st  D.  to  origin  of  2nd  D.  12 
inches ; 2nd  D.  occupies  f inch  at  base,  space  between  it  and  C.  fin  41- 
inches,  upper  lobe  of  C.  fin  9 inches  long,  lower  lobe  7^  inches  long,  and 
originating  1 inch  nearer  head  than  upper  lobe,  snout  2^  inches  in  length 
from  lower  jaw,  inches  from  eye  to  end  of  snout ; P.  fin  originates  9£ 
inches  from  lower  jaw,  and  is  in  length  7|  inches.  1st  D.  4|-  inches  high, 
2nd  D.  1 inch  4 lines  high. 

The  snout  of  this  fish  is  pointed  like  Yarrell’s  figure  of  the  Porbeagle, 
the  eye  large  like  that  of  the  Beaumaris,  the  fins  all  formed  as  Johnston 
describes  the  Porbeagle.  Johnston’s  description  of  Porbeagle  in  Yarrell 
just  applies  in  every  detail. 

Dr.  Ball  has  the  jaws  of  a Lamna  taken  at  Youghal  in  the  summer  of 
1824  : the  fish  was  about  4 feet  long,  and  the  only  one  he  ever  saw  there. 
When  the  gum  is  cut  away  6 rows  of  teeth  appear  in  both  jaws  ; it  agrees 
with  L.  Monensis  in  the  teeth  being  sharper  than  those  figured  of  L.  Cor- 
nubica by  Yarrell. 

The  teeth  of  this  are  similar  to  those  in  the  specimen  above  described : 
they  become  gradually  shorter  and  broader  in  proportion  to  their  distance 
from  the  centre  of  the  mouth  backwards. 


252 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


Mr.  Nimmo  informed  me,  that  this  species  is  taken  both  on  long-lines 
and  in  nets  on  the  Galway  coast. 

The  Common  Tope,* * * §  Galeus  vulgaris,  Cuv., 

Is  found  around  the  coast. 

Several  specimens,  from  11  inches  to  4^  feet  in  length,  taken  on  the 
North-East  coast,  at  various  seasons  of  the  year,  have  come  under  my 
examination,  and  I have  notes  of  the  existence  of  the  species  in  various 
other  localities,  North,  East,  South,  and  West. 

Mr.  Templeton  mentions  the  capture  of  a specimen  5 feet  long,  in  Bel- 
fast Bay. 

Mr.  Yarrell  describes  the  skin  of  this  species  as  being  “ almost  smooth,” 
but  in  a specimen  1 foot  in  length  I found  it  decidedly  rough  when  I 
applied  my  hand  from  the  direction  of  the  tail  towards  the  head ; perhaps 
the  roughness  may  be  greater  in  the  young  than  in  the  old  examples. 

The  Smooth  Hound,  Mustelus  Icevis,  Cuv., 

Is  occasionally  taken  in  the  North  and  South. 

The  following  notes  on  this  species  were  contributed  by  me  to  the  2nd 
Vol.  of  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  (p.  272)  : — 

“ Mustelus  Icevis  and  Hinnulus I embrace  this  opportunity  of  offering  a few 

remarks  on  the  identity  of  the  Squalus  Mustelus,  Linn.  ( Mustelus  Icevis , Will.), 
and  Sq.  Hinnulus,  Blain.f  (Must,  stellatus,  Risso).  As  some  authors  are  agreed 
on  this  subject,  it  may  perhaps  be  considered  unnecessary  to  treat  further  of  it, 
but  I do  so  in  reference  to  the  place  S.  Hinnulus  occupies  in  Mr.  Jenyns’s  ex- 
cellent Manual,  p.  503.  Here  a short  description  is  given  of  a fish  taken  at 
Weymouth,  of  which  it  is  said  that  it  ‘ appears  to  be  identical  with  the  S.  Hin- 
nulus of  Blainville  afterwards  the  remark  is  made,  ‘ that  it  is  a great  question 
whether  this  last  be  anything  more  than  a variety  of  S.  Mustelus .’ 

“ The  following  observations  are  on  a specimen  taken  in  Belfast  Bay  on  the 
16th  of  July  last,  and  received  by  me  before  life  was  extinct.  This  individual 
combined  in  colour  Mr.  Jenyns’s  descriptions  of  S.  Icevis  and  S.  Hinnulus,  hav- 
ing, as  the  former  is  described,  the  ‘upper  parts  of  a uniform  pearl  gray,’  and 
being  ‘ paler  or  almost  white  beneath  ; ’ at  the  same  time  presenting  with  the 
S.  Hinnulus  J ‘ a row  of  small  whitish  spots  from  the  eye  towards  the  first  of 
the  branchial  openings  ; lateral  line  indistinctly  (?)  spotted  with  white;  also  a 
moderate  number  of  small  scattered  white  spots  between  the  lateral  line  and  the 
dorsal  ridge.’  The  lateral  line  is  in  my  specimen  closely  spotted  with  white,  of 
a silvery  lustre,  from  its  origin  to  the  extremity  of  the  second  dorsal  fin,  where 
this  marking  terminates ; but  a row  of  similar  spots  appears  throughout  the  en- 
tire tail,  beginning  at  the  origin  of  the  caudal  fin  on  the  upper  side,  and  placed 
between  its  margin  and  the  lateral  line  ; ‘ a moderate  number  ’ of  white  spots, 
as  described  above  this  line,  as  far  as  the  extremity  of  the  second  dorsal  fin  ; 
these  are  larger  than  those  on  the  line,  and  have  the  same  silvery  lustre ; the 
short  space  intervening  between  the  end  of  the  second  dorsal  and  the  origin  of 
the  caudal  fin  is  spotless.  No  spots  on  the  body  below  the  lateral  line,  nor  on 
any  of  the  fins,  which  are  pearl  grey  ; the  pectorals  varied  with  a whitish  tinge 
along  the  margin,  and  the  first  dorsal  with  a dusky  tip.  Pupil  of  the  eye  black  ; 
irides  silvery,  with  iridescent  hues  ; eye  10  lines  in  length, § oblong-oval  in  form. 


* Sometimes  called  “ Blue  Dog-fish.” 

f Faune  Fran^aise,  p.  83,  pi.  20,  f.  2. 

% “Brownish-ash”  is  given  as  the  general  colour  by  Mr.  Jenyns;  Risso  de- 
scribes the  M.  stellatus  to  be  “ d’un  gris  de  perle  en  dessus.” 

§ The  Squalus  Canicula  is  so  different  in  this  respect,  as  from  the  smallness 
of  its  eyes  to  be  commonly  called  blind  dog-fish  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 


THE  BASKING  SHARK. 


253 


This  individual  agrees  in  every  character  with  the  M.  stellatus  as  described  by 
Risso,*  Hist.  Nat.  1’  Eur.  Merid.,  tom.  iii.  p.  126.  Mr.  Yarrell’s  figure  of  M. 
Icevis  (vol.  ii.  p.  393)  is  a very  good  representation  of  this  fish.  The  present 
individual  differs  from  it  in  having  a close  row  of  spots  along  the  lateral  line, 
and  both  lobes  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  conspicuously  displayed,  the  ante- 
rior one  nearly  as  much  so  as  in  the  preceding  figure  of  Galeus  vulgaris  in  the 
same  work. 

“ The  specimen  under  description  is  a female.  The  stomach  was  filled  with 
brachyurous  Crustacea,  including  a perfect  and  full-grown  Corystes  Cassive- 
lanus. 

“ Other  specimens  of  Mustelus  Icevis  that  I have  examined,  and  which  were 
about  the  same  size  as  the  one  described,  were  similar  in  the  characters  above 
given ; this  is  mentioned  as  showing  that  the  white  spots  above  the  lateral  line 
are  not  peculiar  to  the  young  fish.  See  Yarrell,  B.  F.,  vol.  ii.  p.  394.”  [P.  513 
of  2nd  edition]. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  procured  specimens  of  this  fish  at  Holy  wood 
(Belfast  Bay)  in  1846,  and  Dr.  Ball  has  obtained  it  at  Youghal  and 
Dublin. 

The  Squalus  mustelus , Smooth  Hound-fish,  of  Sampson’s  Derry  cannot, 
I presume,  be  this  species,  from  the  circumstance  of  his  describing  “ 5 or 
6 rows  of  teeth  ; ” consequently  we  must  omit  “ Londonderry,”  given  by 
Mr.  Yarrell  as  a station  of  this  fish.  There  can,  however  (though  it  is 
not  proved),  be  no  doubt  of  its  occurrence  there. 

M‘Skimmin,  in  his  3rd  edition,  notes  it  as  rare.  In  his  first  edition 
the  name  Stinkard  was  applied  to  it,  “ from  its  leaving  a bad  smell  on 
the  hands  after  handling.” 

The  Basking  Shark,  or  Sun-fish,  Selachus  maximus,  Cuv., 

Is  taken  on  the  ocean  coasts  of  Ireland,  chiefly  on  the  West : I am  not 
aware  of  its  occurrence  on  the  eastern  side.  It  is  generally  known  as 
the  “ sun-fish,”  and  is  the  species  so  valuable  for  its  oil. 

In  Harris’s  Down  (published  1744)  it  is  stated  that — 

“ The  coasts  of  Ireland,  especially  those  in  the  West,  have,  of  late  years, 
been  much  frequented  by  Whales  and  Sun-fish , which  come  in  March  or  April, 
and  stay  till  November. 

“ They  frequent  the  herring  bays  in  the  fishing  season,  and  not  only  destroy  a 
great  deal  of  fish  but  mar  the  fishing.” 

The  following  paragraph  appeared  in  the  Derry  Sentinel  in  July, 
1849 : — 

“ A Shark  caught  in  Lough  Foyle.  — As  Messrs.  William  Gillespie  and 
Thomas  Lecky,  jun.,  of  Longfield,  were  out  behind  the  Shell  Island,  on  Wed- 
nesday last,  fishing  plaice,  they  caught  a shark  of  the  species  called  e squa- 
lus maximus ,’  or,  as  Pennant  names  it,  £ the  basking  shark.’  It  is  evi- 
dently a very  young  one.  It  measures  5^  feet  long,  and  2 feet  2 inches  in  cir- 
cumference ; the  colour  of  the  back  is  a deep  leaden,  and  that  of  the  belly  white ; 
the  skin  is  rough,  like  shagreen,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  jaw  and  upper  part 
of  the  tail  much  longer  than  the  lower.  The  teeth  are  evidently  only  beginning 
to  grow,  and  are  about  \ inch  long,  in  three  or  four  rows.  Some  of  the  oldest 
inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood  agree  in  saying  that  they  never  heard  of  a fish 
of  a similar  kind  being  caught  in  Lough  Foyle,  and  it  is  very  unusual  at  all  to 
see  them  on  the  North  coast  of  Ireland.” 

In  August,  1840,  Dr.  G.  J.  Allman  informed  me  that  “ a fine  specimen 
of  the  basking  shark  was  lately  entangled  in  the  fishermen’s  trammels  in 


* The  figure  of  S.  Hinnulus  in  the  Faune  Franchise  shows  the  identity. 


254 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


Courtmasherry  harbour,  and  towed  to  shore ; it  was  nearly  30  feet 
long.” 

Dr.  Ball,  in  a lecture  on  the  fishes  of  Ireland,  May,  1839,  states, — 

“ As  to  the  propriety  of  encouraging  the  pursuit  of  sun-fish,  from  my  own 
inquiries  on  the  coast  of  Galway  I doubt  the  policy  of  doing  so ; it  cer- 
tainly appears  that  the  capture  of  one  of  these  enormous  fishes,  measur- 
ing from  30  to  40  feet  in  length,  would  produce  some  £80  worth  of  oil, 
but  then  the  appearance  of  the  fish  is  so  uncertain,  and  the  number  so  few, 
that  the  taking  of  one  is  quite  a lottery.  I believe  the  real  fact  to  be  that 
the  value  of  the  sun-fish  taken  on  the  coast  of  Galway  would  by  no  means 
remunerate  the  number  of  persons  who  have  engaged  at  different  times  in 
the  fishery  ; while  some  made  money,  many  more  lost  time,  which  may 
have  been  profitably  employed  in  ordinary  fishing.  The  pursuit  of  sun-fish, 
if  undertaken  by  gentlemen  in  their  yachts,  would  add  no  contemptible 
item  to  the  list  of  wild  sports  of  the  West.,  Sun-fish  are  struck  with 
harpoons,  and  afterwards  killed  with  lances ; and  the  capture,  from  its 
gamboling,  uncertainty,  difficulty,  and  danger,  possesses  the  excitement 
which  renders  many  sports  attractive,  but  which  excitement,  applied  to 
industry,  may  urge  on  the  current  rapidly  for  a while,  but  only  to  divert 
it  from  its  proper  channel,  to  run  waste  in  riot  when  successful,  or  stag- 
nate in  the  pool  of  despond  when  the  reverse.” 

“ The  western  coast  of  Ireland  abounds  with  the  Sun-fish  or  Basking 
Shark.” — H drdiman’s  Galway , published  1820. 

The  Picked  Dog-fish,*  Spinax  Acanthias,  Cuv., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

A specimen  of  this  fish,  containing  young  and  eggs,  was  obtained  at 
Carrickfergus,  on  28th  Dec.,  1838,  and  forwarded  to  Dr.  M‘Donnell  of 
Belfast,  in  whose  possession  I saw  it.  The  following  are  my  notes  re- 
specting it : — 

It  is  3 feet  4 inches  long ; colour  of  entire  upper  surface  a dull  slate 
grey,  becoming  paler  downwards,  the  under  surface  white ; on  each  side 
the  ridge  of  the  back  are  about  6 obscure  round  white  dots  (as  in  the 
foetal  specimens,  and  vide  Donovan,  pi.  82),  but  none  lower  down  (as  in 
the  specimens  and  figure  just  named) ; there  are  a few  obscure  round 
dusky  spots  appearing  indiscriminately  over  the  body  of  the  fish ; eye  9i 
lines  in  length,  6 lines  high,  irides  silver,  pupil  black. 

This  fish  contained  8 eggs  of  a roundish  oval  form,  and  from  1^-  to  If 
inches  long,  and  from  this  size  numbers  down  to  a mere  speck. 

It  contained  9 young  in  the  oviduct,  some  of  them  so  very  slightly  ad- 
hering that  in  a very  short  time  they  would  have  been  excluded ; these 
are  of  similar  size,  the  9 (the  fishermen  say  the  number  is  always  odd) 
being  each  9^  inches  in  length,  and  are  in  every  respect  perfect,  except- 
ing that  a portion  of  the  egg  adheres  to  each  : they  are  much  handsomer 
in  colour  than  their  parent,  being  of  a pearl  grey  above,  with  a row  of 
round  white  spots,  but  few  in  number,  on  each  side  the  ridge  of  back,  and 
a series  of  white  spots  and  elongate  markings  along  the  lateral  line  ; 
the  pearl  grey  shades  away  towards  the  under  surface,  which  is  pure 
white. 

P.  dull  grey,  tipped  with  white ; 1st  D.  pearl  grey  tipped  with  black,  an- 
teriorly hinder  portion  white  from  base  to  tip  ; 2nd  D.  pearl  grey,  tipped 


* Sometimes  called  “ Piky  Dogs  ” in  the  North. 


THE  GREENLAND  SHARK. 


255 


with  pure  white,  anteriorly  with  black  on  the  central  portion,  and  poste- 
riorly whitish  from  the  base  upwards. 

V.  whitish  ; C.  pearl  grey,  margined  with  white  above  and  beneath,  and 
tipped  with  black. 

Eyes  4 lines  long,  2£  high  ; irides  silver,  pupil  black. 

Of  the  9 young,  5 are  males  and  4 females,  the  appendage  to  the  ven- 
tral fins  marking  the  sex.  The  spines  in  all  these  are  of  as  hard  and 
strong  consistence  as  in  the  adult  fish ; the  spine  on  their  1st  D.  is  4 
lines,  that  on  their  2nd  D.  6 lines  in  length.  On  opening  one  of  the 
young  ones  the  liver  was  found  to  be  cream-coloured : in  the  parent  it 
was  somewhat  of  a yellowish  grey  colour,  closely  reticulated  with  a darker 
shade.  The  stomach  of  the  parent  was  empty. 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  has  seen  the  young  ones  swim  off*  from  the  body 
of  the  parent  after  it  was  at  least  3 hours  dead  (the  fishermen  have  told 
him  they  have  swam  off  6 hours  after  death  of  parent) ; they  swam  round 
the  body  instead  of  going  off:  considered  the  most  destructive  of  the  dog- 
fish by  the  fishermen  ; taken  all  round  the  coast. 

“ Frequent  in  the  bay,  where  it  is  well  known  that  a wound  from  one  of  its 
spines  is  attended  with  great  inflammation  and  pain  for  2 or  3 hours.5’ — Rutty’s 
Dublin , vol.  i.  p.  347. 

August  15 th,  1851. — I saw  one  with  the  Rev.  G.  M.  Black  at  Annalong, 
where,  he  informs  me,  it  is  the  common  species  of  shark.  It  is  called 
Dog-fish  here,  and  a blue-coloured  shark,  the  next  most  common  species 
to  it  (according  to  the  Rev.  G.  M.  B.),  is  called  Shark.  Mr.  Black  showed 
me  the  jaws  of  one  of  the  latter,  taken  from  a fish  feet  in  length.  They 
were  those  of  a Galeus  vulgaris.  The  dog-fish,  properly  called  Scyllium 
Canicula,  is  said  to  be  very  scarce  here.  Oct.  13 th,  1851. — I looked  over 
about  twenty  sharks  brought  in  by  boats  at  Newcastle,  and  they  were  all 
Spinax  Acanthias.  May  not  the  reason  of  this  shark  being  the  most 
common  species  here  be  owing  to  its  frequenting  sandy  ground,  like  that 
of  Newcastle  ? Scyllium  Canicula,  the  common  species  of  Belfast  Bay,  is 
taken  in  muddy  ground.  Oct.  1*1  th. — I saw  a man  preparing  several  S. 
Acanthias  for  dressing,  by  cutting  off  fins,  tail,  &c.  The  flesh  looked 
beautifully  white  undressed,  and  he  said  it  was  as  good  as  that  of  any  other 
fish,  though  not  marketable.  The  fishermen  here  use  them  as  food.* 

The  Greenland  Shark,  Scymnus  borealis,  Elem. 

I can  only  say  of  this  species,  that  a shark  sometimes  taken  by  the 
Youghal  fishermen  at  the  Nymph  Bank,  and  described  by  them  to  Dr. 
Ball,  is  considered  by  that  gentleman  to  be  the  S.  borealis. 

The  Angel-fish,  Angel  Shark,  or  Monk-fish, 

Squatina  Angelus,  Dum., 

Is  of  occasional  but  rare  occurrence  from  North  to  South. 

I have  notes  of  the  capture  of  five  examples  of  this  species  in  Belfast 
Bay,  the  largest  measuring  5 feet  4 inches  in  length,  and  2 feet  9 inches 
in  breadth  : some  of  these  are  preserved  in  the  Belfast  Museum.  One  of 
them  (taken  in  July,  1850)  had  in  its  stomach  the  remains  of  several  dabs 
and  plaice,  five  of  which  were  nearly  whole,  and  had  been  from  to  8^ 

* Dr.  Ball,  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Irish  Academy,  27 th  April , 
1846,  describes  the  apparatus  by  which  the  mother  is  defended  from  laceration 
from  the  spines  of  her  young,  a highly  interesting  anatomical  fact. 


256 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


inches  in  length ; portions  of  other  fishes  ; scales  of  mullet ; not  less  than 
50  eyes  of  fishes,  and  a bundle  of  Zostera  marina , about  4 inches  long* 
and  3 broad.  It  was  a female,  and  contained  a large  number  of  round 
eggs  of  various  dimensions,  from  f ths  down  to  ^th  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 
Ovaries  9 inches  in  length. 

The  stomach  of  another  was  filled  with  the  remains  of  fishes  and  Cepha- 
lopoda. 

Dr.  Ball  mentions  the  occurrence  of  the  angel-fish  at  Dublin,  and  on 
the  Waterford  coast.  Smith  records  it  in  his  History  of  Cork,  and  it  is 
said  to  have  occurred  on  the  coast  of  Kerry. — (See  Cork  Fauna,  p.  24.) 

The  Torpedo,  Torpedo  nobiliana,  Bonap., 

Has  been,  in  a few  instances,  obtained  off  the  East  and  South-East  coasts. 

Smith,  in  his  History  of  Waterford,  notices  one  as  “ taken  off  the  har- 
bour of  Dungarvan  and  brought  in  there,”  about  the  year  1740  : this  was 
the  first  specimen  noticed  in  the  British  Seas.  A page  of  the  work  (p.  271, 
2nd  edit.)  is  filled  with  remarks  on  the  torpedo,  which  the  author  felt 
assured  the  fish  was,  but  he  describes  its  tail  as  being  “ furnished  with 
teeth  like  a saw,”  which  rather  indicates  the  caudal  weapon  of  some  of  the 
sting-rays,  trygon,  &c. 

The  following  notes  were  contributed  by  me  to  the  5th  vol.  of  the 
Annals  of  Nat.  Hist. : — 

“ On  a torpedo  taken  on  the  Irish  coast. — In  the  last  week  of  October,  1838,  a 
torpedo,  taken  on  the  Irish  coast  by  a fisherman  who  supplies  the  Dublin  market, 
was  brought  to  the  metropolis,  and  when  quite  recent  purchased  by  Dr.  Jacob, 
Professor  of  Anatomy,  &c.,  to  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons.  When  in  Dublin, 
some  time  afterwards,  I embraced  the  opportunity  of  examining  the  specimen, 
which  was  at  once  afforded  me  with  Dr.  Jacob’s  usual  kindness  and  liberality. 
The  fish,  from  the  careful  manner  in  which  it  had  been  kept,  was,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  electric  organs  (which  had  been  removed),  still  perfect,  and  for 
every  purpose  of  description  in  as  good  a state  as  could  be  desired.  My  chief 
object  was  to  ascertain  its  species,  as  even  in  our  latest  works — those  of  Jenyns 
and  Yarrell — that  of  the  torpedo  of  the  British  seas  is  considered  to  be  undeter- 
mined. Although  the  investigation  was  on  the  whole  unsatisfactory,  owing  to 
the  confusion  in  which  the  species  of  torpedo  are  at  present  involved,  the  notes 
made  with  reference  to  the  works  consulted  on  the  subject  may  possibly  be  worth 
transcribing. 

“ Of  Gesner’s  figures  none  accord  with  the  individual  under  consideration,  and 
if  they  be  correctly  drawn  it  differs  in  species  from  them.  It  does  not  agree 
with  either  of  the  torpedos  given  by  Aldrovandus,  nor  with  those  of  Johnston — ■ 
his  appear  to  be  copies  from  preceding  works.  Willughby’s  figure  ( T.  maculosa') 
is  the  same  as  that  of  Aldrovandus.  With  one  taken  on  the  coast  of  France,  at 
Rochelle,  and  figured  by  Walsh  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions  for  1773,  vol. 
lxiii.  tab.  19,  my  specimen  is  evidently  identical ; the  only  difference  worthy  of 
note  is,  that  the  spiracles  are  represented  as  notched,  which  they  are  not  in  the 
specimen,  and  this  cannot  be  a sexual  character,  as  Walsh’s  fish  was  a female  as 
well  as  the  present  individual.*  In  the  Phil.  Trans,  for  1774  (p.  464)  Mr.  Walsh 
records  the  occurrence  of  the  torpedo  on  the  southern  coast  of  England,  stating 
that  it  had  been  procured  at  Torbay,  Mount’s  Bay,  and  Brixham.  This  gentle- 
man likewise  mentions  his  having  been  informed  at  the  village  of  Ring,  near  Dun- 
garvan, County  Waterford,  (where  he  was  aware  that  Smith,  in  his  History  of  this 
county,  recorded  a torpedo  as  having  been  captured  about  thirty  years  before  his 


* John  Hunter  likewise  figures  the  spiracles  notched  in  the  largest  engraving 
of  the  fish  that  I have  seen,  and  a female  is  represented.  Tab.  20.  It  follows 
Mr.  Walsh’s  in  Phil.  Trans.  1773. 


THE  TORPEDO. 


257 


visit) , that  one  or  two  of  these  fish  are  occasionally  taken  there  in  the  course  of 
a year.  But  in  regard  to  species,  the  author  in  this  communication  describes  a 
torpedo  received  from  Brixham,  which  is  certainly  the  same  as  the  specimen 
under  consideration.  He  observes,  ‘ the  back  of  it  was  of  a dark  ash-colour, 
with  somewhat  of  a purple  cast,  but  not  at  all  mottled,*  like  those  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  of  France,  nor  regularly  marked  with  eyes,  as  they  have  been  called,  like 
some  found  in  the  Mediterranean.  Its  under  part  was  white,  skirted,  however, 
with  the  same  ash-colour,  which  towards  its  tail  becomes  almost  universal.  The 
side-fins  being  a little  contracted  and  curled  up,  prevented  the  precise  measure- 
ment of  its  breadth,  but  it  appeared  to  hold  the  general  proportion  observed  in 
those  of  La  Rochelle ; that  is,  the  breadth  was  two-thirds  of  its  length,’  p.  465. 
Bloch’s  figure  represents  a different  fish  from  the  present  one.  Pennant  copies 
Walsh’s  plate  illustrative  of  the  French  specimens.fi  Donovan  (vol.  iii.  pi.  53) 
does  not  inform  us  whence  his  figure  was  taken,  but  that  it  was  not  drawn  from 
a recent  individual  may  be  inferred  from  the  only  original  information  he  gives 
of  the  torpedo  as  a British  species,  being — ‘ we  can  further  say,  upon  the  best 
authority,  that  this  species  has  been  more  than  once  taken  upon  the  sandy  coasts 
near  Tenby,  in  Pembrokeshire,  South  Wales.’  His  figure  exhibits  five  spots, 
the  spiracles  notched,  and  the  tail  somewhat  longer  than  that  of  the  specimen 
before  me.  Risso’s  Torp.  unimaculata  and  T.  marmorata,  fig.  8 and  9,  tom.  iii. 
ed.  1826,  appear  very  different  from  my  fish — the  former  displays  spiracles  with 
an  even  or  circular  margin ; the  latter  has  them  notched.  Blainville  (Faune 
Franqaise,  p.  45)  considers  the  Torp . narke,  T.  unimaculata , and  T.  marmorata , 
described  as  distinct  species  by  Risso,  to  be  only  varieties  of  one.  Blainville 
figures  the  three ; the  two  last  are  longer-tailed  than  mine.  T.  marmorata  ap- 
proaches it  more  nearly  in  form,  but  is  less  clumsy  : the  spiracles  are  in  all  three 
represented  as  notched.  Fleming  (Brit.  Anim.),  not  having  seen  specimens,  de- 
scribes from  other  authors.  In  the  Phil.  Trans,  for  1834  (p.  542),  Dr.  Davy 
states  that  the  Torp.  marmorata , Risso,  and  T.  Galvani,  Risso,  are  identical — - 
in  this  memoir  two  Mediterranean  species  are  described,  of  which  this  one  only 
approaches  the  specimen  before  me.  Jenyns  (p.  509)  considers  the  British 
species  of  torpedo  to  belundetermined,  as  likewise  does  Yarrell,  whose  figure 
(vol.  ii.  p.  410)  we  may  therefore  presume  has  not  been  made  from  a native 
specimen. 

“ Of  Dr.  Jacob’s  torpedo,  which  is  a female,  the  entire  length  is  34,  the  greatest 
breadth  23  inches  ; breadth  across  the  ventrals  9f  inches.  The  body  is  rounder 
and  forms  a greater  portion  of  the  whole  than  in  Yarrell’s  figure  (and  still  more 
so  than  in  Willughby’s,  which  the  author  just  mentioned  considers  the  same  as 
his)  ; it  is  19f  inches  long  from  the  anterior  extremity  to  the  part  of  the  body 
which  is  on  a line  with  the  extremity  of  the  pectorals,  and  14f  inches  thence  to 
the  end  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  first  dorsal  fin,  which  is  3 inches  in  height,  ex- 
tends for  2 inches  along  the  trunk  of  the  tail,  and  terminates  nearly  on  the  same 
plane  with  the  ventrals ; the  second  dorsal  fin  originates  about  1 \ inch  behind 
the  first ; it  is  2f  inches  in  height,  occupies  If  inch  of  the  tail,  and  extends 
within  If  inch  of  the  origin  of  the  caudal  fin — it  thus  nearly  occupies  the  portion 
between  the  ventral  and  caudal  fins  : C.  fin  5 inches  in  length,  upper  lobe  the 
larger.  Eyes  minute,  f inch  long  and  about  the  same  broad,  2 inches  10  lines 
from  the  anterior  edge  of  the  body,  2 inches  4 lines  apart ; spiracle  opening,  cir- 
cular or  without  tooth-like  processes ; a fimbriated  process  about  an  inch  within 
the  margin  ; several  rows  of  small  sharp  teeth ; vent  about  the  middle  of  body 
within  the  ventral  fins.  Colour  of  the  entire  upper  surface  uniform  reddish-grey, 
with  obscure  and  small  markings  of  a darker  shade  ; a single  dark  spot  f inch 
in  diameter  on  the  body  a little  to  the  left  of  the  middle  of  the  body ; under  side 
rich  chalk -w'hite,  prettily  bordered  with  reddish-grey,  which  colour  forms  a band 


* Small  dark  markings  appear  scattered  over  both  upper  and  under  side  in 
Mr.  Walsh’s  figures. 

f Pennant  describes  the  spiracles  of  a torpedo  which  came  under  his  observa- 
tion, as  having  “ six  small  cutaneous  rays  on  their  inner  circumference.” 

s 


258 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


about  an  inch  in  breadth  round  the  pectorals,  but  narrower  on  the  ventrals,  and 
still  more  so  on  the  tail. 

“To  recapitulate — in  all  the  works  noticed  in  this  communication,  and  perhaps 
unnecessarily  so,  the  only  figures  of  the  torpedo  corresponding  exactly  in  propor- 
tion with  my  specimen  are  Walsh’s,*  which  are  copied  by  Pennant.  Those  of 
the  Tremola , illustrative  of  Dr.  Davy’s  memoir,  seem  much  the  same.  Two 
desirable  points  are  however  attained — the  identity  of  the  species  with  Walsh’s 
specimens  from  the  coasts  of  France  and  England,  and  the  description  of  an 
authentic  native  example  of  the  fish.  From  Dr.  Jacob  I learn  that  two  torpedos 
were  taken  at  the  same  time,  about  ten  years  ago,  and  he  thinks  off  Dublin  Bay, 
like  the  present  individual ; of  one  of  these  there  is  a cast  in  the  Museum  of  the 
College  of  Surgeons  in  Dublin  ; f this  I have  examined ; it  is  38  inches  in  length, 
28  in  breadth,  and  represents  the  same  species  as  the  subject  of  the  present  com- 
munication.” 

A torpedo  taken  by  the  Dublin  fishermen,  which  weighed  14f  lbs., 
was  described  by  Mr.  M‘Coy,  in  the  6th  vol.  Ann.  N.  H.  as  a new 
sp.,  under  the  name  of  T.  emarginata.  A figure  of  it  accompanies  the 
description,  and  appears  very  different  in  form  from  other  torpedos  taken 
on  the  coast.  Dr.  Ball,  however,  who  saw  the  specimen  in  a recent  state, 
is  decidedly  of  opinion  that  it  is  not  distinct  in  sp.  from  the  others.  That 
gentleman,  having  obtained  a specimen  taken  off  the  Dublin  coast  on  the 
1st  Sept.,  1840,  remarked,  in  a letter  to  me,  that  he  felt  convinced  the 
specimen  described  by  me  and  the  T.  emarginata , and  also  the  one  re- 
cently received,  were  identically  the  same  sp.,  and  adds,  “ I found  that 
the  slightest  pressure  at  each  side  of  the  head  was  sufficient  to  make  a 
shrugging  of  the  shoulders,  if  I may  so  express  it ; or,  perhaps  more  pro- 
perly, to  flex  the  joints  of  the  cartilaginous  arch,  which  supports  the 
exterior  of  the  lateral  expansions  or  fins  : this  flexure  produces  the  two 
indentations  so  obvious  in  the  specimen  described  by  Mr.  M‘Coy,  while  at 
the  same  time  the  edge  all  round  is  drawn  in  and  thickened.  Did  the 
fish  die  in  a state  of  spasm,  it  would,  I think,  present  the  form  under 
which  it  has  been  named  T.  emarginata , while  in  its  ordinary  flaccid  state 
it  is  T.  Walshii.  The  slight  difference  of  position  of  the  dorsal  fin,  if  not 
the  result  of  irregularity  produced  in  the  drying  of  the  skin,  may  probably 
be  also  an  effect  of  the  same  cause  as  that  which  produces  the  indenta- 
tions and  the  thickening  of  the  edges  of  the  fish.  I did  not  however  look 
to  this  point.”  J 

In  describing  Dr.  Jacob’s  torpedo,  in  the  5th  vol.  of  the  Annals,  I gave  it 
as  my  opinion,  that  it  was  identical  with  Walsh’s,  the  only  difference  worthy 
of  note  between  my  specimen  and  his  figure  being  that  the  spiracles  in  the 
latter  are  represented  as  notched , and,  for  the  sake  of  identification,  I sub- 
sequently proposed,  in  my  Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland,  to  name  the 
Irish  specimens  T.  Walshii , in  the  then  confused  state  of  the  genus.  At 
that  time  I was  not  aware  of  the  T.  nobiliana  of  the  Fauna  Italica.  With 


* I do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  it  anywhere  satisfactorily  stated,  whether 
individuals  of  the  same  species  differ  much  in  general  outline,  or  whether  the 
sexes  ever  vary  much  in  this  respect — colour  is  admitted  to  be  no  character. 
See  in  particular  Dr.  Davy,  Phil.  Trans.  1.  c. 

f Dr.  R.  Ball  has  an  excellent  cast  from  the  present  specimen. 

X Dr.  Ball  has  since  confirmed  his  views,  and  ascertained  that  the  form,  wdiich 
not  unnaturally  led  Professor  M‘Coy  to  consider  the  specimen  he  describes  as  a 
new  species,  originated  in  its  having  been  tied  up  in  a handkerchief,  by  fisher- 
men anxious  to  prevent  injury.  Dr.  Ball,  having  received  a specimen  so  treated, 
made  a cast  of  it,  and  made  another  when  the  fish  became  flaccid — and  thus  ob- 
tained the  two  forms  from  one  specimen. 


THE  SKATE. 


259 


this  species  Mr.  Y.  (in  the  2nd  edit,  of  his  Fishes)  considers  British  speci- 
mens which  he  has  seen  identical ; and  so  likewise  do  I consider  the  Irish 
examples,  for  I am  disposed  to  believe  that  there  is  not  sufficient  evidence 
for  considering  that  any  other  species  has  ever  occurred  on  the  British 
shores.  The  spiracles  have  not  been  described  as  notched  in  any  indu- 
bitable British  specimen  of  torpedo  ; and  even  if  they  be  so,  I could  not 
conceive  two  species,  properly  so  called,  of  any  animal  of  such  large  size, 
differing  only  from  each  other  in  the  edge  of  the  spiracles  being  notched 
or  smooth.  [Prince  Bonaparte  confirmed  this  when  visiting  the  Dublin 
University  Museum.  R . Ball.  ] 

The  Skate,  Raia  Batis,  Linn., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast,  but  less  commonly  (in  the  North  at  least)  than 
R.  maculata  and  R.  clavata. 

The  following  notices  of  unusually  large  specimens  of  skate  (species 
unknown)  appeared  in  the  newspapers  : — 

“ Capture  of  a Large  Skate. — On  Thursday,  the  22nd  instant,  one  of  the 
Coosheen  fishing-boats  caught  a skate  which  weighed  2 cwt.  (224  lbs.) ; length, 
from  nose  to  tail,  7 feet  3 inches  ; breadth  5 feet  8 inches  ; depth,  through  the 
body,  7 inches.  The  liver  weighed  14  lbs.  This  huge  fish  was  caught  in  the 
following  manner  A small  skate  got  meshed,  and  was  swallowed,  with  a piece 
of  the  trammel  of  the  net,  by  the  large  one  ; and,  being  thus  entangled  in  the 
netting,  it  was  easily  secured  by  the  fishermen.” — Cork  Reporter.  Copied  into 
Northern  Whig,  March  29,  1849. 

“ Extraordinary  Fish. — Two  skates  of  an  extraordinary  size  and  weight 
were  taken  in  the  river  Quoile,  near  this  town,  on  Tuesday  night  last,  one  of 
which,  a female  fish,  measured  five  feet  in  length,  and  the  tail  two  feet ; total 
length  seven  feet,  and  five  feet  two  inches  in  breadth ; it  weighed  upwards  of 
two  cwt.  The  other  fish,  a male,  measured  four  and  a-half  feet  in  length,  tail 
one  foot  and  three-quarters ; total  length,  six  feet  and  a quarter,  and  breadth, 
four  feet  and  three-quarters ; it  weighed  upwards  of  one  and  a half  cwt.  There 
were  also  caught  at  the  same  time  several  very  large  conger  eels,  one  of  which 
measured  six  feet  in  length,  and  weighed  upwards  of  forty  pounds.” — Down- 
patrick Recorder.  Copied  into  Belfast  Mercury , July  3,  1851.* 

The  rays  are  less  known  in  Ireland  than  most  other  fishes,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  being  rarely  brought  to  market,  and  when  exposed  for 
sale  they  are  usually  in  an  imperfect  state. 

March  3,  1849.  Two  immense  ova,  of  some  species  of  Raia  most  pro- 
bably, were  sent  me  fresh  and  moist  from  Belfast  fish-market.  After 
being  exposed  to  the  dry  air  for  48  hours,  they  were  weighed  in  the  fore- 
noon of  the  5th,  and  were  respectively  8^  and  9 ounces.  Length  10J 
inches,  breadth  4^  inches.  Thickness  at  outer  edge  fths  of  inch.  These 
ova  were  brought  up  on  the  long  lines  of  the  fishermen  in  deep  water, 
about  the  entrance  of  Lame  Lough ; they  had  never  seen  any  so  large 
before.  Mr.  Hyndman  obtained  one  precisely  similar  at  Ailsa. 

The  Sharp-nosed  Ray,  Raia  oxyrhynchus , Mont. 

Amongst  the  species  of  rays  enumerated  in  Smith’s  Waterford,  is  the 
“ Raia  oxyrhynchus,  called  by  Rondeletius,  R.  oxyrhynclia  major,  the 
Great  Maid.” 

Sept.  5th,  1851.  I saw  the  perfect  tail  and  other  remains  of  an  immense 


* A skate  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum  measured  upwards  of  7 feet  in 
length ; in  its  stomach  was  a large  hake. — R.  Ball. 

s 2 


260 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


ray  of  this  species  to-day,  on  the  beach  at  Annalong.  The  “ claspers  ” 
were  about  a foot  in  length. 

The  Shagreen  Ray,  Raia  chagrinea,  Mont., 

Was  obtained  by  the  Ordnance  Survey  collectors  at  Portrush,  in  May, 
1839,  as  appears  by  the  specimen  so  labelled  in  their  collection. 

Captain  Portlock  remarked  in  reference  to  this  species,  that  it  “ seems 
to  take  the  place  of  R.  oxyrhynchus  on  the  northern  coast.” 

The  Homelyn  Ray,  or  Spotted  Ray,  Raia  maculata,  Mont., 

Aj>pears  to  be  found  around  the  coast. 

In  the  North  and  East,  where  I have  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  rays, 
this  sp.  appears  to  be  about  equally  common  with  R.  clavata,  these  two 
being  by  far  the  most  common  species. 

The  R.  maculata  is  described  by  Yarrell  and  Jenyns  to  be  “smooth,”  but 
of  the  several  specimens  taken  at  various  times  in  Belfast  Bay  and  on 
the  neighbouring  coasts,  and  examined  in  a fresh  state,  only  one  was 
smooth ; the  skin  of  this  individual  when  preserved  and  dry  was  slightly 
roughened,  both  above  and  below,  with  minute  tubercles. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  “ Raia  leads  vulgata  with  two  black 
spots,  one  on  each  side  the  back,”  noticed  in  Smith’s  W aterford,  was  this 
species.  I have  seen  specimens  from  Youghal,  in  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  collection, 
and  have  seen  it  brought  in  by  the  fishermen  at  Howth,  Co.  Dublin. — See 
Ord.  Surv.  Mem.  p.  15. 

“ Raia  miraletus,  Linn,”  Yarr.  P 
— rubus,  Don.  ? 

See  young  one  in  ovum  case  preserved  in  spirits,  obtained  quite  fresh  on 
Holywood  Warren,  Belfast  Bay,  Nov.  30,  1851,  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Garrett. 

Raia  maculata.  Ray  received  from  Dr.  Drummond,  July  7,  1838,  and 
bought  by  him  of  a Holywood  fisherman,  taken  with  lugworm. 

It  belongs  to  the  first  section  of  the  genus  Raia.  “ Snout  sharp,  more 
or  less  elongated,”  Jenyns,  p.  510.  It  differs  from  the  leading  characters 
of  Raia  Ratis  in  having  the  lateral  margins  of  the  snout  parallel , the 
points  of  the  spine  on  the  lateral  rows  of  the  tail  directed  backwards , and 
the  colour  being  beneath  altogether  white  except  the  margins  of  the  P. 
fins,  which  are  dusky. 

From  the  oxyrhynchus  it  differs  in  the  snout  being  very  moderately 
elongated,  and  in  having  the  skin  of  the  upper  surface  granulated  instead 
of  being  “ smooth.” 

From  the  R.  marginata , in  the  last-named  character. 

From  the  R.  chagrinea,  in  having  a row  of  large  spines  on  the  ridge  of 
the  tail. 

From  the  R.  maculata,  in  being  smooth. 

From  R.  clavata,  in  wanting  the  “ tubercles  ” entirely. 

In  form  it  agrees  better  with  Yarrell’s  “ Sharp-nosed  Ray,”  p.  424,  than 
any  other,  and  has  large  spines  just  where  they  appear  in  the  figure,  and 
similarly  disposed  ; the  snout  however  is  not  just  so  long  as  here  figured ; 
the  specimen  is  a male. 

Its  total  length  is  30  inches,  greatest  breadth  18  inches,  length  of  body 
to  commencement  of  vent  13  inches,  thence  to  point  of  caudal  fin  17 
inches. . 

Teeth,  a very  few  only  can  be  called  sharp-pointed,  the  others  being 


THE  HOMELYN  RAY. 


261 


truncated  at  the  summits,  as  if  from  use.  Distance  from  extremity  of 
lower  jaw  to  anterior  point  of  nostril  If  inch,  thence  in  a continuous 
straight  line  to  margin  of  snout  If  inch,  from  the  same  point  to  the 


Shin  rough  entirely  over  the  upper  surface,  with  very  minute  spines ; 
a number  of  large  spines,  mostly  directed  backwards,  near  the  margin  of 
the  body  below  the  eyes ; also  a series  of  large  spines  forming  a patch  of 
elongate  form  within  the  extreme  margins  of  the  P.  fins. 

Spines , 3 rows  of  large  spines  on  the  tail,  all  directed  backwards,  the 
middle  row  not  extending  along  the  back  nor  further  than  the  vent ; at 
the  distance  of  5 inches  from  last  large  caudal  spine,  one  appears  on  the 
back  and  another  an  inch  in  advance  of  it  (not  another  large  spine  than 
those  already  described  on  any  part  of  the  body) ; the  intermediate  space 
has  never  been  occupied  by  them.  The  under  surface,  from  about  on  a 
line  with  the  lower  jaw  forwards,  rough,  with  minute  spines,  as  is  also  the 
entire  under  surface  of  the  tail,  remainder  smooth. 

Two  Jinlets  before  the  caudal  fin,  which  is  very  slightly  developed,  f 
of  an  inch. 

Colour,  entire  upper  parts  dull  brown,  closely  blotched  and  spotted 
over  with  black,  which  gives  it  the  general  appearance  of  being  blackish  ; 
under  surface  entirely  white,  except  at  the  margin  of  the  pectorals,  which 
are  dusky. 

In  general  outline  the  fish  is  as  like  the  Homelyn  Ray  of  Yarrell;  p. 
429,  as  any  other  of  his  species  ; its  pectorals  are,  however,  more  pointed 
at  their  extreme  ends.  The  male  organs  are  more  developed  than  in  any 
species  figured  by  Yarrell.* 

July  16,  1838.  Raid  maculata  caught  at  Holywood,  33  inches  long ; 
the  fish  above  described  is,  I suppose,  a variety  of  this  species ; taken  with 
lug-worm. 

July  30,  1838.  A specimen  taken  with  lug-worm  at  Holywood  is  2 feet 
long ; on  upper  side  greyish  white,  closely  marked  with  dusky  spots,  and 
sparings  with  black  spots,  just  as  if  a shower  of  ink  had  fallen  on  it.  It  is 
a male,  the  teeth  sharp,  no  spines  on  under  side,  on  upper  side  the  usual 
series  of  spines  towards  the  point  of  the  pectorals,  and  also  many  spines 
near  the  margin  of  the  body  in  a line  with  the  eyes  ; like  two  last  specimens, 
it  is  rough  over  the  entire  upper  surface  of  the  body  from  tail  to  head, 
but  smooth  in  the  contrary  direction. 

April  13,  1839.  Raia  maculata.  I received  from  Holywood  a male 
living  specimen  of  this  fish,  the  first  Irish  one  I have  seen  that  agreed 
with  the  important  character  attributed  by  Yarrell  and  Jenyns  to  the 
species,  of  being  smooth  above.  This  specimen  was  taken  with  the  lug- 
worm  (this  is  now  in  general  use ; in  winter  only,  the  Holywood  fisher- 
men state,  will  fish  take  the  “ buckie  ”) ; in  its  stomach  were  a shrimp, 
a Portunus,  and  a Gunnellus  vulgaris.  The  specimen  was  30  inches  long 
and  201  broad ; the  ground  colour  above  was  a pale  yellowish-grey,  marked 


* Aug.  26,  1840,  I received  a similar  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  Getty  at  Rock- 
port  ; it  is  smoother  on  the  upper  surface  than  any  other  I have  seen,  except  the 
above ; it  is  marked  over  with  jet  black  markings,  and,  like  the  above,  is  the 
only  ray  I recollect  having  seen  so  coloured,  as  if  a heavy  shower  of  jet  had 
fallen  on  it ; it  is  preserved  for  Museum.  The  stomach  was  filled  with  the  sea- 
mouse,  Aphrodita  aculeata,  of  which  there  were  several  specimens. 


margin  thus, 


2 inches. 


262 


PLAGIOSTOMI. 


entirely  over  with  minute  spots  of  a dark  grey  colour  ; it  agreed  with 
every  character  Jenyns  attributes  to  the  species. 

Oct.  14,  1839.  Having  examined  the  above  specimen,  I find  the  skin 
slightly  roughened  both  above  and  beneath  with  minute  tubercles,  con- 
sequently it  does  not  in  a dry  (as  it  did  in  a recent)  state  correspond  with 
Yarr.  and  Jenyns’  descriptions  in  this  respect. 

The  Thornback,  Raia  clavota , Will., 

Is  taken  around  the  coast. 

July  2 6th,  1838.  I examined  two  female  specimens,  each  about  3 feet 
in  length,  taken  in  Belfast  Bay.  They  respectively  contain  eggs,  varying 
from  the  size  of  a point  to  those  in  the  horny  cases  ready  for  exclusion. 

No.  1 has  (excepting  the  spines  on  the  ridge  of  the  back)  only  two 
large  tubercles  on  upper  side,  and  a single  rudimentary  one  at  one  eye : 
on  under  side  it  has  four.  Its  stomach  contained  full-grown  specimens 
of  Cancer  velutinus,  C.  mcenas,  and  C.  Bernhardus , a small  Modiola  papu- 
ana,  \ inch  long,  and  a codling  9 inches  in  length  : this  poor  victim  had 
a hook  firmly  grasped  in  its  mouth,  the  line  was  cut  just  above  the  hook, 
so  that  little  more  than  the  hook  (a  very  powerful  one)  remained. 

No.  2 had,  in  addition  to  large  spines  on  ridge  of  tail,  two  at  one  eye 
and  three  at  the  other ; and  one  on  each  side,  near  the  margin  of  the  body, 
in  a line  with  the  1st  eye  ; besides  these  there  were  but  two  other  tuber- 
cles on  upper  side,  on  under  side  four. 

Teeth  round  in  both,  as  figured  in  Yarrell,  vol.  ii.  p.  416  [1st  edition]. 
Colour  of  upper  side  in  both  a dirty  brown  of  different  shades,  with  large 
obscure  whitish  or  paler  spots  and  markings,  and  small  black  spots  like- 
wise scattered  over  it. 

Aug.  8th,  1838.  Two  small  specimens,  about  14  inches  long,  that  were 
brought  to  me,  were  beautifully  marked  all  over  with  circular  white  spots, 
each  surrounded  by  a narrow  black  ring. 

Aug.  22nd,  1840,  Received  a R.  clavata,  about  20  inches  long,  taken 
at  Bangor;  it  was  filled  with  the  slender-legged  crab,  Stenorynchus 
Rhalangium. 

Aug.  2 8th,  1840.  Received  four  specimens  (male  and  female),  about 
20  inches  long,  captured  in  Belfast  Bay,  One  was  filled  with  shrimps  ; 
another  contained  remains  of  brachyurous  Crustacea  and  two  specimens 
of  Pandalus  annulicornis ; a third,  remains  of  specimens  of  Stenorynchus 
Phalangium,  and  other  crabs ; the  fourth,  remains  of  Crustacea. 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  says  this  fish  is  the  best  liked  of  the  rays  for  eating, 
by  our  fishermen.*  Rays  will  hardly  sell  in  Belfast  market,  but  there  is 
another  kind  in  Scotland  better  liked  there : the  fishermen  keep  all  sp. 
of  rays,  when  bait  is  scarce,  for  buckie-creels,  cut  off  the  tail,  and  take  out 
the  entrails,  and  hang  the  fish  in  the  chimney  to  dry.  Has  seen  some 
rays  (sp.  ?)  2 cwt.,  it  requires  two  men  to  carry  them : this  applies  to 
Carrickfergus,  where  the  fishermen  say  they  distinguish  four  kinds  of 
ray,  not  including  the  Sting  Ray. 

The  Sandy  Ray,  Raia  Radula,  Delar., 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  N.  E.  and  E.  coast. 

It  was  added  to  our  Catal.  by  the  Ordnance  collectors,  as  noticed  in  my 
report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland,  and  in  Yarr.  B.  F.,  2nd  ed.  vol.  ii.  p. 


* Young  or  half-grown  only  eaten,  the  old  ones  are  too  tough  or  hard. 


THE  RAY. 


263 


577.  They  obtained  it  on  the  N.  E.  coast.  It  was  soon  afterwards  ob- 
tained on  the  Dublin  coast,  by  Mr.  M‘Coy  * and  Dr.  It.  Ball.  Captain 
Portlock  also  informed  me  that  he  had  seen  a specimen  which  was  pro- 
cured in  Dublin  Bay. 

The  Sting  Ray,  Common  Trygon,  or  Fire-Flaire, 

Trygon  pastinaca,  Cuv., 

Was  stated  by  Templeton  to  be  “ occasionally  taken  on  the  coast.” 

Mr.  Bernard  Meenan  says  he  has  several  times  heard  the  Carrickfer- 
gus  fishers  speak  of  a fish  like  that  figured  by  Yarrell,  vol.  ii.  p.  588,  and 
is  pretty  sure  of  having  himself  seen  one. 

In  Smith’s  Cork,  1st  ed.  p.  305,  the  following  note  occurs  : — 

Pastinaca  marina  prima,  Rond.,  Will.  The  Great  Skate  or  Fire-Flare, 
Will.  Tab.,  c.  i.  f.  4,  proves  this  to  be  a true  Baia. 

The  Cork  Fauna  includes  Trygon  pastinaca,  on  the  authority  of  Smith’s 
Cork,  and  probably  erroneously. 

Mr.  Good  informed  Dr.  R.  Ball  that  a number  of  Sting  Bays  were 
taken  at  one  haul  of  a traul-net,  in  the  winter  of  1846-7,  on  the  Wa- 
terford coast. 

The  Eagle  Ray,  Myliobatis  aquila,  Cuv.  ? 

Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  a large  specimen  of  this  fish  was  taken 
at  Ardfry,  in  a bag-net  set  for  salmon,  but  on  my  calling  his  attention  to 
the  specific  characters,  he  stated  his  inability  to  determine  the  species. 

The  Horned  Ray,  Ceplialoptera  Giorna,  Risso, 

Has  a place  in  the  general  British  Catalogue,  from  a single  individual 
taken  on  the  southern  coast  of  Ireland,  the  following  notice  of  which  was 
contributed  by  me  to  the  Zool.  Society,  in  1835.  See  the  Proceedings 
for  that  year, 

“ Ceplialoptera,  Dum.  A fish  of  this  singular  genus,  taken  about  5 years  ago 
on  the  southern  coast  of  Ireland,  and  thence  sent  to  the  Royal  Society  of  Dub- 
lin, is  at  present  preserved  in  their  Museum.  In  breadth  it  is  about  45  inches. 
The  specimen  being  imperfect,  and  the  characters  of  some  of  the  species  being 
ill-defined,  I hesitate  applying  to  it  a specific  name.  It  somewhat  resembles 
the  Ceph.  Giorna , as  figured  by  Risso.” 

Mr.  M‘Coy  having  commented  on  the  foregoing  remarks,  I made  the 
following  communication  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  xx.  p.  173  : — 

“In  a ‘ Note  on  the  Irish  species  of  Ceplialoptera  ( Pterocephala ),  by  Fred- 
erick M‘Coy,  M.  G.  S.  and  N.  H.  S.  D.  &c./  published  in  the  Annals  for  March 
last  (vol.  xix.  p.  176),  the  writer  seems  to  consider  that  it  is  not  the  Ceph. 
Giorna , Risso,  and  recommends  that  the  genus  Pterocephala , into  which  it 
would  come,  should  be  adopted.  He  remarks  that  — ‘ On  examining  this  very 
interesting  specimen,  I found  that  although  obviously  a Pterocephala , yet  it 
presented  most  important  differences  from  the  C.  Giorna , both  in  outline,  pro- 
portions, shape  of  the  fins,  and  form  of  the  wing-like  appendages  to  the  head 
* * * ; [it]  seems  referrible  to  that  described  many  years  ago  * * * and  figured 
by  Lacepede  under  the  name  of  Raja  Fabronianaj 

“ The  writer  then  proceeds  to  point  out  in  detail  the  various  differences  be- 
tween Cephaloptera  Giorna  and  Raia  Fabroniana. 


* It  is  the  unnamed  sp.  of  ray  in  his  paper,  in  6th  vol.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  p. 
405. 


264 


CYCLOSTOMI. 


“ Before  publishing  a notice  of  the  Irish  Cephaloptera  in  1835,  I referred  to 
the  R.  Fabroniana  of  Lacepbde,  and  considered  the  specimen  as  having  about 
much  the  same  resemblance  to  it  as  to  the  C.  Giorna,  but  preferred  adopting 
the  latter  name.  Muller  and  Henle,  in  their  great  work  on  the  ‘ Plagiostomen,’ 
the  highest  authority  extant  on  the  subject  (published  in  1841),  brought  the  two 
names  together*  as  representing  but  one  species,  and  adopted  for  it  Risso’s  term, 
Cephaloptera  Giorna.  The  Prince  Bonaparte  has  done  the  same  in  his  Catalogo 
Metodico  dei  Pesci  Europei,  published  at  Naples  in  1846.  If  therefore  I have 
been  the  means  of  the  specimen  being  ‘ erroneously  referred  to  in  most  works 
on  British  Zoology,’  I err  in  company  with  the  two  best  authorities  in  Europe  ; 
and,  if  I be  correct,  I am  indebted  to  the  writer  of  the  ‘Note,  &c.,’  under  con- 
sideration, for  providing  by  his  description  and  figure  better  means  than  I had 
myself  done  of  proving  the  correctness  of  my  opinion  respecting  the  species  in 
question. 

“ The  specimen  was  so  imperfect,  and  in  addition  so  distorted  by  the  pre- 
server, that,  although  in  possession  of  an  accurate  drawing  of  it  previous  to  pub- 
lishing the  note  in  1835,  I was  unwilling  to  have  it  engraved.  The  relative  di- 
mensions being,  for  the  same  reasons,  necessarily  inaccurate,  I abstained  also 
from  giving  them.” 

For  description  of  the  following  species  recorded  by  Professor  M‘Coy, 
see  Annals  Nat.  History,  vol.  vi. 

Raia  radiata,  Starry  Ray,  p.  405. 

Raici  intermedia , p.  405. 

Raia  microcellata,  p.  407, 


ORDER  IX.— CYCLOSTOMI. 


The  Lamprey,  Retromyzon  marinus,  Linn., 

Is  taken  in  suitable  localities  in  all  quarters  of  the  island. 

In  the  larger  rivers  connected  with  L.  Neagh  it  is  of  regular  occur- 
rence. 

A fisherman  told  me  it  is  common  in  the  Coagh,  or  Ballinderry  river, 
of  five  pounds’  weight.  He  had  seen  some  which  he  believed  to  be  ten  or 
twelve  pounds ; he  says  when  “ rooting  ” they  turn  over  stones  (by 
sheer  strength,  not  by  suction)  of  ten  to  twelve  lbs.  weight.  They  go  up 
this  river  not  only  as  far  as  Coagh,  about  five  miles  from  Lough  Neagh, 
but  four  or  five  miles  further.  The  people  here  would  not  use  them  for 
any  consideration  ; they  are  so  ugly.  Newcastle,  County  Down,  Nov.  2nd, 
1851.  A fisherman  informs  me  that  he  once,  about  two  years  ago,  caught 
four  lampreys,  the  largest  of  which  was  eleven  inches  long,  in  the  tidal 
river  here,  a considerable  way  above  the  bridge.  He  had  not  seen  or 
heard  of  them  here  before.  Two  persons  who  rent  the  fishing  of  the 
river  had  never  seen  lamprey  in  it. 

May  23 rd,  1851.  Retromyzon  marinus . A fine  adult  fish  of  this  species 
2 feet  6 inches  long,  and  in  very  good  condition,  taken  this  evening  in 
Conswater,  Belfast,  was  brought  me  before  it  was  dead.  It  was  seen  with 
its  dorsal  fin  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  where  about  4 feet  deep, 
and  was  struck  by  a fisherman  under  the  impression  that  it  was  a mullet. 


THE  LAMPREY. 


265 


The  old  man  who  brought  it  to  me  says  he  has  been  fishing  “ all  his  life” 
in  the  bay,  and  never  saw  a fish  of  this  kind  before.  On  questioning  him 
particularly  about  its  being  at  the  surface  of  the  water,  with  the  fin  ap- 
pearing above,  he  stated  that  it  positively  was  so.  He  imagines  that  the 
“ surging  of  the  boat  ” may  have  made  it  rise  to  the  top  of  the  water. 

May  1 5th,  1849.  A specimen  which  I saw  with  Dr.  It.  Ball  was  taken 
to-day  at  the  Pigeon  House,  Dublin  Bay.  One  was  obtained  from  the 
Liffey  a few  years  ago,  by  Dr.  B.  He  has  not  observed  this  species  at 
Youghal. 

Several  correspondents  have  favoured  me  with  notes  of  the  occurrence 
of  the  lamprey  in  the  Shannon.  The  Rev.  Charles  Mayne  of  Killaloe 
informed  me  in  1838  that  they  are  seen  there  from  about  10th  of  June 
to  the  end  of  that  month,  but  not  afterwards ; weight  from  1 to  3 lbs. ; 
price  from  5d.  to  10c?.  per  couple. 

In  Tighe’s  Kilkenny  (p.  156)  it  is  remarked: — “Lampreys,  which  are 
often  taken,  and  justly  esteemed  as  a delicacy  in  many  other  places,  are 
constantly  thrown  away  by  the  fishermen,  and  not  even  kept  as  bait.” 

They  are  not  brought  to  Belfast  market. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  supplied  the  following  note,  in  Sept.,  1840.  “Lampreys 
(but  I don’t  know  what  sp.)  are  found  in  L.  Corrib,  and  several  of  the 
streams  that  run  into  it.”  Those  in  the  streams  running  in,  except  about 
their  mouths,  are  probably  of  the  smaller  species. 

In  1838,  Captain  Fayrer  sent  me  from  Portpatrick  a small  specimen 
about  6 inches  long,  which  was  taken  adhering  to  the  back  of  a cod- 
fish. 

The  Lampern,  or  River  Lamprey,  Petromyzonjluviatilis,  Linn., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South  of  the  island. 

Found  adhering  to  other  fishes  and  devouring  them. 

I was  anxious  to  get  a specimen  of  this  fish  from  Lough  Neagh,  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  whether  it  was  this  sp.  or  small  individuals 
of  the  P.  marinus,  which  latter  is  known  to  attack  other  fishes  in  the 
manner  described,  and  eventually  was  successful  in  Sept.,  1843,  when  Mr. 
Hyndman  obtained  in  a fishing  boat  at  L.  Neagh  a P.  Jluviatilis,  about 
a foot  in  length,  which  he  was  told  was  taken  adhering  to  a large  trout : 
he  brought  me  this  lamprey. 

In  a large  deep  pond  made  for  gold-fish  at  the  Falls,  near  Belfast,  a 
portion  of  the  surface  of  which  was  covered  with  the  leaves  of  the  White 
Water  Lily,  I observed,  on  a warm  day  in  summer,  an  extraordinary  ap- 
pearance, caused,  as  I believed,  by  this  species.  To  the  under  surface  of  each 
floating  leaf  of  the  plant  several  (in  some  instances  so  many  as  a dozen) 
lampreys,  about  a foot  in  length,  the  adult  size  of  this  sp.,  attached  them- 
selves by  the  mouth,  while  the  wriggling  of  their  dangling  bodies  had  a 
strange  effect.  They  were  too  far  from  the  edge  to  be  captured  by  any 
available  means,  but  I have  no  doubt  that  they  were  all  full-grown  indi- 
viduals of  this  species. 

Dr.  Ball  obtained  a specimen  about  10  inches  long,  taken  in  the  sea, 
at  Youghal.  Robert  Callwell,  Esq.,  captured  one,  on  1st  April,  1835,  in 
a river  flowing  into  Glendalough,  County  Wicklow.  I have  examined 
the  two  specimens  last  referred  to. 


266 


CYCLOSTOMI. 


The  Fringed-lipped  Lampern,  or  Planer’s  Lamprey, 
Petromyzon  Planeri , Bloch, 

Is  found  from  North  to  South. 

The  first  examples  which  came  under  my  notice  were  obtained  by  Dr. 
It.  Ball,  in  1836,  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Naas,  Co.  of  Kildare,  as  re- 
corded by  me  in  the  Zool.  Proc.,  1837,  and  also  in  the  following  notice 
which  I contributed  to  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ii. : — 

“ Petromyzon  Planeri,  Cuv.  Fringed-lipped  Lamprey. — I am  indebted  to  Dr. 
Ball  for  two  specimens  of  this  fish,  which  were  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Naas, 
County  of  Kildare.  They  are  4|  and  5 inches  in  length  respectively  ; the  smaller 
one  only  has  the  ‘anal  sheath,’  which  is  2 lines  long.  (See  fig.  in  Yarr.  B.  F., 
vol.  ii.  p.  457.)  The  dentition  in  these  specimens  is  similar  to  that  shown  in 
Mr.  Yarrell’s  figure  of  P.  fluviatilis,  and  consequently  in  this  character  they  do 
not  accord  with  his  figure  of  the  mouth  of  P.  Planeri ; in  this  same  wood-cut, 
however,  the  chief  peculiarity  of  the  species — the  fringed  lip — is  well  represent- 
ed. The  dentition,  or  ‘ armature  of  the  mouth,’  of  P.  fluviatilis  and  P.  Planeri , 
is  similar,  as  remarked  by  Mr.  Jenyns.* 

“ April  2,  1838.  From  the  Rev.  Charles  Mayne,  Vicar-General  of  Cashel — to 
whose  kindness  I have  in  several  instances  been  indebted  for  specimens  of  .fishes, 
&c.,  from  the  river  Shannon — I to-day  received  a lamprey,  4f  inches  in  length, 
recently  taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Killaloe,  and  which  proved  to  be  the  P. 
Planeri .” 

I have  only  to  add  that  specimens  have  since  been  taken  in  some  of 
the  Northern  Counties,  and  that  this  species  is  more  common  than  P. 

fluviatilis.  f 

The  Pride,  Sand  Pride,  or  Mud  Lamprey,  Ammoccetes 
branchialis , Cuv., 

Is  found  from  North  to  South  of  the  island. 

The  first  native  specimens  of  this  fish  which  came  under  my  notice  were 
two  sent  me  alive  by  Dr.  It.  Ball,  in  Jan.,  1833,  and  referred  to  in  the 
contribution  which  I made  to  the  Zool.  Proc.  of  that  year.  They  were 
taken  at  Ballitore,  County  Kildare,  where  he  first  observed  the  species, 
under  the  circumstances  mentioned  in  the  following  extract  from  a letter 
which  I received  from  him  shortly  before  the  arrival  of  the  specimens : — 

“ Ammoccetes  branchialis.  I have  no  specimen,  but  will  endeavour  to 
procure  one.  When  at  school  at  Ballitore,  in  1817,  and  in  pursuit  of 
fresh-water  cray-fish,  I many  times  captured  what  we  (boys)  called 
‘ lamper  eels ; ’ they  were  certainly  not  either  of  the  species  called 
lampreys,  and  I have  no  doubt  of  their  having  been  the  A.  branchialis. 
They  agreed  precisely  (so  far  as  memory  can  serve)  with  the  account  in 
Fleming.  They  frequented  mill-races  and  small  streams,  used  to  con- 
ceal themselves,  when  pursued,  in  mud  or  gravel,  were  generally  seen 
under  shelter  of  a stone  from  the  current,  maintaining  themselves  in 
constant  vibratory  motion  in  the  same  spot,  I would  almost  say  for  weeks 
together,  having  known  places  where  I was  always  certain  of  being  able 


* Dublin,  June,  1838. — Specimens  of  this  lamprey  have  lately  been  received 
by  Dr.  Ball,  from  Inch  river,  about  ten  miles  North-West  of  Youghal. 

f In  a small  stream  running  into  the  Blackstaff  river,  about  two  miles  from 
Belfast,  specimens  of  this  species  were  captured  in  the  spring  of  1853,  by  Mr. 
Penrose  Beale,  of  Belfast.  These  specimens  were  seen  by  us  in  a living 
state. — Ed. 


THE  LAMPREY. 


267 


to  see  the  creature ; its  extreme  agility,  when  taken  from  the  water,  seem- 
ed to  justify  the  old  saying,  ‘ as  merry  as  a grig/ 

On  5th  March,  1835,  I made  the  following  note  in  reference  to  the 
living  specimens  received  from  Dr.  Ball : — 

“The  two  lampreys  received  by  me  on  Feb.  2nd  (and  which  had 
been  taken  from  their  native  brook  a few  days  previous  to  the  19th 
Jan.)  I put  into  the  vase  with  a pair  of  gold-fishes.  The  latter  seemed 
to  express  their  fear  by  throwing  their  dorsal  fins  into  the  most  rigid 
position,  so  that  every  ray  seemed  perpendicularly  upright,  and  during 
the  short  time  that  the  lampreys  continued  their  gambols,  the  gold-fishes 
kept  close  together ; they  soon  perceived,  however,  that  the  lampreys 
did  not  attempt  to  molest  them,  and  they  did  not  afterwards  regard 
them. 

“ The  two  species  continued  together  for  two  or  three  weeks,  the  lam- 
preys never  for  a moment  intentionally  molesting  their  more  brilliant 
companions,  though  in  their  gambols  they  would  occasionally  dash 
against  them,  apparently  through  a deficiency  or  total  want  of  sight,  as 
they  did  against  objects  of  every  description  placed  within  the  range  of 
their  evolutions. 

“ These  evolutions  are  always  similar,  the  fishes  dashing  violently  from 
the  bottom  of  the  vase  with  a rapid  wriggling  motion  to  the  surface  of  the 
water  and  back  to  the  bottom  again  obliquely,  and  thus  continuing  for  a 
short  time,  although  apparently  as  long  as  they  have  the  power ; for  in  the 
midst  of  their  most  lively  motions  they  seem  as  if  suddenly  paralyzed ; 
they  invariably  fall  in  a seemingly  senseless  manner  to  the  bottom,  and 
whether  they  alight  on  back,  belly,  or  sides,  it  is  indifferent  to  them,  as 
they  continue  to  remain  in  whatever  position  their  body  reaches  the  bot- 
tom, until  roused  again  to  activity,  which  sometimes  does  not  occur  for 

considerable  time. 

“ I should  be  rather  disposed  to  question  the  assumption,  that  the  Pride 
adheres  to  the  branchiae  of  fishes,  as  some  authors  imagine  ; during  the 
period  already  mentioned,  my  specimens  did  not  attempt  doing  so  with 
the  gold-fishes.” 

March  1.  Ammoccetes  branchialis.  The  specimen  in  spirits  agrees  pre- 
cisely with  Fleming’s  description  of  this  species. 

With  the  fig.  of  Petromyzon  ccecus  (ray)  by  Couch  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist, 
vol.  v.  p.  23)  it  agrees,  excepting  that  the  lip  is  too  much  rounded  in  the 
fig.  and  the  tail  not  lanceolate,  as  it  is  in  the  specimen.  I cannot  dis- 
tinguish any  teeth,  as  are  described  in  the  mud  lamprey,  my  specimen 
having  what  seems  to  be  mere  papillae.  In  other  particulars  it  agrees 
with  Couch’s  description  ; my  specimen  is  certainly  the  Pride  as  described 
by  Pennant ; his  fig.  is  very  bad. 

Nov.,  1842.  Mr.  E.  Waller  sent  me  an  example  of  the  Pride,  from  a 
tributary  of  the  river  Blackwater,  which  empties  itself  into  L.  Neagh. 

Mr.  Templeton  mentioned  this  species  in  his  Catalogue,  and  Dr.  It. 
Ball  notes  it  as  occurring  at  Dublin  and  Youghal. 

The  Myxine,  Glutinous  Hag,  or  Borer,  Myxine  glutinosa,  Linn., 
Gastrobranchus  ccecus,  Bloch, 

Is  only  known  to  me  from  its  being  mentioned  by  M‘Skimmin  in  his 
History  of  Carrickfergus,  and  by  Mr.  Templeton  in  his  Catalogue,  where 
the  following  note  occurs : — 

“ Myxine  (Linn.),  glutinosa  Linn.,  has  been  found  at  Carrickfergus.” 


268 


CYCLOSTOMI. 


Mr.  H.  D.  Goodsir  informed  me,  in  1844,  that  the  Myxine  is  captured 
on  the  muddy  banks  on  both  sides  of  the  May,  in  the  Firth  of  Forth,  by 
fishermen  engaged  in  fishing  for  Gadidce ; one  which  he  gave  me  was 
taken  on  a hook,  still  in  its  mouth. 

The  Lancelet,  Amphioxus  lanceolatus,  Yarrell, 

Has  been  obtained  on  the  South  coast,  as  noticed  by  me  in  the  18th  vol. 
of  the  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  (1846)  : — 

“ Lancelet,  Amphioxus  lanceolatus , Pallas  (sp.)  ; Yarr.  Brit.  Fishes. — 

“ Three  specimens  of  this  extraordinary  fish  with  which  I have  been  favoured 
were  dredged  on  sand  from  a depth  of  forty -five  fathoms  off  Cape  Clear,  in  the 
month  of  May  last,  by  Mr.  MacAndrew,  whose  successful  dredging  exploits  are 
so  well  known.  This  gentleman,  writing  from  Liverpool  in  August,  1846,  gave 
me  the  following  interesting  particulars  of  the  lancelet : — ‘ The  first  time  1 ob- 
tained this  species  was  early  in  Sept.,  1843,  in  Kilbrannan  Sound,  West  Clyde — - 
forty  to  fifty  fathoms ; muddy  sand : the  specimens  were  of  large  size,  about 
double  that  described  by  Yarrell,  and  appeared  to  possess  some  peculiarities. 
One  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Goodsir,  and  the  other  deposited  in  the 
Museum  of  the  Royal  Institution,  Liverpool.  At  the  end  of  April,  1845,  spe- 
cimens were  procured  off  Mount’s  Bay,  Cornwall,  in  about  thirty  fathoms;  and 
West  of  Scilly,  forty-five  fathoms  in  clean  sand.  It  is  by  no  means  rare  on  the 
Cornish  coast,  as  on  two  or  three  occasions  I found  as  many  as  five  in  my  dredge 
at  once.” 

Mr.  MacAndrew  afterwards  found  several  living  lancelets  at  Bantry 
Bay,  among  sand  dredged  from  shallow  water  for  manure,  early  in 
June,  1848. 


IOLLUSCA, 


CLASS  CEPHALOPODA. 

Genus  Sepia. 

S.  officinalis,  Linn., 

August  23rd,  1836, — Mr.  Brown  of  Dundrum  states,  is  occasionally 
taken  here,  and  called  cat-fish — the  “ bone  ” is  called  may-shell,  and  is 
much  valued  by  the  country  people,  as  of  old,  for  its  medicinal  uses. 

A mutilated  specimen  was  found  at  Queen’s  Bridge,  Belfast,  in  July, 
1850. 

“ Bones  of  this  species  have  been  washed  ashore  at  Larne.” — Ord.  Sur. 
L.  Derry.  Notices,  p.  15. 

S.  rupellaria,  Fer. 

Three  specimens  of  the  dorsal  plate  were  found  at  Magilligan  by  Mr. 
Hyndman. 

Genus  Loligo. 

L.  vulgaris,  Lam. 

“ Loligo  vulgaris,  Calamary ; Ordnance  Survey  of  Londonderry : — 
Great  Cuttle  of  Pennant,  taken  in  the  Culmore  net.”  P.  16. 

Common  at  Dublin,  Dr.  Ball.  A full-sized  one,  as  accurately  described 
to  me,  was  found  at  Newcastle  (Oct.  19th,  1851),  and  the  only  one  an 
acute  fisherman  living  here  ever  saw. 

Loligo  vulgaris.  Dec.  20th,  1848. 

A full-grown  specimen  found  on  the  beach,  Dundrum  (County  Down), 
was  received  at  the  Museum — perhaps  thrown  ashore  by  the  hurricane  of 
the  15th  ; it  was  alive  on  the  19th,  when  brought  to  Dundrum. 

L.  sagittata,  Lam.*  Glendore,  Aug.,  1838. 

About  one  hundred  were  seen  by  Prof.  Allman  in  Glendore  Bay,  the  only 
time  he  ever  met  with  them.  He  describes  their  change  of  colour  as  very 
beautiful,  until  they  threw  out  the  ink  and  obscured  themselves,  though 
they  did  not  entirely  so  conceal  themselves  in  the  sea.  About  a dozen  put 
into  a pail  of  sea-water,  containing  5 or  6 gallons,  threw  out  as  much  ink 
as  to  conceal  themselves.  The  spots  which,  now  confluent,  give  a purple 
colour  to  the  body  were  invisible  before  Mr.  A.  put  them  alive  into  spirits, 
when  they  immediately  were  brought  out — though,  when  allowed  to  die 
out  of  spirits,  the  spots  never  appeared  afterwards,  though  they  were  in- 
troduced into  spirits.  Dublin,  Note,  Nov.,  1839. 


Forbes  and  Hanley  considered  this  to  be  L.  Todarus , 


270 


MOLLUSCA. 


Loligo  subulata,  Fer.  See  Ball,  in  R.  I.  A.  Proceedings,  1839,  p.  364, 
under  L.  media  var.  (?)  January  10th,  1842. 

July  7th,  1847. — Dr.  R.  Ball,  writing  to  me  from  Bray,  stated,  “I  have 
just  caught  here  the  Loligo  subulata , identical  with  yours  from  Down ; I 
do  not  know  whether  on  rigid  examination  it  will  prove  a species  distinct 
from  L.  media.”  L.  subulata,  Lam.,  is  made  synonymous  with  Sepia 
media,  Linn.,  in  Lam.,  vol.  xi.  368.  L.  subulata,  Fer.  and  D’  Orb.,  is  not 
referred  to,  though  this  vol.  of  Lamarck  was  published  in  1845. 

“ Specimens  occasionally  received  from  Dublin  Harbour,  Strangford 
Lough,  and  other  inlets.”  Templeton,  MSS.  (W.  T.  in  A.  N.  H.  vol.  v. 

p.  10.) 

L.  marmorce,  Verany. 

Taken  in  the  sprat-nets  in  summer,  at  Youghal.  Miss  M.  Ball. 

L.  Eblance,  Ball. 

March  13 tlx,  1845. — I received  a specimen  from  Bangor  ; this,  as  well 
as  the  Carrickfergus  specimen,  was  much  larger  than  that  described  by 
Dr.  Ball.  Dublin,  Dr.  Ball. 

Dec.  6th,  1848. — A specimen  found  on  the  beach,  Holywood,  Belfast 
Bay,  presented  to  the  Museum.  It  is  a beautiful  fresh  specimen,  of  a 
pinkish  flesh-colour,  beautifully  and  regularly  dotted  over  with  minute 
reddish-brown  spots.  Body  from  mouth  to  extremity  5 inches  long. 

Genus  Octopus. 

0.  vulgaris,  Lam.  Not  uncommon.  Temp.  MSS. 

[Probably  the  following  species  is  meant.  R.  Rail.'] 

Genus  Eledone. 

E.  Octopodia,  Penn.  O.  cirrhosus,  Lam. 

Four  procured  in  1836,  near  the  entrance  of  Lough  Foyle,  one  in  1837, 
and  one  near  Carnlough,  Sept.,  1837,  Ord,  Sur.  L.  Derry,  Notices,  p.  15. 

Not  unfrequent  in  Belfast  Bay.  Within  a dead  univalve  shell,  from  20 
fathoms  at  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay  (shelly  sand),  Oct.  3rd,  1846,  by 
Mr.  Hyndman  and  Mr.  E.  Getty,  who  brought  it  to  me  alive.  It  lived 
in  sea-water  for  about  two  days,  and  climbed  up  the  sides  of  the  glass 
bottle  in  which  it  was  kept  with  facility.*  Cast  on  the  shore  at  Youghal 
in  great  numbers  after  a snow-storm  in  1838.  Sometimes  brought  in  by 
fishermen,  who  use  them  for  bait ; called  squid  by  them.  Miss  M.  Ball, 
West-port,  Nov.  26th,  1843.  R.  Rail. 

Genus  Sepiola. 

S.  Rondeletii,  Risso. 

Several  obtained  in  Lough  Foyle  (Ord.  Sur.  L.  Derry,  Notices,  p.  15), 
Belfast  Bay,  Dundrum,  Newcastle. 

S.  Atlantica,  D’  Orb. 

Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drummond. 

* This  specimen  was  inside  a Buccinum  undatum  when  taken.  The  contents 
of  the  trawl  being  emptied  on  the  deck  for  examination,  the  cuttle-fish  was  ob- 
served crawling  out,  but  when  an  attempt  was  made  to  take  it,  it  immediately 
retreated  inside  its  habitation,  where  it  was’so  completely  concealed  that  it  would 
otherwise  have  escaped  notice. — G.  C.  H. 


PTEROPODA. 


271 


Genus  Rossia. 

R.  Owenii,  Ball. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 

R.  Jacobi,  Ball. 

Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  J.  Grainger.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Jacob. 

Genus  Spirula. 

S.  Australis,  Flem. 

“ White  House,  Belfast  Bay,  Portrush.  Templeton,  MSS.”  Magilligan, 
Mr.  Hyndman ; Youghal,  Dr.  Ball ; Clare,  Professor  Harvey. 


CLASS  PTEROPODA. 


Genus  Hyal^ea. 

II.  trispinosa,  Cuv. 

An  individual  of  this  species,  and  the  first  Pteropod,  I believe,  that 
has  occurred  on  the  British  shores,  was  found  by  Dr.  R.  Ball  on  the  coast 
near  Youghal,  some  years  ago.  At  the  same  time  Spirulce  and  Ianthince 
occurred,  but  none  of  them  in  a living  state. 

Genus  Peracle. 

P.  Fleminyii,  Forbes. 

In  shell-sand,  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Handcock.  Dredged  off  Mizen  Head, 
Mr.  M‘Andrew.  South  Island  of  Arran,  Mr.  Barlee. 


CLASS  GASTEROPODA. 

ORDER  NUCLEOBRANCHIATA. 

Genus  SAGITTA.* 

S.  Britannica,  Forbes. 

Coast  of  Cork,  Professor  Allman. 

Mollusca  Nudibranchia,  Cuv. 

Genus  Doris. 

D.  tuberculata,  Cuv. 

In  the  late  Mr.  Templeton’s  Journal,  “ Doris  Argo,  Penn.,  Brit.  Zook,  p. 
22,”  is  mentioned  as  twice  found  by  him  in  1812,  on  the  shore  towards 
the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay ; and  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me,  that 
about  the  same  time  he  procured  a Doris  here,  equalling  a hen’s  egg  in 
size,  and  which  he  considered  to  be  of  this  species.  At  Youghal  (County 
Cork)  it  has  been  taken  by  Dr.  Ball,  and  to  this  gentleman  and  myself 
has  occurred  at  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye,  off  the  Dublin  coast.  Pro- 
fessor Allman  has  favoured  me  with  specimens  procured  by  him  at 
Courtmasherry  harbour,  County  of  Cork,  where  he  states  that  the  species 
is  common.  The  Irish  specimens  I have  seen  were  generally  straw-co- 


Now  separated  from  Mollusca. — Ed. 


272 


MOLLUSCA. 


loured.  In  one  of  them  the  anterior  portion  of  the  foot  was  margined 
with  a line  or  band  of  a fine  blue  colour. 

I),  repanda. 

Alder  and  Hancock.  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  ix.  p.  32.  A specimen  of 
this  Doris  was  found  between  tide-marks  at  Roundstone,  County  Galway, 
in  July,  1840.  Dr.  Ball,  Prof.  E.  Forbes.  W.  T. 

D.  bilamellata , Linn. 

I have  obtained  this  between  tide-marks,  at  the  island  of  Lambay,  off 
the  Dublin  coast,  and  by  dredging  in  about  ten  fathom  water,  in  Belfast 
Bay.  A specimen  which  was  particularly  examined  was  found  to  agree 
with  Dr.  Fleming’s  description  of  D.  verrucosa  in  the  number  of  bran- 
chial processes,  which  are  24,  and  in  their  arrangement  being  somewhat 

“ semicircular,”  in  a broadly  horse-shoe  form,  thus  In  Dr.  John- 

ston’s specimens  the  branchial  processes  seemed  “ not  much  to  exceed 
twelve,”  and  were  disposed  in  an  “ uninterrupted  circle.”  Annals,  vol.  i. 
p.  55.  Although  the  precise  number  of  these  organs  is  of  no  specific 
value,  the  difference  alluded  to  is  so  great  as  to  be  worthy  of  attention. 
In  a specimen  from  Newhaven,  near  Edinburgh,  favoured  me  by  Pro- 
fessor E.  Forbes,  these  processes  are  twenty  in  number. 

D.  affinis,  Thompson. 

Body  elongated,  equally  rounded  at  both  ends,  depressed,  above  closely 
studded  with  stout  prolonged  tubercles,  orifices  of  tentacula  without 
sheaths  ; branchial  processes  short,  numerous,  pinnate. 

Length  1^-  inch,  breadth  equal  to  half  the  length : of  a very  pale  straw 
colour  ; tentacula  without  sheaths,  short,  lamellate,  in  all  respects  re- 
sembling those  of  D.  tuberculata ; cloak  covered  with  long  stout  tuber- 
cles varying  in  size,  the  largest  along  the  sides,  and  f of  a line  in  height, 
generally  of  equal  breadth  throughout,  but  occasionally  expanding  to- 
wards the  end,  which  terminates  in  a mass  or  fasciculus  of  spicula,  con- 
spicuous under  a low  power  of  the  lens,  and  giving  to  them  the  appear- 
ance of  a spinous  armature ; margin  of  the  cloak  moderately  broad,  its 
under  surface  granulated ; space  between  it  and  the  foot,  and  also  this 
latter,  smooth ; branchiae  short,  pectinate,  about  18  in  number,  disposed 
in  a broadly  horse-shoe  form,  as  in  D.  bilamellata,  and  the  space  within 
them  likewise  covered  with  tubercles. 

This  Doris  approaches  D . bilamellata  more  nearly  than  any  other  Brit- 
ish species,  and  would  perhaps  be  regarded  by  some  authors  as  only  a 
variety  of  it ; for  this  reason  I have  named  it  affinis,  to  mark  that  as  a 
species  it  may  be  viewed  with  some  suspicion.  Compared  with  D.  bila- 
mellata, the  D.  affinis  has  more  solidity,  is  somewhat  more  depressed,  its 
outline  of  body  less  elegant,  margin  of  the  cloak  narrower,  tentacula  and 
branchise  apparently  less  developed,  and  instead  of  the  pretty  rounded 
termination  which  the  tubercles  of  D.  bilamellata  generally  present  are 
fasciculi  of  spicula,  and  these  not  so  tastefully  disposed  over  the  surface 
of  the  cloak  as  in  that  species : in  all  respects  it  is  a less  attractive 
animal. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1837,  I obtained  three  specimens  of  this 
Doris  from  among  oysters  dredged  at  Greencastle,  County  of  London- 
derry. 

D.  TJlidiana,  Thompson. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1840, 1 procured  three  specimens  of  this  Doris 


NUDIBRAN  CHI  ATA. 


273 


among  oysters  brought  to  Belfast  market  from  the  neighbouring  coast  of 
Down  or  Antrim,  and  after  noting  their  general  appearance,  colour,  &c., 
set  them  apart  as  species  unknown  at  least  to  the  British  Fauna.  Mr. 
Alder  having  some  time  ago  expressed  a wish  to  see  my  collection  of 
Nudibranchiate  Mollusca,  it  was  placed  in  his  hands,  and,  on  this  species 
coming  under  examination,  it  was  considered  by  him  and  Mr.  Hancock 
to  be  new,  and  a description  of  it  drawn  up  for  their  own  use  was  kindly 
communicated  to  me.  This  is  as  follows ; — within  parentheses  are  my 
notes  on  the  colour  of  the  living  Boris. 

Doris  Ulidiana.  — “ Length,  from  spirits,  £ inch,  breadth  ^ inch  ; 
ovate-oblong,  rather  straight  at  the  sides,  depressed  [of  a uniform  pale 
yellow,  the  intestines  appearing  through  the  skin  of  a dark  colour]. 
Cloak  not  extending  much  beyond  the  foot,  rough  with  spicula,  and 
covered  with  large,  unequal,  obtuse  tubercles,  the  spicula  collected  in 
bundles  in  the  tubercles  and  radiating  at  their  base.  Tentacula  [long  and 
whitish]  lamellated,  without  sheaths ; the  edges  of  the  apertures  plain. 
Branchiae  consisting  of  eleven  [beautifully  white]  pinnated  plumes,  set  in 
a semicircle  round  the  anus.  Foot  rather  broad.  Veil  above  the  mouth 
semicircular.” 

On  being  put  in  diluted  spirits  of  wine,  the  tentacula  were  entirely 
withdrawn,  and  the  branchial  processes  lost  their  beauty  by  discoloration, 
which  changed  them  to  the  same  hue  as  that  of  the  body. 

On  comparing  these  specimens  at  the  time  they  were  procured  with  the 
most  nearly  allied  species  in  my  possession,  the  Doris  muricata , Muller 
(Zool.  Dan.),  they  were  noted  down  as  being  certainly  distinct  from  it : — in 
being  of  a more  elongate  shape,  in  having  the  tubercles  differently  formed, 
and,  in  proportion  to  the  dimensions  of  the  body,  their  being  not  more 
than  half  the  size  of  those  of  D.  muricata.  Messrs.  Alder  and  Hancock 
made  the  following  comparative  observations  : “ Comparing  your  D. 
muricata  [a  species  they  had  not  seen  before]  with  our  D.  aspera  and 
your  D.  Ulidiana,  we  come  to  the  conclusion,  so  far  as  we  can  judge  from 
specimens  in  spirits,  that  these  three  are  distinct,  though  nearly  allied, 
species.  D.  Ulidiana  differs  from  D.  muricata  in  its  much  larger  size, 
and  longer  and  more  depressed  form.  The  tubercles  appear  to  be  more 
depressed,  and  the  branchial  plumes  larger.  From  D.  aspera  it  differs 
also  in  size  and  shape ; in  having  larger  tubercles,  the  cloak  narrower, 
and  the  foot  broader.” 

D.  obvelata,  Johnston. 

Mr.  Hyndman  procured  a specimen  of  this  Doris  on  Fuci  at  Skerries, 
Dublin  coast.  On  its  being  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  Mr.  Alder,  by 
whom  the  original  specimen  described  by  Dr.  Johnston  was  discovered 
in  Berwick  Bay,  he  remarked  that  the  species  “ appears  to  be  pretty  ge- 
nerally diffused,  but  nowhere  common.”  He  had  obtained  it  last  summer 
in  Rothesay  Bay. 

Doris  muricata,  Mull. 

I have  not  unfrequently  taken  this  minute  species  when  dredging  (accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Hyndman)  in  the  loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast ; it  was 
generally  adhering  to  the  leaves  of  tangle  ( Laminaria  digitata).  Muller 
describes  it  as  5 lines  long  by  3 broad : my  specimens  were  all  even  under 
this  size.  The  D.  muricata  has  hitherto  been  unnoticed  in  the  British  seas. 

D.  aspera , Aid.  and  Hanc. 

Very  young  examples  of  a Doris , and  most  probably  (according  to  Mr. 


274 


MOLLUSCA. 


Alder)  of  this  species,  were  obtained  at  Glandore  Bay,  County  of  Cork, 
by  Professor  Allman,  in  the  month  of  August,  1842.  Mr.  Alder  himself 
procured  specimens  of  D.  aspera,  during  an  excursion  with  Dr.  Farran  of 
Dublin  to  Malahide,  on  the  coast  of  Dublin. 

Doris  pilosa,  Mull. 

The  first  Irish  specimen  of  this  Doris  that  I have  seen  was  found  in 
Dublin  Bay,  by  Professor  Allman,  to  whom  I am  indebted  for  it ; subse- 
quently two  individuals  were  taken  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  when  dredg- 
ing in  the  month  of  June  in  Belfast  Bay. 

D.  sublcevis,  mihi. 

D.  convex,  broadly  ovate,  smooth,  basal  sheaths  to  the  tentacula,  foot 
broad,  branchial  filaments  8,  long  and  finely  plumose. 

Length  of  specimen  (from  spirits)  7 lines ; height  equal  to  about  half 
the  length ; breadth  4^  lines  ; margin  of  cloak  narrow ; foot  of  nearly 
equal  breadth  throughout ; tentacula  long  and  acuminated.  Colour 
white. 

In  being  smooth,  this  species  agrees  with  the  D.  Icevis , Linn.,  Mull.  Z.  D. 
vol.  ii.  p.  9,  tab.  47,  figs.  3 — 5,  but  differs  much  in  its  convexity  and  in 
the  breadth  of  the  foot,  which  is  represented  very  narrow  in  that  species. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  September,  1835. 

Genus  Goniodoris. 

G.  elongata , mihi. 

G.  elongated,  narrow  ; a row  of  papillae  on  each  side  the  back  ; branchial 
filaments  about  10,  plumose. 

Length  of  specimen  (from  spirits)  3 lines ; breadth  1 line ; height  f 
line  ; breadth  of  body  equal  throughout. 

This  species  resembles  in  form  the  D.  gracilis  and  D.  pallens  of  Rapp. 
Nova  Acta,  vol.  xiii.  part  2,  p.  522,  tab.  27,  figs.  9 and  10. 

I obtained  this  mollusk  in  June,  1838,  between  tide-marks,  at  the  island 
of  Lambay,  off  the  Dublin  coast. 

G.  nodosa , Mont. 

Twelve  specimens  of  G.  nodosa  occurred  on  a plant  of  Fucus  vesiculosus, 
dredged  in  Killery  Bay,  County  of  Galway,  in  July,  1840.  Dr.  Ball, 
Professor  E.  Forbes,  G.  C.  Hyndman. — W.  T.  Mr.  Alder  found  the 
species  to  be  plentiful  at  Malahide  in  September  last. 

Yar.  G. — D.  Darvicensis,  Johnst. 

I have  been  favoured  by  Professor  Allman  with  specimens  of  this  Doris , 
of  which  he  procured  about  a dozen  in  Courtmasherry  Harbour,  in  the 
months  of  August  and  September,  1838.  They  were  all  found  among 
the  roots  of  Laminaria  digitata  cast  ashore,  and,  being  alive,  a minute 
description  of  them,  as  observed  in  this  state,  was  drawn  up  by  Professor 
Allman.  In  all  details  except  the  following  these  individuals  agreed 
with  those  described  by  Dr.  Johnston  in  the  Annals : — Slightly  elevated 
white  tubercles,  chiefly  disposed  in  straight  lines,  appeared  on  the  sides 
of  the  body ; 9 branchial  leaflets ; in  the  several  specimens  examined 
these  do  not  encircle  the  vent,  but  are  wanting  for  the  space  of  \ of  a 
circle  posteriorly,  two  hinder  leaflets  shortest. 

Genus  Polycera. 

P.  quadrilineata , Mull. 

Frontal  processes  of  the  mantle  4 ; angles  of  the  foot  produced ; pair  of 
branchial  lobes  rather  small. 


NUDIBRANCHIATA. 


2 1 o 

Length  of  specimen  (from  spirits)  3 lines  ; body  broadly  truncate  ante- 
riorly, tapering  to  the  tail ; tentacula  lamellated ; 3 branchial  filaments  ; 
eyes  two,  at  the  inner  side  of  the  posterior  base  of  the  tentacula.  Colour 
whitish,  with  the  frontal  processes  of  an  orange-yellow ; a few  scattered 
dots  of  this  colour  on  the  mantle. 

Although  the  four  black  lines  described  by  Muller  as  extending  in  an 
interrupted  manner  along  the  body  of  P.  quadrilineata  are  entirely  want- 
ing in  my  specimens,  I cannot,  possessing  as  they  do  every  other  character 
in  common  with  it,  regard  them  as  of  a different  species.  They  are  at 
the  same  time  quite  distinct  from  the  supposed  varieties  of  P.  quadrilineata 
figured  in  table  138  of  the  Zoologia  Danica. 

Three  individuals  of  this  species  occurred  to  us  on  the  same  occasion 
as  the  Tritonia  lactea , when  dredging  at  the  entrance  of  Strangford  Lough ; 
they  were  adhering  to  Laminaria  digitata.  When  placed  in  a phial  of 
sea-water,  they  were  generally  to  be  seen  suspended  by  their  threads  from 
the  surface,  the  body  at  the  same  time  moving  freely  about  with  much 
grace.  This  species  has  hitherto  been  unnoticed  in  the  British  seas. 

P.  typica , mihi. 

P.  with  4 frontal  appendages,  tapering  towards  the  point ; tentacula 
lamellate  ; branchial  lobes  very  large. 

Length  5 lines ; body  narrow ; tail  tapering ; branchial  filaments 
elongated,  in  a tuft  anterior  to  the  lobes  ; disk  thin  and  flexible  at  the 
edges.  Colour  whitish,  tentacula  and  branchial  lobes  tipped  with  yellow ; 
back  and  sides  thinly  studded  with  tubercles  (spots  ?)  of  a yellow  colour, 
three  of  which  are  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  and  six  or  seven  close  to  the 
tuft  of  branchial  filaments ; the  intestines  (seen  through  the  skin)  of  a 
dark  colour. 

Of  this  well-marked  species,  two  individuals  were  dredged  in  Strangford 
Lough  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  in  January,  1835,  at  the  same  time 
with  Euplocamus  plumosus.  They  seemed  partial  to  coming  to  the  surface 
of  the  water  in  which  they  were  for  some  time  kept,  and  to  moving  along 
with  the  foot  upwards. 

P.  ocellata , Aid.  and  Hanc. 

Mr.  Alder,  by  means  of  the  dredge,  took  this  species  commonly,  and  of 
all  sizes,  in  Dublin  Bay,  in  August  last,  and  subsequently  obtained  a 
specimen  at  Malahide. 

P.  citrina , Alder. 

Mr.  Alder  dredged  two  or  three  specimens  of  this  species  in  Dublin 
Bay,  at  the  same  time  with  the  last. 

P.  cristata , Alder. 

Obtained  with  the  preceding  two  species  : common. 

Genus  ^Egirus. 

2E.  punctilucens,  D’Orbigny. 

Professor  Allman  obtained  this  Polycera  in  a pool  at  Courtmasherry 
Harbour,  County  Cork. 

Genus  Euplocamus. 

E.  claviger,  Mull.  sp. 

Body  elongated,  tapering  to  the  tail ; three  plumose  branchial  filaments. 
t 2 


276 


MOLLUSCA. 


Length  10  lines  ; mouth  “sub-inferior,  terminal j”  frontal  appendages  6, 
the  two  central  very  small;  3 beautifully  plumose  branchial  filaments, 
situated  at  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  the  body  from  the  head ; mantle 
separated  from  the  disk  by  a deep  channel;  edge  of  cloak  thin  and 
waved ; no  eyes  apparent ; lateral  appendages  9 on  each  side,  terminated 
by  disks.  Colour , body  white,  tail  orange,  clavate,  tips  of  the  processes 
surrounding  the  body  orange,  as  are  those  of  the  frontal  appendages  and 
tentacula ; branchial  filaments  orange  ; on  the  back  are  a number  of 
papillae  of  this  colour,  as  is  likewise  a line  of  spots  along  each  side  between 
the  cloak  and  foot. 

The  gliding  motion  of  this  beautiful  species  along  the  bottom  of  the 
vessel  in  which  it  was  placed  for  examination  was  regular  and  graceful. 

It  was  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  adhering  to  a Laminaria,  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  myself,  in  January,  1835.  Lahinch,  Co.  Clare. 

Genus  Tritonia,  Cuvier. 

T.  Hombergi , Cuv.,  Johnst.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  i.  p.  114,  pi.  3,  figs. 
1 and  2. 

A specimen  about  4 inches  in  length,  with  the  examination  of  which  I 
have  been  favoured  by  Dr.  Ball,  was  found,  some  years  ago,  with  oysters, 
at  Howth,  County  Dublin. 

T.  plebeia,  Johnst. 

A specimen  was  taken  by  dredging  in  Cork  Harbour,  August,  1843. — 
Dr.  Ball  and  Professor  Forbes. 

T.  lactea,  mihi. 

T.  of  a milk-white  colour,  with  6 large  branchial  appendages  on  each 
side,  bifid  and  ramosely  pinnate  ; mantle  terminating  anteriorly  in  4 
arborescent  processes. 

Length  of  specimen  (from  spirits)  8 lines  ; sheaths  of  the  tentacula 
deeply  fimbriated.  Colour  milk-white ; but  with  the  aid  of  a lens  a few 
very  minute  scarlet  dots  are  seen  scattered  over  parts  of  the  body  and  the 
branchial  appendages. 

The  specimen  occurred  to  me  when  dredging  at  the  entrance  of  Strang- 
ford Lough,  in  the  month  of  October,  in  company  with  Mr.  Hyndman. 

T.  arborescens,  Cuv. 

Several  specimens  of  a small  size  were  taken  by  Mr.  Alder  and  Dr. 
Farran  at  Malahide.  Tritonia  lactea,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  v.  p.  88,  pi. 
2,  f.  3,  is  considered  by  Mr.  Alder  a variety  of  T.  arborescens. 

Genus  Melibcea. 

M.  fragilis,  Forbes. 

Three  examples  of  this  species  were  taken  on  Antennularia  antennina , 
dredged  in  Clew  Bay  (Co.  Mayo)  by  Dr.  Ball,  Prof.  Forbes,  and  Mr. 
Hyndman. 

M.  coronata,  Johnst. 

Obtained  at  Glandore  Bay,  County  Cork,  in  August,  1842,  by  Prof. 
Allman,  and  subsequently  in  Dublin  Bay  by  Mr.  Alder,  who  is  now  of 
opinion  that  the  Melib . ornata,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  33,  is  a variety 
of  M.  coronata. 

In  Sept.,  1851,  this  species  was  dredged  in  35  fathoms,  off  the  Copeland 
Islands,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Its  spawn  was  got  at  the  same  time,  adhering 
to  Sertularia  abietina. 


NUDIBRANCHIATA. 


277 


Genus  Calliopjea. 

C.  bifida , Mont. 

An  individual  of  this  species,  taken  by  Mr.  Getty  and'  Mr.  Hyndman 
when  dredging  in  Belfast  Bay,  was  brought  to  me.  It  agrees  critically 
with  Montagu’s  description,  except  in  the  following  points.  There 
are  just  twelve  appendages  on  each  side,  three  of  which  are  larger  than 
the  rest,  but  placed  at  unequal  distances  from  each  other  on  both  sides, 
and  not  opposite,  as  shown  in  Montagu’s  figure.  The  colour  is  better 
defined  than  in  the  figure ; the  marginal  line,  whence  the  appendages 
issue,  is  strongly  marked  and  reddish,  as  they  likewise  are;  foot  plain 
flesh-colour. 

The  animal  is  extremely  agile,  and,  planaria-\\k.e,  is  one  moment  twice 
the  length  it  is  the  next ; it  often  moves  about  with  the  foot  upwards, 
and  in  its  motion  several  times  had  the  long  tail  thrown  quite  under  the 
head. 

Genus  Eolis. 

E.  papillosa,  Johnst. 

Of  this  fine  species,  three  individuals  were  found  by  Dr.  Lloyd  (of  Ma- 
lahide)  and  myself,  under  stones  at  Lambay  Island,  on  the  1st  of  June ; 
at  the  same  time  their  spawn,  just  as  described  and  figured  by  Dr.  John- 
ston in  Mag.  N.  H.  as  above-cited,  was  obtained.  One  of  these  animals 
examined  critically  had  25  lateral  rows  of  branchial  processes,  and  about 
12  of  these  to  each  row. 

E.  Zetlandica,  Forbes. 

July  29th , 1840. — This  species  was  taken  by  Professor  Forbes  and  my- 
self, between  tide-marks,  at  Lahinch,  County  Clare. 

E.  Cuvierii. 

Among  the  Nudibranchia  which  I owe  to  the  kindness  of  Professor 
Allman,  was  a small  individual  of  this  species,  taken  by  him  at  Court- 
masherry  Harbour,  in  the  autumn  of  1838. 

E.  coronata,  Forbes. 

At  Glandore  Bay,  found  to  be  common  at  Malahide,  by  Mr.  Alder  and 
Dr.  Farran. 

E.  pallida,  Aid.  and  Hanc. 

A single  example  taken  at  Malahide  with  the  preceding. 

E.  alba,  Aid.  and  Hanc. 

Dublin  Bay,  Messrs.  Alder  and  Hancock. 

E.  Farrani,  Alder  and  Hancock. 

Dredged  at  Malahide,  Messrs.  Alder  and  Farran. 

E.  violacea,  Alder  and  Hancock. 

Mr.  Hyndman,  when  dredging  on  the  26th  August  last,  off  Castle  Chi- 
chester, Belfast  Bay,  in  6 to  10  fathoms  water,  captured  a specimen  of 
this  very  beautiful  Eolis.  It  was  brought  to  me  alive,  and  immediately 
afterwards  despatched  by  post  in  a phial  of  sea-water  to  Newcastle,  for 
Mr.  Alder’s  examination  in  a living  state,  but  on  reaching  its  destination 
was  unfortunately  dead.  Mr.  Alder  remarked,  that  it  was  a very  fine 
example  of  his  E.  violacea,  which  was  described  from  a Cullercoats  spe- 
cimen smaller  and  less  perfect  than  this  had  been. 


278 


MOLLUSCA. 


E.  Drummondi. 

The  first  specimen  of  this  Eolis  that  I am  aware  of  being  taken  on  the 
Irish  coast,  occurred  to  myself  at  Newcastle,  County  Down,  in  August, 
1836,  but,  besides  its  careful  preservation  in  spirits,  no  attention  was  be- 
stowed upon  it.  In  June  last  a considerable  number  of  individuals  of 
this  species  were  taken  in  the  dredge  near  Bangor  (County  Down)  by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  who,  being  unacquainted  with  them,  at  once  drew 
up  a very  minute  and  excellent  description  from  the  living  animals,  illus- 
trating it  at  the  same  time  with  several  sketches.  Under  the  head  of 
“ general  observations,”  it  is  remarked  in  Dr.  Drummond’s  journal : — • 
“ Animal  either  very  active  and  coursing  repeatedly  round  the  basin,  or 
hanging  by  its  disk  applied  to  the  surface  of  the  water.  Touch  very 
acute,  the  tentacula  and  cirri  shrinking  at  the  slightest  application  of  a 
foreign  body.  On  killing  a specimen  by  keeping  it  some  time  in  fresh- 
water, the  cirri  every  one  dropped  off  on  the  slightest  touch.”*  Some  of 
these  specimens  (from  spirits)  are  of  large  size,  several  being  9^  and  10 
lines  in  length.  In  the  disposition  and  length  of  the  branchial  filaments 
there  is  great  diversity ; in  one  individual  these  filaments  are  as  long  as 
its  entire  body,  or  7 lines  in  length ; in  another  of  equal  size  they  are 
half  the  length  of  its  body ; in  some  they  are  conspicuously  in  fasciculi ; 
in  others  they  appear  to  be  in  a continuous  row ; none,  however,  exhibit 
filaments  of  a clavate  form  like  those  of  the  Doris  pedata  of  Montagu  (see 
Johnston  in  Annals  above-cited) ; they  are  generally  pointed.f 

To  the  kindness  of  Edmund  Getty,  Esq.,  I owe  the  results  of  a day’s 
dredging  in  Belfast  Bay,  among  which  was  a mollusc  of  this  species. 

Genus  Proctonotus. 

P.  mucroniferus,  Aid.  and  Hanc. 

On  a sponge  in  shallow  water,  at  Malahide. 

Genus  Alderia. 

A.  amphibia,  All. 

In  salt  marshes,  Skibbereen,  County  Cork;  Professor  Allman. 

Genus  Idalia. 

I.  aspersa,  Aid.  and  Hanc. 

One  of  this  species,  hitherto  only  known  from  a single  individual  pro- 
cured on  the  coast  of  Northumberland  by  the  authors  referred  to,  was 
dredged  in  about  seven  fathoms  water,  off  Bray  Head  (County  of  Wicklow), 
by  Dr.  Ball.  When  living  it  is  said  to  have  been  somewhat  of  a dull 
rosy  hue.  The  specimen  is  now  (probably  being  contracted  in  spirits) 
five  lines  in  length  ; it  was  submitted  to  Mr.  Alder’s  inspection. 

* Mr.  It.  Patterson,  who  accompanied  Dr.  Drummond  on  the  occasion,  fa- 
vours me  with  the  following  note  : “To  avoid  this,  I took  a number  of  living 
specimens,  and,  by  the  successive  addition  of  some  table  salt,  converted  the  sea- 
water into  pretty  strong  brine.  While  doing  so,  the  motions  of  the  animal  became 
gradually  more  feeble,  and  then  ceased.  The  branchiae  did  not  appear  detached, 
and  the  specimens  were  placed  in  a bottle  along  with  the  brine  in  which  they 
had  been  killed.  The  result  was,  however,  the  same  ; they  separated  as  much 
as  if  the  shock  from  fresh-water  had  still  been  sustained,  and  the  liquid  became 
so  foetid  and  discoloured  (perhaps  from  the  presence  of  too  much  animal  mat- 
ter) that  the  entire  contents  of  the  bottle  were  thrown  away.” 

t Nevertheless  I cannot  but  think  that  D.  pedata  is  identical  with  the  species 
under  consideration. 


GASTEROPODA. 


279 


CLASS  GASTEROPODA. 

ORDER  INFEROBRANCHIATA. 

Genus  Pleurobranchus. 

“ P.  plumula,  Malbay,  County  Clare,  very  rare,”  Prof.  Harvey. 

P.  membranaceus,  Mont,  (sp.) 

Mr.  John  Humphreys  of  Cork  has  informed  me  that  a specimen  occur- 
red to  Mr.  Beevor  and  himself  when  dredging  in  the  harbour ; “ the 
animal  was  large,  about  2 inches  in  length,  and  the  shell  a very  good 
one ;” — the  species  had  not  before  been  met  with  by  Mr.  Humphreys. 
Belfast  Bay  and  off  Groomsport,  Mr.  Hyndman. 


ORDER  TE  CTIBR  AN  CHI  AT  A . 

Genus  Aplysia. 

A.  depilans,  Linn.  Generally  distributed  in  Ireland. 

A.  punctata,  Cuv.  General. 

A.  nexa,  Thompson. 

Animal  elongate,  deep  carmine-red,  mantle  bordered  with  black.  Length 
1 inch,  much  elongated,  foot  very  narrow;  two  black  eyes  anterior  to, 
but  a little  distant  from,  the  base  of  the  dorsal  tentacula. 

Colour  deep  carmine-red,  occasionally  with  a few  minute  white  spots ; 
mantle  and  anterior  tentacula  bordered  with  black,  dorsal  tentacula  tipped 
with  black. 

The  specimen  of  this  Aplysia  was  dredged  on  the  26th  of  August,  1844, 
off  Castle  Chichester,  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman — depth  6 to  10 
fathoms.  The  characters  which  this  beautiful  little  Aplysia  has  in  com- 
mon with  A.  depilans  need  not  be  given.  Whether  we  consider  it  dis- 
tinct from,  or  a mere  variety  of,  that  species,  it  differs  from  it  in  being  of 
a more  elongate  form,  in  colour,  and  in  having  the  mantle,  &c.,  bordered 
with  black. 

From  a single  example  only  I should  not  venture  to  describe  it  as  a 
distinct  species,  but  on  sending  my  specimen  (its  characters  being  first 
noted  down)  alive  in  sea-water  to  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  for  Mr.  Alder’s 
examination,  he  replied,  that  an  Aplysia  similar  in  form  and  colour  had 
been  taken  by  him  at  Torbay  in  Devonshire,  about  two  years  before,  but, 
not  having  had  much  opportunity  of  studying  the  genus,  he  felt  uncertain 
whether  it  should  be  considered  a variety  of  an  A.  depilans,  or  a distinct 
species.  Neither  do  I feel  certain  on  this  point,  until  an  equally  small  A. 
depilans  be  had  for  comparison;  but  it  seems  tome  better  to  describe  and 
figure  the  form  in  question,  and  leave  the  matter  of  species  for  future 
decision,  than  to  be  altogether  silent  on  the  subject.  A coloured  draw- 
ing of  Mr.  Alder’s  specimen  being  kindly  transmitted  to  me,  it  was  found 
to  represent  mine  exactly,  except  in  the  very  trivial  difference  of  having  a 


280 


MOLLUSCA. 


few  minute  white  spots  on  the  sides,  instead  of  being  of  a uniform  colour. 
Specimens  of  A.  depilans,  which  I have  often  taken  (but  never  of  so 
small  a size),  differ  in  being  occasionally  spotted  as  well  as  plain.  But 
I have  never  met  with  this  species  of  the  same  form  as  A.  nexa,  of  its 
fine  deep  red  colour,  nor  having  any  black  border  to  the  mantle,  &c. ; nor 
has  Ur.  J.  L.  Drummond  ever  done  so,  though  great  numbers  came  under 
his  examination  when  dredging  at  Donaghadee,  on  the  coast  of  Down,  in 
the  summer  of  1843.  Hab.  Belfast  Bay,  Ireland.* 

Genus  Cylichna. 

C.  strigella,  Loven.  Arran,  Galway,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Bulla,  Linn. 

B.  Lignaria,  Linn.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  Akera,  Mont.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  hydatis,  Linn.  Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys ; Galway,  Dr.  Farran. 

B.  Cranchii,  Leach.  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys ; Galway,  Mr. 

Barlee ; Bangor,  County  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

B.  umbilicata,  Mont.  East,  West,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

B.  diaphana , Turt. 

Two  specimens  have  been  taken  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  when 
dredging  in  Strangford  Lough,  and  the  species  has  been  found  by  Mr.  J. 
W.  Warren  at  Portmarnock,  on  the  Dublin  coast. 

B.  cylindracea , Penn.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  truncata,  Adams.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  obtusa,  Mont.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  mammillata , Phil. 

Procured  on  the  coast  of  Galway,  in  1848,  by  Mr.  Barlee. 

B.  hyalina,  Turt. 

Obtained  at  Portmarnock  by  Mr.  Warren ; and  in  shell-sand  collected 
at  Bundoran  and  Ballysodare,  on  the  western  coast,  by  Mrs.  Hancock. 

B.  pectinata,  Dillwyn, 

Has  been  found  at  Portmarnock,  by  Mr.  Warren,  and  at  Bundoran 
(County  Donegal),  by  Mrs.  Hancock.  Mr.  Humphreys  of  Cork  notices 
it  under  Leach’s  name,  as  procured  by  him  there  in  the  stomach  of  a sole 
( Solea  vulgaris). 

Genus  Bull^ea,  Lamarck. 

B.  aperta.  Generally  distributed. 

B.  pruinosa,  Clark. 

A dead  specimen  was  obtained  by  George  Barlee,  Esq.,  by  dredging  on 
gravelly  mud  atBirterbuy  Bay,  in  May,  1848,  at  a depth  of  from  12  to  15 
fathoms. 


* Aplysia  depilans  of  British  writers  is  not  the  A.  depilans  of  the  Medi- 
terranean. A.  nexa  is  the  young  of  the  A.  hybrida,  Sow. ; the  latter  being  the 
name  adopted  by  Forbes’  and  Hanley’s  Mollusca. — Ed. 


GASTEROPODA. 


281 


B.  punctata,  Adams  (sp.) : Turt.  Loudon’s  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vii. 

p.  353. 

Obtained  from  three  localities  on  the  western  coast — Miltown  Malbay 
(Prof.  Harvey),  Kilkee  in  the  County  Clare,  and  Bundoran  (Mrs.  Han- 
cock). 

B.  catena,  Clark.  Miltown  Malbay ; rare. 

“ A beautiful  little  species,  about  a line  in  length,  marked  with  elegant 
chain-like  bands.”  Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey. 

Genus  Action. 

A.  viridis,  Mont.  (sp.). 

With  a letter  dated  from  Glandore  House  (County  Cork),  August  23rd, 
1844,  Professor  Allman  sent  me  a small  phial  containing  specimens  of  this 
Actceon , remarking  that  he  had  just  taken  it  there  in  considerable  num- 
bers. He  subsequently,  at  the  meeting  of  the  British  Association  at 
York,  gave  an  admirable  account  of  the  anatomy  of  the  species,  illustrated 
by  drawings  of  remarkable  beauty,  executed  by  his  sister,  Miss  Allman. 
About  the  same  time  the  Rev.  Mr.  Landsborough  informed  me  that  he 
had  taken  this  species  on  the  coast  of  Arran,  Firth  of  Clyde. 


ORDER  PULMONIFERA.  INOPERCULATA. 


On  the  subject  of  the  Conchology  of  Ireland,  three  Catalogues  were 
published  within  a comparatively  short  period  ; Dr.  Turton’s  in  July,  1816, 
in  the  Dublin  Examiner,  or  Monthly  Miscellany  of  Science,  Literature, 
and  Art ; Capt.  Brown’s,  in  the  second  volume  of  the  Wernerian  Memoirs 
in  1818 ; and  in  this  same  year  a third  appeared  in  the  Appendix  to  Walsh 
andWhitelaw’s  History  of  Dublin,  from  the  pen  of  M.  J.  O’Kelly,  Esq.,  of 
that  city.  The  species  of  land  and  fresh-water  Mollusca  enumerated  in 
these  three  Catalogues  are  much  the  same,  and  about  fifty  in  number.  In 
the  subsequent  works  of  Brown  and  Turton  a few  more  species  were  added. 
To  Bryce’s  Tables  of  Simple  Minerals,  Rocks,  and  Shells,  found  in  three 
of  the  northern  counties,  published  in  1831,  Mr.  Hyndman  contributed 
two  species  hitherto  unnoticed.  In  the  London  and  Edinburgh  Philoso- 
phical Magazine  for  1834  (p.  300),  about  thirty  additional  species  were 
made  known  by  myself ; in  a paper  entitled  Additions  to  the  Fauna  of 
Ireland,  published  in  the  Annals  for  last  March,  I noticed  a few  more ; 
and  in  the  present  communication  there  are  two  species  previously  unre- 
corded. I shall  here,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  avoid  entering  into  detail 
respecting  any  of  the  species  thus  alluded  to,  but  shall  correct  in  its 
proper  place  in  the  following  paper,  in  so  far  as  my  information  extends, 
every  error,  either  of  others  or  of  my  own. 

The  order  in  which  the  genera  and  species  appear  in  Mr.  Gray’s  edition 
of  Turton’s  Manual  of  the  Land  and  Fresh-water  Shells  of  the  British 
Islands  is  adopted. 


282 


MOLLUSCA. 


Family  Limacid.e. 

Germs  Arion. 

A.  ater , Linn. 

La  Bergerie,  Queen’s  County ; County  Galway ; Finnoe,  County  Tippe- 
rary, Mr.  Waller.  Too  abundant  in  both  places,  varying  from  the  light 
yellow-coloured  variety  through  all  the  shades  of  brown  or  ochre  to  deep 
black.  The  brown  variety  seems  to  predominate  in  Killereran  (County 
Galway)  meadows  and  woods,  but  I have  repeatedly  observed  the  two 
colours  indiscriminately  mixed  together  in  precisely  the  same  localities, 
both  in  fields  and  gardens.  The  yellow,  which  I have  never  taken  of  the 
full  size,  is  mostly  confined  to  the  decaying  pieces  of  wood  found  among 
damp  moss.  I have  not  noticed  the  variety  with  the  scarlet  foot,  as  in 
fig.  2,  tom.  ii.  Fer.  Specimens  brought  alive,  by  Dr.  Ball,  from  the  circular 
road,  Dublin  ( Aug . 12),  and  taken  within  a few  yards,  were  black,  with 
black  keel,— greyish-black,  or  rather  blackish-grey,  with  orange-brown 
keel, — fawn-coloured  grey,  with  brownish-orange  keel, — head  and  tenta- 
cula  blackish,  very  pale  greyish- white,  with  orange  keel,; — head  and  tenta- 
cula  blackish  : a very  handsome  animal. 

I have  seen  two  individuals  busily  engaged  devouring  a snail  (. H . 
aspersa),  both  their  heads  being  introduced  within  the  shell : the  snail 
appeared  to  be  fresh  killed. 

A.  hortensis,  Fer. 

La  Bergerie  and  County  Galway.  By  no  means  scarce.  Ferussac’s 
figures  agree  accurately  with  mine,  but  are  represented  of  larger  dimen- 
sions than  any  I have  seen.  I have  taken  the  young  of  a very  minute 
size  with  the  orange  foot,  and  the  colours  equally  as  deep  as  in  adult  in- 
dividuals. Yar.  a.  f.  6,  Ferus.,  is  not  more  abundant  here  than  the 
orange-footed  one,  which  I have  never  succeeded  in  finding  at  Killereran, 
where  the  variety  is  common  in  violet-beds.  The  following  from  Ferussac 
agrees  curiously  with  my  habitat:  “Elle  se  cache  le  jour  sous  les  tiges 
de  violettes  de  fraisiers  et  des  autres  plantes  touffues.”  Mr.  Alder  re- 
marks of  the  variety,  “ The  variety  only,  if  such  it  be,  has  yet  been  no- 
ticed in  this  country.”  I have  never  discovered  even  the  rudiment  of  a 
shell  in  any  of  them.  Finnoe,  Tipperary ; and  Annahoe,  Tyrone  ; Mr. 

N.  B.  I have  before  me  at  present  an  Arion,  found  along  with  A.  hor- 
tensis, var.  (3 . Pfeiff.  The  only  character  it  possesses  in  common  with  it 
is,  in  the  position  of  a yellow-coloured  fascia  running  round  the  body, 
which  is  of  a dusky  brown,  the  sides  greenish-yellow,  the  fascia  becoming 
indistinct  on  the  shield.  It  differs  materially  in  colour  from  any  variety 
of  the  A.  ater  I have  met  with ; and  what  might  characterize  it  as  belong- 
ing to  this  species  is  the  shape  and  colour  of  the  tentacles  and  head,  the 
former  being  much  more  elongated  than  in  A.  hortensis,  and  of  a shining 
black  colour.  The  edge  or  side  of  the  foot  is  likewise  similar  to  A.  ater, 
being  greenish-yellow,  marked  with  the  peculiar  transverse  black  lines. 
Its  mucus  is  yellow-coloured,  whereas  that  of  A.  ater  is  whitish,  or 
colourless.  Since  writing  the  above,  I have  obtained  a second  specimen, 
similar  in  every  respect  to  the  former,  except  the  fascia,  which  is  not  so 
distinct. 


GASTEROPODA. 


283 


Genus  Geomalacus. 

G.  maculosus , Allman. 

On  moist  rocks,  County  Kerry,  Mr.  Andrews,  1842.  Dr.  Allman  de- 
scribes it  as  “ a species  of  great  zoological  interest,  constituting  as  it 
does  a remarkable  link  between  Arion  and  Limax.  It  is  an  exceedingly 
beautiful  animal ; the  colour  of  the  shield  and  upper  part  of  the  body  is 
black,  elegantly  spotted  with  yellow,  the  under  surface  of  the  foot  light 
yellow,  and  divided  into  three  nearly  equal  bands ; the  edge  of  the  foot  is 
brown  with  transverse  sulci.  It  possesses  a singular  power  of  elongating 
itself,  so  as  at  times  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a worm.  By  this  means 
it  can  insinuate  itself  into  apertures  which  we  could  scarcely  conceive  it 
possible  for  it  to  enter.  This  curious  property  indeed  was  very  nearly 
the  cause  of  my  losing  the  specimen  from  which  the  description  has 
been  taken.  I had  placed  the  mollusc,  as  I supposed  securely,  in  a 
botanical  box,  when  to  my  surprise  I found  shortly  after  that  it  had 
transgressed  the  limits  I had  assigned  it. 

“ The  creature,  not  liking  its  confinement,  had  insinuated  itself  beneath 
the  lid,  which,  not  closing  very  perfectly,  had  afforded  for  its  escape  a 
fissure  of  about  a line  in  width.  I was  fortunately  in  time  to  re-capture 
my  prisoner,  and  the  knowledge  which  I had  thus  gained  of  his  habits 
suggested  a stronger  prison  for  the  future.” 

Genus  Limax. 

L.  maximus , Linn. 

This,  the  common  “ large  grey  slug,”  is  equally  abundant  in  North  and 
South.  In  the  stomach  of  the  Song  Thrush  ( Turdus  musicus)  I have 
frequently  found  the  shell  of  this  species,  the  Limacella  parma  of  Tur- 
ton’s  Manual,  after  the  animal  of  which  it  had  been  part  had  been  en- 
tirely dissolved.  I have  procured  similarly  the  shells  of  the  smaller 
Limaces  from  the  Blackbird  ( Turdus  Merula).  This  species  is  accused 
by  Miss  M.  Ball  of  making  its  way  into  pantries  and  eating  holes  in 
bread. 

Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  mentions  the  following  varieties  as  found  in  Ireland. 

Yar.  A.  Drap.  and  var.  B.  Ferus.,  in  County  Galway. 

Var.  I'  Ffer™.  } County  Cork’  Dr'  Bal1' 

Var.  Y.  Drap.  and  var.  Y.  Ferus.  Queen’s  County,  and  County 
Galway. 

C^e“?  1 County  Cork,  Dr.  Ball. 

Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vi. 

L.  arbor eus,  Bouchard. 

N.  of  Ireland,  on  trees. 

Spire  Hill  Wood,  and  Emo  Park,  Queen’s  County. 

Monivea  Wood;  Woods,  Dunmore. 

Tuam  palace  demesne. 

Benvyle,  in  ruins  of  a chapel  (Clarke,  loe.  cit.). 

Annahoe,  Tyrone,  on  beech  trees,  Mr.  Waller. 

L.Jlavus,  Linn. 

In  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  collection  are  a number  of  these,  which  were  brought 


284 


MOLLUSCA. 


by  him  from  Youghal.  In  the  North  it  has  occurred  to  myself.  Finnoe, 
County  Tipperary,  Mr.  Waller,  1846. 

L,  agrestis,  Linn. 

This,  the  small  rough  yellowish  species,  is  very  common  throughout 
the  North,  and  I believe  Ireland  generally. 

Queen’s  County  and  County  Galway.  Common ; of  all  shades  and 
degrees  of  colour  and  markings,  from  the  pale  yellowish- white  of  L.filans 
to  the  darkest  variety  of  reddish-brown.  Several  seen  at  Tory  Island  by 
Mr.  Hyndman.  Yesterday,  July  21st,  I had  the  gratification  of  seeing 
them  repeatedly  let  themselves  drop  down  to  the  table  from  the  lid  of  a 
tin  box,  where,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  some  drawings  of  the  different 
varieties,  they  were  held. 

A similar  feat  was  performed  by  the  full-grown  and  dark  varieties, 
which  were  on  the  same  box  with  L.  jilans,  but  they  did  not  appear  to 
possess  the  same  facility,  and  were  more  reluctant  in  resorting  to  this 
expedient  for  escaping  from  the  confined  space  on  which  they  were  placed. 
Turton,  in  his  description  of  the  shell  of  this  species,  makes  no  mention 
of  the  membranaceous  margin.  I have  now  eight  specimens  before  me, 
taken  from  the  animals  this  morning ; the  following  is  an  attempt  at  their 
description  : — shell  rather  variable  ; in  shape  usually  oblong  oval,  some- 
what larger  than  those  found  in  L.  Sowerbii,  but  much  thinner,  and  with- 
out the  same  abrupt  thickening  in  the  centre ; with  a membranaceous 
edge,  all  of  them  concave,  as  much  so  in  proportion  to  size  as  in  L.  parma. 

liimax  carinatus,  Gray. 

La  Bergerie  ; Monivea,  County  Galway  ; Clifden,  Cork ; under  stones 
in  fields,  and  in  tufted  plants  in  gardens. 

Aug.  10. — Went  with  Dr.  Ball  to  the  circular  road,  and  obtained  a few 
specimens  of  this  species ; they  were  of  a rich  dark-brown  with  orange- 
brown  keel ; they  are  very  well  represented  in  Gray’s  fig. — Clifden,  July, 
1840  ; Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

There  is  not  any  figure  in  Ferussac  to  which  I could  refer  the  La  B. 
varieties  (if  they  are  varieties).  Nor  does  Mr.  Gray’s  description  agree 
well  with  them  ; the  word  “ tesselated”  does  not  accurately  describe  the 
distribution  of  their  colours.  Their  head  and  tentacles  are  never  “ black,” 
but  always  grey , or  bluish-grey.  The  usual  colour  is  yellowish-brown, 
often  approaching  to  dusky,  sides  pale,  grey  clouded  with  light  yellow, 
head  and  tentacles  bluish-grey. 

Variety. — Deep  dusky  or  nearly  black,  sides  pale  grey,  head  and 
tentacles  bluish-grey. 

The  young  have  the  keel  yellow-coloured,  which  in  adults  is  generally 
the  same  colour  as  the  back.  The  extreme  dark  colour  of  the  variety  led 
me  at  first  to  confound  it  with  the  L.  gagates  of  Ferus.  He  remarks  of 
one  of  the  varieties  of  L.  gagates , “ Elle  est  d’un  gris  bluatre  ou  nouratre 
....  plus  pale  lateralement.”  I have  seen  but  a single  individual  in 
Monivea ; it  was  identical  with  the  variety. 

The  internal  shells  are  a size  smaller  than  those  of  L . agrestis ; they 
have  no  membrane  on  the  edge,  are  opake,  much  thicker,  and  not  con- 
cave ; the  peculiar  thickening  process  in  the  centre  gives  them  the  appear- 
ance of  having  a marginal  zone,  or  as  if  a smaller-sized  shell  were  placed 
on  the  top  and  centre  of  the  larger,  leaving  a rather  broad  margin,  which 
is  usually  of  a rufous  colour  towards  the  top. 

I find  that  this  species  is  capable  of  forming  a slimy  thread  in  the  same 


GASTEROPODA. 


285 


manner  as  L.filans.  Having  placed  one  on  a laurel,  I was  surprised  by 
seeing  it  forthwith  make  use  of  this  means  for  conveying  itself  in  safety 
to  the  ground.  I have  since  succeeded  in  making  other  individuals  act 
in  a similar  way.  The  spinning  limaces  may  be  easily  forced  to  do  so  by 
leaving  them  on  an  evergreen  or  other  tree  which  may  not  be  congenial 
to  their  tastes,  when  they  will  speedily  effect  their  escape  in  this  manner. 

L.  gagates,  Drap. 

Tuam ; Dublin  (1840) ; Clifden  (1840) ; La  Bergerie,  Queen’s  County  j 
Tuam  Palace  Gardens,  Co.  Galway;  Tourkmacady  Lodge,  near  Ballin- 
robe,  Co.  Mayo ; Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  ( loc.  cit .). 

Genus  Testacelltjs. 

T.  haliotideus , Fer. 

This  species  was  discovered  many  years  ago  by  Dr.  R.  Ball,  in  the 
Town  Gardens,  at  Youghal,  where  it  has  become  much  scarcer  of  late. 
The  Irish  specimens  agree  with  English  examples  of  the  var.  V.  scutulum, 
with  which  I have  been  favoured  by  Mr.  G.  B.  Sowerby.  Mr.  Gray 
(Man.  p.  123,  124)  seems  to  consider  this  a naturalized  species,  but  the 
circumstance  of  its  being  found  at  Youghal  speaks  more  strongly  in  favour 
of  the  T.  haliotideus  being  a true  native  than  that  of  its  being  met  with  in 
some  of  the  gardens  around  London,  to  which  it  might  much  more  readily 
have  been  introduced  along  with  exotic  plants.  In  a garden  at  Bandon, 
too,  a Testacellus  has  been  procured  by  Dr.  G.  J.  Allman.  The  circum- 
stance of  this  species,  indigenous  to  France  and  to  the  island  of  Guernsey, 
being  found  only  in  the  south  of  England  and  Ireland  seems  to  me 
strongly  in  favour  of  its  being  equally  indigenous  to  these  countries.  Dr. 
Ball,  in  reply  to  some  questions,  observes,  “ I first  became  aware  of  this 
Testacellus  preying  on  worms  by  putting  some  of  them  in  spirits,  when 
they  disgorged  more  of  these  animals  than  I thought  they  could  possibly 
have  contained  ; each  worm  was  cut  (but  not  divided)  at  regular  intervals. 
I afterwards  caught  them  in  the  act  of  swallowing  worms  four  and  five 
times  their  own  length.  Some  of  these  Testacelli,  which  I brought  to 
Dublin  and  put  in  my  fern-house,  produced  young  there.” 

Testacellus  found  in  flower-gardens  and  neighbouring  grounds,  about 
Youghal ; about  Bandon  also.  March,  1847. — I received  three  living 
specimens  from  the  vicinity  of  Cork,  from  J.  D.  Humphreys. 

Family  2,  Helicidje. 

Genus  Vitrina. 

V.  pellucida,  Drap., 

Is  in  suitable  localities  distributed  over  Ireland,  and  may  be  found 
under  the  first  stones  we  meet  with  in  going  inland  from  the  sea-shore, 
up  to  as  great  an  altitude  in  the  mountain-glens  as  there  are  moss  and 
leaves  to  shelter  it.  I have  remarked  the  colour  both  of  animal  and 
shell  to  vary,  and  the  latter  to  present  some  differences  in  form.  See 
J effreys  on  V.  Mulleri  and  V Draparnaldi,  in  Linnsean  Transactions,  vol. 
xvi.  When  thin,  and  of  an  almost  crystalline  transparency,  the  shell  is 
often  more  handsomely  formed  than  when  thicker  and  of  a greenish 
colour,  and  is  intermediate  between  the  V.  pellucida  and  V.  diaphana,  as 
represented  by  Draparnaud  (pi.  8)  and  Rossmassler  (t.  i.) ; this  state  is 
equally  common  with  the  normal  V.  pellucida,  of  which  the  animal  is 
lighter  in  colour,  and  not  so  large  compared  with  the  shell  as  in  the 
variety. 


286 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Helix. 

H.  aspersa , Mull. 

Although  distributed  over  the  four  quarters  of  the  island,  this  Helix  is 
less  generally  met  with  than  several  other  common  species.  In  a well- 
cultivated  and  moderately-wooded  district  near  Belfast,  stretching  along 
the  base  of  the  mountains  where  chalk  chiefly  prevails,  presenting  different 
soils,  especially  clay  and  alluvium,  and  rising  to  an  elevation  of  500  feet 
above  the  sea,  it  is  never  found.  Mr.  Edward  Waller,  who  has  success- 
fully investigated  the  Mollusca  about  Annahoe,  County  Tyrone,  states 
that  the  H.  aspersa  is  unknown  there.  It  seems  partial  to  the  vicinity  of 
the  sea;  so  much  so,  that  about  Ballantrae,  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland,  I 
have  remarked  numbers  of  them  on  rocks  subjected  to  the  spray  of  the 
waves,  which  had  bleached  the  portion  of  the  shell  thus  exposed  as  white 
as  it  usually  becomes  in  the  progress  of  decay,  although  the  animal  in- 
habitants were  all  in  the  highest  vigour.  In  the  crannies  of  the  ruined 
castles,  which,  like  Dunluce,  are  based  upon  the  summits  of  some  of  the 
highest  cliffs  washed  by  the  sea  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  the  H.  aspersa  is 
abundant. 

In  one  instance  which  may  be  mentioned,  differences  of  rocks,  soil,  or 
shelter  will  not  explain  the  absence  of  this  species  from  particular  local- 
ities. During  a forenoon’s  walk  on  the  marine  sand-hills  of  Portrush  and 
Macgilligan  (County  of  Londonderry),  which  are  only  a few  miles  apart, 
and  present  in  every  respect  precisely  the  same  appearance,  I found  the 
H.  aspersa  abundant  at  the  former,  but  at  the  latter  wanting,  and  here 
the  sand-hills  are  much  more  extensive  than  at  Portrush.  At  the  nearest 
sand-hills,  again,  on  the  coast  to  the  east  of  the  latter,  and  only  a few 
miles  distant,  I did  not  during  a short  visit  find  the  H.  aspersa  ; and  here 
Helix  virgata,  which  is  not  found  at  the  other  two  localities,  appeared, 
and  took  the  place  of  H.  ericetorum,  which  is  common  to  them  ; here  too, 
and  at  Portrush,  Bulimus  acutus  was  present,  though  not  so  at  Mac- 
gilligan. On  the  8th  of  June  I once  observed  the  H.  aspersa  in  coitu,  and 
with  the  spicula  adhering  (see  Montagu  in  Test.  Brit.) ; — these  are  half 
an  inch  in  length,  holloAv,  and  widen  considerably  to  the  base. 

In  the  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  vol.  v.  p.  490,  Mr.  Denson  states 
that  in  severe  winters  the  H.  aspersa  is,  in  the  old  Botanic  Garden  at  Bury 
St.  Edmunds,  eaten  in  quantity  by  the  Norway  rat ; a fact  of  which  I 
some  years  ago  had  circumstantial  evidence,  in  the  broken  shells  lying 
about  the  entrance  to  this  animal’s  abode  among  heaps  of  stones  in  the 
Horticultural  Society’s  Garden,  at  Chiswick,  London.* 

* Helix  Pomatia,  Linn.  The  following  observations  of  Professor  W.  H. 
Harvey,  communicated  in  a letter  to  me  in  January,  1834,  include  all  that 
need  be  said  of  this  shell.  “ Dr.  Turton,  in  his  Conchological  Dictionary,  states 
that  this  species  is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Rutty  in  his  Natural  History  of  the  County 
of  Dublin,  as  not  uncommon  in  his  time.  On  referring  to  Dr.  Rutty’s  work,  I 
cannot  find  any  such  assertion.  At  p.  379,  vol.  i.,  he  certainly  admits  it  in  the 
following  terms  : ‘ Cochlea  duplex  primo  terrestris,  the  terrestrial  snail,  and  par- 
ticularly the  house  snail,  which  is  thus  distinguished  by  Lister;  Cochlea  cinerea 
maxima  edulis,  cujus  os  operculo  crasso  gypseo  per  hyemem  clauditur and  then 
goes  on  to  tell  of  its  uses  as  food,  the  manner  of  cooking  it,  &c.,  but  not  one  word 
about  its  habitat.” 

The  H.  Pomatia  has  of  late  years  been  introduced  from  England  to  different 
localities  in  Ireland,  as  Dalkey  Island,  off  the  Dublin  coast,  Youghal,  &c.  In  the 
autumn  of  1834  I turned  out  a few  individuals  of  this  species  and  of  Ci/clostoma 
elegans  on  the  chalk  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Belfast,  but  they  have  not  increased  ; 


GASTEROPODA. 


287 


H.  hortensis,  Lister.  Gray. 

Although  apparently  not  numerous  anywhere,  it  would  seem  to  be 
widely  distributed  in  Ireland.  To  myself  it  has  occurred  about  Dublin, 
and  at  Portrush,  along  with  H.  nemoralis  and  H.  hybrida  ; has  been 
obtained  in  the  County  Donegal ; at  Moira  and  Newcastle,  County  Down ; 
King’s  County ; Kildare ; Tipperary  ; and  about  the  city  of  Cork.  As 
some  authors  make  the  white  lip  and  less  size  the  only  differences  between 
this  species  and  H.  nemoralis , I was  for  some  time  in  doubt  whether  it 
might  not  be  a small  variety  of  the  latter,  but  was  fully  satisfied  of  its 
distinctness  by  finding  both  species  plentifully  in  company  at  Dovedale 
(Derbyshire),  when  every  individual  in  size,  &c.,  maintained  the  respective 
characters  of  its  species.  The  H.  hortensis  seems  partial  to  limestone 
districts. 

H.  hybrida , Poiret.  Gray. 

In  July,  1833,  I obtained  the  handsome  Helix , so  designated  by  Mr. 
Gray,  on  the  marine  sand-hills  at  Portrush,  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway, 
along  with  different  varieties  of  H.  nemoralis  and  a very  few  individuals 
of  H.  hortensis.  When  shown  to  Mr.  Gray  in  the1  following  spring,  he 
considered  the  specimen  to  be  H.  hybrida.  Judging  from  the  shell  alone, 
I should  not  be  disposed  to  consider  this  Helix  more  than  a variety  of 
H.  nemoralis. 

H.  nemoralis,  Linn. 

This  Helix,  presenting  its  endless  and  beautiful  varieties  in  colour  and 
the  number  and  breadth  of  bands,  is  more  commonly  distributed  over  Ire- 
land than  any  other  species.  When  on  the  extensive  rabbit-warren  or 
marine  sand-hills  at  Portrush,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1833,  I remarked  it, 
together  with  H.  aspersa,  II.  ericetorum,  and  Bulimus  acutus,  to  be  not 
only  abundant  but  huddled  together  in  heaps ; the  animals  were  alive  in 
all,  and  of  the  H.  nemoralis  several  had  the  apertures  closed  up.  Among 
the  individuals  of  this  species,  some  were  of  the  white-lipped  variety, 
which  has  not  uncommonly  been  mistaken  for  H.  hortensis  : others  had 
the  lip  of  a rose  colour,  margined  with  white  ( H . hybrida)  : the  specimens, 
which  were  so  numerous  that  every  variety  of  shade  in  the  lip,  from  white 
to  the  darkest  brown,  could  be  traced,  seem  4o  prove  that  the  colour  of 
the  lip  no  more  than  that  of  the  shell  is  of  any  specific  value.  The  ab- 
sence of  the  Thrush  genus  (not  an  individual  belonging  to  it  could  be 
seen  on  this  occasion),  of  which  some  species  feed  very  much  on  these 
mollusca,  may  be  one  cause  of  their  being  permitted  to  increase  and  mul- 
tiply to  such  an  extent.  Considerably  the  largest  specimens  of  II.  nemo- 
ralis that  I have  collected  were  obtained  in  the  South  Islands  of  Arran, 
off  the  coast  of  Clare.  This  species  is  generally  noticed  as  inhabiting 
“ woods  and  hedges,”  but  to  myself  it  has  never  occurred  so  abundantly 
in  the  vicinity  of  either  wood  or  hedge  (about  which  its  enemies  “ most 
do  congregate”),  as  entirely  remote  from  them;  or  among  the  debris  of 
limestone  or  chalk  cliffs  and  quarries,  and  on  marine  sand-hills.  Found 
on  Tory  Island  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  Aug.,  1845. 

The  Rev.  R.  Sheppard  has  observed  in  Suffolk  that  the  plain-coloured, 
the  single-handed,  and  the  many-banded,  do  not  mingle  with  each  other 
in  coitu,  but  that  each  is  true  to  its  banded  or  bandless  mate.  (Linn. 


after  a few  months  I could  not  find  one  of  either  species  about  the  place.  See 
Gray,  Man.,  p.  35. 


288 


MOLLUSCA. 


Trans,  vol.  xiv.  p.  163.)  In  Ireland  those  so  differing  have  no  such 
scruples ; such  as  I have  seen  in  connexion,  and  displaying  each  other’s 
spicula  or  love-darts,  have  been  very  dissimilar  in  colour  and  markings ; 
they  have  so  occurred  to  me  from  the  middle  of  April  to  that  of  Septem- 
ber. Mr.  Hyndman  once  found  a spiculum  of  this  species  stuck  through 
the  leaf  of  a dandelion  ( Leontodon  Taraxacum ) j if  there  be  but  the  one 
use  in  the  missile,  it  would  thus  seem  that  the  animal  will  occasionally 
miss  its  aim. 

A H.  nemoralis  of  ordinary  size,  which  I found  near  Belfast,  exhibits  a 
prominent  tooth  where  the  basal  margin  joins  the  whorl.  I have  in  the 
month  of  May  detected  the  blackbird  preying  on  this  Helix. 

H.  arbustorum,  Linn. 

This  delicate  and  handsome  species  was  noticed  by  Capt.  Brown  and  Dr. 
Turton  as  having  been  found  about  Dublin ; at  Killarney,  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Hincks,  of  Cork,  informs  me  that  it  is  met  with  ; but  the  North 
seems  to  be  its  more  favourite  abode  ; in  suitable  localities  throughout  the 
County  of  Antrim  it  prevails,  as  it  likewise  does  in  Down,  but  more  spar- 
ingly. Of  14*7  specimens  collected  at  the  same  time  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Larne,  in  the  former  County,  all  were  of  the  ordinary  state,  or  marked 
with  the  dark  band  (see  Pfeiffer,  tab.  2,  f.  7),  except  12,  which  were  of  the 
variety  in  which  the  band  is  wanting,  the  spotting  much  paler,  and  the 
colour  generally  much  lighter.  (Pfeiff.  tab.  2,  f.  8.)  Having  collected 
this  species  in  England  and  Scotland,  as  well  as  Ireland,  I may  observe 
that  moisture  and  shelter  in  a certain  degree  have  always  seemed  to  me 
its  desiderata.  At  Dovedale  in  Derbyshire,  and  at  Knockdolian  in  Ayr- 
shire, it  occurred  plentifully  about  moist  limestone  cliffs,  and  in  the  latter 
locality  with  little  more  than  ferns  (especially  Cystea  fragilis ) to  shelter 
it.  In  the  North  of  Ireland  I have  met  with  it  in  shady  woods  in  the 
lower  grounds,  and  likewise  in  young  plantations  at  a considerable  eleva- 
tion in  the  mountains,  and  where  there  was  no  more  shade  or  moisture 
than  the  Luzula  sylvatica  requires.  From  its  shell  being  so  easily  broken, 
this  animal  is  a favourite  food  of  the  thrush  genus.  (See  Magazine  of 
Zoology  and  Botany,  vol.  ii.  p.  436.) 

H.  pulchella , Mull. 

This  species  may  more  literally  than  most  others  be  stated  to  be  dis- 
tributed over  Ireland,  for  it  is  the  verge  of  the  sea  that  marks  its  bound- 
ary. Although  occurring  throughout  the  inland  parts  of  the  country,  it 
seems  especially  to  delight  in  the  short  pastures  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea 
around  the  entire  coast ; in  some  of  the  islets  of  Strangford  Lough,  too,  I 
have  in  like  manner  observed  it. 

The  var.  H.  crenella,  Mont.,  has  been  considered  by  some  naturalists 
peculiar  to  damp  situations ; but  with  this  my  observation  does  not  accord, 
the  beautiful  ribbed  variety  being  more  frequent  than  the  smooth  state  on 
the  dry  sea-banks  of  the  North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  E.  Waller  writes  to  me, 
with  reference  to  Finnoe,  County  Tipperary,  “I  have  found  both  varieties 
of  H.  pulchella  in  high  and  dry  grounds,  as  well  as  damp  and  low.” 

H.fusca,  Mont. 

This  handsome  species  was  noticed  by  Turton  as  Irish,  but  merely  in 
the  words  “ woods  in  Dublin.”  (Conch.  Diet.,  p.  61.)  It  is  found  in  the 
North,  East,  West,  and  South,  but  in  King’s  County  and  Tipperary  has 
not  been  met  with  by  my  correspondents.  As  this  species,  though  widely 


GASTEROPODA. 


289 


distributed,  is  by  no  means  common ; the  following  habitats  may  be  enu- 
merated. Glens  in  the  Belfast  mountains  and  Drumnasole,  County  An- 
trim; Florence  Court,  County  Fermanagh,  W.  T.  Altadawan,  County 
Tyrone,  and  Annagariff  Wood,  County  Armagh,  Edward  Waller,  Esq.  ; 
Kilruddery  demesne,  County  Wicklow,  T.  W.  Warren,  Esq. ; Monivea, 
County  Galway,  Rev.  Benj.  J.  Clarke  ; “ near  Limerick  once,”  W.  H. 
Harvey,  Esq.  ; Youngrove  near  Youghal,  Miss  Ball;  Dunscombe  Wood, 
near  Cork,  Miss  Hincks : in  this  locality  the  Rev.  T.  Hincks,  who  has  sup- 
plied me  with  very  fine  specimens,  remarks  that  it  is  abundant.  The 
following  notes  are  perhaps  not  irrelevantly  introduced.  Dec.  16,  1833. — 
Although  several  times  before  in  Colin  Glen,  near  Belfast,  in  search  of 
Mollusca,  I to-day  for  the  first  time,  in  consequence  of  its  somewhat  pe- 
culiar haunts,  obtained  specimens  of  the  H.  fusca,  and  of  them  about  two 
dozen.  The  ground  was  saturated  with  moisture,  and  they  were  all 
briskly  traversing  the  rich  green  leaves  of  the  Luzula  sylvatica,  and  one 
or  two  other  plants  of  similar  foliage.  The  animal  is  much  elongated, 
and  moves  about  with  considerably  greater  rapidity  than  any  Helix  I have 
seen  ; its  colour  is  uniform,  but  in  different  individuals  varying  from  “ wine- 
yellow  ” to  blackish-grey ; tentacula  of  the  latter  colour,  the  longer  pair 
in  the  adult  animal  2f  lines  in  length ; from  their  base  a black  line  ex- 
tends along  the  back  for  3 lines.  Dec.  10,  1837. — In  Colin  Glen  to-day 
I obtained  upwards  of  thirty  of  these  Helices.  The  ground  was  wet,  but 
there  had  been  no  rain  in  the  preceding  night,  and  consequently  they 
were  not  found  (with  a very  few  exceptions)  on  the  Luzula , but  were  in- 
stead lying  sheltered  and  quiescent  beneath  masses  of  the  fallen  leaves  of 
forest  trees  contiguous  to  that  plant.  About  three  o’clock,  when  it  began 
to  grow  dusky,  they  commenced  stirring  about  on  the  green  leaves  of 
their  favourite  Luzula  sylvatica , where  in  less  than  half  an  hour  I pro- 
cured a dozen  of  them.  I have  since  occasionally  seen  this  species  on 
the  stems  of  trees  at  a considerable  height  from  the  ground  and  in  very 
dry  weather. 

H.fulva,  Mull., 

Although  not  common,  is  generally  distributed  over  the  island,  and 
found  in  woods  among  fallen  leaves  and  timber,  and  under  stones,  &c., 
in  various  situations,  from  the  sea-side  to  the  mountain.  It  seems  rarely 
to  occur  in  quantity,  but  once,  at  Wolf  hill  near  Belfast,  I found  thirty  in- 
dividuals congregated  under  one  small  stone. 

The  H.  Mortoni , agreeing  both  in  animal  and  shell  with  Mr.  Jeffreys’s 
description  (Linn.  Trans,  vol.  xvi.  p.  332),  is  obtained  along  with  H.fulva , 
but  has  always  seemed  to  me  wanting  in  sufficient  characters  to  render  it 
a distinct  species.  That  the  animal  of  H.  Mortoni  is  lighter  coloured  than 
that  of  H.  fulva,  is  not  of  consequence,  as  the  young  of  various  Helices 
are  lighter  coloured  than  the  adults. 

H.  aculeata , Mull. 

Although  the  individuals  of  this  Helix  are  generally  but  few  in  num- 
ber where  they  do  occur,  the  species  is  distributed  over  Ireland,  and  is 
found  in  moss,  on  fallen  timber,  under  stones,  &c. — out  of  “ woods  ” I 
have  as  frequently  met  with  it  as  in  them : high  up  the  limestone  moun- 
tain of  Ben  Bulben  (County  Sligo)  I have  obtained  it,  but  nowhere  in 
Ireland  have  seen  so  many  specimens  together  as  in  the  limestone  debris 
at  Feltrim  Hill  near  Dublin.  From  the  marine  sand-hills  at  Miltown 
Malbay,  on  the  western  coast,  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  has  supplied  me  with  a 
u 


290 


MOLLUSCA. 


few  specimens,  noting  the  species  at  the  same  time  as  “ very  rare.”  Mr. 
T.  W,  Warren  of  Dublin  informs  me  that  early  last  winter  he  procured 
sixty  individuals  of  this  species  on  one  occasion  near  Portmarnock 
(County  Dublin) : some  weeks  previous  to  this  time  he  found  a few  spe- 
cimens at  the  place,  and  following  the  plan  of  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke, 
he  laid  down  sticks  and  stones  that  they  might  shelter  under  them, 
and  with  such  success  that  he  obtained  this  number.  None  of  our 
Mollusca  more  than  this  requires  the  collector  to  be  wide  awake,  else 
he  may  pass  it  by  for  a pellet  of  dirt,  or  at  least  a seed.  As  one  of  the 
rarer  species,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  out  of  Ireland  I have  found  this 
shell  at  Dovedale,  Derbyshire,  the  “ dean  ” at  Twizel  House,  Northum- 
berland, and  near  Ballantrae  in  Ayrshire. 

II.  lomellata , Jeffreys. 

This  attractive  species  is  widely  distributed  in  Ireland,  and  is  found  on 
the  decaying  leaves  and  fallen  branches  of  trees,  in  moss,  and  under  stones 
in  shady  and  generally  moist  situations.  I first  met  with  it  in  Sept., 
1833,  in  the  Glen  at  Holy  wood  House,  County  Down,  and  soon  after- 
wards in  various  localities  throughout  this  County  and  Antrim ; about 
O’Sullivan’s  cascade,  at  the  lower  lake  of  Killarney,  I had  the  gratifica- 
tion to  find  it  in  June,  1834,  and  subsequently  in  the  Glen  of  the  Downs, 
County  Wicklow.  By  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  it  has  been  obtained  at  La 
Bergerie,  Queen’s  County,  and  by  the  Rev.  T.  Hincks  of  Cork  at  Duns- 
combe  Wood  near  that  city,  and  likewise  at  Ballinhassig  Glen,  between 
Cork  and  Bandon.  Mr.  Hincks  remarks  that  the  species  appears  to  be 
far  from  uncommon  in  that  district. 

The  following  note  relates  to  my  most  successful  capture : April  30, 
1837. — In  Colin  Glen  (near  Belfast),  during  an  hour’s  patient  search  to- 
day, I collected  from  amongst  a mass  of  the  dead  leaves  of  trees  contain- 
ed within  the  area  of  a square  foot  twenty-one  full-grown  individuals  of 
Helix  lamellata,  and  about  half  this  number  of  younger  specimens ; both 
shell  and  animals  of  these  latter  are  lighter  coloured  than  the  old,  indeed 
almost  hyaline,  and  the  lamellae  are  apparent  on  the  very  youngest,  which 
also  exhibit  the  satin-like  lustre  of  the  adult.  The  mature  animal  is 
white  beneath ; the  tentacula,  back,  and  sides  greyish  black ; lower  tenta- 
cula  of  moderate  length,  upper  long  and  somewhat  club-shaped. 

In  Auchairne  Glen,  near  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  I obtained  this  species  in 
August,  1839. 

H.  granulata,  Alder,  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  ii.  p.  107  ; Gray,  Man. 
p.  151,  pi.  3,  f.  29. 

H.  hispida,  Mont.,  p.  423,  t.  23,  f.  3. 

This  would  seem  to  be  a very  local  species  with  us.  By  Dr.  W.  H. 
Harvey  I was  in  1834  supplied  with  specimens,  accompanied  by  a note, 
stating  that  the  species  had  occurred  to  him  in  “ moist  places,  and  the 
rejectamenta  of  streams  about  Limerick  and  Ballitore  (County  Kildare).” 
At  the  same  time  Mr.  Humphreys,  of  Cork,  reported  it  to  me  as  found, 
but  not  commonly,  at  “ Belgrove  demesne,  east  of  Cove.” 

II.  hispida,  Mull. 

This  species  is  generally  distributed  over  Ireland.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
common  land  shells  in  the  North,  and  may  be  found  under  stones,  fallen 
trees,  decaying  leaves,  &c.,  from  the  sea-shore  to  the  most  elevated  chalk 
districts,  and  both  in  moist  and  very  dry  situations.  It  is  most  variable 


GASTEROPODA. 


291 


in  colour ; from  beneath  the  same  stone  I have  procured  specimens  vary- 
ing from  a crystalline  transparency  to  dark  reddish-brown,  and  in  these 
differences  the  animal  participates  with  the  shell;  like  II.  rufescens , 
Mont.,  and  some  other  species,  it  occasionally  presents  a white  band  on 
the  last  volution ; in  the  very  youngest  state  this  species  is  hispid,  and 
quite  depressed  or  flat  above.  The  internal  rib,  in  what — to  distinguish  it 
from  H.  concinna — may  be  called  the  normal  state  of  H.  hispida , which  I 
find  in  the  North,  is  generally  wanting.  On  supplying  Mr.  Alder  with 
specimens  of  these  in  April,  1836,  he  observed  that  they  were  the  most 
strongly-marked  varieties  he  had  seen ; and,  about  the  same  time,  M. 
Michaud,  in  acknowledging  specimens  I had  sent  him,  remarked  upon 
them  as  a very  fine  variety  of  H.  hispida.  The  shells  thus  alluded  to  are 
of  the  most  common  form  in  the  North  of  Ireland;  and  are  larger, 
more  depressed,  and  with  the  umbilicus  comparatively  wider,  than  in 
specimens  which  I have  found  in  various  parts  of  England  and  Scotland, 
and  which  are  similar  to  those  that,  under  the  name  of  H.  hispida,  have 
been  sent  me  from  Newcastle  by  Mr.  Alder,  and  from  Lorraine  by  M. 
Michaud ; specimens  the  same  as  the  English  and  French  are  likewise  to 
be  met  with  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  but  are  rare  comparatively  with  the 
others. 

Note. — Sept.  17, 1837.  On  looking  to  the  animals  of  full-grown  speci- 
mens of  this  Helix  collected  at  Wolf  hill  near  Belfast,  I could  not  perceive 
any  difference  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  very  hispid  shells  wanting 
the  internal  rib,  and  those  having  the  rib  and  displaying  very  few  hairs  : 
the  animals  are  commonly  pale  grey  above  and  whitish  beneath ; in  the 
very  hispid  shells  they  varied  from  this  colour  to  black. 

Var.  sericea,  Muller. 

In  the  rejectamenta  of  the  river  Lagan,  near  Belfast,  I have  obtained 
specimens  corresponding  with  those  favoured  me  by  Mr.  Alder  under  this 
name.  This  shell  is,  in  general  form,  size  of  umbilicus,  &c.,  intermediate 
between  H.  hispida  and  H.  granulata , but  hardly  differs  more  from  the 
ordinary  state  of  II.  hispida  than  the  specimens  of  it  common  to  the 
North  of  Ireland  do,  and  which  are  considered  by  Mr.  Alder  and  M. 
Michaud  only  varieties  of  the  species  bearing  this  name.  I cannot  look 
upon  it  otherwise  than  as  a var.  of  H.  hispida.  Great  Island,  Cork,  Mr. 
Humphreys. 

Yar.  concinna , Jeff. 

The  shell  alluded  to  under  this  name  is  that  described  by  Mr.  Al- 
der as  “ stronger,  and  with  the  hairs  more  deciduous,  than  the  usual 
form  [of  H.  hispida'],'”  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  ii.  107  ; and  which,  I 
would  add,  is  generally  more  convex,  and  has  an  internal  rib,  which  in  H. 
hispida,  at  least  as  I find  it  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  is  more  often  want- 
ing than  present.  It  commonly  in  Ireland  takes  the  place  of  H.  rufescens, 
Mont.,  where  this  is  not  found,  as  it  has  been  remarked  by  Mr.  Alder  to 
do  in  England.  In  the  northern  half  of  the  island  it  prevails  abundantly ; 
and  as  the  H.  rufescens  decreases  northwards  so  does  the  H.  concinna 
southwards  ; from  extreme  East  to  West  they  both  range  : in  the  central 
parts  of  the  country,  where  both  occur,  they  retain  their  distinctive  cha- 
racters, the  H.  concinna  being  smaller,  more  convex,  and  darker  in  co- 
lour than  its  ally.  About  Cork,  Messrs.  Wright  and  Carrol. 

Specimens  of  H.  concinna  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Bristol,  favoured 
me  by  Mr.  Jeffreys,  are,  as  he  now  considers,  certainly  nothing  more  than 
» 2 


292 


MOLLUSCA. 


H.  hispida,  and  in  its  ordinary  depressed  form  ; still  the  typical  specimens 
of  these  two  Helices  are  very  distinct  in  appearance,  but  through  their 
varieties  would  almost  seem  to  unite. 

“ H.  circinata , Fer.” 

I cannot  perceive  any  difference  between  some  of  my  North  of  Ireland 
specimens  of  H.  concinna,  when  completely  denuded  of  their  hairs,  and  a 
shell  so  named  which  I owe  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Alder. 

H.  rufescens,  “ Penn.” 

This  species  is  common  to  the  southern  two-thirds  of  the  island  : as  far 
North  as  Banbridge  in  the  County  of  Down  it  has  been  found,  and  on 
old  walls  at  Rostrevor,  1848,  by  the  Rev.  G.  Robinson. 

H.  Pisana,  Mull. 

This  fine,  and  local  species,  was  first  noticed  as  Irish  in  Turton’s  Cata- 
logue (p.  8),  from  specimens  collected  at  “ Balbriggan  Strand,”  or,  as 
more  correctly  given  by  their  discoverer,  M.  J.  O’Kelly,  Esq.,  in  the  edi- 
tion of  Pennant’s  British  Zoology  published  in  Dublin  in  1818,  “ near 
Balbriggan,  on  the  County  Meath  side  of  the  stream  that  divides  this 
County  from  Dublin,”  vol.  iv.  p.  369.  By  Mr.  O’Kelly  and  Mr.  T.  W. 
Warren  I have  been  favoured  with  specimens  of  H.  Pisana  from  this 
locality.  My  friend  R.  Callwell,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  informs  me  that  this 
species  has  been  found  at  another,  though  not  far  distant,  station,  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Humphreys,  on  the  North  side  of  the  river  Boyne,  three  miles 
east  of  Drogheda,  and  ten  North  of  Balbriggan.  Iveragh,  Kerry,  Mr. 
Andrews. 

II.  virgata,  Mont. 

In  the  North,  East,  and  South,  this  species  is  found,  but  in  the  West  I 
am  not  aware  of  its  presence.  It  is  a local  species,  occurs  on  the  marine 
sand-hills  at  Ballycastle,  in  the  North  of  the  County  Antrim ; Dundalk 
(County  Louth) ; Dublin,  Wicklow,  Youghal,  and  Cork;  and  at  the  in- 
land localities  of  La  Bergerie,  near  Portarlington,  and  Baliitore  (County 
Kildare).  Finnoe,  County  Tipperary,  Mr.  Waller.  H.  virgata  is  one  of 
the  species  which  seems  to  follow  no  rule  in  the  choice  of  its  abode  or  in 
that  of  its  associates,  or  rather  whose  absence  from  or  presence  in  parti- 
cular districts  cannot  be  accounted  for  ; it  will  be  abundant  on  sea-banks 
at  one  place,  and  for  a hundred  miles  again  will  not  appear  in  similar 
localities.  Some  authors  have  remarked,  from  their  own  accurate  observ- 
ation in  particular  localities,  that  it  is  never  found  with  H.  ericetorum  ; 
and  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey,  in  supplying  me  with  notes  of  four  inland  and 
marine  stations  in  which  he  had  observed  it,  remarked,  “ I have  noticed 
that  this  species  is  never  found  mixed  with  H.  ericetorum,  nor  is  it  generally 
in  the  same  neighbourhood  ; ” yet  not  very  far  distant  from  one  of  those 
alluded  to  both  species  are  found  in  company,*  and  on  the  same  plant. 

In  the  collection  of  T.  W.  Warren,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  is  a very  fine  series 
from  one  locality,  Portmarnock,  presenting  every  variety  of  colour  and 


* In  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  cabinet,  and  collected  by  him  near  Howth  off  a single 
plant  of  Beta  maritima,  are  specimens  of  a pure  white  colour,  others  of  a uni- 
form dark  chocolate  brown,  in  addition  to  the  more  common  state,  white  with 
brown  bands  and  the  reverse. 


GASTEROPODA. 


293 


bands  that  I have  seen  described,  from  the  hyaline  and  opaque  white  to 
the  darkest  brown.  H.  ericetorum  has  in  similar  variety  been  procured 
by  this  excellent  and  indefatigable  collector  at  the  same  place,  and  H. 
Pisana , likewise  differing,  he  possesses  from  its  not  far  distant  station  : — 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  these  three  species  is  opaque  white  with 
hyaline  bands.  At  La  Bergerie,  near  Portarlington,  Mrs.  Patterson  of 
Belfast  obtained  a specimen  of  H.  virgata , which  both  in  form  and  colour 
bears  a rude  resemblance  to  the  Helix  elegans  of  Brown. 

H.  caperata,  Mont. 

In  Brown’s  Irish  Testacea  this  species  was  noticed  to  be  “ not  un- 
common at  Naas  on  mud  walls,”  p.  526  ; and  “ Bullock  in  Ireland  ” was 
given  by  Dr.  Turton  as  a habitat.  (Conch.  Diet.  p.  51.)  The  H. 
caperata  is  in  Ireland  a very  local  species,  is  found  in  the  southern  half 
of  the  island,  and  appears  to  be  plentiful  where  it  does  occur.  From 
Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  I had  specimens  in  1833,  which  were  collected  by 
him  at  Glanmire,  near  Cork  ; on  “ dry  banks  at  Kilkee  Castle,  near  Balli- 
tore,  County  Kildare,”  he  had  likewise  procured  the  species.  At  Kings- 
town, near  Dublin,  contiguous  to  Dr.  Turton’s  station,  it  has  been  col- 
lected by  Mr.  Warren.  At  La  Bergerie  (Queen’s  County)  it  was  a few 
years  ago  obtained  in  abundance  by  Mrs.  Patterson  of  Belfast.  Among 
the  specimens  brought  from  this  locality  (and  presenting  gradations  in 
colour  from  the  ordinary  state  to  that  of  being  almost  wholly  of  a deep 
reddish-brown)  was  one  shell  entirely  of  a pale  amber  colour,  and  trans- 
parent, the  fine  and  regular  striae  rendering  it  very  beautiful.  Here,  in 
addition  to  this  species,  H.  ericetorum  and  H.  virgata  were  found  by  Mrs. 
Patterson,  and  were  abundant  on  the  same  plant,  the  H.  caperata  being 
the  most  plentiful. 

The  distribution  of  H.  caperata  seems  rather  anomalous  ; it  is  unknown 
to  me  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  but  on  the  walls  of  the  houses  in  Portpa- 
trick,  one  of  the  nearest  parts  of  Scotland  to  this  country,  I have  remark- 
ed it;  about  Ballantrae,  in  Ayrshire,  it  has  not  occurred  to  me;  at  the 
base  of  the  cliffs  at  Salisbury  Craigs,  near  Edinburgh,  in  1834, 1 procured 
it  in  abundance. 

II.  ericetorum , Mull. 

This  Helix  differs  from  its  nearest  British  allies,  H.  virgata , H.  Pisana,  and 
H.  caperata,  in  being  pretty  generally  diffused  over  Ireland  and  the  adjacent 
islands  ; most  of  the  marine  sand-banks  around  the  coast  claim  it,  but  H. 
virgata  in  some  places  appears  to  its  exclusion ; it  likewise  affects  the 
most  inland  localities,  from  one  of  which,  near  Portarlington,  I have  spe- 
cimens so  large  as  9 lines  in  diameter.  An  exception  to  the  more  ordi- 
nary places  of  its  occurrence  may  be  mentioned  ; the  ruins  of  Dunluce 
Castle,  situated  on  the  summit  of  an  insulated  mass  of  rock,  considerably 
elevated  above  the  sea.  In  localities  in  the  North,  but  a few  miles  dis- 
tant, and  in  every  respect  presenting  a similar  appearance,  I have  remark- 
ed the  specimens  in  the  one  to  be  without  exception  either  uniform  in 
colour  or  very  faintly  banded,  and  in  the  other  not  one  to  be  of  an  uni- 
form colour,  but  all  banded,  and  almost  every  individual  darkly  so.  Dra- 
parnaud’s  H.  cespitum,  (3.  pL  6,  f.  15,  17,  and  Pfeiffer’s  H.  cespitum,  taf. 
2,  f.  24,  and  (3.  f.  25,  are  all  very  characteristic  figures  of  our  H.  ericeto- 
rum, as  is  Rossmassler’s  var.  f.  516.  This  author’s  H.  ericetorum,  f.  517, 
a.  and  b.,  likewise  represent  it.  My  friend  Prof.  Forbes  informs  me  that 
in  the  Museum  at  the  Jardin  des  Plantes,  Paris,  he  in  1838  saw  a young 


294 


MOLLUSCA. 


shell  of  this  species,  marked  “ H.  revelata , Belfast,”  and  as  presented  by 
M.  Michaud ; it  is  doubtless  one  of  a series  of  specimens,  which,  consider- 
ing them  to  be  H.  ericetorum,  I had  the  pleasure  of  sending  to  this  na- 
turalist some  time  before. 

Mr.  O’Kelly  of  Dublin,  to  whom  the  shell  belongs  that  was  described 
and  figured  by  Capt.  Brown  in  the  W ernerian  Memoirs  as  Helix  elegans, 
and  in  his  “ Illustrations,”  &c.,  as  Carocolla  elegans,  always  considered  it 
as  an  extraordinary  state  only  of  H.  ericetorum , and  as  such  noticed  it  in 
the  Dublin  edition  of  Pennant’s  Brit.  Zool.,  vol.  iv.  p.  368,  ed.  1818.  To 
the  same  specimen  Dr.  Turton  applied  the  term  Helix  disjuncta , Conch. 
Diet.  p.  61,  f.  63 ; in  his  Manual  (p.  40)  this  author  places  it  under  H. 
virgata.  See  also  Gray,  Man.  p.  161. 

H.  rotundata,  Mull. 

This  very  distinct  and  handsome  species,  both  in  form  and  colour,  is 
common  and  universally  distributed  in  Ireland.  It  affects  situations 
varying  from  very  dry  to  very  wet,  and  may  be  found  on  rocks,  under 
stones,  fallen  leaves,  & c.,  but  seems  rather  to  show  a predilection  for  de- 
caying wood.  I have  more  than  once  detected  the  H.  rotundata  in  com- 
pany with  Limaces  banqueting  on  some  of  the  larger  Fungi. 

Specimens  presenting  much  convexity  are  unfrequent,  but  in  Shane’s 
Castle  Park  (County  Antrim)  a full-grown  one  has  occurred  to  me,  whose 
height  was  equal  to  its  diameter.  At  Holywood  House  (County  Down) 
I once  obtained  two  specimens  of  the  beautiful  crystalline  variety.  The 
young  of  this  species  differ  very  much  in  form  from  the  adult,  in  being 
quite  flat  above  and  very  convex  beneath.  In  the  stomach  of  a black- 
bird ( Turdus  Merula ) I once  found  ten  full-sized  specimens  of  this  shell, 
in  addition  to  five  of  Achatina  lubrica. 

H.  umbilicata,  Mont., 

Is  commonly  distributed  throughout  the  southern  three-fourths  of  Ire- 
land, more  especially  over  the  great  limestone  belt  which  traverses  the 
country  : — at  its  eastern  commencement,  near  Dublin,  and  at  its  extreme 
western  verge,  where  it  dips  into  the  ocean,  in  the  South  Islands  of  Arran, 
I have  found  this  species  in  equal  abundance. — Glenarm  and  Garron  Point, 
1842.  W.  T.,  Scrabo,  Co.  Down,  1843. 

This  Helix  attaches  itself  more  to  one  kind  of  rock — limestone — than 
any  species  hitherto  treated  of.  With  reference  to  what  Montagu  says  of 
its  habits,  it  may  be  remarked  that  I have  commonly  collected  specimens 
on  limestone  debris  resting  on  the  ground,  and  on  loose  stone  walls  or 
dykes.  I have  not  seen  any  Irish  specimens  agreeing  with  Draparnaud’s 
figure  in  tapering  to  the  apex  ; but  all  were  of  his  var.,  “/3.  testa  subde- 
pressa,  umbilico  latiore.”  Mr.  Gray’s  figure,  as  above  quoted,  is  charac- 
teristic of  this  form  ; in  the  1st  ed.  of  Turton’s  Manual  the  other  form  was 
given.  It  is  Drap.  var.  (3.  only  that  Mr.  Jeffreys  quotes  (Linn.  Trans, 
vol.  xvi.  p.  343),  and  it  is  this  which  Montagu  describes  ; his  figure  does 
not  well  represent  either  form. 

H.  pygmcea,  Drap. 

This  species,  so  interesting  from  its  minuteness,  is  indigenous  to  the 
more  northern  two-thirds  of  Ireland  from  East  to  West,  and  doubtless  will 
be  found  by  him  who  searches  properly  for  it  in  the  South.  It  is  partial 
to  shade  and  moisture ; under  stones  in  pastures  it  may  be  procured,  but  is 
most  readily  and  frequently  obtained  on  fallen  leaves,  &c.,  in  plantations. 
Since  the  Mollusca  first  claimed  my  attention  in  1832,  this  Helix  has 


GASTEROPODA. 


295 


occurred  to  me  in  very  numerous  localities  throughout  the  Counties  of 
Down  and  Antrim,  in  the  County  of  Londonderry,  and  in  the  glen  of  the 
Downs  in  Wicklow.  By  Dr.  Harvey  it  was  sparingly  found  several  years 
ago  on  the  marine  sand-hills  at  Miltown  Malbay  (County  Clare) ; more 
latterly  by  Mr.  E.  Waller,  of  Dublin,  at  Annahoe  (County  Tyrone),  and 
Finnoe  (County  Tipperary)  ; and  by  the  Bev.  B.  J.  Clarke,  near  Portar- 
lington  (Queen’s  County).  At  Twizel  House,  Northumberland,  and  Bal- 
lantrae,  Ayrshire,  I have  collected  this  species.  Draparnaud’s  description 
and  figure  of  H.  pygmcea  are  most  characteristic. 

H.  alliaria , Miller, 

Although  not  an  abundant  species  anywhere,  is  generally  distributed 
over  Ireland  and  her  islands.  From  under  stones  at  the  sea-side  to  a 
great  elevation  on  the  mountains, — as  near  the  summit  of  Divis,  the  high- 
est of  the  Belfast  chain  ; of  Altavanagh,  one  of  the  mountains  of  Mourne, 
in  Down ; and  of  Ben  Bulben,  in  Sligo,  I have  met  with  it ; — all  situations, 
from  the  exposed  sea-shore  and  mountain-side  to  the  umbrageous  wood, 
seem  alike  to  it.  A greenish-white  variety,  and  the  shell  strong,  is  much 
more  common  in  Ireland  than  the  yellow,  which  is  ranked  the  ordinary 
state;  from  under  the  same  stone  I have  procured  specimens  of  both 
colours.  The  animal  is  blackish.  M.  Michaud  remarked,  on  acknow- 
ledging Irish  specimens  from  me,  that  they  were  H.  nitida,  Drap.,  junior. 

H.  cellaria,  Mull., 

Is  common,  and  distributed  over  Ireland.  It  has  a predilection  for  wet 
situations,  and  even  from  the  bottom  of  drains,  partially  covered  with 
water,  some  of  my  largest  specimens  were  procured  in  the  North ; the 
very  largest  Irish  specimens — 7^-  lines  in  diameter — I have  seen  were 
found  in  drains  within  the  city  of  Dublin,  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren,  to  whom 
I am  indebted  for  them.  From  the  stomachs  of  the  blackbird  and  starl- 
ing I have  taken  perfect  specimens  of  this  shell. 

H.  pura , Alder, 

Is  distributed  over  Ireland ; it  is  usually  found  in  moss,  under  stones,  &c., 
in  sheltered  situations,  but  on  sea-side  pastures  likewise  I have  met  with 
it.  The  yellowish  horn-coloured  variety  has  in  all  parts  of  the  country 
occurred  to  me  more  commonly  than  the  hyaline  shell ; the  closely  set, 
regular,  and  fine  striae  render  recent  shells  of  this  species  very  beautiful. 
M.  Michaud,  on  acknowledging  Irish  specimens  of  H.  pura,  observed  that 
they  were  II.  nitidula,  Drap. 

II.  nitidula,  Drap. 

This  species,  most  characteristically  described  by  Mr.  Alder  (Newc. 
Trans.,  vol.  i.  p.  38),  is  common,  and  generally  distributed  over  Ireland. 
In  the  North  I have  found  it  chiefly  among  mosses  in  glens  and  sheltered 
places.  From  two  localities  in  this  country  I have  seen  Helices  of  crys- 
talline transparency,  and  in  form  intermediate  between  H.  nitidula  and 
H.  alliaria. 

II.  radiatula,  Alder. 

This  polished  and  well-marked  species  at  every  age — for  when  very 
young  the  regular  and  strongly-marked  striae  serve  to  distinguish  it — 
has,  since  1832,  occurred  to  me  in  the  County  of  Londonderry,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Dublin,  and  in  very  numerous  localities  throughout 
Down  and  Antrim.  I have  seen  specimens  which  were  collected  at  Anna- 


296 


MOLLUSCA. 


hoe  (Co.  Tyrone)  and  at  Finnoe  (Co.  Tipperary),  by  Edward  Waller, 
Esq. ; at  La  Bergerie  (Queen’s  County),  by  Mrs.  Patterson  and  the  Rev. 
B.  J.  Clarke ; and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cork,  by  Miss  Hincks.  In 
the  North  of  Ireland  the  transparent  greenish- white  var.,  H.  vitrina,  Fer., 
as  often  occurs  as  the  deep  yellowish  horn-coloured  shell.  That  this  He- 
lix is  more  widely  distributed  in  this  country  than  would  appear  from  the 
above  notes,  I have  no  doubt.  At  Dovedale,  in  Derbyshire,  and  Ballan- 
trae,  in  Ayrshire,  I have  met  with  it,  and  by  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  have 
been  favoured  with  specimens  which  he  collected  at  the  Falls  of  Clyde 
in  1832.  In  moist  spots,  in  the  wildest  and  bleakest  localities,  as  well  as 
in  “ woods,”  I have  procured  it.  In  the  stomachs  of  four  out  of  seven 
starlings  ( Sturnus  vulgaris),  brought  to  a bird-preserver  in  Belfast  at  dif- 
ferent periods  during  one  winter,  I found  specimens  of  this  shell,  of  which 
some  were  very  fine  and  perfect.  M.  Michaud,  when  acknowledging 
specimens  which  I sent  him,  remarked  that  they  were  a var.  of  H.  niti- 
dula,  Drap. 

H.  lucida,  Drap. 

The  H.  lucida  described  and  figured  by  Draparnaud,  and  characterized 
by  Mr.  Alder  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Natural  History  Society  of  New- 
castle (vol.  i.  part  1,  p.  38),  appears  to  be  in  Ireland,  as  in  England, 
according  to  the  latter  author,  “ rare,”  and  rather  a local  species.  In  the 
rejectamenta  of  the  rivers  Lagan  and  Blackstaff,  near  Belfast,  I,  in  1833, 
obtained  a few  individuals,  and  in  Kilmegan  bog  (County  Down)  have 
since  procured  a series  containing  the  living  animal.  I have  seen  spe- 
cimens which  were  collected  near  Portarlington  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke, 
and  at  Finnoe,  in  the  North  of  Tipperary,  by  E.  Waller,  Esq.  Our  speci- 
mens differ  in  no  respect  from  English  supplied  me  by  Mr.  Alder,  and  are 
identical  with  others  from  Dauphiny,  marked  “ H.  lucida,  Drap.,”  by 
Michaud,  to  whom  I am  indebted  for  them. 

H.  excavata,  Bean. 

Of  this  handsome  shell  I have  yet  seen  but  a single  Irish  specimen, 
which  was  obtained  at  Dunscombe  Wood,  near  Cork,  by  Miss  King,  of 
that  city.  On  being  shown  to  the  Rev.  T.  Hincks,  he  at  once  identified 
it  with  H.  excavata,  and,  with  the  kind  permission  of  the  owner,  sent  it  to 
Belfast  for  my  inspection  ; it  in  all  respects  agrees  with  English  specimens 
of  this  Helix  favoured  me  by  Mr.  Jeffreys  and  Mr.  Alder.* 

H.  crystallina,  Drap., 

Is  generally  distributed  in  Ireland,*  occurring  in  moss,  under  stones, 
upon  decaying  wood,  &c.,  in  dry  and  wet  situations,  though  in  the  latter 
more  frequently.  Some  adult  specimens  which  I have  collected  have  had 
but  3£  volutions  instead  of  or  5,  the  ordinary  number.  Extensively 
as  I have  collected  this  Helix  in  Ireland,  none  but  dead  specimens  would 
come  under  Draparnaud’s  var.,  “ (3  eburnea  subopaca .”  The  animal  is  of  a 
white  colour. 

Mr.  Alder’s  views  in  reference  to  the  last  eight  species  (Hyalines,  Fer.) 
are  here  adopted ; but  even  the  British  species  and  their  varieties  belong- 
ing to  this  division  seem  not  yet  to  be  satisfactorily  cleared  up.  The 


* Helix  excavata.  Bean,  previously  noticed  as  Irish  from  a specimen  found 
at  Cork,  was  obtained  by  me  near  Clifden,  County  Galway,  in  July,  1840  ; and 
subsequently  in  the  island  of  Interlacken,  near  Roundstone,  by  Mr.  Barlee. 
Dunscombe’s  Wood,  near  Cork,  Miss  King. 


GASTEROPODA. 


297 


application  of  the  same  name,  too,  by  British  and  continental  authors,  to 
different  species,  adds  much  to  the  confusion.  Ireland  possesses  all  the 
British  species  as  distinguished  by  Mr.  Alder,  viz.  H.  cellario , H.  nitidula , 
H.  lucida,  H.  excavata , H.  alliaria , IL  radiatula , H.  pura,  H.  crystallina. 
Rossmassler’s  H.  nitens,  f.  524  and  525,  are  very  characteristic  represent- 
ations of  shells  I possess  from  different  parts  of  Ireland,  and  with  his  H. 
glabra , f.  528,  so  far  as  a figure  and  diagnostic  description  will  suffice  for 
judgment,  I have  specimens  identical. 

Genus  Succinea. 

S.  putris,  Flem., 

Is  generally  distributed  throughout  Ireland.  Specimens  agreeing  with 
the  var.  /3  of  Draparnaud — “ major  solidior,  colore  carneo” — in  form  (see 
pi.  3,  f.  23),  colour,  and  more  than  ordinary  thickness,  though  not  in 
being  larger  than,  usual,  are  occasionally  met  with.  The  varieties  y (“  me- 
dia magis  elongata  et  colorata  ”)  and  d (“  minor,  apertura  ovata  ”)  are 
found  in  the  North.  Individuals  of  this  species,  which  adhere  to  stones 
in  wet  spots  at  a considerable  elevation  in  the  northern  mountains,  are,  as 
may  be  expected,  invariably  much  dwarfed  in  size. 

S.  Pfeifferi,  Rossm. 

Although  less  common  than  the  last,  this  species  or  variety  is  widely 
diffused  over  the  island.  In  the  North  it  is  not  uncommon,  and  is  here 
generally  of  the  same  amber  colour  as  S.  amphibia  ; as  likewise  are  Eng- 
lish specimens,  which  I owe  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Alder ; specimens 
of  a reddish  horn-colour,  and  much  thicker  than  usual,  have  occasionally 
occurred  to  me  in  the  North,  and  in  quantity  they  have  been  obtained  by 
Mrs.  Patterson,  of  Belfast,  near  Portarlington.  Mr.  Humphreys  notices 
this  shell  under  the  name  of  S.  oblonga,  Turt.,  as  found  about  Cork,  and 
by  this  appellation  Dr.  Harvey  mentions  Ballitore  (County  Kildare)  and 
Limerick  as  habitats,  adding  at  the  same  time — ■“  animal  darker  than  in 
the  last  [&  amphibia ],  and  found  in  far  wetter  places.”  From  Finnoe 
(County  Tipperary)  I have  been  favoured  by  Mr.  E.  Waller  with  typical 
specimens  of  this  Succinea,  as  admirably  represented  in  Gray’s  Manual 
(f.  74). 

S.  oblonga,  Drap. 

Bishop’s  Crook,  Cork,  Messrs.  Wright  and  Carroll.  Baltimore,  Co.  Cork, 
Mr.  M‘Andrew. 


Genus  Bulimus. 

B.  obscurus,  Drap. 

This  species  is  very  local.  In  his  Irish  Testacea  Capt.  Brown  notices 
“ one  specimen  [procured]  on  a dry  mud  wall  near  Clonooney,”  p.  529. 
About  the  roots  of  trees  in  the  demesne  of  Woodlands,  near  Dublin,  I 
have,  accompanied  by  Dr.  R.  Ball,  obtained  specimens,  the  shells  of 
all  of  which,  adult  as  well  as  immature,  were  like  those  sent  me  from 
other  localities,  and,  according  to  the  observations  of  authors,  covered 
with  earth.  From  La  Bergerie,  Portarlington,  I have  been  favoured  with 
specimens  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke.  In  March,  1837,  it  was  supplied  me 
in  quantity  from  Larne,  County  Antrim,  by  Mr.  James  Manks.  From 
the  Falls  of  Clyde  (Scotland),  I have  specimens  collected  by  Dr.  W. 
H.  Harvey. 

Animal,  rather  dark  grey  above,  lighter  towards  the  disk,  and  when 


298 


MOLLUSCA. 


viewed  under  a lens  appearing  closely  marked  all  over  the  back  and 
sides  with  darker  spots  and  markings  so  disposed  as  to  render  it  very 
beautiful ; disk  very  pale  grey.  Tentacula  cylindrical,  stout,  and  club- 
shaped  ; the  upper  of  ordinary  length,  the  lower  short. 

B.  acutus,  “ Brag.” 

This  is  a local  species,  but  found  from  North  to  South — from  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  Giant’s  Causeway  to  Youghal.  It  is  especially  common 
on  sea-side  sand-banks  and  pastures,  but  in  remote  inland  localities  is 
likewise  native.  It  would  seem  to  be  more  common  to  the  eastern  than 
the  western  portion  of  the  island,  but  in  the  latter  it  has  occurred  to  me 
about  Ballyshannon,  County  of  Donegal,  also  at  Dunfanaghy,  Larne, 
and  Springvale,  Co.  Down.  I have  occasionally  observed  this  species  in- 
habiting the  crevices  of  walls  at  a considerable  height,  as  those  of  Howth 
church,  County  Dublin.  M.  Michaud  remarked  on  some  Irish  specimens 
of  this  most  variable  species  which  I contributed  to  his  collection,  that 
they  were  the  B.  articulatus,  Lam. 

JB.  lubricus,  “ Brag.,” 

Is  common,  and  generally  distributed  over  Ireland.  From  under  stones 
on  the  dry  mountain-side  at  Wolfhill,  near  Belfast,  and  on  sea-side  pas- 
tures I have  obtained  a few  specimens  of  a handsome  variety,  of  a pale 
grey  colour,  and  transparent,  with  a white  peristome ; in  such  localities 
this  shell  does  not  present  to  the  same  degree  the  rich  amber  colour  and 
brilliant  polish  which  it  does  in  woods  or  shady  places.  The  animal  is 
blackish.  From  an  examination  of  the  food  contained  in  seven  starlings 
( Sturnus  vulgaris),  shot  at  different  places  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  from 
the  month  of  December  to  March,  during  a mild  winter,  it  would  appear 
either  that  the  B.  lubricus  is  a special  favourite,  or  that  its  haunts  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  bird  ; as  six  of  the  starlings,  in  addition  to  Helices 
and  other  food,  contained  specimens  of  this  shell  varying  from  five  to 
thirteen  in  number. 


Genus  Achatina. 

A.  Acicula. 

This  handsome  species  is  found  sparingly,  but  from  East  to  West,  in 
the  more  southern  half  of  Ireland.  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  has  procured  it 
on  the  “ sand-hills,  Miltown  Malbay,  and  from  under  stones  near  Lime- 
rick,” but  in  the  latter  locality  marks  it  as  “ very  rare.”  Mr.  T.  W.  War- 
ren of  Dublin  has  supplied  me  with  specimens  procured  by  him  on  differ- 
ent occasions  in  the  rejectamenta  of  the  river  Dodder,  near  that  city.  At 
La  Bergerie  (Queen’s  County)  it  is  found  by  the  Bev.  B.  J.  Clarke  ; and 
at  Finnoe  (County  Tipperary),  by  Mr.  Edw.  Waller;  by  Miss  Ball  at 
Castle-martyr  demesne  (County  Cork) ; and  by  Miss  M.  Ball  at  Dromana 
(County  Waterford). 

For  the  Cionella  elongata,  Jeff.,  noticed  with  doubt  as  Irish  by  Mr.  Jef- 
freys, Linn.  Trans,  vol.  xvi.  p.  348,  see  Gray’s  Manual,  p.  18,  under 
Achatina  octona. 

Genus  Pupa. 

P.  umbilicata,  Drap-. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  common  of  the  testaceous  Mollusca  throughout 
Ireland  and  her  islands,  and  especially  abundant  where  limestone  and 
chalk  prevail.  From  the  sea-shore  to  a great  elevation  in  the  mountains 


GASTEROPODA. 


299 


it  is  found.  It  is  subject  to  considerable  variety  in  form  and  colour  ; the 
toothless  var.  not  unfrequently  occurs,  and  on  a sea-bank  at  Belfast  Bay  I 
once  obtained  a specimen  with  two  teeth,  but,  differing  in  no  other  respect 
from  the  ordinary  shell,  I cannot  consider  it  otherwise  than  an  accidental 
variety  of  P.  umbilicata.  Specimens  whitish  and  opaque,  like  “ dead  shells,” 
not  unfrequently  occur  containing  the  living  animal.  Occasionally  in 
the  North,  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran,  and  about  the  lakes  of  Killar- 
ney,  I have  procured  a few  individuals  of  a crystalline  transparency,  the 
elegance  of  their  appearance  being  much  enhanced  by  the  pure  white 
margin  of  the  peristome.  The  animal  is  of  a very  pale  grey  colour. 

P.  Anglica , Alder. 

This  species,  considered  peculiar  to  England  when  described  by  Ferus- 
sac,  and  in  the  very  latest  work  treating  of  the  British  land  Mollusca 
having  only  the  localities  “ North  of  England,  Northumberland,  Lanca- 
shire ” attributed  to  it,  is  found  in  the  North  and  South,  in  the  East  and 
West,  of  Ireland  ; but  at  the  same  time  is  by  no  means  general,  or,  except 
in  particular  spots,  plentiful,  like  P.  umbilicata.  Under  stones,  on  marsh 
plants,  in  wet  moss,  &c.,  it  harbours.  I first  met  with  it  in  June,  1833,  in 
the  County  of  Londonderry,  at  the  side  of  the  river  Bann,  near  its  junc- 
tion with  the  ocean ; in  numerous  localities  throughout  Down  and  An- 
trim, and  in  the  demesne  of  Florence  Court,  County  Fermanagh,  it  since 
occurred  to  me ; in  the  West,  on  the  mountain  of  Benbulben  in  Sligo  ; in 
the  South,  about  O’Sullivan’s  cascade,  at  the  lower  lake  of  Killarney ; and 
in  the  East,  in  the  glen  of  the  Downs,  County  Wicklow.  Dr.  W.  H. 
Harvey  obtained  this  species  “ near  Ballitore,  and  on  the  sand-hills,  Mil- 
town  Malbay,”  but  notes  it  as  very  rare.  In  the  collections  of  Mr.  T.  W. 
Warren  and  Mr.  Edw.  Waller,  of  Dublin,  are  specimens  procured  by  the 
former  gentleman  at  Ardmore  (County  Waterford),  and  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  metropolis  ; and  by  the  latter  at  Annahoe,  County  Tyrone  ; 
and  at  Killanella  Wood,  Co.  Galway,  close  to  Loch  Derg; — near  Portar- 
lington  it  is  found  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke,  and  by  the  Rev.  T.  Hincks 
near  Cork,  where  it  is  “ abundant  in  wet  moss.”  In  England  I have  col- 
lected the  P.  Anglica  at  Twizel  House,  Northumberland ; in  Scotland, 
about  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire. 

The  shells  of  this  Pupa  commonly  vary  in  colour  from  pale  greyish- 
brown  to  a deep  reddish  shade  of  this  colour,  and  are  rarely  of  a glassy 
transparency  ; the  margin  of  the  mouth  and  teeth  are  generally  of  the 
colour  of  the  shell,  but  sometimes  pure  white.  Mr.  Gray,  having  had 
the  opportunity  of  consulting  the  work  only  of  M.  Michaud,  refers  his 
Pupa  tridentalis  with  doubt  to  this  species,  but  from  having  been  favoured 
by  its  describer  with  specimens  of  this  shell  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Lyons,  I can  state  with  certainty  that  it  is  entirely  distinct  from  P.  An- 
glica, and  a species  unknown  as  British.  Mr.  Gray  makes  Pfeiffer’s  Pupa 
bidentata,  1,  59,  t.  3,  f.  21,  22,  synonymous  with  P.  Anglica,  but,  judg- 
ing from  the  diagnosis  and  figures,  I cannot  think  them  the  same. 

P.  marginata,  Drap., 

Is  common,  and,  although  not  generally  diffused,  is  found  from  the  ex- 
treme North  to  South,  and  East  to  West,  of  Ireland.  It  is  particularly 
partial  to  the  sand-hills  or  pastures  bordering  the  coast,  and  to  marine 
islets,  as  those  in  Strangford  Lough ; in  the  inland  parts  of  the  country 
it  likewise  occurs.  The  tooth  is  rarely  visible  : specimens  containing  the 
living  animal  are  not  unfrequently  of  a whitish  colour. 


300 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Vertigo. 

V.  edentula,  Alder. 

This  species  is  found  from  North  to  South  of  Ireland.  Since  Septem- 
ber, 1832,  I have  met  with  it  in  numerous  localities  throughout  the  Coun- 
ties of  Down  and  Antrim,  at  the  glen  of  the  Downs  in  Wicklow,  and  in 
shell-sand  from  Portmarnock  (County  Dublin),  Annahoe,  (County  Ty- 
rone), and  near  Finnoe,  (County  Tipperary),  Mr.  E.  Waller — La  Bergerie, 
Queen’s  County,  Mrs.  Patterson  (of  Belfast) — neighbourhood  of  Cork, 
Rev.  T.  Hincks.  The  typical  form  of  V.  edentula  I generally  find  under 
stones  ; the  elongated  and  cylindrical  variety  in  woods — in  autumn  and 
winter  this  latter  is  most  readily  obtained  on  the  fallen  leaves  of  trees  ; in 
summer,  on  the  under  side  of  the  fronds  of  ferns  ( Aspidii , &c.),  the  shell  and 
plant,  though  the  naturalist  only  will  perceive  the  former,  being  in  beauty 
equally  attractive.  The  elongate  variety  has  seven,  and  occasionally  even 
eight,  volutions,  and  attains  the  length  of  1|  line ; when  of  this  size,  the  ani- 
mal, so  very  minute  relatively  to  the  shell,  has  a grotesque  appearance  when 
bearing  this  along,  which  is  carried  singularly  erect,  not  more  out  of  the 
perpendicular  than  the  leaning  tower  of  Pisa  ! This  variety,  judging  from 
description  and  figures,  is  perhaps  the  Pupa  inornata,  Michaud,  Comp.  p. 
63,  pi.  15,  f.  31,  32,  apparently  differing  from  it  only  in  size — it  is  de- 
scribed to  be  2 lines  in  length ; my  largest  specimen  is  1^  line,  but 
this  discrepancy  is  not  greater  than  might  be  anticipated  between  indi- 
viduals obtained  in  the  North  of  Ireland  and  at  Lyons,  where  the  P.  in- 
ornata  was  discovered.  I at  first  thought  this  var.  might  be  Pupa  musco- 
rum,  Drap.  (Phil.  Mag.  1834,  p.  300),  but  specimens  of  this  shell  from 
Montpellier,  since  sent  me  by  M.  Michaud,  prove  that  it  is  not  so — these 
are  identical  with  examples  of  Pupa  cylindrical  which  I have  collected 
at  Salisbury  Craigs,  near  Edinburgh,  a locality  in  which  this  rare  species 
was  discovered  by  Prof.  E.  Forbes. 

V.  pyymcea,  Fer. 

This  is  the  most  widely  distributed  species  of  Vertigo  over  Ireland 
occurring  throughout  the  country.  It  is  generally  found  but  sparingly 
where  it  does  prevail,  and  is  most  easily  procured  under  stones,  both  in 
dry  and  wet  situations,  from  the  sea-shore  to  a high  elevation  in  the 
mountains.  The  usual  number  of  teeth  is  four,  of  which  one  is  central 
on  the  upper  or  body  portion. — On  a sea-bank,  Belfast  Bay,  I once  met 
with  a V ertigo  resembling  the  ordinary  V.  pygmcea  in  every  respect,  but 
with  the  addition  of  a tubercle,  about  the  size  of  one  of  the  teeth,  placed 
outside  the  mouth  and  near  the  junction  of  the  outer  lip  with  the  body 
volution.  Animal  dark  lead  colour,  or  rather  blackish-grey  above,  disk 
blackish-grey  anteriorly,  becoming  suddenly  paler,  so  as  to  be  nearly 
white  at  the  opposite  extremity. 

V.  substriata,  Alder. 

This  species,  though  rare,  has  a wide  distribution  in  Ireland.  In  the 
glen  at  Holywood  House  (County  Down),  I obtained  specimens  in  1832, 
and  subsequently  in  shell-sand  from  Portmarnock  (County  Dublin).  Dr. 
W.  H.  Harvey  gives  as  habitats  “ Miltown  Malbay,  and  near  Limerick — 
rare  at  Ballitore  (County  Kildare).”  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Ballantrae, 
Ayrshire,  this  Vertigo  has  occurred  to  me.  Reference  alone  to  Montagu’s 
specimens  would  seem  to  prove  whether  his  Turbo  sexdentata , p.  337,  be 
this  species,  as  his  description  is  partly  applicable  to  this  (in  number  of 


GASTEROPODA. 


301 


teeth)  and  partly  to  V.  palustris  (in  being  smooth) — the  locality  in  which 
it  was  found  would  be  more  suitable  to  the  latter : the  figure  in  Testa- 
cea  Britannica  throws  no  light  upon  the  subject. 

V.  palustris,  Leach. 

In  numerous  localities  throughout  the  Counties  of  Down  and  Antrim  I 
have  since  1832  procured  this  well-marked  species,  which,  as  its  name 
denotes,  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  marsh  ; it  nevertheless  seems  invariably 
to  be  not  only  free  from  dirt  but  presents  a high  polish.  By  the  Rev.  B. 
J.  Clarke  the  V.  palustris  has  been  obtained  near  Portarlington,  and  by 
Mr.  Edw.  Waller,  at  Einnoe,  Tipperary.  In  England  I have  procured 
it  near  Twizel,  Northumberland,  and  in  Scotland  in  several  localities  around 
Ballantrae.  Mr.  Gray,  in  the  Introduction  to  his  edition  of  Turton’s  Ma- 
nual, mentions  the  V.  palustris  and  V.  angustior  to  “ have  been  only  yet 
recorded  as  found  near  London,  and  in  the  West  of  England,”  p.  37  ; in 
1834  I published  both  species  as  indigenous  to  Ireland,  Phil.  Mag.  1834, 
p.  300.  Reference  to  this  communication,  though  a mere  list  of  species  of 
land  and  fresh-water  mollusca,  previously  unrecorded  as  Irish,  would  have 
shown,  that  several  species  noticed  in  the  Manual  as  local  have  a con- 
siderable range  of  distribution. 

V.  pusilla,  “ Mull.,” 

Is  very  rare,  but  has  been  found  in  the  North-East  and  West  of  the 
island.  From  under  a stone  on  a dry  bank  in  Colin  Glen,  near  Belfast,  I 
obtained  a specimen  in  1832,  as  Mr.  Hyndman  did  in  an  adjacent  glen 
some  time  afterwards ; in  shell-sand  from  Portmarnock  I have  detected  it, 
and  Mr.  Harvey  has  supplied  me  with  a specimen  from  Miltown  Malbay, 
where  he  states  the  species  is  very  rare.  Borrisakane,  Mr.  Waller,  1847, 
Kenmare,  Mr.  Barlee,  1845.  A shell  from  Flanders,  favoured  me  by  M. 
Michaud,  under  the  name  of  “ Pupa  Vertigo , Drap.  ( Vert,  pusilla,  Mich.),” 
is  identical  with  that  under  consideration. 

V.  angustior,  J effreys. 

In  1833  I was  favoured  by  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  with  specimens  of  Ver- 
tigo, labelled  “ V.  heterostropha,  two  species,  from  the  sand-hills,  Miltown 
Malbay,  the  smaller  common,  the  larger  very  rare.”  The  smaller  are  of 
this  species,  which  has  always  seemed  to  me  distinct  from  the  V.  hetero- 
stropha of  Drap.  and  of  Turton’s  Manual.  A comparison  of  Montagu’s 
Turbo  Vertigo  (tab.  12,  f.  6)  with  the  V.  heterostropha  in  the  works  just 
mentioned,  will  show  the  obvious  difference.  To  Mr.  Jeffreys  the  merit 
is  due  of  clearly  distinguishing  these  species.  Since  1834,  when  this  Ver- 
tigo was  published  as  indigenous  to  Ireland,  I have  not  obtained  any  more 
information  respecting  it.  Since  found  at  Bundoran. 

Genus  Balnea. 

B.  perversa,  Flem. 

This  species  is  generally  distributed  over  the  island.  Its  favourite 
abode  is  on  the  stems  and  branches  of  trees,  where  it  shelters  itself  beneath 
the  loose  bark  or  in  its  crevices ; and  on  trees  whose  bark  from  smooth- 
ness will  not  afford  it  shelter,  this  Balcea  lurks  in  the  mosses  and  lichens 
which  adorn  them — in  the  tufts  of  these  cryptogamous  plants  I have  re- 
marked it  buried,  whilst  the  Vertigo  edentula  displayed  itself  at  the 
outside. 


302 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Clausilia. 

C.  bidens,  Drap., 

Is  a rare  and  local  species  in  Ireland.  The  first  native  specimens  I have 
seen  were  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren,  of  Dublin,  who  had 
procured  them  in  Belamont  Forest,  near  Coothill,  County  Cavan.  A few 
specimens  obtained  by  Mr.  Callwell,  on  Hare  Island,  in  the  Shannon  (L. 
Pree)  above  Athlone.  In  Sept.,  1837,  I had  the  gratification  of  seeing 
numbers  of  this  fine  Clausilia,  after  heavy  rain,  ascending  the  stems  of  the 
stately  trees  in  the  demesne  of  Florence  Court,  County  Fermanagh,  the 
seat  of  the  Earl  of  Enniskillen.  At  Dovedale,  in  Derbyshire,  I have  met 
with  it. 

C.  nigricans,  Jeffreys, 

Is  very  commonly  distributed  over  Ireland  and  the  surrounding  islands. 
It  is  an  extremely  variable  species,  in  being  more  or  less  ventricose,  in  the 
striae  being  obscure  or  prominent,  in  the  form  of  the  mouth,  and  occasion- 
ally even  in  the  number  of  internal  lamellae — the  largest  specimen  I have 
found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Belfast  is  7^  lines  in  length,  and  has 
thirteen  volutions ; several  others  of  the  usual  length  of  6 lines  have  like- 
wise this  number.  The  colour  commonly  varies  from  a very  pale  greyish- 
white  to  deep  reddish-brown ; very  rarely  specimens  of  a glassy  trans- 
parency occur,  and  in  such  of  these  as  I have  found  the  animal  was 
equally  colourless.  To  Mr.  Gray,  Mr.  Alder,  and  Mr.  Forbes  I have 
shown  the  specimens  differing  as  here  described,  and  they  agree  with  me 
that  they  must  all  be  considered  C.  nigricans. 

Family  “ Auriculae.” 

Genus  Carychium. 

C.  minimum,  Mull. 

This  minute  species  is  commonly  distributed  over  Ireland,  and  may  be 
found  in  moss,  on  decaying  leaves  and  wood,  under  stones,  &c.,  in  dry  as 
well  as  wet  places,  though  the  latter  are  its  favourite  abode  ; in  the  North 
of  the  island  specimens  rarely  attain  one  line  in  length. 

Genus  Acme. 

A.fusca,  Gray, 

Is  rare  in  Ireland,  but  is  widely  distributed,  being  found  over  the  island. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  was  the  first  to  find  and  distinguish  this  species  as 
a native — he  notes  it  as  not  uncommon  on  the  sand-hills  in  Miltown  Mal- 
bay,  where  in  1826  he  procured  both  the  ordinary  form  and  the  variety 
with  the  spires  reversed.  This  shell  has  been  procured  by  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  myself  in  various  localities  in  the  Counties  of  Down  and  Antrim,  but 
not  more  than  three  or  four  individuals  have  been  obtained  on  any  one 
occasion.  I have  more  than  once  found  this  shell,  containing  the  living 
animal,  under  stones  on  bare  clayey  banks,  in  which  situations  the  only 
other  mollusc  met  with  was  Helix  crystallina.  At  Annahoe  (County  Ty- 
rone) Mr.  Edw.  Waller  has  obtained  the  A.fusca  (both  a.  and  b.  Turton, 
p.  83) ; as  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren  has  done  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dublin, 
and  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  at  La  Bergerie,  Queen’s  County.  The  Rev.  T. 
Hincks  of  Cork  favours  me  with  two  southern  habitats— Ballinhassig 
Glen  (County  Cork)  and  near  Mucruss,  Killarney  (County  Kerry). 


GASTEROPODA. 


303 


Genus  Auricula. 

A.  denticulata,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Bangor,  Miss  A.  M‘Adam ; 

Youghal,  Miss  M.  Ball ; 

Portmarnock,  Mr.  Warren. 

A.  bidentata,  Mont.  (sp.). 

General  along  the  coasts  of  Ireland. 

A.  fusiformis,  Turt.  (sp.). 

Mr.  Alder,  on  examination  of  a shell  from  Portmarnock,  in  Mr.  War- 
ren’s collection,  agreeing  with  the  description  of  Voluta  fusiformis,  was 
disposed  to  believe  it  worthy  of  specific  rank  : a similar  shell  was  obtain- 
ed at  Bundoran  by  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Family  Limnteadje. 

Genus  Limneus. 

L.  auricularius,  Drap. 

Through  deference  to  those  who  have  paid  much  more  attention  to  the 
subject  than  myself,  I note  this  Limneus  under  the  head  of  a distinct  spe- 
cies, although  I am  disposed  to  believe  that  it  is  only  an  extreme  form  of 
L.  pereyer.  The  L.  auricularius,  as  figured  in  both  editions  of  Turton’s 
Manual,  and  by  Draparnaud,  is  not  very  unfrequent  in  Ireland,  but  of 
the  extremely  expanded  form  represented  by  Bossmassler  is  very  rare, 
and  from  one  or  two  still  ponds  only,  abounding  in  subaquatic  plants  of 
various  species,  have  I seen  it.  Pfeiffer’s  figure  (part  i.  t.  4,  f.  17,  18) 
is  somewhat  intermediate  between  those  just  mentioned,  and  correspond- 
ing to  it  I have  procured  specimens.  All  forms,  from  the  ordinary  L . 
pereyer  to  the  L.  auricularius,  it  seems  to  me,  may  be  closely  traced  blend- 
ing into  each  other — reference  to  the  figures  in  many  works  will  be  found 
to  present  various  forms,  though  in  all  the  aperture  is  greatly  expand- 
ed. Some  specimens  of  X.  auricularius,  which  I collected  in  Stow  Pool, 
Lichfield,  in  July,  1836,  are  more  distinct  than  any  which  I have  seen 
represented ; the  spire  is  more  minute,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  outer 
lip  goes  off  from  the  body  of  the  shell  in  the  form  of  a straight  line  ; 
but  of  all  the  individuals  obtained  on  this  occasion  no  two  are  pre- 
cisely alike,  but  vary  from  the  extreme  form  described  to  the  L.  ovatus, 
Drap. 

L.  pereyer,  Drap. 

This  species,  presenting  'endless  variety,  is  abundant  throughout  the 
waters  of  Ireland,  from  the  smallest  drain  to  the  vast  expanse  of  Lough 
Neagh.  Some  of  the  forms  which  have  been  considered  as  distinct  spe- 
cies may  be  enumerated  as  occurring  in  this  country,  as  X.  ovatus,  Drap., 
X.  intermedia,  Michaud  (Comp.  pi.  16,  f.  17,  18),  X.  maryinata,  Mich. 
(Id.  f.  15,  16),  X.  lineatus,  Bean,  X.  acutus,  Jeffreys — of  these  two  last  I 
judge  from  comparison  of  authentic  specimens,  the  former  favoured  me 
by  Mr.  Alder,  the  latter  by  their  describer.  One  variety  seems  to  require 
especial  notice — the  Gulnaria  lacustris,  Leach.  On  the  shores  of  Loughs 
Neagh  and  Erne  I have  collected  specimens  identical  with  those  so  named 
by  Dr.  Leach  in  the  British  Museum,  and  which  are  from  the  lakes  of 


304 


MOLLUSCA. 


Cumberland — their  donor  General  Bingham.  It  would  seem  to  be  the 
same  form  which  Capt.  Brown  figures  under  the  name  of  “ Lymnsea  la- 
custris,  Brown’s  MSS.,”  and  states  to  have  been  found  by  him  in  Loch 
Leven,  Kinross-shire.  Illustrations  Brit.  Conch.,  pi.  42,  f.  24,  25.  From 
lakes  in  various  parts  of  Ireland  I possess  this  form,  which,  from  its  ex- 
treme delicacy,  I look  upon  as  an  inhabitant  of  still  water,  and  from  its 
rare  occurrence,  except  when  cast  ashore,  of  deep  water  also.  The  spe- 
cimens which,  containing  the  living  animal,  have  occasionally  been  found 
in  shallow  water  have,  I presume,  been  driven  thither  in  storms,  to  which 
conclusion  I am  led  by  having  once  at  Lough  Erne,  and  frequently  at 
Lough  Neagh,  looked  in  vain  for  a living  individual  with  a shell  of  this 
form  at  the  edge  of  their  waters,  though  plenty  of  the  more  common 
forms  of  L.  pereger  were  there.  The  variety  under  consideration  is  in- 
termediate in  form  between  the  typical  L.  pereger  and  L.  glutinosus,  with 
a short  spire  and  ample  aperture  ; shell  very  thin,  longitudinally  striated ; 
striae  regular,  frequent,  and  strongly  marked ; about  one  in  thirty  of  the 
specimens  examined,  somewhat  spirally  cut,  “ like  the  facets  of  glass ; ” 
slight  fold  on  the  pillar  lip ; an  epidermis-like  covering,  of  a dull  green- 
ish-yellow colour.  By  the  chief  cultivators  of  this  branch  of  natural  his- 
tory in  Great  Britain,  to  whom  I have  sent  this  shell,  it  was  considered  a 
particularly  well-marked  variety,  and  M.  Michaud,  in  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  specimens  from  Lough  Neagh,  remarked  that  the  form  was  un- 
known to  him  in  France. 

I have  seen  the  L.  pereger  attached  in  numbers  to  the  backs  of  turtles, 
kept  in  a pond  at  Fort  William,  near  Belfast,  when  it  was  amusing  to 
observe  these  animals  swimming  about,  with  the  Limnei  still  keeping 
“ their  seats  ” upon  them.  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman,  August,  1845. 

L.  involutus,  Harvey. 

This  Limnens  so  remarkable  in  form  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Wm.  H. 
Harvey,  in  a small  lake  on  Crommaglaun  Mountain,  near  the  lakes  of 
Killarney.  A description  of  it  will  be  found  in  the  Annals  Nat.  Hist,  for 
March,  1840,  p.  22.  Its  specific  character  is — spire  sunk  within  the  outer 
whorl ; aperture  very  large,  extending  to  the  apex. 

L.  stagnalis,  Drap. 

This,  the  largest  European  Limneus,  though  by  no  means  generally 
distributed,  occurs  in  every  portion  of  the  island.  It  differs  very  much  in 
size,  according  to  locality  ; mature  specimens,  which  I have  found  in  the 
cold  water  of  Lough  Neagh,  where  barren  of  subaquatic  plants,  did  not 
exceed  one  inch  in  length,  whereas  in  drains  in  which  such  plants  abound 
they  attain  double  this  size. 

A Limneus  collected  by  my  friend  Richard  Langtry,  Esq.,  of  Fort 
William,  near  Belfast,  when  on  a tour  through  Upper  Canada  in  1835, 
seems  identical  with  L.  stagnalis.  It  differs  from  the  ordinary  form  only 
in  tapering  rather  more  towards  the  apex,  and  in  the  second  largest 
volution  being  a little  more  tumid ; but  in  these  respects  an  extensive 
series  of  Irish  specimens  before  me  differ  very  much.  The  American 
specimens  were  taken  in  the  river  connecting  Buckhorn  with  Pigeon 
Lake. 

L.  palustris,  Drap. 

Common,  and  generally  distributed  over  Ireland — in  size,  form,  and 
colour  very  variable.  In  the  river  Bann,  near  Kilrea,  I have  procured 


GASTEROPODA. 


305 


specimens  of  the  ordinary  colour,  but  with  the  addition  of  spiral  narrow 
white  bands — in  some  waters  the  different  species  of  Limnei,  &c.,  are  so 
marked.  A shell  differing  from  the  L.  palustris  in  general  proportion 
(being  much  shorter  relatively  to  its  breadth)  and  in  colour  (generally  of 
a uniform  pale  yellow)  is  common  to  Lough  Neagh  and  other  lakes  in 
Ireland  : it  is  found  attached  to  stones  at  the  edge  of  the  water,  and 
where  the  adjacent  bottom  is  stony,  with  very  little  vegetation — under 
similar  circumstances  it  has  also  occurred  to  me  in  the  first-named  local- 
ity. It  is  identical  with  the  var.  (3  of  Mr.  J effreys,  who  has  favoured  me 
with  specimens  from  Battersea,  near  London.  The  small  size,  different 
colour,  and  freedom  from  all  adventitious  matter,  I should  be  disposed  to 
attribute  to  the  colder  water  and  less  food,  in  such  localities,  than  in  the 
ponds  and  ditches,  in  which  the  ordinary  form  prevails. 

L.  truncatulus , J effreys, 

Is  generally  distributed  over  Ireland.  It  inhabits  drains,  ditches,  &c., 
like  the  L.  palustris ; but  in  moist  spots,  and  about  springs,  at  a consi- 
derable elevation  in  the  northern  mountains,*  is  likewise  found,  and  is 
here  always  of  a very  small  size.  In  July,  1833,  when  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Hyndman,  I remarked  many  of  this  species  alive,  and  adhering  to 
stones  which  lay  dry  upon  the  shore  of  Lough  Neagh,  far  above  the  sum- 
mer level  of  its  waters, f these  were  of  uniform  size,  very  small,  and  when 
containing  the  living  animal  of  a very  dark  reddish-brown  colour. 
Many  varieties  of  the  L.  truncatulus  have  occurred  to  me  in  Ireland ; 
among  them  was  one  very  much  elongated,  and  another  with  regular 
longitudinal  striae,  the  latter  of  which  is  well  remarked  by  Dr.  Turton 
to  be  “very  elegant.” — Man.  p.  125. 

L.  glaber,  Gray. 

I have  not  seen  any  Irish  specimens  of  this  Limneus,  which  is  thus  no- 
ticed in  the  supplement  to  Mr.  Jeffreys’s  paper  in  the  Linnaean  Transac- 
tions, vol.  xvi.  p.  520 : “ Ireland,  Rev.  James  Bulwer.”  On  inquiry  of 
Mr.  Bulwer,  he  stated  that  the  shell  so  noticed  was  considered  by  him 
but  a variety  of  L.  palustris.  By  a letter  from  Mr.  Jeffreys,  dated  June 
8,  1840, 1 learn  that  “ L.  elongatus  was  mentioned  as  Irish  on  the  author- 
ity of  the  late  Dr.  Goodall,  who  stated  that  he  had  received  specimens 
from  Mr.  Bulwer.”  Mr.  Jeffreys  adds,  “ I have,  however,  two  or  three 
undoubted  specimens  among  a collection  of  Irish  shells,  which  I pur- 
chased about  three  months  ago  from  Mr.  John  Humphreys  of  Cork — the 
tray  which  contained  them  was  labelled  ‘ Cork.’  ” From  Mr.  Humphreys 
I learn  that  he  had  not  identified  the  species,  but  that  the  note  of  locality 
appended  to  the  shells  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Jeffreys,  was  strictly  correct. 

Genus  Ancylus. 

A.  Jluviatilis,  Mull. 

This  species  is  distributed  over  the  island,  and  is  equally  found  attached 
to  stones  in  the  mountain  torrent,  the  river,  and  the  still  waters  of  the 
lake.  The  var.  described  by  Montagu  (p.  483)  as  being  strongly  striated, 


* In  such  places  it  is  preyed  on  by  the  lapwing  ( Venellus  cristatus),  from 
whose  stomach  I have  taken  it. 

f Montagu  has,  on  the  contrary,  remarked  that  when  left  dry  the  animal 
perishes. — Test.  Brit.,  p.  372. 


306 


MOLLUSCA. 


and  by  Jeffreys  (p.  390)  as  being  pellucid,  &c.,  I find  upon  the  first  stones 
wet  by  mountain  springs,  on  their  gushing  from  the  earth.  All  the  spe- 
cimens from  these  localities  are  much  smaller  than  those  found  in  still 
water,  and  coated  with  green  vegetable  matter,  which  is  entirely  adventi- 
tious, and  may  be  seen  in  like  manner  coating  the  little  prominences  of 
the  stone  to  which  the  Ancylus  adheres ; this  and  the  animal  being  re- 
moved, the  shell  is  crystalline.  Under  the  name  of  “ Ancy.  Jiuviatilis, 
Drap.  var.  montana,”  M.  Michaud  has  favoured  me  with  specimens  from 
the  Pyrenees,  quite  identical  with  the  var.  just  noticed,  as,  it  need  hardly 
be  remarked,  are  others  from  France  with  the  ordinary  form. 

I had  often  observed  that  beautiful  and  graceful  bird  the  grey  wag- 
tail (Motacilla  boarula)  feeding  about  the  mountain  springs,  but  was  not 
aware  of  its  propensity  for  mollusca,  until,  on  opening  the  stomach  of  one 
without  knowing  where  the  specimen  had  been  killed,  I found  it  to  be 
filled  with  shells  of  this  species,  all  of  which  being  of  the  var.  a.  afforded 
evidence  whence  they  had  been  procured. 

Animal  bluish-grey  beneath ; portion  which  comes  in  contact  with 
the  shell  blackish-green.  Of  six  specimens  which  I once  kept  in  a dry 
chip  box  for  eighteen  hours,  two  perfectly  recovered  on  being  immersed 
in  water. 

A.  lacustris , Mull. 

This  species,  although  rare,  has  been  met  with  in  the  North,  East,  and 
West  of  Ireland,  in  still  and  gently-flowing  waters.  It  was  noticed  by 
Captain  Brown  in  his  Irish  Testacea  as  “ plentiful  in  a mill-race  a mile 
below  Naas.”  By  the  late  Mr.  Templeton’s  MSS.  I find  that  the  species 
had  been  previously  observed  by  him  “ on  Potamogeton,  &c.,  in  the  drains 
of  the  bog-meadows  near  Belfast.”  Between  the  fourth  and  fifth  locks  of 
the  Lagan  canal,  a few  miles  from  this  town,  I have,  at  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember, procured  many  specimens,  all  of  which  were  on  the  under  side  of 
the  leaves  of  the  yellow  water-lily  ( Nuphar  luted)  and  great  water-plan- 
tain ( Alisma  Plantago ) — Pond  in  the  demesne  at  Moira,  County  Down, 
Mr.  Hyndman — Near  Limerick,  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey — Beechwood,  near 
Portmarnock,  County  Dublin,  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren — Glasnevin  Botanic 
Garden,  Dublin,  Dr.  Coulter — Finnoe,  County  Tipperary,  and  Derryadd 
Lake,  County  Armagh,  Mr.  Edward  Waller. 


Genus  Physa. 

P.  fontinalis,  Drap., 

Is  common,  and  generally  distributed  over  Ireland,  occurring  on 
aquatic  plants  in  stagnant  and  gently-flowing  water.  It  is  subject  to  con- 
siderable variety. 

P.  hypnorum , Drap., 

Although  much  less  common  than  P.  fontinalis , is  generally  diffused 
over  the  island,  and  found  as  frequently  in  very  shallow  as  in  deep 
water. 

Genus  Planorbis. 

P.  corneus, 

Has  been  found  only  within  a very  limited  portion  of  the  island.  It 
still  prevails  in  the  locality  recorded  by  Capt.  Brown — near  Maynooth, 


GASTEROPODA. 


307 


in  the  County  of  Kildare.  From  about  Naas  in  the  same  County  I have 
been  supplied  with  specimens  by  Dr.  R.  Ball ; and  by  the  Rev.  B.  J. 
Clarke  with  some  obtained  by  him  near  Lea  Castle,  Queen’s  County. 
County  Kerry,  Dingle,  Rev.  D.  Foley,  1842. 

P.  albus,  Mull., 

Prevails  generally  over  Ireland.  Specimens  of  P.  glaber,  Jeffreys, 
which  I owe  to  the  kindness  of  their  describer,  seem  to  me  (as  to  Mr. 
Alder)  identical  with  P.  albus. 

P.  Icevis,  Alder, 

Is  found  in  the  North-East  of  the  island.  Early  in  the  winter  of  1832 
I obtained  a number  of  this  species  on  aquatic  plants  (especially  Calli- 
triche  aquatica ),  with  P.  imbricatus,  in  a small  pond  at  the  Falls,  near 
Belfast,  and  about  the  same  time  procured  others  in  the  rejectamenta  of 
the  rivers  Blackstaff  and  Lagan,  in  the  same  neighbourhood.  In  the 
demesne  of  Portavo,  near  Donaghadee,  and  also  at  Portmore,  in  the  vici- 
nity of  Portaferry,  localities  in  the  County  of  Down ; it  has  likewise  oc- 
curred to  me  on  Nympheea  and  Potamogeton,  1846,  Lang’s  Lake,  near 
Clogher,  Mr.  Waller.  The  animal  is  dark  grey;  tentacula  very  pale  grey 
— dead  shells  are  white.  It  was  the  P.  Icevis  which  was  marked  with 
doubt  as  “ P.  glaber  ? Jeff.”  in  Phil.  Mag.  1834,  p.  300. 

P.  imbricatus,  Mull. 

This  handsome  and  well-marked  species  is  known  to  me  as  occurring 
throughout  Ireland,  with  the  exception  of  the  extreme  South,  where, 
however,  there  is  little  doubt  that  it  exists.  It  is  very  variable  in  form — 
the  varieties  1 and  2,  and  the  “ monstrosity  with  the  volutions  detached, 
and  raised  above  each  other”  (Turt.  Man.),  I have  procured  on  the 
same  plant.  The  entire  animal,  together  with  the  tentacula,  are  of  a pale 
grey  colour. 

P.  carinatus,  Mull., 

Is  much  less  common  than  P.  marginatus,  but  found  in  all  portions  of 
the  island ; in  the  earliest  catalogues  it  was  inserted  as  indigenous.  In 
the  neighbourhood  of  Portaferry,  County  Down,  and  about  the  city  of 
Dublin  (a  recorded  locality),  it  has  occurred  to  me.  I have  seen  speci- 
mens which  were  obtained  near  Portarlington  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  ; 
at  a lake  near  Tyrrell’s  Pass,  Westmeath,  by  Mr.  Ovens ; and  at  Lough 
Gounagh  (County  Longford)  by  Mr.  R.  Callwell  of  Dublin.* 

In  1833  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey  favoured  me  with  specimens  labelled  “ P. 
planatus,  Turt.  Man.,”  from  Portumna  on  Lough  Derg,  an  expansion  of  the 
Shannon,  where  he  stated  that  the  form  was  frequent,  noting  it  at  the 
same  time  to  have  been  found  by  him  at  Ballitore  (County  Kildare), 
where  it  is  very  rare  ; these  shells  correspond  exactly  with  Turton’s  de- 
scription of  P.  planatus,  Man.  p.  110.  This  seems  to  be  the  common  form 
(though  the  normal  one  does  likewise  occur)  at  Lough  Derg,  as  testified 
by  specimens  since  obtained  from  Portumna  and  Killaloe,  near  its  north- 
ern and  southern  extremities  ; some  from  Nenagh  (County  Tipperary) 
have  been  kindly  submitted  to  my  inspection  by  the  Rev.  T.  Hincks  of 


* The  size  is,  I conceive,  attributable  to  the  coldness  of  the  water  and 
scarcity  of  subaquatic  plants. 


308 


MOLLUSCA. 


Cork ; near  this  city  the  “ P.  planatus  ” is  noticed  by  Mr.  Humphreys  as 
met  with.  Mr.  Alder  and  Mr.  Forbes  consider  the  Lough  Derg  shell  P. 
carinatus,  and,  according  to  the  former,  it  is  the  P.  disciformis,  Jeff. 

P.  umbilicatus , Mull. 

This  species  prevails  in  every  quarter  of  the  island,  but  is  not  generally 
distributed.  Finnoe,  County  Tipperary,  Mr.  Waller.  Attached  to  stones 
at  Ham’s  Island,  Lough  Neagh,  I find  a small  variety,  about  half  the  or- 
dinary size,  and  which  is  concave  beneath,  with  the  keel  obscure.  Mr. 
Alder  remarked  on  some  of  these  which  I had  the  pleasure  of  adding  to 
his  collection  in  1835 — “ Turton’s  P.  rliombceus,  of  which  he  sent  me  spe- 
cimens, is  the  same  thing  in  a younger  state.”  Mr.  Jeffreys,  in  a letter 
dated  Oct.  2,  1838,  when  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  Lough  Neagh 
shell,  observed  that  he  considered  it  distinct  from  P.  marginatus,  and  that 
from  a similar  shell  previously  found  at  Cardiff  he  had  named  the  form 
P.  incequalis.  It  is  to  a distorted  individual  of  the  P.  marginatus , found 
in  a pond  at  the  College  Botanic  Garden,  Dublin,  that  Capt.  Brown  ap- 
plied the  name  of  Helix  cochlea  (Irish  Test.,  p.  528,  pi.  24,  f.  10),  and 
Turton  that  of  Helix  terebra  (Conch.  Diet.,  p.  62,  f.  55). — Mr.  O’Kelly,  to 
whom  the  shell  belongs,  always  considered  it  P.  marginatus , and  as  such 
noticed  it  in  the  Dublin  edition  of  Pennant’s  Brit.  Zool.,  p.  363.  The 
Rev.  T.  Hincks  writes  me  from  Cork  that  “ the  var.  of  Plan,  marginatus 
with  the  volutions  elevated  into  a spiral  cone  was  once  taken  in  Bally- 
pheane  bog.”  I have  myself  met  with  monstrous  forms  of  several  of  the 
native  species  of  Planorbis. 

P.  vortex,  Mull.' 

Generally  distributed. 

P.  spirorbis,  Mull. 

The  species  which  my  correspondents  (chiefly  judging  from  the  de- 
scriptions and  figures  in  Turton’s  Manual)  have  considered  as  the  P. 
vortex  and  P.  spirorbis  are  noted  as  generally  common  in  Ireland ; these 
shells  merge  so  into  each  other  that  I was  in  the  habit  of  putting  all  that 
were  collected  throughout  the  North  together.  On  comparing  these  with 
examples  of  “ P.  spirorbis  ” from  the  neighbourhood  of  Newcastle,  and  of 
“ P.  vortex  ” from  that  of  London,  presented  me  by  Mr.  Alder,  I find  that, 
although  some  of  them  are  as  large  as  the  P.  vortex,  have  seven  volu- 
tions, and  a carinated  edge  to  the  lower  one,  that  they  are  not  of  the  ex- 
treme form  designated  by  this  name,  and  consequently  come  under  P. 
spirorbis ; so  likewise  do  a number  of  specimens  from  the  neighbourhood 
of  Portarlington  sent  me  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  ; those  from  the  river 
Shannon,  favoured  me  by  the  Rev.  C.  Mayne  of  Killaloe,  may  be  placed 
under  P.  vortex , as  may  those  also  collected  at  Lough  Gounagh,  County 
Longford,  by  my  friend  R.  Callwell,  Esq.,  of  Dublin.  Is  the  more  promi- 
nent keel,  with  other  differences  necessarily  attendant  on  it,  as  form  of 
mouth,  &c.,  sufficient  for  specific  distinction  between  P.  vortex  and  P. 
spirorbis  f Under  Planorbis  disciformis,  Mr.  Alder  has  well  remarked, 
that  “ the  degree  of  carination  is  so  very  variable  in  different  individuals 
of  the  same  species,  that  it  is  rather  fallacious  as  a distinguishing  charac- 
ter.”— Mag.  Zool.  and  Pot.,  vol.  ii.  p.  113. 

Specimens  of  P.  compressus,  Michaud,  from  Lorraine,  with  which  I 
have  been  favoured  by  their  describer,  are  identical  with  those  of  P.  vor- 
tex before  noticed  as  from  Mr.  Alder.  Examples  of  P.  leucostoma, 


GASTEROPODA. 


309 


Michaud,  with  which  I have  been  presented  by  this  most  liberal  author, 
differ  only  from  Mr.  Alder’s  P.  spirorbis  in  having  a white  rim  within 
the  mouth : on  this  subject  see  Supplement  to  Mr.  Alder’s  Paper  in  the 
Newcastle  Transactions,  and  Mr.  Gray’s  edition  of  Turton’s  Manual,  p. 
267  ; in  this  work  P.  leucostoma,  Mich.,  is  referred  to  P.  vortex,  but  if 
this  is  to  be  considered  distinct  from  P.  spirorbis,  to  the  latter  P.  leucos- 
toma  must  be  referred. 

P.  nitidus,  Mull. 

Although  somewhat  rare,  this  species  is  distributed  over  Ireland.  On 
some  living  specimens  taken  near  Belfast  in  Dec.,  1834,  by  Mrs.  Hincks, 
and  kindly  sent  to  me,  the  following  note  was  made— “ tentacula  moder- 
ate, or  rather  short  and  uniform  in  colour  with  the  body  of  the  animal, 
which  changes  with  age,  the  adult  (with  shell  lines  in  diameter)  being 
black ; younger  individuals  pale  grey ; the  shells  of  the  latter  are  much 
the  more  transparent.”  These  animals  seemed  indifferent  which  side  of 
the  shell  was  uppermost,  and  when  undisturbed  often  moved  along  with 
what  is  termed  the  under  side  next  the  surface  of  the  water. 

P.  contortus,  Mull. 

Like  the  P.  albus,  generally  distributed  over  Ireland,  but  of  more  fre- 
quent occurrence,  and  in  greater  quantity  where  found  than  that  species. 

P.  lacustris,  Lightfoot. 

Cahir,  County  Tipperary,  Mr.  Humphreys. 


Sect.  II.  OPERCULATA. 

Family  Cyclostomid^. 

Genus  Cyclostoma. 

C.  elegans,  Lam. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me,  that  when  at  Sandymount,  near  Dub- 
lin, in  1816,  in  company  with  Mr.  Tardy,  a well-known  entomologist,  he 
found  one  of  these  shells.  In  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  collection  are  specimens 
which  were  obtained  in  Glasnevin  Botanic  Garden,  Dublin,  but  here  they 
might  have  been  introduced  with  plants  from  England  ; in  the  cabinet  of 
Mr.  O’Kelly  of  that  city  are  two  specimens  found  by  himself  at  Portmar- 
nock ; by  Mr.  S.  Wright  of  Cork  I was  shown  a similar  number,  said  to 
have  been  procured  at  Youghal.  Notwithstanding  this,  I am  not  alto- 
gether satisfied  that  the  C.  elegans  is  an  indigenous  species ; it  has  on 
different  occasions  been  introduced  to  the  country  in  the  present  century, 
but  whether  to  any  of  the  places  mentioned  previous  to  the  specimens 
being  found  there  I am  uninformed — the  fact  of  only  one  or  two  indivi- 
duals occurring  anywhere  looks  suspicious. 

Dr.  Turton  states  that  he  found  a single  shell  of  the  Cyclostoma  prodac- 
tum  near  the  sea-coast  in  the  West  of  Ireland. — Manual,  p.  94. 

Several  specimens  of  this  shell  were  found  by  Mrs.  Hancock  on  the 
strand  at  Mullaghmore,  near  Bundoran,  County  Donegal. 


310 


MOLLUSCA. 


ORDER  PE  CTINIB  R AN  CHI  AT  A. 

Family  Tukbinid^e. 

Genus  Eulima. 

F.  polita , Linn., 

Has  long  been  known  as  found  on  the  southern  coast  (Bantry  Bay),  and 
of  late  years  has  been  obtained  by  the  dredge  on  the  northern — by  the 
collectors  to  the  Ordnance  Survey,  about  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay — • 
by  Mr.  Hyndman  from  the  same  locality,  and  at  a depth  of  perhaps  20 
fathoms — by  that  gentleman  and  myself  at  Strangford  Lough,  at  8 — 10 
fathoms;  bottom  pure  sand  in  both  localities;  very  few  individuals  oc- 
curred in  any  instance. 

Var.  nitida,  obtained  by  Mr.  Barlee  on  the  coast  of  Galway,  in  1848, 
according  to  a communication  received  from  Mr.  Jeffreys. 

E.  subulata,  Don. 

Dredged  from  a sandy  bottom,  8 — 10  fathoms,  ofFDundrum,  Co.  Down, 
Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  ; from  12  fathoms,  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran ; 
Dublin  and  Youghal,  in  the  stomach  of  Bulal  lignaria , Dr.  Ball.  Taken 
in  Cork  harbour;  Cork  Fauna.  A specimen  obtained  at  Bun doran  by 
Mr.  Warren;  Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy.  Individuals  extremely  few  in 
number, — from  30  fathoms  (sand),  between  Cape  Clear  and  Baltimore 
Harbour,  Mr.  M ‘Andrew. 

E.  distorta,  Des. 

M.  Malbay,  Prof.  Harvey.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Portmarnock, 
Mr.  Warren.  Dredged  from  15  fathoms,  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran,  who 
has  likewise  obtained  it  in  Bantry  Bay.  In  the  former  of  these  two  local- 
ities both  this  species  and  E.  polita  were  procured  by  Mr.  Barlee.  Ard- 
more, Co.  Waterford,  Mrs.  Mackesy.  It  will  probably  be  met  with  on  the 
northern  coast.  In  shell-sand,  dredged  in  Lamlash  Bay  (S.  W.  Scotland), 
by  Major  Martin  and  the  Rev.  D.  Landsborough,  and  favoured  me  by 
those  gentlemen,  a number  of  specimens  were  found.  It  is  worthy  of 
note,  that  the  material  in  which  they  w'ere,  contained  a great  quantity  of 
Nullipora , and  hence  would  be  termed  by  some  persons  coral-sand ; it 
was  extremely  rich  in  species  of  minute  Mollusca  and  in  Foraminifera. 
Shell-sand,  deep  water,  Belfast  Bay,  1850,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Stylifer. 

S.  Turtoni,  Brod. 

Mr.  Jeffreys  informs  me  that  his  collection  contains  a specimen  of  this 
shell  from  Dublin  Bay. 

Genus  Chemnitzia. 

C.  Jeffrey sii,  W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12. 

Dublin  coast,  Dr.  R.  Ball,  Mr.  Warren:  very  rare. 

C.  fulvocincta,  Thomp.,  W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  98. 

In  shell-sand,  collected  at  Portmarnock  by  Mr.  Warren  and  Miss  Ball : 
rare. 

C.  indistincta,  Mont.,  W.  T.,  vol.  xiii.  432. 

Portmarnock,  Mr.  Hyndman,  1835 ; Mr.  Warren.  Bundoran,  Mrs. 
Hancock.  Very  rare. 


GASTEROPODA. 


311 


G elegantissima , Turt. 

Not  uncommon;  dredged  in  harbour  at  Bantry  (3 — 4 fathoms).  Mr. 
M ‘Andrew. 

C.  decussata,  Mont. 

Given  on  the  authority  of  Turton  only,  who  notes  it  as  found  in  Dublin 
Bay.  See  his  Conch.  Diet.,  p.  210,  Turbo  arenarius. 

C.  unica,  Mont. 

Noticed  by  Turton  as  from  Dublin  Bay,  very  rare.  Specimens  from  Port- 
marnock  (Mr.  Warren)  and  Clontarf  (Miss  M.  Ball)  have  come  under  my 
inspection  ; on  examining  six  of  these  from  the  former  locality,  each  was 
found  to  have  nine  volutions,  the  number  attributed  to  the  species  in  Mon- 
tagu’s description,  though  his  figure  represents  about  13.  Bundoran,  Mrs. 
Hancock . M.  Malbay,  Prof.  Harvey.  Dredged  in  harbour  at  Bantry 
(3 — 4 fathoms),  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  Mr.  Barlee  in  a letter  to  me  mentions 
that  he  has  procured  this  species  commonly  at  several  localities  in  the 
South  of  England,  and  C.  nitidissima  always  with  it,  but  in  every  locality 
very  much  scarcer.  Deep  water,  Belfast  Bay,  1850,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

C.  nitidissima,  Mont. 

Dublin  coast,  Brown,  Turton.  Specimens  from  Portmarnock,  Bundoran, 
and  Boundstone  have  come  under  my  inspection ; from  the  last  a spe- 
cimen procured  by  Mr.  Barlee  was  kindly  sent  to  me.  Prof.  Harvey  has 
obtained  it  very  rarely  in  sand  at  Miltown  Malbay. 

C.  ascaris,  Turt. 

New  and  very  elegant  species  from  Seafield  on  the  Atlantic  ; very  rare. 
Turton’s  Catalogue,  Irish  shells.  See  his  Conch.  Diet.,  p.  217.  From 
Portmarnock,  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection. 

C.  glabra,  Leach. 

Mr.  Alder  remarks — “ A specimen  I have  from  Portmarnock  is  the 
same  as  is  marked  Alvania  glabra,  Leach,  in  the  British  Museum,  but  it 
may  be  a worn  variety  of  Turritella  ascaris .”  It  has  been  collected  at 
the  locality  already  named  by  Mr.  Warren,  and  at  Bundoran  by  Mrs. 
Hancock. 

Genus  Turritella. 

T.  terebra,  Brown. 

In  the  Loughs  of  Belfast  and  Strangford  this  common  species  is  dredged 
alive,  from  all  depths,  but  chiefly  from  about  4 to  10  fathoms  on  sand  or 
ooze  ; in  Carlingford  Bay  it  has  been  observed  living  between  tide-marks, 
by  Mr.  Hyndman.  This  gentleman,  accompanied  by  Dr.  Ball  and  Pro- 
fessor Edw.  Forbes,  when  dredging  Clew  Bay,  in  July,  1840,  were 
much  attracted  when  passing  over  great  submarine  tracts  of  Chorda  Filum 
(every  plant  of  which  was  many  yards  in  length)  with  the  beautiful  and 
singular  appearance  presented  by  innumerable  quantities  of  these  Turri- 
tell(B  attached  to  this  filiform  alga,  and  maintaining  their  hold,  no  matter 
to  what  degree  it  was  waved  about  by  the  currents. 

Genus  Brochus. 

B.  striatus,  Brown. 

Among  shell-sand  brought  from  Bantry  Bay,  in  1834,  W.  T.  Clarke,  Mr. 
Jeffreys. 


312 


MOLLUSCA. 


B.  Icevis , Brown. 

Cork  and  Bantry,  Mr.  Jeffreys.  Shell-sand,  deep  water,  Belfast  Bay,  Mr. 
Hyndman,  1850. 

Genus  Truncatella. 

T.  3Iontagui,  Lowe. 

W.  T.,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vii.  p.  480.  A specimen  agreeing  with  Mon- 
tagu’s description  of  Turbo  subtruncata  (p.  300),  but  not  very  well  with 
his  figure  (t.  10,  f.  1),  was  found  among  shell-sand  collected  at  Bundoran 
by  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Paludina. 

P.  vivipara. 

In  his  Irish  Testacea,  p.  527,  Capt.  Brown  notices  this  species  under  the 
last-quoted  name  as  found  “ in  a stream  near  Newtownards,  County  of 
Down ; rare  ” : by  a letter  from  this  author  I learn  that  he  himself  pro- 
cured the  shell  in  that  locality.  Mr.  Gray  (Man.  p.  34)  incidentally 
notices  Paludina  achatina  as  an  Irish  species,  but  on  inquiry  from  him  he 
could  not  recollect  from  whom  he  had  received  the  information.  I have 
not  seen  undoubtedly  native  specimens,  either  of  P.  vivipara  or  P.  acha- 
tina. 

P.  tentaculata,  Flem. 

A common  species  throughout  the  island,  generally  approximating  to 
Draparnaud’s  var.  f.  20,  pi.  1,  more  nearly  than  his  normal  shell,  p.  19.  I 
have  on  different  occasions  found  the  stomachs  of  gillaroo  trout  from 
Lough  Neagh  filled  with  this  Paludina. 

Genus  Littorina. 

L.  communis , Turt.  Br. 

Abundant  around  the  shores  of  the  island. 

The  following  note  appears  in  my  journal. — “ Belfast  Bay,  Sep.  23, 
1837.  I observed  a great  many  of  the  Littorina  communis  congregated 
and  feeding  upon  a large  frond  of  tangle  ( Laminaria  digitata)  which  had 
been  cast  into  a rock-pool,  where  the  plant  does  not  grow.  From  the 
number  of  these  molluscs  on  this  plant,  it  was  evidently  very  much  pre- 
ferred to  any  of  the  spontaneous  vegetation — and  there  were  several  spe- 
cies of  Algce  in  the  pool. 

L.  rudis,  Turt.  Br. 

This  species  or  variety  is  common  around  the  shores. 

L.jugosa,  Mont.  t.  20,  f.  2, 

Considered  by  authors  as  a variety  of  this,  is  common  on  all  quarters  of 
the  rocky  coasts.  On  those  of  Ayrshire  I have  collected  it. 

L.  petrcea,  Mont. , 

Is  much  less  common  than  the  preceding  Littorina , but  found  on  every 
side  of  the  island.  Bundoran,  Waterford  coast.  Portmarnock,  Mr. 
Warren. 

L.  tenebrosa,  Turt. 

Although,  like  the  last,  met  with  on  all  sides  of  the  coast,  it  is  local. 
All  the  preceding  species  are  chiefly  found  on  rocks  and  stones,  but  this 


GASTEROPODA. 


313 


species  inhabits  oozy  tracts.  The  only  locality  worthy  of  special  notice  is 
a brackish  lake  in  the  largest  of  the  South  Islands  of  Arran,  where  an 
elongated  variety  was  obtained  by  Dr.  Ball  and  myself  in  the  summer  of 
1834. 

L.  saxatilis,  John.  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12.) 

Found  sparingly  in  the  localities  indicated  in  the  table. 

L.  Neritoides,  Forbes. 

Common  around  the  shores. 

Genus  Lacuna. 

L.  puteola,  Turt. 

Kilkee  (County  Clare)  may  be  added  to  the  other  habitats  whence  I 
obtained  it  in  shell-sand ; it  is  not  uncommon  on  some  parts  of  the 
western  coast.  Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

L.  pallidula , Turt., 

Inhabits  the  Laminarican  region  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs, 
and  chiefly  found  on  the  broad  fronds  of  Laminaria  digitata ; also  on 
oysters  : occurs  but  sparingly ; procured  in  some  quantity  at  Ballycastle 
by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hincks.  Frequent  at  Miltown  Malbay,  Prof.  Har- 
vey. Dredged  in  Clew  Bay  by  our  party  in  1840. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

L.  crassior,  Turt.  Br., 

Inhabits  the  same  region  as  L.  pallidula  in  the  two  first-named  localities, 
and  generally  found  feeding  on  the  tangle.  Dublin  Bay  is  noticed  on  the 
authority  of  Turton  only.  Dr.  Farran  includes  it  among  the  species  pro- 
cured at  Birterbuy  Bay ; but  it  is  not  in  Mr.  Barlee’s  list  from  that 
locality. 

L.  quadrifasciata,  Br.  Turt. 

A common  species,  inhabiting  the  same  region  and  found  on  the  same 
plant  as  the  two  last,  but  much  more  numerous : met  with  in  shallower 
water.  Dredged  in  Clifden  and  Clew  Bays  (3 — 12  fathoms)  by  our  party 
in  1840  ; a green  variety  was  found  on  Zoster  a marina  in  the  latter  lo- 
cality. The  var.  L.  vincta  is  not  uncommon ; L.  canalis  is  more  so. 

Genus  Rissoa. 

R.  cimex , Linn. 

“ Portmarnock,  among  loose  stones  and  sand  at  high-water  mark,” 
Brown.  I have  seen  specimens  thence  collected  by  Mr.  Warren.  Found 
very  sparingly  in  shell-sand  thence  and  from  Bundoran.  Ardmore,  Mrs. 
Mackesy.  I have  obtained  them  more  commonly  at  Brook,  Isle  of  Wight. 

R.  striatula,  Mont.  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12.) 

In  shell-sand,  Dublin ; Bundoran  ; Malbay  ; Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

R.  costata,  Turt. 

This  species,  like  the  two  last,  is  chiefly  found  in  shell-sand,  but  is  more 
numerous  in  individuals  as  well  as  being  more  widely  distributed  on  our 
coasts. 

Wherever  they  have  occurred  to  me  this  also  was  found ; — a remark 
which  applies  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  as  well  as  to  the  Irish  shores. 

i 


314 


MOLLUSCA. 


Among  coral-sand,  at  Bantry  Bay,  I procured  it.  It  was  dredged  in 
Clew  Bay  by  our  party  in  1840. 

R.  Harveyi , mihi. 

This  species,  two  lines  in  length,  is  most  nearly  allied  to  the  R.  exca- 
vata,  Philippi  (Enum.  Moll.  Sicil.,  p.  154,  tab.  10,  fig.  6).  This  shell  was 
discovered  at  Miltown  Malbay  (County  Clare)  by  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey, 
some  years  ago,  and  characteristically  named  by  him  R.  sculpta  ; the  term 
insculpta , being  applied  to  a species  of  the  allied  genus  Odostomia,  has  in- 
duced me,  perhaps  unnecessarily,  to  change  the  name.  The  species  is 
dedicated  to  its  discoverer,  who  had  successfully  studied  our  native  Mol- 
lusca  before  his  attention  was  directed  to  botany,  in  which  department 
his  labours  have  now  long  been  known  and  appreciated.  Bundoran,  Mr. 
Warren.  Two  specimens  of  R.  Harveyi , with  one  of  which  I was  favoured, 
were  procured  at  Bantry  Bay  by  Mr.  Barlee  in  1845,  and  he  has  like- 
wise obtained  it  from  Burrow  Island,  Devonshire.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Lands- 
borough  has  met  with  it  in  a sub-fossil  state  on  the  coast  of  Ayrshire. 

R.  abyssicola,  Forbes. 

Procured  at  the  same  depth  and  on  the  same  ground  as  Bulla  acuminata 
off  Mizen  Head. 

R.parva,  Turt. 

A very  common  species  around  the  coast : found  living  about  the  roots 
of  sea- weed,  &c. ; abundant  in  shell-sand.  At  Brook,  Isle  of  Wight,  I 
have  obtained  a singular  elongated  variety. 

R.  cos-tulata,  Risso.  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  xv.  p.  315  (1845). 

When  looking  over  the  collection  of  Mr.  Alder  in  October  last,  he 
pointed  out  a specimen  of  this  shell,  which  had  been  given  him  by  Dr. 
Farran  of  Dublin,  who  procured  it  at  Roundstone,  on  the  Galway  coast. 
Mr.  Barlee  has  favoured  me  with  a specimen  found  by  him  in  Birterbuy 
Bay.  The  specimens  described  in  the  Annals  were  from  Torbay,  Devon- 
shire. I obtained  this  species  at  Brook,  Isle  of  Wight,  in  1841. 

R.  rujilabrum,  Leach  (sp.).  Alder,  in  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  xiii.  p.  325. 

Mr.  Alder  refers  a Rissoa  obtained  at  Portmarnock  by  Mr.  Warren  to 
this  species.  I obtained  this  species  at  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  in  1835.  It 
was  sent  me  from  Roundstone  in  1840  by  Mr.  M‘Calla,  who  obtained  it 
attached  to  the  roots  of  sea-weeds  growing  between  tide-marks.  It  was 
dredged  in  Bantry  Bay  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 
Beach  at  Portmarnock,  Mr.  Warren. 

R.  reticulata , Turt. 

R.  punctura  has  so  frequently  passed  under  the  name  of  R.  reticulata , 
that  I shall  note  only  the  one  Irish  locality  whence  specimens  are  in  my 
cabinet,  viz.  Bantry  Bay.  In  1834  I obtained  it  there  among  coral-sand, 
and  Mr.  Barlee  has  subsequently  supplied  me  with  specimens  from  the 
same  locality ; also  from  Oban,  west  of  Scotland.  The  Rev.  D.  Lands- 
borough  has  added  specimens  from  Arran,  Frith  of  Clyde,  to  my  collec- 
tion. This  shell  has  had  the  name  of  R.  Beanii  bestowed  upon  it  of  late 
years.  Under  that  name  and  R.  calathisca  it  has  been  sent  to  me  from 
Scotland  and  England.  Of  the  true  R.  calathisca  I have  not  seen  an  Irish 
specimen. 


GASTEROPODA. 


315 


R.  punctura,  Turt. 

Owing  to  the  confusion  between  this  and  the  next  species,  the  localities 
of  Bundoran  and  Kilkee  only,  whence  specimens  are  before  me,  shall  be 
noted.  From  Burrow  Island,  Devonshire,  it  has  been  supplied  me  by 
Mr.  Barlee. 

R.  inconspicua,  Alder. 

One  specimen  found  at  Portmarnock,  1838,  W.  T. ; one  at  Bundoran, 
1840,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

R.  semicostata,  Mont. 

Noticed  by  Turton  as  found  at  “ Seafield,  on  the  Atlantic,  ” in  Ireland, 
rare  ; and  by  Mr.  O’Kelly,  as  obtained  on  the  Dublin  coast.  I have  not 
seen  any  shell  agreeing  with  the  description  or  figure  of  Montagu. 

R.  Bryerea , Mont. 

Brown  mentions  his  having  seen  one  specimen  from  Portmarnock. 
Among  shell-sand  from  Magilligan,  one  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection  was 
procured.  Extremely  rare. 

R.  striata , Dillwyn.  (Desc.  Catal.  vol.  ii.  859.) 

Common  around  the  coast.  Found  under  stones  in  oozy,  gravelly,  and 
stony  pools,  between  tide-marks.  I have  remarked  them  in  Belfast  Bay 
in  summer  clustered  together,  to  the  number  of  about  a dozen,  on  the 
under  surface  of  stones.  Several  of  these  clusters  on  one  stone  have  a 
pretty  appearance.  Dredged  from  a depth  of  a few  fathoms  ; occasionally 
found  on  oysters  ; among  shell-sand  also.  This  and  R.  parva  seem  to  be 
the  most  generally  distributed  of  the  Rissoce  around  the  coast.  . 

R.  labiosa,  Br.  Turt. 

In  suitable  localities  around  the  coast,  muddy  banks  being  its  favourite 
resort.  On  these,  within  and  below  low-water,  it  is  common  and  fine  in 
Belfast  Bay.  A very  observant  wild-fowl  shooter,  in  sending  me  some 
specimens  from  a bank  here  to  which  the  golden  plover  is  partial,  re- 
marked that  he  always  finds  this  species  on  the  leaves  of  the  “ sleech- 
grass  ” ( Zostera  marina ),  on  which  he  supposes  it  to  feed,  and  never,  like 
other  Rissoce , on  Fuci.  In  the  stomach  of  the  grey  mullet,  and  in  that  of 
various  species  of  birds  ( GralLatores  and  Natatores ) which  feed  on  the  oozy 
banks  of  Belfast  Bay,  I have  found  this  shell,  as  well  as  R.  ulvce , but  the 
latter  was  the  more  numerous.  Bundoran,  Warren. 

R.  ventricosa,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turton. 

R.  ulvce,  Br.  Turt. 

Common  in  suitable  localities  around  the  coast.  Banks  of  soft  sand 
and  ooze  between  and  beyond  tide-marks  often,  as  in  Belfast  Bay  and 
Strangford  Lough,  & c.,  produce  it  in  vast  profusion.  It  is  the  chief  food 
of  the  grey  mullet  here  in  spring,  when  it  roves  feeding  along  these  banks, 
and  of  various  birds  at  all  times  of  the  year. 

R.fulgida,  Mont,  (sp.) 

Taken  about  the  roots  of  sea-weed  at  low-water,  Birterbuy  Bay,  by 
Mr.  Barlee. 


316 


MOLLUSCA. 


R.  rubra,  Adams. 

Dublin  coast,  Turton  ; M.  Malbay  (Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey)  ; sent  me  from 
Roundstone  by  Mr.  M‘Calla,  in  1840,  as  found  there,  but  as  rare,  about 
the  roots  of  Algce  growing  on  the  exposed  shores.  In  shell-sand  from 
Kilkee.  Among  sea-weed  brought  from  Tory  Island  (off  the  North  coast 
of  Donegal)  by  Mr.  Hyndman  in  1845,  this  species,  together  with  JR. 
parva  and  JR.  interrupta , was  found. 

JR.  interrupta,  Br.  Turt. 

One  of  the  more  common  species  around  the  coast,  frequenting  chiefly 
soft  sand  and  ooze  ; littoral  and  at  a few  fathoms. 

JR.  proxima,  Alder. 

This  is  the  JR.  vitrea  of  my  report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland  ; it  was  con- 
sidered at  that  time  by  Mr.  Alder  to  be  so. 

M.  Malbay,  Prof.  Harvey  ; Magilligan  (W.  T.) ; Portmarnock  (W.  T.) ; 
Bundoran  (Mrs.  Hancock) ; Bantry  Bay. 

JR.  nivosa , Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt. 

JR.  unifasciata,  Mont.  As  last. 

JR.  cingilla,  Br.  Turt., 

I have  met  with  attached  to  stones  in  gravelly  and  muddy  pools,  between 
tide-marks,  on  all  sides  of  the  coast.  Mr.  M‘Calla,  in  sending  me  speci- 
mens from  Roundstone,  stated  that  he  found  it  there  among  JKellia  rubra 
on  the  exposed  rocks,  inhabited  by  JMJytilus  incurvatus,  as  well  as  under 
stones  on  muddy  banks.  Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

Yar.  rupestris,  Forbes. 

Dublin  coast,  T.  W.  Warren,  Esq. ; North-East  coast,  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  W.  T.  : not  rare. 

JR.  alba,  Adams.  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12.) 

Youghal,  Miss  M.  Ball. 

JR.  B allice,  mihi. 

Elongated ; white  ; apex  obtuse ; 5 slightly-rounded  whorls,  deeply 
marked  longitudinally  with  somewhat  distant  striae ; aperture  ovate ; 
margin  of  the  mouth  thin  ; lower  portion  of  the  first  whorl  spirally  striated ; 
length  1^-  line. 

Although  of  a more  slender  form,  this  species,  in  sculpture,  &c.,  some- 
what resmbles  Odostomia  spiralis,  but  is  a true  Rissoa. 

Found  at  Youghal  by  Miss  M.  Ball,  after  whom  it  is  named,  though  a 
very  trivial  compliment  to  that  lady’s  acquirements  in  different  depart- 
ments of  the  Invertebrata  of  Ireland. 

JR.  semistriata,  Mont. 

In  the  Annals  of  Natural  History,  vol.  v.  p.  98  (1840),  the  following 
description  was  published  - 

“ Rissoa  tristriata,  mihi. 

“ Conic ; volutions  51 ; rounded,  smooth,  with  spiral  rows  of  tawny 
spots  ; first  whorl  very  large  ; aperture  roundish  oval ; umbilicus  none  ; 


GASTEROPODA. 


317 


3 striae  winding  round  the  summit  of  each  whorl.  Length  line.  A 
connecting  link  between  R.  semistriata  and  R.  interrupted.  Found  at 
Youghal  by  Miss  M.  Ball.” 

The  shell  so  described  is  generally  believed  not  to  differ  from  R. 
semistriata,  but  Prof.  Magillivray  is  inclined  to  regard  it  as  distinct  [Moll. 
Aberdeen,  p.  350).  R.  semistriata  has  come  under  my  inspection  in  shell- 
sand  from  Magilligan,  Bundoran,  and  Kilkee. 

R.  dispar,  Mont.,  Portmarnock,  Turt.  C.  D., 

“ Has  been  met  with,  on  the  rocks  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway.” — Brown's 
Must.,  p.  16,  2nd  edit.  Noticed  with  doubt  as  from  Bantry  Bay  in  the 
Fauna  of  Cork. 

R.  Warrenii,  Thompson.  (Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  xv.) 

On  my  submitting  this  species  (which  I could  not  find  described)  to 
Mr.  Alder’s  opinion,  he  believed  it  to  be  new,  and  before  returning  the 
specimens  wrote  descriptions  and  made  drawings  for  his  own  guidance. 

“ Shell  slender ; tapering,  thin,  transparent  yellowish-white ; with  six 
much-rounded  and  deeply-divided  whorls,  terminating  in  a rather  fine 
point ; the  nucleus  sunk  in  the  apex.  Aperture  oblong  oval ; outer  lip 
thin,  without  rib  ; inner  lip  not  reflected,  but  having  a deep  umbilicus  be- 
hind it.  The  shell  is  slightly  wrinkled  by  the  lines  of  growth,  and  is 
delicately  striated  spirally  : the  striae  can  only  be  seen  with  a good  mag- 
nifier, and  are  most  distinctly  observable  at  the  base.  There  are  also 
some  faint  indications  of  small  obsolete  ribs  on  the  middle  whorls. 
Length  2-10ths  of  an  inch  ; breadth  l-12th.”  Two  specimens  were  found 
at  Portmarnock  (Dublin  coast)  by  T.  W.  Warren,  Esq.  A specimen  from 
Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

R.  Beanii,  Hanley. 

Shell-sand,  deep  water,  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay. 

R.  albella,  Alder. 

Portmarnock,  and  between  tide-marks,  Dalkey  Island,  Dublin  Bay,  Mr. 
Alder.  In  shell-sand,  collected  at  Bundoran,  by  Mrs.  Hancock,  in  1840. 
Kilkee. 

R.  decussata,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D. 

A specimen  procured  in  Bantry  Bay  by  Mr.  Barlee,  and  one  in  Birter- 
buy  Bay  by  Mr.  Jeffreys,  in  1845,  have  been  kindly  sent  me. 

Genus  Odostomia. 

O.  pallida,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D. 

A very  few  individuals  of  this  species  have  been  dredged  in  Belfast 
Bay,  and  taken  in  the  stomach  of  the  grey  mullet  captured  there ; under 
stones  between  tide-marks.  Strangford  Lough,  on  soft  sand  and  ooze. 

O.  unidentata,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D. 

More  frequent  in  the  shell-sand  that  has  come  under  my  inspection 
than  any  other  Odostomia.  Prof.  Harvey  notes  it  as  not  rare  at  M.  Mal- 
bay.  A specimen  was  dredged  in  soft  sand  at  a depth  of  from  15  to  20 
fathoms  in  Strangford  Lough,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Mr.  M‘Calla 


318 


MOLLUSCA. 


sent  me  specimens  from  Roundstone  in  1840,  stating  that  they  were  found 
on  Pecten  maximus,  dredged  from  18  fathoms,  muddy  bottom.  The  follow- 
ing species  was  found  with  them  : — 

O.  plicata,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turton,  C.  D. 

Although  indicated  from  the  four  sides  of  the  coast,  I have  seen  but 
very  few  examples  of  this  species.  It  has  been  found  in  Belfast  Bay  and 
Strangford  Lough  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself ; at  Portmarnock,  by  Mr. 
Warren ; at  Bundoran,  by  Mrs.  Hancock ; and  on  the  South-West  coast, 
about  Bantry  Bay,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew ; Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

O.  spiralis,  Mont.  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  xiii.  432.) 

Very  sparingly,  in  shell-sand  collected  at  Magilligan,  by  Miss  Moody  ; 
and  at  Portmarnock,  by  Mr.  Warren. 

The  Bundoran  habitat  is  not  altogether  certain. 

O.  interstincta,  Mont.  (W.  T.  as  last.) 

Portmarnock  as  last,  included  together  with  O.  pallida  in  Mr.  Barlee’s 
list  of  shells  obtained  at  Birterbuy  Bay. 

O.  cylindrica , Alder.  (W.  T.,  Report,  &c.,  and  Ann.  N.  H.,  xiii.  432.) 

One  specimen  was  obtained  from  shell-sand  collected  at  Bundoran  by 
Mrs.  Hancock. 

O.  obliqua,  Alder. 

Two  specimens  obtained  with  the  last. 

O.  crassa,  Thompson. 

Of  this  shell  a single  specimen  was  sent  me  from  Roundstone,  Galway 
coast,  in  Oct.,  1840,  by  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Mr.  Alder  describes  it : “ Shell 
thick,  conical,  opaque,  of  a dull  dirtyish  white,  with  five  flat  whorls,  the 
last  occupying  about  two-thirds  of  the  shell.  The  apex  is  slightly  ob- 
lique, the  upper  whorls  smooth,  the  last  rugose,  bulging,  and  rather  flat- 
tened in  the  middle,  having  strong  coarse  striae  crossed  by  indistinct 
lines  of  growth.  Aperture  ovate,  white  and  polished  internally ; outer 
lip  thick,  acute  at  the  edge ; inner  lip  reflected  on  the  pillar  with  a deep 
impression  behind  it ; but  no  umbilicus.  Tooth  strong.  Length  li  tenth 
of  an  inch;  breadth  nearly  1 tenth.” 

In  a paper  by  Loven,  on  the  genus  Turbonilla,  Leach,  published  in 
1846,  he  adopts  Odost.  crassa.  Thompson  describes  and  figures  it,  and 
gives  as  “hab.  in  Pectine,  maximo,  Bahusie.” 

Genus  Skenea. 

S.  depressa,  Mont.  Bantry  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D. 

I have  taken  this  species  in  abundance  on  the  fresh  leaves  of  Zoster  a 
marina,  at  Strangford  Lough,  and  on  the  same  plant  and  algce  it  is  com- 
mon in  Belfast  Bay.  In  the  stomachs  of  grey  mullet,  which  fish  feeds  on 
the  very  minute  Mollusca  of  the  ooze  banks  here,  this  species  has  been 
met  with  in  quantities,  as  noticed  in  the  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  ii.  354.  Bun- 
doran, Mr.  Warren. 


GASTEROPODA. 


319 


S.  Serpuloides,  Mont.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D. 

Genus  Yalyata. 

V.  piscinalis,  Lam. 

Common,  and  generally  distributed  over  Ireland.  Many  of  my  mid- 
dle-sized specimens  correspond  with  Pfeiffer’s  V.  depi'essa,  in  so  far  as 
the  figure  and  diagnostic  description  enable  me  to  judge,  Pfeiff.  part  i. 
p.  100,  t.  4,  f.  33.  See  Gray,  Man.,  p.  98.  This  species  is  very  vari- 
able in  the  degree  of  elevation  of  its  spire,  and  consequently  in  its  diame- 
ter relatively  to  its  height.  I have  been  favoured  by  Edward  Waller, 
Esq.,  with  specimens  of  this  Valvata  collected  at  Finnoe,  County  Tippe- 
rary, the  volutions  of  which  appear  angular,  from  being  spirally  cut,  as 
they  occasionally  are  in  various  species  of  Limneus,  and  the  angles  are 
marked  with  a white  line. 

V.  cristata,  Mull. 

This  handsomely-formed  species  is  distributed  over  the  island. 

The  Valv.  Planorbis,  Drap.,  noticed  as  Irish  in  Lond.  and  Edin.  Phil. 
Mag.,  1834,  p.  300,  must  be  erased  from  the  list. 

Family  Trochid^:. 

Genus  Neritina. 

N.  jluviatilis,  Lam., 

Is  found  in  the  East,  West,  and  South  of  Ireland.  The  localities  given 
by  Capt.  Brown  are, — “ In  a stream  at  Clonooney,  in  the  Shannon,  and 
Bresha  ; and  in  some  places  of  the  canal,  adhering  to  stones,”  p.  532.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Dublin  it  occurs  in  the  Grand  Canal ; at  Lough  Derg,  and 
Limerick,  it  is  found  in  the  Shannon ; and  in  the  County  of  Tipperary, 
in  some  of  the  tributaries  of  this  river  ; and  about  Cork,  in  the  river  Lee. 
The  specimens  which  I possess  from  the  Shannon  and  Grand  Canal  are 
identical  with  the  N.  jluviatilis , represented  by  Itossmassler,  and  as  dis- 
tinguished from  the  N.  Danubialis,  N.  strangulata , and  N.  transversalis. 
Icon,  part  2,  p.  17,  18,  pi.  7. 

Genus  Phasianella. 

P.  pulla,  Brown. 

Littoral  in  some  localities,  dredged  in  from  about  6 to  10  fathoms  in 
Belfast  Bay,  common. 

Genus  Trochus. 

T.  Magus , Turt. 

This  common  species,  though  not  numerous  in  individuals,  in  so  far  as 
it  has  come  under  my  notice,  is  doubtless  found  at  all  the  localities  set 
forth.  It  is  not  included  in  all  the  lists  put  before  me.  On  the  western 
coast  I have  met  with  it  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran ; Killery,  Clifden, 
and  Clew  Bays.  In  our  North-eastern  Bays  it  is  occasionally  found  alive 
between  tide-marks,  but  its  general  haunt  is  where  the  water  is  several 
fathoms,  8 to  10,  &c.,  in  depth. 

T.  umbilicatus,  Turt. 

Common,  and  in  numbers  on  gravelly  shores. 


320 


MOLLUSCA. 


T.  cinerarius , Turt. 

Still  more  widely  diffused,  and  in  greater  numbers  than  the  last- 
Found  at  the  depth  of  a few  fathoms,  as  well  as  living  between  tide- 
marks. 

T.  littoralis,  Brown. 

Killough,  County  Down,  and  Clew  Bay,  County  Mayo,  are  the  localities 
in  which  this  species  is  said  to  be  found. 

T.  tumidus,  Turt. 

Dredged  in  very  limited  numbers  from  the  deeper  portions,  10  to  12 
fathoms,  &c.,  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  and  at  Donaghadee.  Like 
most  of  our  Mollusca,  &c.,  it  attains  a much  larger  size  on  the  Dublin 
coast  than  in  the  localities  just  named.  In  Clifden  and  Clew  Bays,  on 
the  western  coasts,  it  was  dredged  by  our  party  in  1840. 

T.  papillosus,  Br. 

Dublin  Bay ; Bray,  County  Wicklow.  Single  specimens  of  this  fine 
species  have  been  obtained  on  the  South-West  coast  of  Scotland,  from  50 
fathoms  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway  (Capt.  Beechy,  B.  N.),  and  from  40  off 
Sana  Island  (Mr.  Hyndman). 

T.  ziziphinus,  Br. 

Of  common  occurrence,  but  not  numerous,  on  our  northern  coast,  from 
just  below  low-water  mark  to  12  fathoms,  &c. ; inhabits  chiefly  the  La- 
minarian  region,  and  is  found  on  the  fronds  of  Laminaria.  This  Trochus 
is  subject  to  considerable  variety;  the  T.  discrepans,  Brown,  Irish  Tes- 
tacea,  p.  519,  pi.  24,  f.  4,  is  noticed  as  such  by  Turton  in  his  Conch.  Diet., 
p.  189.  A single  specimen  only  is  recorded  to  have  been  found  at  Holy- 
wood,  Belfast  Bay,  by  Miss  Templeton.  The  pure  white  variety  has  been 
dredged  of  all  sizes,  but  very  sparingly,  in  this  lough,  by  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  myself ; on  one  occasion  we  found  numbers  of  this  variety  on  the 
beach  at  Ardmillan,  whence  they  were  brought  adherent  to  “ wrack  ” 
(fuci)  cut  for  manure  about  some  of  the  islands. 

T.  millegranus,  Philippi. 

This  species  has  been  in  my  collection  for  some  years  from  the  north- 
ern and  southern  localities  of  Strangford  Lough  and  Bantry  Bay.-  Prof. 
Forbes  informs  me  that  it  is  to  this  Trochus  the  name  of  T.  Martini  is 
applied  in  Mr.  Smith’s  paper,  lately  published  in  the  Wernerian  Memoirs 
(vol.  viii.  part  1).  It  is  there  stated  that  Mr.  Alder  found  the  species  at 
Dublin,  but  I understand  that  the  Irish  specimens  thus  alluded  to  were 
not  from  that  locality,  but  from  the  one  first  mentioned  here.  Mr.  Hum- 
phreys of  Cork,  from  whom  I had  the  Bantry  Bay  specimen  in  1835, 
stated  that  Dr.  Turton  had  named  it  T.  conuloides.  T.  Clelandi , 
Wood,  Index,  Test.  Supp.,  f.  15,  is  considered  another  var.  It  was  sent 
to  the  Author  from  Strangford  Lough,  by  James  Bose  Clealand,  Esq., 
Dalkey  Sound,  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball ; Glandore,  County  Cork,  Prof.  All- 
man;  and  Killery  Bay,  County  Mayo,  and  Galway,  W.  T.  &c.,  maybe 
named  as  localities  in  which  this  Trochus  has  been  dredged.  In  the  last 
it  was  taken  within  3 to  12  fathoms.  It  inhabits  the  deeper  portions  of 
Strangford  and  Belfast  Loughs,  chiefly  from  10  to  23  fathoms,  in  sand 
ooze,  &c. ; living  specimens  were  dredged  from  50  fathoms  off  the  Mull  of 
Galloway,  see  Ann.  N.  H.  vol.  x.  21.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 


GASTEROPODA. 


321 


T.  Montagui , Gray. 

Portmarnock,  Mr.  Warren.  In  or  near  Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  M ‘An- 
drew. 

T.  striatus,  Mont. 

Professor  Allman  dredged  about  a dozen  in  one  haul,  from  about  6 
fathoms,  in  Baltimore  Harbour.  Cork  and  Bantry,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

T.  exiguus,  Pult. 

I have  seen  two  specimens  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection,  they  were  given 
to  him  as  from  Wicklow  coast,  but  he  is  not  certain  of  the  truth  of  the 
statement. 

Genus  Monodonta. 

M.  crassa,  Brown. 

This  littoral  species,  found  on  rocks,  stones,  &c.,  is  unknown  to  me 
further  North  on  the  eastern  line  of  coast  than  Bally  waiter,  County  Down 
(54^°  lat.).  Southward  it  is  common,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  universally 
distributed.  At  the  South  Islands  of  Arran  and  Roundstone  I have  pro- 
cured it  in  abundance;  in  1S47,  Mr.  Warren  gave  me  specimens  from 
Bundoran. 

Genus  Margarita. 

M.  communis,  Mont. 

Turton  notices  this  species  in  his  catalogue,  merely  as  from  drifted  sand. 
Portmarnock,  Mr.  Warren  has  it  thence.  It  inhabits  the  Laminarian 
region  of  the  Loughs  of  Larne,  Belfast,  and  Strangford,  being  found  on 
the  broad  living  fronds  of  the  Laminaria  digitata,  &c.,  brought  up  by  the 
dredge. 

Genus  Adeorbis. 

A.  subcarinatus , Turt. 

Noticed  under  the  name  of  Trochus  rugosus  by  Brown  (Wern.  Mem. 
vol.  ii.  p.  520,  pi.  24,  f.  5),  as  “ found  in  drifted  sand  at  Portmarnock, 
by  Dr.  Turton,  who  says  it  is  not  uncommon.”  Found  in  fine  shell-sand. 
In  shell-sand,  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Scissurella. 

S.  crispata,  Flem. 

Mouth  of  Belfast  Bay,  27  fathoms,  two  dead  specimens  dredged  by 
Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Ianthina. 

I.  communis,  Brown. 

This  interesting  oceanic  species  is  not  uncommon  at  the  more  genial 
periods  of  the  year,  but  chiefly  in  autumn ; not  unfrequently  about  the  time 
of  the  equinox  ; borne  in  a living  state  on  the  waters  of  the  ocean,  to  the 
shores  of  Ireland,  from  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  westward  along  the  whole 
line  of  coast  to  Cape  Clear.  Beyond  these  limits  it  is  more  rare  ; only  in 
one  year  (1836)  am  I aware  of  its  occurrence  so  far  southward,  on  the 
East  coast,  as  the  County  of  Down,  from  Bangor  to  Donaghadee ; on 
the  11th  of  August,  that  year,  a very  few  specimens  (some  containing  the 


322 


MOLLUSCA. 


animals,  though  dead)  were  found  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  and  myself 
near  Groomsport,  and  a fortnight  afterwards  one  was  obtained  there.  A 
specimen  of  this  shell,  kindly  sent  to  me  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  It.  N.,  of  Port- 
patrick,  early  in  the  year  1837,  was  one  of  about  a dozen  collected  some 
months  before  on  the  shore  of  Wigtonshire,  by  Lady  Agnew  of  Lochnaw 
Castle.  I noticed  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  1836,  as  here  men- 
tioned, in  Charlesworth’s  Mag.  Those  obtained  in  Scotland  were  proba- 
bly a portion  of  the  same  fleet  that  had  touched  at  different  parts  of  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  On  the  first  of  August  that  year,  this  Ianthina  was 
abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Giant’s  Causeway.  Once  only  did  Dr.  It. 
Ball  obtain  even  a single  specimen  at  Youghal.  At  Dunmore,  County 
Waterford,  it  is  said  by  Turton  to  have  been  procured. 

I.  exigua,  W.  T. 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  for  1835,  I 
noticed  this  species  as  obtained  in  considerable  abundance  in  September, 
1834,  at  Kilkee,  on  the  coast  of  Clare,  by  Mrs.  James  Fisher  of  Limerick  ; 
which  information  was  furnished,  along  with  specimens  of  the  shell,  by  my 
friend  Professor  Harvey.  In  the  2nd  edition  of  his  Illustrations,  &c.,  p. 
24,  Captain  Brown  mentions  this  species  as  having  been  “ found  by  It.  J. 
Shuttleworth,  Esq.,  at  Connemara,  West  coast  of  Ireland” — no  year  is 
named.  In  1836  Mr.  M‘Calla  informed  me  that  he  had  procured  quan- 
tities in  the  last-named  district  in  the  autumn  of  1835. 

I.  nitens,  Menke. 

This  Ianthina,  of  which  a number  of  specimens  were  found  some  years 
ago  by  my  friend  Professor  Harvey  (the  well-known  botanist),  at  Miltown 
Malbay,  on  the  coast  of  Clare,  is  very  distinct  from  the  two  known  British 
species,  I.  fragilis  and  I.  exigua , and  was  named  I.  pallida  by  Professor 
Harvey ; whether  it  be  really  a nondescript  species  is  difficult  to  be  de- 
termined. The  nearest  approach  I find  to  it  is  the  I.  nitens  of  Menke,  as 
described  and  figured  by  Philippi  in  his  excellent  Enumeratio  Mollusco- 
rum  Sicilise,  but  from  this  it  differs  in  the  columella  being  curved  so  as  to 
present  a somewhat  rounded  appearance,  instead  of  being  straight ; the 
lanthince,  however,  are  subject  to  considerable  variety.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  this  character,  it  agrees  well  in  form  with  the  I.  prolongata,  Blain., 
figured  in  Payraudeau’s  Moll,  de  Corse  ; but  the  colour  of  this  (dark  blue) 
is  very  different  from  mine.  Philippi,  at  the  same  time,  quotes  the  I. 
prolongata  in  Payraudeau  as  identical  with  his,  which  in  colour,  “ pallid e 
violacea,”  is  similar  to  the  Irish  specimens,  hence  named  pallida.  This 
author  again  refers  to  what  Blain ville  figures  as  one  of  the  forms  of  I.  fra- 
gilis (Malac.  tab.  37,  bis.  fig.  1),  for  a representation  of  his  I.  nitens. 
Philippi’s  diagnosis  of  this  species  is  “ Testa  ovata,  obtusa,  anfractibus 
omnibus  valde  rotundatis,  sutura  profunda  divisis,  apertura  semiovata, 
labro  profunde  exciso  angulo  columellae  cum  labro  acuto.” 

Habitat,  Sicily.  Size  of  Irish  specimens,  1 1 lines  long,  8f  broad. 

The  genus  Ianthina  is  in  much  confusion,  which  the  present  notes  tend 
in  no  way  to  clear  up ; they  are  only  intended  to  introduce  a third  species 
of  this  attractive  genus  to  the  British  Fauna. 

W.  T.  in  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  96  (1840). 

Genus  Scalaria. 

S.  clathrus , Turt. 

Although  not  yet  (so  far  as  I am  informed)  taken  in  the  Loughs  of 


GASTEROPODA. 


323 


Strangford  or  Belfast,  it  has  been  procured  in  the  adjacent  Lough  of 
Larne. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

S.  clathr atula,  Turt. 

As,  in  the  table  accompanying  my  report,  this  species  appears  to  be  as 
widely  distributed  as  the  last,  it  must  be  stated  that  it  is  generally  a much 
scarcer  species. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

S.  Turtoni,  Turt. 

Turton  named  this  Scalaria  after  his  daughter.  He  remarked,  when 
describing  it,  “ In  many  parts  of  Ireland,  but  especially  about  Balbriggan, 
they  are  found  crawling  among  the  rocks.”  Conch.  Diet.  p.  208.  This 
locality  is  on  the  Dublin  coast,  where  the  species  has  also  been  obtained 
by  Dr.  R.  Ball  and  Mr.  Warren.  It  has  been  procured  in  a recent  de- 
posit of  mud  in  Belfast  Bay.  At  Newcastle,  County  Down,  this  recent 
shell  has  been  met  with  by  Dr.  Drummond. 

Specimens  from  Dundalk  Bay  are  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection.  At 
Youghal  it  has  been  rarely  found  by  Miss  M.  Ball. 

S.  Trevelyana  (W.  T.  in  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  245). 

Specimens  of  this  shell  were  kindly  presented  to  me  in  1835  by  Mr. 
John  D.  Humphreys  of  Cork,  as  found  on  the  coast  of  the  County  of  that 
name.  Mr.  Hyndman  possesses  a specimen  from  Magilligan.  When  I 
noticed  this  species  in  the  Annals,  it  had  been  merely  named  and  not  de- 
scribed by  Dr.  Leach  from  specimens  found  on  the  coast  of  Northumber- 
land. 

Family  Cerithiad^e. 

Genus  Cerithium. 

C.  Pennantii,  mihi. 

Of  this  shell  there  is  a specimen  from  Youghal  in  Miss  M.  Ball’s  col- 
lection, agreeing  with  the  descriptions  of  Fleming  and  Brown,  but  only 
tolerably  represented  in  Pennant’s  British  Zoology  as  Turbo  tuberculata, 
and  in  Brown’s  Illustrations  as  C.  fuscatum.  Professor  E.  Forbes  haying 
informed  me  that  the  Turbo  tuberculata  of  Linn,  is  a different  shell,  and 
that  the  Cerithium  to  which  Costa  applied  the  name  of  C.  fuscatum  is 
likewise  distinct,  I have  considered  it  necessary  to  bestow  a new  name  on 
the  present  species  (Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12,  1840). 

C.  tuberculare  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  12). 

First  noticed  as  from  M.  Malbay,  common,  from  being  included  in 
Professor  Harvey’s  MS.  Catalogue. 

Dredged  in  Clifden  Bay,  West  coast,  between  4 — 10  fathoms  (bottom 
Nullipora  and  sand),  in  July,  1840,  by  our  party.  From  similar  ground 
in  Bantry  Bay  I have  obtained  it.  Sandy  beach  at  Magilligan  ; and  in 
stomach  of  Scaup  duck  shot  in  Belfast  Bay. — W.  T. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

C.  reticulatum,  Brown. 

Common  in  shell-sand  on  the  beach  of  Belfast  Bay,  and  dredged  alive 
and  very  fine  from  various  depths,  also  sub-fossil ; a considerable  consti- 
tuent in  the  formation  of  the  Kinegar,  Holywood.  In  quantity  in  the 
y 2 


324 


MGLLUSCA. 


heaps  of  Nullipora  (“  coral  ”)  dredged  for  manure  at  Bantry  Bay.  W. 
T.,  1834.  Dredged  in  Clifden,  Killery,  and  Roundstone  Bays,  3 — 12 
fathoms  (bottom  various),  and  living  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch 
(County  Clare),  by  our  party,  1840.  Ballysodare  (County  Sligo),  Mrs. 
Hancock.  I have  remarked  it  to  be  very  common  at  Portpatrick  in  Scot- 
land, and  at  Brock  in  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

C.  reticulatum,  var. 

Whorls  nine  or  ten,  with  three  spiral  ridges,  the  uppermost  very  pro- 
minent, and  forming  a keel  round  the  suture  ; ridges  crossed  by  somewhat 
distant  longitudinal  furrows. 

Length  3^  lines,  breadth  1^. 

Colour  purplish  brown. 

This  shell  differs  from  C.  reticulatum  in  the  prominent  keel  bounding 
the  whorls  on  the  upper  side,  and  in  the  spiral  furrows  being  much  deeper 
than  the  longitudinal,  and  these  less  marked  than  in  that  species.  As  one 
individual  only  has  been  obtained,  I named  it  doubtfully  as  new,  C.  cari- 
natum ; but  according  to  the  better  judgment  of  Professor  Harvey,  it  is 
only  a variety  of  C.  reticulatum ; the  shell  was  found  by  this  gentleman 
at  Miltown  Malbay. 

Montagu  remarks  that  “ a variety  of  C.  reticulatum  has  one  or  two 
strong  ribs  crossing  some  of  the  volutions.”  Test.  Brit.  p.  272. 

Ann.  Nat.  History,  vol.  v.  p.  98. 

C1.  costatum,  Don. 

Dillwyn,  in  his  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Recent  and  Fossil  Shells, 
notices  this  species  as  “plentiful  in  Bantry  Bay,”  p.  679. 

Turton  considered  that  the  remark  could  not  apply  to  this  species, 
which  he  was  unable  to  find  in  that  locality;  an  insufficient  reason 
certainly. 

But  the  fact  is  doubted  by  others,  and  I am  unable  positively  to  clear 
up  the  subject.  In  several  collections  I have  seen  specimens  of  this  shell 
received  from  persons,  some  of  whom  stated  that  they  had  themselves 
found  them  in  Bantry  Bay,  and  others  on  the  coast  of  Waterford,  between 
Dunmore  and  Tramore,  &c. 

Genus  Triphoris. 

T.  adversus,  Mont. 

Turton  noticed  this  as  found  at  “ Seafield  (western  coast),  very  rare.” 
Professor  Harvey  considered  it  as  common  at  Miltown  Malbay ; it 
has  been  obtained  in  shell-sand  collected  at  Bundoran  by  Mrs.  Hancock ; 
and  is  included  in  the  lists  of  species  dredged  in  Birterbuy  Bay  by  Dr. 
Farran  and  Mr.  Barlee. 

I have  collected  specimens  at  Brook,  Isle  of  Wight. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

In  shell-sand,  mouth  of  Belfast  Bay,  1850,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Family  BucciNnm 
Genus  Nassa. 

N.  reticulata , Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 

N.  macula , Mont. 

Generally  distributed. 


GASTEROPODA. 


325 


N.  varicosa,  Br. 

A dead  specimen  was  dredged  (depth  12  to  15  fathoms)  off  the  South 
entrance  to  Bantry  Bay,  in  May,  1846,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew. 

Genus  Purpura. 

P.  lapillus , Linn.  Common. 

Genus  Monoceros. 

M.  hepaticus,  Mont. 

North  and  East  of  Ireland,  on  the  authority  of  Brown  and  Turton. 

Genus  Buccinum. 

B.  undatum , Linn.  Common. 

Yar.  /3,  Turton.  East  and  South  of  Ireland. 

B.  Humphrey sianum.  Bennet. 

Cork  and  Bantry,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

West  Coast,  Mr.  Barlee. 

B.  fusiforme,  Brodie. 

Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

B.  ovum,  Turton. 

“ Found  in  the  intestines  of  a red  gurnard  brought  to  Cork  market.” 
Mr.  John  Humphreys. 

B.  Zetlandicum , Forbes. 

A Buccinum  taken  on  a long  line  in  deep  water  near  Bunowen,  County 
Galway,  was  considered  by  Professor  Forbes  to  be  his  B.  Zetlandicum , 
though  differing  in  its  being  a thin  shell,  &c.  Fie  does  not  now  feel  certain 
of  this  being  more  than  a variety  of  B.  undatum.  The  specimen  is  in  the 
collection  of  Dr.  Farran,  who  states  that  others  were  procured  by  similar 
means. 

Genus  Fusus. 

F.  antiquus , Linn. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

F.  corneus,  Linn. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

F.  muricatus,  Mont. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

F.  Barvicensis,  Johnst. 

A specimen  is  in  the  Collection  of  Irish  Shells  of  the  late  John  Temple- 
ton, Esq.,  presented  by  his  family  to  the  Belfast  Museum.  It  was  pro- 
bably found  in  the  North. 

F.  Bamffius,  Flem. 

On  all  parts  of  the  Irish  coast. 


326 


MOLLUSCA. 


F.  propinquus,  Alder. 

Bantry,  Mr.  Jeffreys. 

Genus  Pleurotoma. 

P.  Boothii,  Smith  (sp.).  Wern.  Mem.  viii.  part  1. 

A specimen  has  been  obtained  at  Portmarnock  by  Mr.  Warren. 

P.  turricula,  Mont. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

P.  costata,  Penn. 

East,  West,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

P.  septangular  is,  Mont. 

Generally  distributed. 

P.  attenuata , Mont. 

General,  but  not  abundant. 

P.  nebula,  Mont. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

P.  rufa,  Mont. 

Shell  fusiform,  turretted,  with  eight  volutions ; eleven  ribs  (on  body 
whorl),  with  coarse  deep  spiral  striae. 

Length  7 lines;  breadth,  just  above  aperture,  2^  lines  ; volutions  very 
slightly  ventricose,  rather  flattened-  at  top,  but  less  so  than  in  .P. 
turricula ; ribs  strong  and  coarse,  “ not  continuous  from  whorl  to  whorl ; ” 
coarse  cut  striae  across  ribs  and  furrows ; aperture  crescentic  ; outer  lip 
thin  and  in  form  of  a bow ; pillar-lip  somewhat  hollowed ; canal  very 
short. 

Colour  uniform  dirty  brown. 

This  species,  coarse  in  form  and  sculpture  and  plain  in  colour,  closely 
approximates  Pleur.  brachy stoma,  Philippi,  Enum.  Moll.  Siciliae,  vol.  ii.  p. 
169,  pi.  26,  f.  10 ; from  which  I could  not  regard  it  as  distinct,  but  for  a 
single  character  possessed  by  that  species  in  raised  spiral  striae.  These 
are  apparent  in  the  profile  of  the  shell  as  figured  by  Philippi ; they  are 
much  more  numerous  too  than  the  deep  striae  of  Pleur.  Ulidiana. 

Three  specimens  of  this  shell  were  dredged  from  a depth  of  about  8 to 
10  fathoms  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  in  Oct.,  1831,  in  Strangford 
Lough,  County  Down. 

P.  linearis,  Mont. 

Generally  distributed. 

P.  purpurea,  Mont. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

P.  gracilis,  Mont. 

Portmarnock  and  Bray,  rare. 

P.  sinuosa,  Mont. 

On  the  East  coast,  according  to  Turton. 


GASTEROPODA. 


327 


P.  Trevellyona , Turt.  As  the  last. 

P.  Farrani,  Thompson. 

Of  this  shell,  handsome  both  in  form  and  colour,  two  specimens  were 
obtained  by  Dr.  Farran  on  the  Irish  coast,  he  thinks  at  Portmarnock. 
Galway,  Mr.  Barlee. 

P.  brochystoma , Philippi. 

This  species  was  found  in  Bantry  Bay  in  the  summer  of  1844  and  1845 
by  Mr.  Barlee. 

P.  Ulideana,  Thompson. 

Round  the  Irish  coasts,  but  rare. 

P.  Icevigata,  Philippi. 

Mr.  Alder  writes  to  me  as  follows,  in  Oct.,  1846 : — “ I have  two  specimens 
of  what  I take  to  be  Pleur.  Icevigata , Phil.,  from  Dr.  Farran,  who  got  them 
in  Connemara.  This  shell  I have  had  undetermined  in  my  cabinet  for 
some  time,  as  Mr.  Clark  gave  me  worn  specimens  several  years  ago. 

P.  teres,  Forb. 

One  dead  specimen  was  dredged  from  about  14  fathoms  in  Birterbuy 
Bay,  County  of  Galway,  in  the  summer  of  1845,  by  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Trichotropis. 

T.  borealis,  Brod.  and  Sow. 

A specimen  was  found  among  a quantity  of  old  and  worn  bivalve  shells, 
dredged  from  25  to  35  fathoms,  outside  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay,  in 
July,  1848,  and  sent  to  me  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Mr.  Barlee  obtained  the 
species  in  the  summer  of  this  year  on  the  coast  of  Galway. 

Genus  Triton. 

T.  erinaceus,  Penn. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

T.  elegans,  Thompson. 

Shell  turreted,  somewhat  ventricose,  about  8 volutions,  numerous  pro- 
minent ribs,  crossed  by  fine  raised  spiral  strise. 

Colour  greenish  white,  with  two  double  spiral  lines  of  yellow,  one  series 
above  the  top  of  aperture,  the  other  rather  below  it. 

This  species  is  more  handsomely  formed,  sculptured,  and  coloured  than 
Triton  erinaceus ; its  canal  is  much  shorter. 

I have  seen  only  a single  specimen,  which  was  found  alive  at  Portmar- 
nock, on  the  Dublin  coast,  by  Dr.  Farran. 

Genus  Aporrhais. 

A.  pes-pelecani,  Linn. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

Family  Involute. 

Genus  Cypr^ea. 

Cl  Furopcea,  Mont. 

Generally  distributed. 


328 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Ovula. 

O.  patula,  Penn.  (sp.). 

A shell  of  this  species,  found  some  years  ago  on  the  sandy  beach  of 
Magilligan,  County  of  Londonderry,  by  Mrs.  R.  A.  Hyndman,  of  Dublin, 
is  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Hyndman,  at  Belfast. 

Birterbuy  Bay  and  Arran,  Mr.  Barlee. 

O.  acuminata , Brug. 

At  Arran,  off  Galway  Bay,  by  Mr.  Barlee.  About  the  same  time 
(May,  1848)  Mr.  M‘Andrew’s  dredge  brought  up  a dead  specimen  between 
Penzance  and  the  Old  Head  of  Kinsale.  He  also  took  the  species  in  60 
fathoms  water,  on  sandy  mud,  about  15  miles  off  Mizen  Head  (the 
nearest  land),  and  in  Bantry  Bay. 

Genus  Erato. 

F.  Icevis , Don. 

M.  Malbay,  rare,  Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey ; Magilligan  (Co.  Londonderry), 
G.  C.  Hyndman  ; South  Islands  of  Arran,  Dr.  R.  Ball. 

Genus  Tornatella. 

T.fasciata,  Lam. 

Generally  distributed. 


, Family  SlGARETlDJE. 

Genus  Sigaretus. 

S.  perspicuus,  Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 

S.  tentaculatus,  Flem. 

In  January,  1835,  two  small  individuals,  about  4 lines  in  length,  of  this 
rare  species,  were  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and 
myself. 

Arran,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Velutina. 

V.  Icevigata,  Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 

V.  otis,  Turt. 

Procured  at  Miltown  Malbay  by  Professor  Harvey;  and  in  Clifden 
Bay,  County  Galway,  a dead  specimen  was  obtained  by  dredging,  in  July, 
1840.  R.  Ball,  E.  Forbes,  W.  T. 

Family  Naticid^. 

Genus  Natica. 

N.  monilifera,  Lam. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

JV.  nitida , Don. 

Generally  distributed. 


GASTEROPODA. 


329 


N.  sordida , Phil. 

. From  Dublin  Bay,  in  Mr.  Jeffrey’s  cabinet.  Dredged  off  Dingle  Bay 
and  Baltimore  Harbour  by  Mr.  M ‘Andrew. 

JSf.  Montagui,  Forb. 

Three  or  four  specimens  were  obtained  from  a depth  of  45  fathoms  off 
Cape  Clear  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew,  who  remarks,  “ I have  besides  met  with  it 
only  on  the  West  coast  of  Scotland  and  at  Zetland;  it  is  there  a common 
shell,  in  from  12  to  15  and  up  to  50  fathoms,  on  a rather  hard  bottom.” 

A living  N.  Montagui  was  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  at  the  same  time 
with  the  next. 

N.  Alder  i,  Forbes. 

Shell-sand,  deep  water,  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 


ORDER  SCUTIBRANCHIATA. 

Genus  Haliotis. 

II.  tuber culata,  Linn. 

“Dredged  near  Groomsport,  Co.  Down,  Oct.  1811,”  Templeton,  MSS. 
Genus  Calyptr^a. 

C.  sinensis,  Linn. 

On  the  East  coast. 

Genus  Capulus. 

C.  Ungaricus,  Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 

Genus  Fissurella. 

F.  grceca,  Flem. 

On  all  the  Irish  coasts. 


Genus  Puncturella. 

P.  noachina,  Linn. 

Mouth  of  Belfast  Bay,  in  27  fathoms,  one  dead  specimen  dredged  by 
Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Emarginula. 

E.  jissura,  Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 

E.  crassa,  Sowerby. 

A few  specimens  taken  at  the  Kish  Bank  in  1845  by  fishermen  were  found 
in  their  boats,  on  their  return  thence  to  the  Dublin  coast,  by  Mr.  Doran 
(collector  of  objects  of  natural  history),  of  whom  they  were  purchased 
by  Mr.  Hyndman.  This  gentleman  and  Mr.  Edm.  Getty,  when  dredging 
at  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay  on  the  3rd  Oct.,  1846,  obtained  from  a 
depth  of  twenty  fathoms  five  dead  shells  of  this  species ; these  were  from 
9 to  14  lines  in  length ; the  specimen  of  this  latter  size  was  10  lines  in 
breadth  and  8 in  height.  A few  living  and  dead  specimens  of  Emarg. Jissura 
were  dredged  with  the  E.  crassa  on  this  occasion. 


330 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Lottia. 

L.  virginea,  Muller. 

In  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection  (Belfast)  are  a few  specimens  of  this  shell 
— the  first  obtained  on  the  shore  of  Belfast  Bay  by  Mrs.  M‘Gee,  the 
others  found  by  Mr.  H.  adhering  to  oysters  in  Belfast  market  in  1831. 

L.  testudinulis,  Muller. 

Northern  and  eastern  coasts. 

Newcastle,  Down,  Sep.  1,  1836.  Looked  particularly  for  this  shell  on 
stones  opposite  the  village,  at  low-water,  and  found  only  two  or  three 
dead  ones. 

Bloody  Bridge,  Oct.  22,  1851.  I found  two  very  fine  living  specimens 
here  at  extreme  low-water.  I presume  there  are  plenty,  but  I had  a very 
short  time  to  look  for  them. 

At  Glassdrummond,  two  miles  southward  of  the  Bloody  Bridge,  Patrick 
Doran  tells  me  it  is  common  at  low-water  mark,  and  very  fine. 

L . fulva,  Muller. 

One  of  this  species  was  found  by  Miss  M.  Ball  several  years  ago  in 
company  with  Crania  personata,  Lam.,  on  a stone  dredged  in  very  deep 
water  at  Youghal. 


ORDER  GIRRHO  BR  AN  CHI  AT  A. 
Genus  Dentalium. 

D.  dentalis,  Turt. 

Eastern  and  western  shores  of  Ireland. 

D.  entalis,  Linn. 

On  most  parts  of  the  Irish  coast. 


ORDER  CYCLOBRANCHIATA. 

Genus  Patella. 

P.  vulgata,  Linn. 

Common  everywhere. 

P.  pellucida,  Linn. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

P.  ancyloides,  Forbes. 

Obtained  by  Mr.  Hyndman  many  years  ago  on  oysters  from  Strangford 
Lough.  Length  3 lines,  breadth  2f,  height  If.  The  great  resemblance 
this  shell  bears  to  the  Ancylus  Jluviatilis  is  not  confined  to  external  ap- 
pearance, but  internally  it  exhibits  the  same  bluish  cast. 

Genus  Chiton. 

C.  fascicularis,  Linn. 

Generally  distributed. 


BRACHIOPODA. 


331 


C.  marginatus,  Penn. 

On  all  parts  of  the  Irish  coast. 

C.  ruber,  Linn. 

Among  oysters  from  Killinchy,  Down.  Temp.  MSS.  Found  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  myself  in  different  localities  on  the  North-East  coast. 

C.  albus,  Mont.  As  last. 

C.  fuscatus,  Brown.  As  last. 

Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  Oct.,  1851.  I found  a large  perfect  one  in  the 
stomach  of  a haddock ; the  first  Chiton  I remember  to  have  taken  from 
the  stomach  of  a fish. 

C.  cinereus,  Linn. 

On  most  parts  of  the  Irish  coast. 

C.  Icevis,  Mont. 

On  both  sides  of  Ireland,  but  rare. 

C.  albus,  Linn. 

North  coast  of  Ireland. 

C.  Icevigatus,  Flem. 

Obtained  in  Strangford  Lough  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself.  On 
oysters  brought  to  Belfast  market  from  Carlingford  and  Greencastle  (Co. 
Londonderry),  W.  T. ; Bangor,  Co.  Down,  Mr.  It.  Patterson. 

C.  Hanleyi,  Bean. 

Dredged  off  Arran  islands,  Co.  Galway,  by  Mr.  Barlee,  in  1848;  Mr. 
Jeffreys. 


CLASS  BRACHIOPODA. 

Genus  Terebratula. 

T.  aurita,  Flem. 

The  Museum  of  Irish  Industry,  51,  Stephen’s  Green,  Dublin,  contains 
a specimen  labelled  as  obtained  at  Whitehead  Bay,  County  Antrim, 
November,  1839.  It  was,  I believe,  taken  alive  by  dredging. 

Alive  in  deep  water,  off  the  Copeland  Islands,  1850,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

T.  psittacea,  Turt.  (sp.),  Conch.  Diet.  p.  5. 

A specimen  of  this  Terebratula,  labelled  “ Dublin  Bay,”  was  observed 
by  Mr.  Alder  and  myself  in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society. 

Turton  mentions  a single  specimen  of  “ Anomia  terebratula  ” being 
“ dredged  up  alive  in  Dublin  Bay,  and  placed  in  the  Museum  of  the 
Dublin  Society  ; ” but  we  could  not  ascertain  whether  the  shell  now  pre- 
served was  that  alluded  to  by  Turton. 

Anomia  psittacea  was  noticed  by  him  only  as  an  English  species. 


332 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Crania. 

C.  personata,  Sow. 

From  deep  water,  off  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

On  Pinna  ingens , dredged  at  Cork  and  Kinsale,  Mr.  Humphreys. 
In  shell-sand,  mouth  of  Belfast  Bay,  1850,  Mr.  Hyndman. 


CLASS  L AMELLIBRAN  CHI  AT  A. 

Division  Monomtaria. 

Family  Ostreadjs. 

Genus  Anomia. 

A.  ephippium,  Linn. 

“West  of  Ireland,  Dublin  Bay,”  Turton;  on  oysters  from  coasts  of 
Antrim  and  Down,  W.  T ; Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  J.  D.  Humphreys  ; Dublin 
Bay,  two  specimens,  and  in  great  plenty  on  oysters  from  Carlingford  and 
Lough  Strangford,  Brown.  It  is  common  and  often  gregarious  on  oysters 
from  the  northern  and  eastern  coasts  generally.  Dublin  ; Youghal,  Dr. 
R.  Ball ; Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys ; dredged  in  Clew  Bay  by  our 
party  in  1840. 

A.  squamula,  Br.  Turt. 

“ Not  uncommon,  adhering  to  Carlingford  oysters,”  Brown.  Dublin 
Bay,  Turt.  Catal.  Common  on  the  coasts  of  Londonderry,  Antrim,  and 
Down,  about  the  roots  of  tangle  ( Laminaria  diyitata),  &c.  Youghal,  Dr. 
R.  Ball ; Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys,  who  remarks  in  the  Fauna  of 
Cork,  “ frequent  on  oysters,  lobsters,  and  other  marine  bodies.”  Dredged 
in  Clew,  Clifden,  and  Killery  Bays  (3^-12  fathoms,  bottom  various)  by 
our  party  in  1840. 

A.  undulata,  Mont. 

Strangford  Lough,  Brown.  Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  Catal.  Specimen  thence 
in  Dr.  R.  Ball’s  collection,  considered  A.  und.  by  E.  F.,  1847,  a scarce 
form  or  species.  Such  specimens  as  have  come  under  my  notice  in  a living 
state,  were  in  sheltered  sites  ; one,  and  a very  large  individual,  adherent 
to  the  inside  of  a quart  bottle  found  in  the  stomach  of  a cod-fish ! Carl- 
ingford, Mr.  Hyndman.  Youghal,  Miss  M.  Ball.  Adhering  to  Pinnce 
taken  in  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

A.  punctata , Turt.  (W.  T.,  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  13.) 

Youghal,  Dr.  R.  Ball. 

A.  cylindrica,  Turt. 

Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  Catal.  Occasionally  found  about  the  roots  of 
Laminaria  diyitata  on  the  North  and  North-East  coast,  Mr.  Hyndman, 
W.  T.  Youghal,  Dr.  R.  Ball. 

A.  aculeata,  Mont. 

“ In  sand  from  Portmarnock,  not  uncommon,”  Brown.  Dublin  Bay, 
Turt.  Catal.  Not  uncommon  on  the  North  and  North-East  coasts,  chiefly 
about  the  roots  of  Laminaria  diyitata.  Youghal,  Dr.  R.  Ball. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


333 


Adhering  to  Pinnce  taken  in  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

In  shell-sand  from  Kilkee,  Co.  Clare,  W.  T.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Mr. 
Barlee. 

Genus  Ostrea. 

O.  edulis,  Br.  Turt. 

Gregarious  in  suitable  localities  around  the  coast,  differing  much  in 
size  and  quality,  as  an  article  of  human  food,  on  different  beds. 

March  1,  1848. — Carrickfergus  Oysters. — The  four  largest  picked  from 
about  500  were  brought  me  to-day.  I weighed  them  before  being 
opened,  and  found  one  2 lbs.,  another  If  lb.  (imperial  weight),  and  the 
two  others  about  1^  lb.  each.  I weighed  the  oysters  themselves,  after 
being  extracted,  and  found  the  two  largest  about  \\  oz.  each,  the  others 
somewhat  less.  The  oysters  from  which  these  were  picked  are  now  sold 
at  16s.  for  124.  My  specimens  were  dredged  from  25  fathoms. 

March  15,  1848. — The  following  dredged  from  about  25  fathoms  : — 
Length  of  shell  . . . . 5^  to  6^  inches. 

Breadth 5 — 5%  — 

Depth  ....  valves  closed  2\  — 

March  15,  1848. — Five  Carrickfergus  oysters  brought  to  me  weighed 
from  1 lb.  13£  oz.  to  2 lbs.  1 oz. 

Family  Pectenid^:. 

Genus  Pecten. 

P.  maximus,  Br.  Turt. 

“ Portmarnock,  rare ; more  plentiful  at  Bray ; and  common  in  L. 
Strangford.”  Brown.  Along  the  Antrim  and  Down  coasts,  where  it  is 
commonly  called  Clam,  and  used  as  human  food,  though  not  so  generally 
esteemed  as  the  scallop  (P.  opercularis ),  W.  T.  Dredged  in  Clew  and 
Killery  Bays. 

1834. — Clam-shell  filled  with  oil,  in  which  a lighted  wick  was  placed, 
was  the  only  light  given  us  in  the  inn  at  Arran.  It  was  placed  on  the 
hob  of  the  fire-place.* 

P.  opercularis,  Turt. 

The  scallop  is  the  most  common  species  both  as  to  distribution  round 
the  coast  and  numbers ; gregarious  ; brought  chiefly  from  Strangford 
Lough  to  Belfast  market  as  an  article  of  food.  The  animals  are  boiled 
and  taken  from  the  shells  before  being  brought  to  market,  where  they 
are  sold  by  measure.  Dredged  from  about  10  to  12  fathoms,  coralline 
region  ; in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs.  On  the  Dublin  and  Wick- 
low coasts  the  shells  are  most  vividly  and  beautifully  coloured.  Dredged 
in  Clew  and  Killery  Bays.  Yar.  lineatus  I have  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay, 
as  Mr.  Warren  likewise  has  off  the  Wicklow  coast.  He  has  likewise  ob- 
tained a few  on  the  beach  at  Portmarnock. 

P.  sinuosus,  Turt. 

Commonly  met  with  among  oysters  and  dead  bivalve  shells  ; it  is  occa- 


* Pecten  Jacoibceus  is  noticed  by  Turton,  Conch.  Diet.,  as  found  in  Dublin  Bay ; 
but  in  his  British  Bivalves  it  is  spoken  of  doubtfully  as  a British  species.  It  is 
given  as  a North  of  Ireland  species  in  Smith’s  Catalogue  of  Recent  Shells  pub- 
lished in  Wern.  Mem.,  vol.  viii/part  1.  But  positive  information  respecting  it  is 
required  before  it  be  included  in  our  Fauna,  in  which  I do  not  anticipate  that 
it  will  ever  properly  hold  a place. 


334 


MOLLUSCA. 


sionally  found  adapted  to  the  form  of  the  shell  to  which  it  attaches  itself. 
Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman ; Carlingford,  W.  T. 

P.  glaber , Mont. 

Cork  Harbour,  rare,  Mr.  Humphreys  ; Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran. 

I have  not  seen  the  specimens  from  either  locality. 

P.  Icevis,  Penn. 

Noticed  as  from  “ Dublin  Bay,  very  rare,”  in  Turton’s  Catalogue  ; but 
in  his  Conch.  Diet.  (p.  131  and  133),  and  Brit.  Bival.  (p.  213,  214),  he 
makes  P.  Icevis,  Mont.,  the  same  as  P.  similis,  Laskey.  Mr.  Barlee  in- 
cludes P.  Icevis  in  his  Birterbuy  Bay  list. 

P.  similis , Laskey. 

Numerous  valves  were  dredged  from  45  fathoms  off  Cape  Clear  by  Mr. 
M ‘Andrew,  who  finds  it  “ an  abundant  deep-water  species  from  Scilly  to 
Zetland.”  Entrance  of  Belfast  Bay,  30 — 35  fathoms,  Mr.  Hyndman.  This 
species  was  noted,  at  the  suggestion  of  Professor  Edward  Forbes,  as  pro- 
bably synonymous  with  P.  Icevis,  in  my  Report  on  the  Invertebrata  of 
Ireland. 

P.  obsoletus,  Penn. 

Taken  not  uncommonly,  but  in  limited  numbers,  in  the  deeper  parts  of 
Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  on  shelly  and  sandy  ground.  A specimen 
dredged  at  Roundstone  by  Mr.  Jeffreys,  given  me  byThat  gentleman. 

Mr.  Humphreys  mentions  P.  Icevis,  Penn.  Mont.,  as  often  found  in  the 
intestines  of  haddock  and  gurnard  taken  in  Cork  Harbour  ; he  favoured 
me  with  one  of  these  specimens,  which  I regard  as  a smooth  variety  of 
P.  obsoletus. 

P.  varius,  Linn. 

Not  very  uncommonly  found  attached  by  a byssus  to  the  shells  of  oysters, 
brought  from  the  North  and  East  coasts,  &c.,  to  Belfast  market.  Dredged 
in  Killery,  Clifden,  and  Clew  Bays  in  July,  1840.  Dr.  Farran  mentions  his 
finding  P.  varius  and  P.  maximus  at  20  fathoms  in  Roundstone  Bay,  and 
in  some  situations  with  not  more  than  a foot  of  water  over  them  in  Clif- 
den Bay,  and  in  some  instances  the  P.  varius  was  altogether  dry,  1844. 
Mr.  Warren  has  a specimen  3i  inches  long  and  the  same  broad,  found  at 
Killibegs. 

P.  striatus,  Muller. 

A single  specimen  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough  in  1837  by  Mr.  Hynd- 
man and  myself. 

Procured  on  rocky  ground,  East  of  Cape  Clear  (40  to  45  fathoms),  by 
Mr.  M‘ Andrew,  who  remarks  that  “ it  is  a common  though  rather  deep- 
water species.”  I have  obtained  it  at  Scilly,  Isle  of  Man,  Mull  of  Galloway, 
Glenluce  Bay,  Clyde,  and  Hebrides  ; generally  adheres  to  stones  ; only  at 
Oban  have  I found  it  attached  to  the  Fucus. 

I have  learned  from  Mr.  Barlee  that  he  obtained  this  species  in  Birter- 
buy Bay  (County  Galway),  in  the  summer  of  1845.  1847,  I saw  a spe- 

cimen which  was  dredged  off  the  coast  of  Waterford,  near  the  Nymph 
Bank,  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  Nov.,  1849,  I saw  one  in  Mr.  War- 
ren’s collection,  which  he  found  among  a mass  of  Caryophyllia  Smithii 
brought  him  from  the  Nymph  Bank  above  four  years  ago.  * 

* Pecten  Danicus,  Cham. 

Pecten  nebulosus.  Brown’s  Illust. 

In  Dr.  Farran’s  collection  are  specimens  of  this  Pecten,  purchased  of  a dealer 


LAME  LLIBRAN  CHIATA. 


335 


Genus  Lima. 

L.  Loscombii,  Sow. 

Dredged  very  sparingly,  alive,  in  the  deeper  portions  of  Belfast  and 
Strangford  Loughs,  on  sandy  and  shelly  ground.  Single  valves  of  large 
size  obtained  in  quantity  from  23  fathoms,  at  the  entrance  to  the  former, 
by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Obtained  occasionally  in  the  stomach  of  haddock 
taken  on  the  North-East  coast.  In  that  fish  and  in  gurnard  Mr.  Humphreys 
has  found  it  at  Cork. 

L.  tenera,  Turt. 

The  Ordnance  Museum  contains  upon  a card  a fresh-looking  specimen 
of  this  shell,  and  one  of  Lima  fragilis  labelled  with  the  latter  name,  as 
dredged  from  7 fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay.  L.  tenera  has  long  been  known 
to  me  as  found  by  Dr.  Wm.  M‘Gee  in  a recent  deposit  of  mud  in  Belfast 
Bay,  close  to  the  town. 

Near  Sana  Island,  off  the  Mull  of  Cantire,  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  single 
valves  of  this  species  in  profusion.  See  Paper  in  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  x. 

L.  subauriculata,  Mont. 

Extremely  rare.  Two  odd  valves  dredged  from  about  8 fathoms — sand 
— in  Strangford  Lough,  in  1837,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  In  the 
course  of  a day’s  dredging  in  the  following  year  I obtained  a single  valve 
in  the  same  Lough. 

Dead  shells  from  Belfast  Bay  are  in  the  Ordnance  Collection.  A single 
valve"dredged  from  23  fathoms — shelly  sand — in  this  bay  by  Mr.  Hynd- 
man,with  quantities  of  single  valves  of  L.  fragilis  of  large  size. 


Division  Dimyaria. 

Family  Aviculada:. 

Genus  Avicula. 

A.  Atlantica , Lam. 

“ It  was  first  observed  as  a native  by  Miss  Hutchins  in  Bantry  Bay, 
and  announced  as  British  by  Mr.  Sowerby  in  his  Min.  Conch,  i.  14.” 
Flem.  Brit.  Anim.,  p.  405. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Turton ; by  whom  it  was  found  there. 

Avicula  hirundo  is  the  name  applied  to  the  species  in  both  instances. 
See  Lam.,  vol.  vii.  p.  99,  2nd  edit.  In  Mr.  Warren’s  collection  I have  seen 
a specimen  in  1839,  which  was  found  in  the  latter  locality  by  that  gentle- 
man, and  a second  one  in  his  possession  was  stated  by  the  person  from 
whom  he  obtained  it  to  have  been  found  there. 


who  stated  that  he  procured  them  from  Lough  _ Foyle,  County  Londonderry. 
This  evidence,  as  Dr.  Farran  remarks,  is  not  sufficient ; but  it  seems  desirable  to 
notice  the  circumstance,  as  the  species,  which  inhabits  the  western  coast  of  Scot- 
land, may  probably  occur  on  the  neighbouring  coast  of  Ireland.  I have  seen 
fine  specimens  from  Lough  Fyne,  Argyleshire.  Pecten glaber,  Penn,  and  Mont., 
believed  to  be  identical  with  this,  has  been  obtained  by  Mr.  Humphreys  at  Cork. 
(Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  v.  p.  12.) 


336 


MOLLUSCA. 


Family  Arcad^e. 

Genus  Arca. 

A.  Noce,  Linn. 

Fine  and  perfect  specimens  of  the  true  Arca  Noce  (according  to  Mr. 
Alder)  are  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection ; they  were  procured  on  the  coast 
of  Cork  by  Mr.  Townsend. 

Arca  Noce,  Linn.  “ One  specimen  taken  in  Cork  Harbour.”  Cork  Fauna, 
p.  15  (all  said  of  it). 

A.fusca,  Mont. 

“ A single  specimen  found  on  the  islands  called  the  Calves,  so  dangerous 
of  access,  in  the  West  of  Ireland.”  Turt.  Brit.  Biv.,  under  the  name  A.  te~ 
tragona.  Magilligan,  odd  valves,  W.  T.  Portrush  in  situ — Ordnance  col- 
lectors. From  Kenmare,  Co.  Kerry,  imbedded  in  stone,  Mr.  Humphreys, 
in  letter,  1809 ; abundant  near  Castletown,  Co.  Cork,  Mr.  Barlee,  attached 
to  valves  of  shells  on  a hard  sand-bank  at  entrance  of  Birterbuy  Bay, 
at  a depth  of  20  fathoms  ; in  the  fissures  of  rocks  dry  at  low  water  in 
Clifden  Bay,  Dr.  Farran.  Burrowed  in  a stone  from  deep  water  off  the 
Copelands,  Sep.,  1851,  Mr.  Hyndman.* 

A.  raridentata,  Searles  Wood. 

A living  specimen  and  a valve  of  this  Arca  were  dredged  from  45 
fathoms  off  Cape  Clear  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  It  is  a Crag  shell.  Mr.  M‘An- 
drew  procured  it  alive  for  the  first  time  off  the  island  of  Skye  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1845. 

A.  barbata,  Brown. 

“ This  very  perfect  and  new  shell  on  our  coasts  was  found  alive,  ad- 
hering to  an  oyster  from  Killinchy  in  Lough  Strangford,  by  Dr.  M‘Gee 
of  Belfast,”  Brown.  Never  found  since. 

Genus  Pectunculus. 

P.  pilosus,  Linn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  More  specimens  (but  all  dead)  have  come  under 
my  notice  on  the  sandy  beach  at  Magilligan  than  elsewhere. 

Dredged  very  sparingly  from  about  8 to  10  fathoms  (sandy  ground)  in 
Strangford  Lough,  W.  T. ; from  several  fathoms  deeper  water  at  en- 
trance to  Belfast  Bay,  and  Glenarm,  Mr.  Hyndman.  “ Two  specimens, 
three  inches  in  diameter,  were  found  at  Oyster  Haven,  in  1844,”  Mr.  J.  D. 
Humphreys. 

Genus  Nucula. 

N margaritacea,  Lam. 

Dublin  coast;  plentiful,  Brown.  Common  around  the  coast,  grega- 
rious ; dredged  at  various  depths  to  50  fathoms  (South  Rock,  Co.  Down, 


* A.  lactea,  Linn. 

This  species  is  noted  with  a “ ? ” in  Turton’s  Catalogue  as  found  on  the  Calves 
Islands.  In  his  Conch.  Diet.,  subsequently  published,  it  is  made  synonymous 
with  A.  perforans. 

In  shell-sand,  deep  Avater,  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 


LAMELLIBRAN  CHI  ATA. 


337 


Mr.  Hyndman),  on  the  Antrim  and  Down  coasts,  chiefly  from  a muddy 
bottom.  I have  met  with  it  in  the  stomachs  of  different  species  of  diving 
ducks,  as  well  as  occasionally  in  flat-fish,  as  sole,  &c.  Dredged  in  Clew, 
Clifden,  and  Killery  Bays,  3 — 12  fathoms,  in  1840. 

N.  tenuis,  Mont. 

Portmarnock,  near  Dublin,  Mr.  Warren. 

JY.  nitida,  Sow. 

Dundalk,  Portmarnock,  and  Youghal. 

N.  minuta,  Mont. 

“ One  valve  in  Dublin  Bay,”  Brown.  “ West  of  Ireland;  rare,”  Turt. 
C.  D.  p.  11.  A scarce  and  deep-water  species ; Portrush,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  in  a few  instances,  but  rarely  more  than  a few  odd 
valves  ; obtained  there  from  23  fathoms  (shelly  sand)  by  the  gentleman 
just  named;  who  likewise  dredged  it  from  50  fathoms  off  South  Rock, 
Co.  Down.  Portmarnock,  Mr.  Warren. 

N.  Polii,  Phil. 

Mr.  M‘Andrew  informs  me  that  he  dredged  “ some  very  young  shells 
in  May,  1848,  near  the  Nymph  Bank,  at  from  50  to  60  fathoms,  and 
about  as  many  miles  from  the  Old  Head  of  Kinsale,  on  the  course  from 
the  Land’s  End.  In  June,  similar  specimens  were  dredged  from  40 
fathoms  between  Mizen  Head  and  Cape  Clear,  about  twenty  miles  off  the 
land.”  Dublin  Bay,  Messrs.  Clark  and  Warren. 

Family  Mytilid^:. 

Genus  Mytilus. 

M.  edulis,  Linn. 

Gregarious  ; hab.  between  low  and  high  water  mark.  Young  densely 
covering  over  delicate  sea-weeds,  looking  like  strings  of  beads — so  close 
together  are  they  that  they  must  either  die  for  want  of  room  or  shift 
their  quarters. 

M.  edulis , Linn.,  var.  incurvatus.  The  only  bivalve  seen  on  Tory  Island, 
where  it  is  abundant,  covering  the  rocks  ; observed  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Mytilus  pellucidus,  Pen.  Don.,  vol.  iii.  pi.  81,  also  of  Thorpe,  fig.  frontis- 
piece. 

Turt.  B.  Biv.,  p.  197,  pi.  15. 

Common  in  some  parts  of  Belfast  Bay. 

Mussels.  March  8,  1843.  Captain  MTHbben  tells  me,  that  on  a buoy 
(11  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base)  in  Belfast  Bay,  cleaned  after  being  five 
years  “ down,”  the  entire  circumference  of  the  base  for  a foot  of  space 
always  under  water,  was  covered  a foot  thick  with  full-grown  mussels  ; 
he  thinks  there  could  not  have  been  less  than  half  a ton  of  them  taken  off 
the  buoy.  The  bases  of  these  buoys  in  our  bay  become  at  once  covered 
with  mussels  ; those  one  year  down,  on  being  examined,  are  covered  with 
them  of  about  half  the  full-grown  size,  and  those  two  years  down  do  not, 
he  thinks,  display  them  of  full  size.  I mention  this  with  regard  to  the  age 
of  mussels.  The  mussels  on  the  buoys  are  considered  of  a very  superior 
quality,  and  have  the  great  advantage  of  being  quite  free  from  sand,  the 
water  washing  round  them,  keeping  them  quite  pure. 

Dec.,  1844.  The  buoy  noticed  under  date  of  March  8,  1843,  after  being 
cleaned  and  covered  with  tar,  was  again  put  down  : on  being  taken  up 


338 


MOLLUSCA. 


the  following  year,  the  mussels  on  it  were  not  more  than  ^ an  inch  in 
length. 

Sept.  1,  1843.  The  light-ship  was  moored  at  Holy  wood  Bank,  and  on 
being  brought  into  dock,  on  Nov.  15, 1844,  to  have  her  bottom  cleaned,  it 
was  covered  with  full-grown  mussels,  which  were  carried  away  by  persons 
to  eat.  If  we  knew  the  size  these  were  when  they  moored  themselves  to 
the  ship,  the  problem  is  solved  of  how  long  they  are  attaining  full  size. 

July , 1845.  Mr.  Hyndman  showed  me  mussels  nearly  1^  inch  long,  of 
which  quantities  were  taken  from  the  bottom  of  the  pilot-boat  after  its 
being  nine  months  afloat. 

Genus  Crenella. 

C.  decussata , Laskey. 

A few  odd  valves  dredged  in  rather  deep  water — shelly  bottom — in 
Strangford  Lough,  Aug.,  1837,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Genus  Modiola. 

M.  vulgaris,  Br. 

Common  on  the  North  and  North-East  coasts  in  rather  deep  water  on 
muddy  and  shelly  ground ; used  as  bait  by  fishermen  in  some  places,  but 
not  commonly  as  human  food ; called  horse-mussel.  Apparently  scarce  or 
wanting  in  such  of  the  bays  of  Mayo  and  Galway  as  w7ere  dredged  by 
our  party  in  1840.  M.  Gihbsii  took  its  place  in  some  localities. 

Modiola  vulgaris.  According  to  my  journal,  note  of  Dec.  14th,  1837, 
I find  that  full-grown  individuals  lived  without  water  four  days  in  a 
warm  room,  and  that  smaller  individuals  lived  under  similar  circum- 
stances eight  days. 

M.  tulipa,  Lam. 

Very  rare.  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Malahide,  Dublin 
coast,  one  or  two  specimens,  Dr.  Lloyd.  Portmarnock,  very  rare,  Mr. 
Warren.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran.  In  or  near  Bantry  Bay,  Mr. 
M ‘Andrew. 

M.  Gihbsii,  Leach. 

Dredged  in  Clew  and  Killery  Bays  by  our  party  in  1840,  3 — 12 
fathoms.  M.  Gibbsii  is  noted  in  Mr.  Barlee’s  list  of  Birterbuy  Bay 
species,  with  a query  as  to  its  being  a variety  of  M.  vulgaris.  Youghal, 
very  rare,  Dr.  II.  Ball. 

M.  discrepans,  Mont. 

“ Found  on  oysters  in  Dublin  Bay,”  (O’Kelly) ; I have  seen  specimens 
from  thence  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  Larne  Lough,  not  uncommon. 
Donaghadee,  8 to  10  fathoms,  Dr.  Drummond.  Wicklow  and  Wexford 
coasts  ; Youghal,  Dr.  It.  Ball.  Cork  harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Dredged 
in  Killery  and  Clew  Bays,  in  1840.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran.  This  is 
a much  less  common  species  than  the  following. 

M.  marmorata,  Forbes. 

Dublin  coast  and  Strangford  Lough,  BroAvn.  Common  on  the  North 
and  North-East  coasts,  more  especially  embedded  in  various  species  of 
Ascidia  : found  loose  also,  sheltering  among  Balani  and  other  excre- 
scences on  oysters,  &c. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


339 


Common  on  the  back  of  the  violet  crab  at  Yougnal,  Miss  M.  Ball. 
Dredged  in  Killery  Bay,  and  found  among  oysters  from  the  western 
coast,  W.  T. 

Birterbuy  Bay,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Nov.,  1839.  Having  taken  quantities  of  this  Modiola  from  Ascidice ,* 
and  many  within  the  last  four  weeks,  I can  state  confidently  that  they 
were  generally,  and  of  all  sizes,  destitute  of  a byssus.  The  specimens  I 
allude  to  were  taken  from  very  coriaceous  Ascidice,  in  which  they  would 
of  course  less  require  to  cast  anchor  than  in  those  of  a lighter  and  more 
tender  substance.  I remarked  one  individual,  however,  and  with  surprise, 
as  having  a rich  yellow-coloured  byssus.  In  masses  of  Botrylloides 
(large  and  small),  on  Halidrys  siliquosa  dredged  from  5 fathoms ; Belfast 
Bay,  April  3rd,  1848. 

M.  vestita,  Philippi. 

This  Modiola  is  included  in  my  Report  on  the  Invertebrata  of  Ireland, 
but  without  any  specific  name  being  applied  to  it.  A reference  to  the 
above  work,  as  soon  as  it  appeared,  showed  that  the  Irish  shell  is  the  M. 
vestita  known  to  Philippi  only  as  found  on  the  shore  at  Malta. 

In  a letter  from  Mr.  Alder,  written  on  the  first  of  April,  1844,  it  was 
mentioned  that  among  shells  lately  sent  from  the  Mediterranean  to  Mr. 
King,  Curator  of  the  Newcastle  Museum,  were  two  specimens  similar  to 
the  Irish  shell : they  “ were  embedded  in  sponge,  and  one  inch  and  a 
quarter  respectively  in  length,  and  a little  thicker  from  being  older  shells, 
but  in  all  other  respects  the  same.”  In  May  last,  I saw  Modiolce  of  this 
species  from  the  Mediterranean  in  Mr.  Cuming’s  unrivalled  collection. 
The  only  Irish  specimen  of  this  shell  yet  known  was  procured,  some 
years  ago,  at  Youghal,  by  Miss  M.  Ball. 

It  is  described  and  figured  in  the  second  edition  of  Brown’s  Illustra- 
tions, p.  132,  pi.  37,  fig.  36,  under  the  name  of  Modiola  Ballii. 

Genus  Pinna. 

P.  ingens , Mont. 

One  10  inches  long  and  5 broad  found  at  Skerries,  Rutty’s  Nat.  Hist. 
Dublin.  “ A very  fine  specimen  was  found  at  Portrush,  Co.  of  Antrim, 
by  Mrs.  Clewlow  of  Belfast.”  Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  Samuel  Wright  of  Cork. 
Brown,  Irish  Test.  “ Cove  in  Ireland,”  Turt.  C.  D.  To  the  Annals  of 
Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  v.  p.  13,  I communicated  the  following  note : 

Pinna  fragilis,  Turt.  Brit.  Biv. 

— papyracea  — 

— pectin  ata  — 

• — muricata  — 

The  three  first-named,  together  with  P.  ingens , noted  in  a letter  to  me 
from  Mr.  John  D.  Humphreys  as  found  at  Cove ; the  two  first  and  P. 
muricata  by  Dr.  R.  Ball,  as  obtained  in  the  same  locality  (and  at 
Youghal).  Miss  M.  Ball  informs  me  that  P.  ingens  is  very  common  on  the 


* I find  them  in  many  species.  Savigny  has,  in  his  Mem.,  made  the  same 
remark  : all  they  seem  to  look  for  in  the  Ascidice  is  sufficient  consistence ; yet  I 
found  one  embedded  in  Ascidia  orbicularis , Muller.  I also  find  them,  as  Flem- 
ming has  somewhere  (Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  April,  1823,  p.  301)  remarked,  in  Bo- 
tryllus  Schlosseri  I obtained  at  Lambay  island. 

z 2 


340 


MOLLUSCA. 


Nymph  Bank,  where  it  is  known  to  the  fishermen  by  the  name  of  powder- 
horn — they  roast  the  animal  for  food.  P.fragilis  outside  Kinsale  harbour, 
Cork  Fauna.  Although  the  Pinna  is  marked  as  found  on  each  side  of 
the  island,  it  is  very  rarely  met  with  except  on  a portion  of  the  southern 
coast,  where  it  is  common.  The  very  few  specimens,  all  taken  in  deep 
water,  which  I have  seen  from  the  coasts  of  Londonderry,  Antrim,  Down, 
and  Louth,  were  of  large  size,  and  all  P.  ingem  or  P.  fragilis  (Turt.  Brit. 
Biv.,  pi.  20,  f.  2).  A specimen  of  P.  ingens , 14  inches  in  length,  dredged 
off  Cape  Clear,  has  been  noticed  as  presented  by  Lieut.  Wilson,  R.  M.,  to 
the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society,  in  1844 : the  species  was  since  dredged 
there  by  Mr.  M ‘Andrew,  but  not  living.  A Pinna  dredged  in  Belfast 
Bay,  and  now  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  cabinet,  exhibits  brownish-coloured 
pearls  of  the  same  colour  as  the  shell  itself.  Mr.  Barlee  includes  P.  fragilis 
in  his  list  of  Birterbuy  Bay  shells,  being  the  only  note  of  Pinnce  found 
on  the  western  coast,  known  to  me. 

Pinnce.  Feb.  llth,  1848. 

Bernard  Meenan  sent  me  one  dredged  from  50  fathoms,  off  Island 
Magee.  It  is  thence  the  Pinnce  are  brought  to  Belfast ; a circumstance 
of  very  rare  occurrence,  however.  But  B.  Meenan  states  that  he  has  at 
various  times  seen  many  of  them  which  were  taken  there  ; being  generally 
broken  more  or  less,  they  are  not  brought  to  Belfast.  B.  M.  believes  they 
are  taken  by  becoming  entangled  in  the  long  lines,  or  by  the  line  getting 
within  the  valves,  and  the  animal  closing  them  upon  it. 

Family  UnioniDjE. 

Genus  Anodon. 

A.  cygnea,  Turton. 

The  Anodon  is  known  to  me  as  found  in  suitable  localities  all  over  the 
island,  except  in  the  extreme  South.  The  Anodonta  intermedia  (Pfeiffer, 
i.  113,  t.  6,  f.  3),  I have  obtained  in  the  rejectamenta  of  the  Lagan 
Canal,  near  Belfast.  Specimens  from  the  Grand  Canal  near  Dublin, 
favoured  me  by  Dr.  Ball,  are  the  A.  cygnea , Pfeiffer,  i.  Ill,  t.  6,  f.  4 ; 
and  Rossmassler,  fig.  342 ; and  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection  is  a very  fine 
specimen,  3^  inches  long  and  6f  broad,  from  the  Moyntaghs,  Co.  Armagh. 
From  the  Grand  Canal  also,  and  the  river  Shannon,  I possess  specimens 
of  the  A.  anatina,  Pfeiffer,  i.  112,  t.  6,  f.  2 : and  from  this  last  locality, 
likewise,  I have  the  A.  cellensis,  Pfeiffer,  i.  110,  t.  6,  f.  1,  and  Ross- 
massler,  fig.  280.  Of  this  last  I have  had  the  advantage  of  a comparison 
with  English  specimens,  kindly  sent  me  by  Mr.  Alder,  and  named  A. 
cellensis,  Pf.  From  the  Anodon  varying  so  much,  not  only  according  to 
locality,  but  in  the  same  waters,  I cannot  coincide  with  the  authors  who 
make  so  many  species.  The  four  forms  here  noticed  I venture  with  Mr. 
Gray  to  consider  but  one  species : of  the  Irish  specimens,  which  I have 
critically  compared,  none  exactly  agree  with  the  A.  ventricosa  or  A.  pon- 
der osa  of  Pfeiffer.  W.  R.  Wilde,  Esq.,  of  Dublin,  informs  me  that  Ano- 
dons  are  thrown  up  in  quantities  on  the  shores  of  Lough  Schur,  County 
Leitrim,  where  they  are  eaten  by  the  peasantry.  Sliggaun  is  the  com- 
mon name  applied  to  the  Anodon  in  the  North  of  Ireland. 

Anodons.  Mr.  Evatt  of  Mount JLouise,  Monaghan,  tells  me  that  they  are 
common  in  all  the  lakes  there.  At  Clew  Lough  (Co.  Monaghan)  when 
drawing  his  net  for  trout,  he  has  taken  as  many — and  to  his  annoyance — as 
a man  could  carry,  or  what  would  fill  three  or  four  stable  buckets. 

Anodons,  from  Maghery  Ferry,  1849  and  1850. 


LAMELLIBEANCH I AT  A. 


341 


Genus  Alasmodon. 

A.  margaritiferus,  Gray. 

This  has  for  a long  period  been  on  record  as  an  Irish  shell ; from  papers 
published  on  the  subject  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  & c.,  Pennant 
drew  the  information  which  appears  in  his  British  Zoology. 

It  is  indigenous  to  several  of  the  northern  counties,  and  to  the  South. 
By  Capt.  Brown  it  is  noticed  as  found  “ in  the  river  Slaney,  Enniscor- 
thy,”  p.  505.  In  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Hyndman  of  Belfast  are  specimens 
from  the  river  Bann,  and  from  the  County  of  Donegal.  This  species  in- 
habits some  of  the  tributary  streams  of  Lough  Neagh,  and  is  plentiful 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Omagh,  County  Tyrone,  where,  I have  been 
informed,  it  was  taken  in  such  quantity  in  1839,  that  the  prisoners  in  the 
jail  were  employed  in  breaking  the  shells  for  manure.  Mr.  Humphreys 
of  Cork  notes  it  as  abundant  at  Inchigeela,  and  as  inhabiting  the 
small  rivers  which  run  through  Blarney  and  Glanmire  (Co.  Cork) ; at 
Curraghmore  (Co.  Waterford)  it  is  stated  by  Dr.  It.  Ball  to  be  found. 
The  form  to  which  M.  Michaud  has  applied  the  name  of  TJnio  Roissyi 
is  common  to  several  localities  in  Ireland. 

“ Here  are  rivers  which  breed  pearles,”  p.  14.  O’Flaherty’s  West  or 
H’lar  Connaught. 

My  a margaritifera , river  Anamoe,  near  the  Seven  Churches,  Co.  Wick- 
low ; specimens  thence  given  me  by  Mr.  Warren,  1847. 

„ Oct.,  1839.  Pearls  in  Lough  Eask  (Donegal),  Mr.  Robert  Barklie  has 
known  taken  in  great  quantity. 

Killymoon,  Co.  Tyrone. 

Pearl  Mussels  found  in  the  river  commonly,  and  are  sought  for  on  ac- 
count of  the  pearls  by  the  people  of  Coagh.  Mr.  Hyndman,  Oct.,  1851. 

Alasmodon  margaritiferus,  Nov.,  1851.  F.  Davis  brought  me  one 
from  the  river  Bush,  Co.  Antrim,  where  he  saw  a number  last  autumn. 

Family  Camacadje. 

Genus  Isocabdia. 

I.  cor,  Linn. 

Found  in  Dublin  Bay  by  Mr.  James  Tardy,  and  at  Cork  by  Mr.  Samuel 
Wright,  Brown.  The  following  note  appears  in  Mr.  Templeton’s  MS. 
journal,  under  October  28th,  1811  : “Received  a drawing  of  the  Cliama 
Cor,  from  Mr.  George  Joy,  taken  by  him  from  a specimen  dredged  up 
at  Bangor  (Belfast  Bay).”  The  species  is  known  by  Mr.  J.  R.  Clealand  to 
have  been  dredged  near  the  Copeland  Islands,  at  the  entrance  of  this  bay. 
The  Giant’s  Causeway  and  Bantry  Bay  are  named  by  Turton  (C.  D.  and 
Brit.  Biv.)  as  localities  in  which  it  has  been  found;  but  very  rarely. 
Berehaven,  County  Cork,  Mr.  John  D.  Humphreys.  Dr.  R.  Ball  some 
years  ago  obtained  a number  of  this  species  from  Dublin  Bay,  where  it 
had  previously,  as  well  as  elsewhere  on  the  coast,  been  met  with  very 
rarely : of  late  years,  however,  it  has  proved  to  be  by  no  means  rare  in 
that  quarter.  It  is  taken  on  the  Kish  Bank. 

Glassdrummond,  County  Down,  P.  Doran. 


342 


MOLLUSCA. 


Family  Conchace^;. 

Genus  Cardium. 

C.  echinatum,  Linn. 

Commonly  thrown  ashore  on  extensive  sandy  beaches.  Dredged  from 
oozy  sand  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

C.  ciliare , Don.  t.  32,  f.  2. 

Dublin  Bay  and  Portmarnock ; rather  scarce,  Brown’s  Irish  Testacea. 
Is,  according  to  Turton,  the  young  of  C.  echinatam,  Br.  Biv.,  p.  184. 

C.  aculeatum  is  believed  to  have  been  erroneously  introduced  into  the 
Irish  Catalogue. 

C.  elongatum,  Mont. 

Noticed  in  Turton’s  Catalogue  as  from  “ Dublin  Bay,  rare,”  but  in  his 
subsequent  works  (Conch.  Diet,  and  Brit.  Biv.)  Devonshire  localities 
only  are  named.  I have,  however,  seen  specimens  from  Portmarnock  in 
Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  It  has  been  sparingly  dredged  in  1834,  and 
subsequently  in  sand  from  6 to  10  fathoms  in  Strangford  Lough,  G.  C.  H. 
and  W.  T. ; also  by  us,  in  one  instance,  in  Belfast  Bay. 

It  is  included  in  Mr.  Barlee’s  list  of  Birterbuy  Bay  species,  and  in  Mr. 
M ‘Andrew’s  of  those  dredged  in  or  near  Bantry  Bay. 

C.  exiguum , Br. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  commonly  from  about 
4 to  10  fathoms  on  muddy  and  shelly  ground,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 
Dredged  at  Bed  Bay  (County  Antrim),  Mr.  Hyndman ; and  in  Clew, 
Clifden,  Killery,  and  Boundstone  Bays  by  our  party  in  1840. 

C.  nodosum,  Mont. 

As  last,  in  the  two  first-named  localities,  excepting  that  it  frequents 
deeper  water,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Dredged  at  Ireland’s  Eye, 
Dublin  Coast,  Mr.  Hyndman ; in  Clew,  Clifden,  and  Killery  Bays  in 
1840,  and  found  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch,  W.  T.,  &c.  Birterbuy 
Bay,  Dr.  Farran,  Mr.  Barlee.  Bantry  Bay,  1834,  W.  T. 

C.  edule,  Linn. 

Common  and  gregarious,  especially  in  shallow  sandy  bays,  near  low- 
water  marks.  Brought  in  quantities  to  Belfast  for  sale  [as  human  food, 
particularly  from  Strangford  Lough.  Attains  a very  large  size  on  the 
Sligo  coast  and  in  Donegal  Bay. 

At  the  very  extensive  sandy  bay  called  Lurgan  Green,  Co.  Louth,  huge 
rakes  of  the  same  form  as  hay-rakes  are  used  in  gathering  cockles. 

Var . fasciatum,  Mont. 

Young  shells  in  my  collection. 

In  some  localities— Dundalk  Bay  (Mr.  Hyndman),  Ballysodare,  Co. 
Sligo  (Mrs.  Hancock) — are  coloured  as  this  is  described  and  figured  by 
Montagu ; as  are  full-grown  shells  from  a lake  of  brackish  water  in  the 
largest  of  the  South  islands  of  Arran  (B.  Ball  and  W.  T.,  1834) : these 
are  also  very  thin,  as  indeed  the  banded  shells  of  all  sizes  are  generally. 
I rather  regard  them  as  C.  edule  under  peculiar  circumstances  than  as  a 
different  species. 


LAMELLIBRAN  CHIATA. 


343 


C.  Loveni,  Thompson. 

Shell  of  a somewhat  rounded  outline,  with  about  thirty  ribs,  set  with 
small  scales ; height  and  length  equal ; colour  pure  white.  Length  3£ 
lines  ; breadth  3f  ; very  thin  and  delicate  ; ribs  rounded,  about  thirty  in 
number,  and  becoming  beautifully  fine  towards  the  beak ; covered  with 
minute  closely-set  transverse  scales  throughout,  but  which  are  more  nu- 
merous on  the  ribs  at  each  side  ; furrows  about  the  middle  of  the  valve 
smooth  and  shining,  narrower  than  at  the  sides,  where  towards  the  base 
they  are  crossed  by  transverse  scales,  and  towards  the  apex  punctate ; 
near  the  beaks  they  appear  in  the  form  of  a mere  linear  depression. 

Colour  pure  white,  with  somewhat  of  a pearly  lustre  inside  and  outside. 

Compared  with  the  British  species  of  Cardium,  this  comes  nearest  C. 
edule,  but  is  more  handsome  in  form,  sculpture,  and  colour.  It  is  more 
rounded  (less  truncate  at  the  anterior  end),  has  the  beaks  terminating  in 
a finer  point,  ribs  more  numerous  and  with  the  scales  on  them  more  closely 
set,  but  less  elevated,  the  furrows  narrower. 

Cardium  scabrum,  Philippi.  Enum.  Moll.  Siciliee,  vol.  ii.  p.  38,  pi.  14.  fig. 
16,  comes  so  near  my  shell,  that  future  investigation  may  possibly  show 
that  they  should  be  brought  together  ; C.  scabrum  differs  from  it  in  hav- 
ing only  twenty-six  ribs,  in  the  furrows  being  equal  and  punctate,  and  in 
its  exhibiting  two  obscure  violet  rays,  and  having  the  beaks  yellow ; but 
as  my  specimens  were  not  seen  in  a living  state,  stress  need  not  be  laid  on 
the  difference  of  colour.  This  species  was  obtained  in  three  localities 
nearly  about  the  same  time.  In  October,  1841,  numbers  of  it,  but  mostly 
broken,  were  found  by  Dr.  Earran  in  the  stomachs  of  sole  ( Solea  vulgaris ) 
and  plaice  ( Platessa  vulgaris)  purchased  in  Dublin  market,  and  taken  off 
the  eastern  coast ; in  June,  1842,  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  a few  specimens 
from  a depth  of  50  fathoms,  off  the  South  Rock,  coast  of  Down  ; and  spe- 
cimens which  I have  seen  in  Mr.  Cuming’s  unequalled  collection  were 
sent  him  by  Dr.  Loven,  1842,  as  a species  unknown  to  him,  and  which 
had  been  obtained  on  the  west  coast  of  Sweden.  It  is  named  in  honour 
of  this  distinguished  naturalist. 

Among  some  minute  shells,  dredged  in  1846  in  or  near  Bantry  Bay 
by  Mr.  M‘Andrew  and  kindly  given  to  me,  is  one  of  this  species.  I saw 
specimens  of  Dr.  Farran’s  from  Birterbuy  Bay. 

Should  C.  scabrum  prove  identical,  in  four  localities — from  Sweden  to 
Sicily — this  has  been  subsequent  to  the  publication  of  Philippi’s  first  vol. 
in  1836  ; and  the  species  is  for  the  first  time  described  in  his  second  vol., 
which  appeared  in  1844. 

Mr.  Hanley  informs  me  that  Philippi  considers  C.  nodosum,  Mont., 
this  species. 

C.  Icevigatum,  Linn. 

“ Portmarnock,  Bantry  Bay,”  Turt.  Dredged  off  Glenarm,  in  Belfast 
and  Strangford  Loughs,  sparingly,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Clew  Bav, 
1840. 

Birterbuy  Bay,  single  valves  dredged  from  18  to  20  fathoms,  hard  sand, 
Dr.  Earran.  South  Isles  of  Arran,  Mr.  Barlee. 

In  Bantry  Bay  it  seems  to  be  in  greater  numbers  than  ordinary. 

Large  and  abundant  on  Nymph  Bank,  R.  Ball. 

Genus  Donax. 

D.  trunculus,  Linn. 

Generally  common  on  extensive  sandy  beaches.  Plentiful  close  to  low- 


344 


MOLLUSCA. 


water  mark  at  Magilligan,  where  it  is  collected  by  the  people  for  food. 
Dredged  plentifully,  but  of  small  size,  on  pure  sand,  at  a few  fathoms’ 
depth  off  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

In  lake  of  brackish  water  in  largest  South  Isles  of  Arran,  Dr.  It.  Ball 
and  W.  T.,  1834. 

D.  denticulatus,  Linn. 

“ One  very  small  valve  in  sand  from  Portmarnock,”  Brown.  “Western 
coasts,  very  rare,”  Turt.  Catal.  Irish  Shells  only.  A specimen  said  to  be 
from  Magilligan  is  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection. 

I),  complanatus,  Mont. 

(W.  T.,  Ann.  Nat.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  13.)  Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  Humphreys,  &c. 

Dead  specimens  dredged  near  South  Isles  of  Arran,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Ervilia. 

E.  castanea,  Mont. 

Procured  with  the  valves  united  on  the  coast  of  Galway,  by  Mr.  Barlee, 
in  1848.  All  previous  specimens  obtained  on  the  British  coast  (off  Corn- 
wall and  the  Scilly  Islands)  were  but  single  valves,  according  to  the  work 
particularly  referred  to  for  this  species. 

Genus  TellinA. 

T.fctbula,  Don. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  Not  uncommon  on  extensive  sandy  beaches, 
as  Portmarnock  and  Magilligan,  W.  T.  Found  from  below  low-water  mark 
to  a few  fathoms,  on  sand. 

Specimens  found  in  the  stomachs  of  plaice  ( Platessa  vulgaris),  caught  on 
the  Dublin  coast,  have  been  given  to  me  by  Dr.  Farran.  Ardmore,  Mrs. 
Mackesy. 

T.  tenuis , Don. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  A common  gregarious  species  found  commonly 
about  low- water  mark  in  sand,  and  like  T.fabula  to  a few  fathoms’  depth. 
The  plaice  in  Belfast  Bay  feed  very  much  on  T.  tenuis. 

Dundalk  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Dredged  in  Clifden  Bay,  1840.  On 
some  parts  of  the  Galway  coast,  said  by  Dr.  Farran  to  be  eaten  by  the 
people. 

T.  squalida , Pultn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  Found  sparingly  on  sandy  coasts. 

Red  Bay,  Co.  Antrim,  Mrs.  J.  Thomson  Tennant,  and  Dundalk,  Mr. 
Hyndman,  may  be  named  as  additional  localities. 

T.  Donacina,  Linn. 

Bantry  Bay,  Dublin  coast  (one  valve),  and  Bray  (Mr.  M.  J.  O’Kelly), 
were  noticed  by  Brown  and  Turton  as  localities  for  this  species.  The 
first-named  locality  is  its  chief  one  known  to  me  in  Ireland ; at  Portmar- 
nock it  is  but  occasionally  found.  Specimens  have  but  rarely  been 
dredged  by  us  in  Strangford  Lough  (Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T).  And  I 
once  met  with  it  in  the  stomach  of  a haddock,  taken  on  the  open  coast  of 
Down.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran,  Mr.  Barlee.  From  Co.  Clare,  in 
Mr.  Warren’s  collection. 

Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy.  Bantry  and  Dalkey,  R.  Ball. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


345 


T.  crassa , Penn. 

Bantry  Bay  and  Dublin  coast  are  known  as  habitats  for  this  species  ; 
the  former,  as  in  the  case  of  the  last  species,  apparently  its  chief 
abode.  Single  valves  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  from  10  to  12  fathoms,  on 
soft  sand,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Obtained  at  Balbriggan,  Co.  Dublin  (a 
single  specimen),  and  at  Ballvsodare,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Hancock. 

Sana  Island,  1841,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

T.  balaustina,  Linn. 

A living  specimen  and  two  valves  of  this  species,  as  determined  by  Mr. 
G.  B.  Sowerby,  were  dredged  from  about  14  fathoms  with  JPleurotoma 
teres,  in  Birterbuy  Bay,  by  Mr.  Barlee,  in  the  summer  of  1845.  It  has  not 
before  been  noticed  as  inhabiting  any  of  the  coasts  of  the  British  islands. 

T.  bimaculata,  Linn. 

The  species  marked  with  doubt  in  Turton’s  Catalogue,  as  found  in  the 
“ South  of  Ireland  ; very  rare.”  Dr.  B.  Ball  notes  his  having  a specimen 
from  Bantry  Bay,  and  one  from  the  coast  of  Clare  (Prof.  Harvey)  ; one 
obtained  alive  at  Ardmore,  Co.  Waterford,  by  Mr.  Warren  : three  spe- 
cimens thence  are  in  his  collection,  one  found  at  Pilltown  estuary,  Co. 
Waterford,  by  Mrs.  Mackesy,  and  two  near  Youghal  by  Mrs.  Moss  of  that 
town  (Farran  in  letter). 

T.  solidula,  Mont. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  A common  species  in  shallow  water,  and  be- 
tween tide-marks  on  sand  (at  Magilligan)  and  ooze  (in  Belfast  Bay). 
Dundalk  Bay,  where  it  is  of  a fine  yellow  hue,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

T.  pygmcea,  Phil. 

Specimens  procured  on  the  coast  of  Cork,  by  Mr.  John  D.  Humphreys, 
are,  as  Mr.  S.  Hanley  informs  me,  in  Mr.  Jeffreys’  collection  at  Swansea. 
Galway,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Lucina. 

L.  radula,  Mont. 

Dublin  coast  and  Cove,  Turt.  Br.  Widely  distributed  round  the  coast, 
but  not  obtained  in  quantity.  Dredged  from  about  6 to  12  fathoms  on 
sand  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs  (Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.).  Bed 
Bay,  Co.  Antrim. 

Lake  of  brackish  water,  in  largest  of  South  Isles  of  Arran,  Dr.  B.  Ball 
and  W.  T.,  1834.  Ballysodare  Bay,  County  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Dredged 
in  Clew  Bay,  1840. 

L.  rotundata,  Mont. 

Bantry  Bay,  Br.  Turt.  This  is  the  only  locality  known  to  me  for  this 
species,  and  it  is  not  rare  here,  excepting  Birterbuy  Bay,  where  it  was 
found  by  Mr.  Barlee,  in  1845. 

L.  lactea,  Lam. 

Procured  off  the  South-West  coast,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew;  off  Baltimore 
Harbour,  30  fathoms ; and  from  12  to  15  fathoms  in  Bantry  Bay. 

L.  spinifera,  Mont. 

The  species  noticed  with  doubt  in  Turton’s  Catalogue  as  found  at 
“ Portmarnock ; very  rare.”  About  1834,  it  was  noted  similarly  (excepting 


346 


MOLLUSCA. 


the  doubt  about  the  species)  by  Prof.  Harvey.  The  Bays  of  Mayo  and 
Galway  are  its  chief  abode. 

By  Major  MTlroy  of  Westport  I was,  in  1840,  favoured  with  a spe- 
cimen from  Clew  Bay ; about  the  same  time  it  was  dredged  in  Killery 
Bay,  from  about  8 to  12  fathoms  on  oozy  ground.  In  Birterbuy  Bay  it 
was  procured  in  some  quantity  and  very  large,  by  Dr.  Farran.  With  re- 
spect to  Clifden  Bay,  Mr.  Barlee  remarked  in  a letter  to  me  dated  Sept., 
1845,  that  he  found  no  shells  abundant  there  but  Turritella  terebra , Lucina 
spinifera,  and  Amphidesma  Boysii.  Mr.  M ‘Andrew  dredged  it  in  or  about 
Bantry  Bay.  At  Red  Bay,  Co.  Antrim,  I found  a valve  of  this  species  ; 
one  was  brought  up  during  Capt.  Beechy’s  dredging  off  the  Mull  of  Gal- 
loway, on  the  coast  of  Scotland,  depth  145  fathoms. 

L.Jlexuosa,  Mont. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  Widely  distributed,  but  in  sparing  numbers. 
Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough  from  15  to  20  fathoms,  muddy  bottom,  1846  ; 
previously  obtained  there  from  about  half  that  depth,  *and  on  sand,  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Dredged  off  Bundoran,  and  in  Clew  and  Killery 
Bays,  in  1840. 

Genus  Amphidesma. 

A.  prismatica,  Laskey. 

This  species,  although  found  on  each  side  of  the  island,  is  by  no  means 
generally  distributed.  I have  found  it  thrown  ashore  on  the  sandy  beach 
of  Magilligan  and  Belfast  Bay  ; in  which  latter  it  has  been  dredged  from 
20  fathoms  (sandy  ground)  by  Mr.  Hyndman  ; who  likewise  brought  it 
up  from  50  fathoms  off  the  South  Rock,  Co.  Down. 

A.  Boysii , Turt. 

Dublin  coast,  Turt.  Br.  The  most  generally  distributed  species  of  this 
genus.  Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  and  Strangford  Lough  sparingly,  from 
oozy  sand,  at  a depth  of  about  8 — -10  fathoms.  Dundalk  Bay,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man. Dublin  coast,  Miss  M.  Ball.  Dr.  Farran  has  favoured  me  with 
very  fine  specimens  from  the  stomach  of  sole  taken  on  the  Dublin  coast. 
Dredged  in  Clew,  Clifden,  and  Killery  Bays,  in  limited  numbers,  1840. 

A.  tenuis , Turt. 

I have  received  specimens  of  this  Avell-marked  species  from  Larne 
Lough,  County  of  Antrim.  Dr.  Farran  includes  this  in  his  list  of  Bir- 
terbuy Bay  shells,  and  Mr.  Warren  writes  to  me  (Feb.  1847)  that  he  has 
obtained  it  at  Portmarnock. 

Amphidesma  intermedia,  Thompson. 

Shell  oval — oblong,  nearly  equilateral,  white  with  prismatic  colours. 

Length  2f  lines ; breadth  4 ; thickness  1^  ; beaks  almost  central ; shell 
nearly  equilateral,  rounded  at  each  end,  more  particularly  at  the  poste- 
rior ; thin,  semi-transparent,  glossy,  white  with  prismatic  hues.  This  spe- 
cies is  intermediate  in  form  or  outline  between  Amph.  prismatica  and 
A.  Boysii , and  also  in  general  characters,  but  on  the  whole  may  perhaps 
be  said  to  approximate  the  latter  more  nearly ; its  form,  however,  at  once 
marks  it  as  distinct  from  A.  Boysii,  than  which  it  has  the  beaks  more 
central,  is  broader  and  more  equilateral,  has  the  apex  rather  more  marked 
and  pointed,  and  is  beautifully  iridescent  inside  and  outside  ; the  teeth 
do  not  present  any  marked  differential  characters. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


■347 


Two  examples  of  this  species  were  dredged  from  a depth  of  about  6 
fathoms  in  Strangford  Lough,  near  Portaferry,  in  August,  1837,  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  myself ; and  two  more  were  in  like  manner  procured  by 
us  in  July,  1840,  when,  with  Prof.  Edward  Forbes  and  Dr.  R.  Ball,  dredg- 
ing in  Killery  Bay  on  the  western  coast — depth  from  3 to  12  fathoms. 

Mr.  Barlee  includes  it  in  his  list  of  Birterbuy  Bay  shells  dredged  in 
1845,  and  Mr.  M ‘Andrew  in  his  list  of  species  taken  in  or  near  Bantry 
Bay,  in  1846. 

April  21, 1848.  A valve  of  it,  and  one  of  A.  Boysii , found  in  a large  plaice 
caught  in  Belfast  Bay  by  E.  Getty,  Esq.  The  stomach  and  intestines 
were  almost  filled  with  Solen  pellucidus. 

There  were  also  a Corbula  striata  and  a Venus  laminosa. 

Genus  Cyprina. 

C.  Islandica,  Linn. 

Dublin  Bay  and  Bray,  Br.  Turt.  Commonly  found  on  extensive 
sandy  beaches,  as  Magilligan,  Portmarnock,  &c.  Dredged  in  Belfast  and 
Strangford  Loughs,  on  sand  and  mud  from  about  5 to  12  fathoms,  living  ; 
dead  shells  obtained  from  the  greatest  depths  there — about  25  fathoms, 
Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Dredged  in  Dublin  Bay  (Dr.  Ball  and  W.  T.), 
and  in  or  near  Bantry  Bay,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  Not  included  in  the  lists 
of  species  from  the  western  coasts,  nor  was  it  obtained  by  our  party  in 
1840,  by  occasional  dredging  or  otherwise,  from  Bundoran  to  the  South 
Isles  of  Arran. 

C.  minima , Mont. 

Miltown  Malbay,  rare,  Professor  Harvey ; Youghal,  very  rare,  Miss 
M.  Ball ; Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  Humphreys,  Mr.  Barlee,  and  Mr.  M‘ Andrew ; 
Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran,  Mr.  Barlee.  I have  seen  a specimen  from 
Erris,  Co.  Mayo  (Miss  Bingham),  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Warren. 

“ Portmarnock,  very  rare,”  Turt.  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Mactra. 

M.  solida,  Penn.  Dublin  Bay,  Br.  Turt. 

Although  found  on  each  side  of  the  island,  not  generally  distributed : 
it  is  chiefly  met  with  thrown  ashore  on  extensive  sandy  beaches.  Magil- 
ligan and  Portmarnock  are  the  chief  localities  in  which  it  has  occurred 
to  myself ; in  both  of  them  Sertularia  argentea  is  often  found  parasitic 
on  it. 

Red  Bay  and  Larne,  Co.  Antrim,  W.  T.  Ballysodare,  Co.  Sligo  (a 
monstrous  var.),  Mrs.  Hancock.  This  is  the  only  western  habitat,  in  the 
MS.  catalogues  consulted. 

M.  elliptica , Br.  Portmarnock,  W.  T. 

Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs ; dredged  in  the  former  from  20  fathoms, 
shelly  sand : specimens  dead  in  both  localities. 

M.  truncata , Mont. 

Dublin  coast,  not  uncommon,  Br.  Turt.  Found,  near  low-water  mark 
in  sand;  brought  to  Belfast  with  cockles  for  sale,  and  together  with 
Venus  aurea , similarly  obtained,  commonly  called  lady  cockle.  Red  Bay, 
W.  T.  Ballysodare  ; the  remark  in  reference  to  this  locality  under  M . 
solida  equally  applies  to  the  present  species. 


348 


MOLLUSCA. 


M.  subtruncata,  Mont. 

“ Dublin  coast;  sparingly,”  Turt.  Br.  Dredged  from  10  to  12  fathoms 
on  sand  in  Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Dredged  in 
Killery,  Clifden,  and  Clew  Bays,  in  1840. 

M.  stuttorum,  Linn. 

“ Dublin  Bay  and  Dundrum  sands,”  Brown.  Although  generally  com- 
mon where  it  is  met  with — living  on  sandy  beaches — below  low-water 
mark,  and  found  on  every  side  of  the  island,  by  no  means  generally  dis- 
tributed. 

Red  Bay  (Antrim),  Newcastle  (Down),  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 
Clifden  Bay  (Galway),  W.  T. 

Var.  M.  cinerea,  Magilligan ; Portmarnock,  W.  T. ; Youghal,  R.  B. 
Genus  Goodalia. 

G.  triangularis , Mont. 

“Ireland,”  Turt.  B.  Biv. all  that  is  said  of  it  as  found  on  our  coasts. 
Dredged  once  in  shell-sand  from  about  10  fathoms  near  Portaferry, 
Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman,  W.  T.,  1847.  I saw  a specimen  from 
Kilkee,  Co.  Clare,  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
At  Dalkey  a single  living  specimen  got  by  dredging,  1840. 

Yar.  minutissima,  Mont. 

“ Drifted  sand  at  Portmarnock,”  Turt.  Catal.  “ Dublin  Bay,”  Turt.  C. 
D.  p.  88.  The  only  locality  named  in  the  Brit.  Biv.  is  “ Cornwall.”  I 
saw  specimens  from  Kilkee  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  Found  at  Sana 
Island  with  last. 

Genus  Lepton. 

L.  squamosum , Mont. 

A single  valve  obtained  in  Cork  harbour,  Aug.,  1843,  Dr.  R.  Ball, 
Prof.  E.  Forbes.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Mr.  Barlee  ; and  adjoining  Roundstone 
Bay  (one  specimen),  Dr.  W.  H.  Harvey.  In  or  near  Bantry  Bay,  Mr. 
M‘Andrew  : — taken  by  dredging  in  all  these  instances. 

Genus  Galeomma. 

G.  Turtoni,  Sow. 

An  imperfect  valve  was  dredged  from  the  Nymph  Bank  by  Mr. 
M ‘Andrew  in  1848. 


Genus  Kellia. 

K.  suborbicularis,  Mont. 

Dublin  Bay,  Turt.  C.  D.  Mr.  Warren  lately  obtained  it  in  this  locality. 
The  western  coast,  bays,  and  exposed  shores  seem  to  be  its  favourite 
residence  ; in  addition  to  the  localities  indicated  in  the  table,  it  was 
dredged  in  Clew,  Killery,  and  Clifden  Bays,  in  1840,  by  our  party.  M. 
Malbay  and  Bundoran,  where  it  was  found  cast  ashore  on  the  sands,  and 
noted  as  common  at  the  former,  are  exposed  coasts.  In  the  bays  named 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


349 


(and  Dr.  Farran  makes  the  same  remark  with  respect  to  Birterbuy  Bay) 
we  found  it  generally  within  dead  bivalves. 

K.  rubra , Mont. 

Among  mussels  ( Myliti ) on  the  shores  of  the  Skerries,  islands  off  Port- 
rush  ; and  about  the  roots  of  growing  sea-weeds  between  tide-marks. 
Belfast  Bay ; Wicklow  coast,  W.  T.  In  shell-sand  sent  me  from  Kilkee, 
Co.  Clare. 

Genus  Montacuta. 

Montacuta  substriata,  Mont,  (sp.) 

Found  on  the  purple  urchin  ( Spatangus  purpureus ),  dredged  from 
25  fathoms,  at  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  in  May, 
1842. 

M.  bidentata,  Mont. 

“ Imbedded  in  the  hack  of  old  oyster-shells  about  Cork  and  Dublin 
Bay,”  Turt.  Catal.  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay  (one  specimen),  1834,  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Bundoran,  Mr.  Warren. 

M.  ferruginosa , Mont. 

Dublin  coast,  Turt.  Whence  only  have  I yet  seen  specimens.  Several 
specimens  taken  in  fine  sand  from  thirty  fathoms  betwreen  Baltimore 
Harbour  and  Cape  Clear,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew,  who  adds,  “ frequent  in 
company  with  fine  living  specimens  of  JEulima  subulata” 

M.  ovata. 

Specimens  of  this  shell  from  the  southern  coast  are  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s 
cabinet,  as  are  some  in  Mr.  Warren’s  from  Portmarnock  sands.  Several 
found  on  the  beach  at  Bundoran  by  Mrs.  Hancock. 

M.  purpurea , Hanl. 

In  profusion  about  the  roots  of  plants  growing  on  rocks  accessible  at 
low-water,  and  also  on  the  leaves  of  those  growing  on  the  oozy  banks  of 
Belfast  Bay : the  shoals  of  mullet  {Mugil  chelo ) consume  vast  quantities 
of  them  when  roving  over  these  banks,  feeding  in  spring  and  summer. 
Larne  Lough ; Dublin  Bay,  W.  T.  From  the  coast  of  Clare,  in  Mr. 
Warren’s  collection. 


Genus  Cyclas. 

C.  cornea , Lam. 

Commonly  distributed  over  the  island,  occurring  in  small  ponds,  &c., 
as  well  as  lakes  and  rivers, — the  var.  fi.  of  Jenyns  and  other  varieties  not 
unfrequent.  In  summer  I find  the  C.  cornea  of  all  sizes,  abundant  in 
masses  of  Confervce,  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 

Cyclas  lacustris,  Turt. 

Is  rare  and  local  in  Ireland ; occurs  in  the  East  and  South.  To  Dr.  It. 
Ball  of  Dublin  I am  indebted  for  specimens  which  were  taken  by  him 
many  years  ago  in  a pond  at  Tallaght,  a few  miles  from  the  metropolis  ; 


350 


MOLLUSCA. 


he  has  also  procured  some  at  Youghal ; in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  cabinet,  is  a 
specimen  from  another  locality  in  the  South.  By  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren  of 
Dublin  this  Cyclas  has  been  obtained  in  a pond  in  the  Phoenix  Park, 
and  in  the  Grand  Canal  near  that  city.  And  by  Dr.  Coulter  in  Lord 
Roden’s  demesne,  Dundalk.  Dr.  Hincks  has  lately  procured  it  near 
Cork. 

Genus  Pisidium. 

P.  obtusale,  Pfeiffer  ? 

This,  with  the  exception  of  P.  Hensloivianum,  would  seem  to  be  the  rarest 
of  the  Pisidia  in  Ireland.  In  two  localities  in  the  County  of  Down,  it  has 
occurred  to  me,  in  a drain  cut  through  clay  soil,  in  a brickfield  near 
Bangor,  and  in  a pond  at  Portavo,  the  seat  of  D.  Ker,  Esq.,  M.  P.  A 
single  specimen  has  been  taken  at  Finnoe  (County  Tipperary)  by  Edw. 
Waller,  Esq. 

Pisidium  nitidum,  Jenyns, 

Is  somewhat  generally  distributed  in  Ireland.  It  is  abundant  in  a cold 
turfy  deposit,  conveyed  by  a mountain-stream  to  a pond  at  Wolfhill  near 
Belfast ; and  on  the  Utricularia  vulgaris  growing  in  stagnant  pools,  ex- 
cavated in  brick-making,  close  to  the  town.  These  places  are  of  a very 
different  nature,  the  pond  at  the  former  being  supplied  with  clear  spring 
water,  and  at  an  elevation  of  nearly  600  feet  above  the  sea,  the  latter  but 
a few  feet  above  it,  and  supplied  only  with  rain  water.  In  the  West  I 
have  obtained  this  species  in  Lough  Gill,  County  Sligo.  From  about 
Portarlington  it  has  been  sent  me  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke,  and  from 
Finnoe,  by  Edw.  Waller,  Esq. 

Pisidium  pusittum,  Jenyns, 

Is  the  most  common  of  the  genus  in  Ireland,  and  universally  distributed. 
It  is  generally  to  be  met  with  in  ponds,  drains,  &c. ; but  in  marshy  spots, 
both  in  this  country  and  in  Scotland,  I have  found  it  in  company  with, 
and  adhering  to,  the  same  stones  as  land  Mollusca,  which  inhabit  such 
places,  'as  Vertigo  palustris,  &c.  In  the  North  and  South  of  Ireland  I 
have  procured  it  among  moss,  which  was  kept  moist  only  by  the  spray  of 
the  waterfall. 

Pisidium  pulchellum,  Jenyns. 

This  handsome  and  well-marked  species  is  generally  distributed  over 
the  island.  It  inhabits  stagnant  and  running  water  of  the  least,  as  well 
as  the  greatest,  extent ; and  at  the  same  time  and  place  may  be  found  on 
various  subaquatic  plants  and  buried  in  the  mud.  The  largest  and  finest 
specimens  I have  procured  were  from  the  gently-flowing  river  Main,  near 
its  junction  with  Lough  Neagh. 

Pisidium  Henslowianum,  Jenyns. 

The  addition  of  this  species  to  our  Fauna  is  due  to  Edw.  Waller,  Esq., 
Avho  has  favoured  me  with  the  inspection  of  a few  specimens  which  he 
procured  at  Finnoe,  County  Tipperary. 

Pisidium  am?ncum,  Jenyns, 

Although  not  very  common,  is  widely  distributed  over  the  island,  and  is 
known  to  me  as  occurring  in  every  portion  except  the  extreme  South. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


351 


Capt.  Brown  noticed  as  localities — “ in  a stream  near  Clonooney  ; in  the 
Grand  Canal,  and  in  the  Liffey,  plentiful,”  p.  508 ; in  this  river  it  attains 
a very  large  size.  In  the  river  Main,  near  its  junction  with  Lough 
Neagh ; in  the  rejectamenta  of  this  lake  near  Toome,  and  in  that  of  the 
river  Lagan,  near  Belfast,  I have  found  the  P.  amnicum.  Ballitore 
(County  Kildare),  Limerick,  and  Miltown  Malbay,  are  noticed  by  Pro- 
fessor Harvey  as  localities.  From  the  river  Barrow,  near  Portarling- 
ton,  the  species  has  been  sent  me  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke. 

Pisidium  cinereum,  Alder, 

Is  not  common,  but  is  widely  distributed  in  Ireland,  being  found  in  the 
North,  East,  West,  and  South.  In  Sept.,  1833,  I first  met  wdth  it  in  a 
moist  spot  in  the  wood  at  Holywood  House,  County  Down,  and  have  since 
obtained  a very  few  specimens  in  different  parts  of  this  County  and  of 
Antrim.  Among  Pisidia  collected  at  Youngrove,  near  Middleton  (County 
Cork),  by  Miss  M.  Ball ; at  Killereran  (County  Galway)  and  Portarling- 
ton,  by  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Clarke  ; and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dublin,  by 
T.  W.  Warren,  Esq.,  is  the  P.  cinereum. 

Genus  Astarte. 

A.  Danmoniensis , Sow. 

Bray  and  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  Turt.  Br. 

Dredged  off  the  Co.  Antrim  coast ; in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs 
sparingly,  from  about  8 to  25  fathoms,  on  mud  and  sand,  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  W.  T.  Appears  to  be  extremely  scarce  at  Youghal  and  Cork,  where 
it  has  been  met  with  in  the  South.  Not  included  in  any  of  my  western 
lists. 

A.  Scotica,  Flem. 

“ Dredged  at  Bray ; not  common,”  O’Kelly.  All  the  remarks  in  the 
last  apply  equally  to  this. 

Genus  Artemis. 

A.  exoleta , Linn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  Common  on  most  sandy  coasts. 

Dredged  from  5 to  10  fathoms  on  sand  in  Belfast  and  Strangford 
Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Larne  Lough,  W.  T. ; Ballysodare,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

A.  lincta,  Pult. 

Taken  as  last  and  in  same  localities. 

A.  undata , Penn. 

Dublin  coast,  Belfast  Bay,  western  coasts,  Br.  Turt.  Not  uncommon 
on  most  sandy  coasts.  In  addition  to  the  places  indicated,  obtained  in 
Killery  Bay  in  1840. 


Genus  Cytherea. 

C.  ovata  (Br.  Turt.). 

A rather  common  species.  Dredged  alive  in  Belfast  and  Strangford 
Loughs,  from  10  to  20  fathoms  on  oozy  ground.  Larne  Lough,  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Dredged  in  Killery  and  Clew  Bays  in  1840. 


352 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Venus. 

V.  verrucosa,  Linn. 

“Wexford,  rare,”  Brown.  “Bray  and  Bantry  Bay,”  Turt.  Mr. 
Hyndman’s  cabinet  contains  a young  shell  ( V.  cancellata ) given  him  as 
from  Magilligan.  Turton’s  notice  of  Bray  is  all  that  I know  of  it  on  the 
East  coast.  The  South  and  West  are  at  all  events  its  chief  abode. 

Ballysodare,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Clifden  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  W.  T.,  &c.  Birterbuy  Bay  (obtained  at  low-water  mark  by  digging 
8 — 10  inches),  Dr.  Farran.  Coast  of  Clare,  Dr.  Ball. 

V.  casina,  Linn. 

Bray,  Br.  Turt.  V.  rejlexa,  “ Bantry  Bay  ; very  rare.”  Turt. 

Pretty  generally  distributed,  in  sparing  numbers.  Dredged  in  Belfast 
and  Strangford  Loughs,  from  10  to  20  fathoms,  on  soft  sand,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man and  W.  T.  Ballysodare,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Dredged  in  Killery  Bay 
in  1840,  W.  T.,  &c.,  and  South  Isles  of  Arran,  Mr.  Barlee  (“  V.  rejlexa  ”). 

V.  fasciata,  Don. 

Dublin  coast,  Bantry  Bay,  Br.  Turt.  Not  uncommon. 

Dredged  occasionally  alive  from  8 to  23  fathoms,  on  sandy  ground,  in 
Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Ballysodare, 
large  and  highly-coloured,  as  indeed  are  all  the  shells  of  this  family  there 
when  mature ; 'collected  by  Mrs.  Hancock.  Bantry  Bay  seems  its 
favourite  locality  ; by  Dillwyn  it  was  remarked  as  “very  common”  here. 
Dredged  near  the  South  Isles  of  Arran  by  Mr.  Barlee. 

V.  Pennantii,  Forbes. 

Bantry  Bay,  Turt.  Magilligan,  Belfast,  Strangford,  and  Birterbuy 
Bays.  Not  common. 

Killery  Bay,  where  it  was  dredged  between  3 and  12  fathoms  in  1840. 

V.  gallina,  Linn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt. ; common.  Thrown  ashore  on  the  sandy 
beach  of  Magilligan  in  quantity  and  of  large  size.  Found  alive  from 
low-water  mark  to  8 and  10  fathoms  on  the  North  and  North-East  sandy 
coasts.  Dredged  in  Killery  Bay  in  1840. 

V.  sinuosa,  Penn. 

“ Dublin  Bay ; rare,”  Brown.  “ Taken  alive  in  Dublin  Bay,”  Turt. 
C.  D.  p.  249.  Dredged  in  or  near  Bantry  Bay,  1846,  Mr.  M ‘Andrew. 

Genus  Pullastra. 

P.  aurea,  Br. 

“ Dublin  Bay  and  Portmarnock  (Dr.  Turton) ; Bantry  Bay  (Dr.  Taylor) ; 
Carrickfergus  Bay  (Dr.  M ‘Donnell)  ; rare.”  Brown.  “ Valentia  Harbour, 
Co.  Kerry.”  O’Kelly,  in  Penn.  Brit.  Zool.  vol.  iv.  p.  240  (Dublin  edit.). 
Not  uncommon  in  the  localities  indicated  in  the  table,  in  addition  to  which 
Clifden  and  Clew  Bays  (where  it  was  dredged  from  the  depth  of  a few 
fathoms)  and  the  coast  of  Clare  (Dr.  Ball)  may  be  named. 

Found  in  sand  from  about  low-water  mark  to  a few  fathoms’  depth. 

V.  cenea  and  V.  nitens,  Turt.,  are  noticed  by  that  author  as  found 
buried  in  the  blue  clay  at  Clontarf,  near  Dublin.  The  former  I have 
taken  alive  in  Strangford  Lough ; and  specimens  similarly  found  in  Bantry 
Bay  are  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


353 


P.  perforans,  Br. 

“ Portmarnock,  and  in  stones  at  Howth.”  Brown. 

A common  species,  on  sandy  beaches,  near  to  and  below  low-water 
mark,  as  well  as  the  following  form  or  species.  Inhabits  the  exposed 
coasts  of  Antrim  and  Down,  as  well  as  the  bays ; the  P.  perforans  being 
apparently  the  more  common  in  such  localities.  Found  within  apertures 
in  indurated  clay  with  Pholas  Candidas  and  P.  dactylus  ; at  Carrickfergus 
in  apertures  in  limestone  ; and  in  Belfast  Bay  and  elsewhere.  Ballysodare, 
Mrs.  Hancock. 

P.  vulgaris , Sow. 

“ Dublin  Bay  and  Portmarnock,  plentiful.”  Br.  Turt. 

What  is  said  of  localities  under  the  last  species  equally  applies  to  this. 
In  addition,  Lahinch  (Co.  Clare)  and  Killery  Bay  may  be  named 

P.  decussata,  Br.  Dublin  coast,  Br. 

A common  species ; near  to  and  below  low-water  mark.  Coast  of  Louth 
(W.  T.) ; Ballysodare  (of  large  size  and  highly  coloured ; plentiful,  Mrs. 
Hancock).  Clifden  and  Killery  Bays,  W.  T.,  &c. 

P.  virginea , Br.  Bray  ; Portmarnock,  Br.  Turt. 

A common  species.  Dredged  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  chiefly 
from  about  10  to  20  fathoms,  on  sand  and  mud.  Ballysodare,  Mrs.  Han- 
cock. Clew  and  Killery  Bays,  W.  T.,  &c.  In  a lake,  brackish  water, 
largest  South  Isles  of  Arran  (Arranmore),  Dr.  R.  Ball  and  W.  T.,  1834. 

Var.  V.  Sarniensis,  Turt.  Brit.  Biv.,  is  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  on  the 
Dublin  and  southern  and  western  coasts. 

Genus  Venerupis. 

V.  Irus,  Linn. 

“ At  Miltown  Malbay  this  shell  always  inhabits  sponges  or  sea-weeds  ; 
often  the  roots  of  Laminaria  bulbosaP  Professor  W.  H.  Harvey.  Dr. 
Farran  mentions  his  finding  a V.  Irus  on  the  exposed  granite  rocks  at 
Birterbuy  Bay,  to  which  it  moored  itself  by  strong  threads  similar  to 
those  of  the  byssus  of  the  mussel. 

Genus  PETRICOLA. 

P.  ochroleuca,  Lam. 

Bantry  Bay,  Miss  Hutchins;  Dr.  Turton,  Br.  Turt.,  Dublin  (sub- 
fossils) and  Yalentia  added  in  Turt.  Brit.  Biv.  Found  alive  at  Bantry 
Bay  by  Mr.  Warren,  and  dredged  quite  recent  (the  animal  dead  within 
the  shell)  in  Birterbuy  Bay  by  Dr.  Farran.  Not  uncommon  in  a deposit 
of  blue  clay  in  Dublin  Bay,  where  it  was  found  many  years  ago  by  Mr. 
Furlong  (O’Kelly,  in  Penn.  Brit.  Zool.).  In  1840  I procured  it  there 
from  the  same  material  brought  up  from  a depth  of  several  feet.  Ard- 
more, Mrs.  Mackesy. 

Family  Pylorid^e. 

Genus  Corbula. 

C.  striata , Flem.  Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt. 

Although  found  on  each  side  of  the  coast,  not  generally  distributed  ; 


354 


MOLLUSCA. 


rarest  on  the  West  coast.  Birterbuy  Bay  (Dr.  Farran)  is  the  only  locality 
in  my  lists  for  it  in  that  quarter.  Strangford  Lough  is  the  best  locality 
known  to  me  for  this  species,  in  some  parts  of  which  it  is  common  on 
muddy  ground,  at  a depth  of  about  from  4 to  10  fathoms.  Kingstown 
Harbour,  R.  Ball. 

Genus  Sph^nia. 

8.  Binghami , Turt. 

Two  valves  found  at  Bray  many  years  ago  by  Professor  W.  H.  Harvey. 
Birterbuy  Bay,  Mr.  Barlee. 

Genus  Ne^era. 

N.  cuspidata , Olivi. 

Cape  Clear,  60  fathoms,  Mr.  M ‘Andrew. 

Genus  Pandora. 

P.  obtusa,  Leach. 

Dredged  off  Carrickfergus,  Sept.,  1835,  Mr.  Hyndman ; subsequently 
by  Mr.  H.  and  myself  in  Strangford  Lough. 

Genus  Thracia. 

T.  convexa,  Wood. 

Three  specimens  were  got  by  Mr.  Warren  off  the  Dublin  coast,  with 
the  animal  in  a fresh  state.  They  were  full-grown.  Cork  Harbour,  Mr. 
Humphreys.  Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  Also  in  Strangford  Lough, 
and  near  Belfast,  in  the  cuttings  for  the  new  channel,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

T.  pubescens,  Pult. 

Belfast  Bay.  Near  Dublin,  Mr.  Warren.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Mr.  Barlee. 

T.  declivis,  Thor. 

Belfast  and  Strangford.  Dublin,  Mr.  Warren.  Bantry  Bay,  Mr. 
M‘Andrew.  Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

T.  distorta,  Mont. 

Very  rare.  Youghal,  in  limestone,  Dr.  Ball.  Cork  Harbour,  Mr. 
Humphreys.  Dublin  Bay  and  Bray,  Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey.  1847, 1 saw  it 
from  Portmarnock  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection.  In  limestone  near  Belfast, 
with  saxicava,  Mr.  Grainger. 

Genus  Anatina. 

A.  prcetenuis,  Turt. 

Dublin  coast,  O’Kelly ; Turton.  “ Belfast  Lough,  rare,”  Brown.  The 
latter  locality  probably  a mistake.  Portmarnock  is  the  only  Irish  locality 
named  in  the  author’s  latest  work,  Illust.  Brit.  Conch.  2nd  edit.  Magilli- 
gan  is  the  only  northern  locality  in  which  the  species  has  yet  been  met 
with  by  Mr.  Hyndman  or  myself ; it  is  thrown  ashore  quite  fresh  there. 
On  the  Dublin  sandy  coasts  I have  likewise  found  it.  Bantry,  Miss  M. 
Ball.  Cork  Harbour,  rare,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Rather  a scarce  species. 

Genus  Mya. 

M.  truncata,  Linn. 

A common  species,  littoral  on  sandy  coasts. 


LAMELLIBRAN  CHIATA. 


355 


M.  arenaria,  Linn. 

Plentiful  in  localities  on  every  side  the  coast.  Frequently  buried  in 
the  soft  sand  of  Belfast  Bay,  between  tide-marks.  Dug  out  and  eaten  by 
some  of  the  poorer  people  here,  as  it  is  on  various  parts  of  the  coast. 

Ballyshannon,  Co.  Donegal  ; Sligo  coast,  Killery  Bay,  W.  T.,  &c. 

Genus  Lyonsia. 

L.  Norvegica,  Chem. 

Two  valves  found  by  Miss  Hutchins  in  Bantry  Bay,  in  Dr.  Taylor’s 
collection,  Brown. 

A very  rare  species,  though  widely  distributed.  Dredged  in  Belfast 
and  Strangford  Loughs,  in  from  6 to  1 2 fathoms,  among  sea-weed. 

Dublin  coast,  Dr.  Ball,  &c.  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran,  Mr.  Barlee. 
A single  valve,  Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Dredged  in  or  near  Bantry  Bay, 
Mr.  M‘Andrew. 

Genus  Lutraria. 

L.  vulgaris,  Flem. 

Like  Mya  arenaria,  plentiful  in  localities  on  all  sides  the  coast ; and 
in  those  of  a nature  similar  to  those  where  that  species  occurs.  Used  as 
edging  to  garden  plots  by  the  cottagers  at  Bundoran,  where  it  is  abundant, 
Mrs.  Hancock. 

L.  hians,  Flem. 

About  Cove,  rare,  Turt.  Catal.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Bantry 
Bay,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Found  in  a recent  deposit  of  blue  clay  excavated 
for  a dock  at  Belfast,  Dr.  Wm.  M‘Gee.  1847,  I saw  specimens  from 
Dublin  Bay  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection. 

L.  compressa,  Lam. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  This  should  not  perhaps  have  been  noted  in  the 
Belfast  Bay  column,  as,  though  not  uncommon  in  a dead  state,  it  has  not 
been  found  alive  to  my  knowledge.*  Dundalk  and  Clontarf  (Dublin 
Bay),  recently  dead,  and  in  situ  between  high  and  low  water  mark,  Mr. 
Hyndman.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  Mud-banks,  Cork  Harbour,  common, 
Mr.  Humphreys. 

Genus  Psammobia. 

P.  Tellinella,  Lam. 

Ireland,  Turt.  Rather  rare,  except  perhaps  at  Bantry  Bay,  whence 
specimens  have  been  supplied  me  by  Dr.  Ball.  Dredged  very  rarely  in 
Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  from  about  10  fathoms,  sandy  ground. 
Dublin  coast,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  Mr.  Warren,  in  a letter  dated 
February  3rd,  1847,  remarked,  “A  few  days  ago  I found  at  Portmarnock 
147  good  living  specimens  of  Psam.  jlorida,  though  I had  seldom  obtained 
more  than  a single  specimen  there  at  one  time  before.”  Birterbuy  Bay, 
Dr.  Farran,  Mr.  Barlee.  The  latter  gentleman  dredged  near  the  South 
Isles  of  Arran  the  var.  with  about  £ of  each  valve  striated. 

P.  Ferroensis,  Chemn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  Commonly  thrown  ashore  on  most  sandy 


* Possibly  it  may  only  have  to  be  dug  for  to  be  so  obtained.  It  is  found  on 
the  muddy  banks  of  the  river  Lagan,  nearly  as  far  up  as  the  tide  flows. 

2 a 2 


356 


MOLLUSCA. 


beaches.  Inhabits  below  low-watermark.  Red  Bay,  Co.  Antrim,  W.  T.  ; 
Dundalk  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman ; Killery  Bay,  dredged  from  a few  fathoms 
by  our  party,  in  1840.  Ardmore,  Mrs.  Mackesy. 

P.  vespertina,  Turt. 

Bantry  Bay,  Brown.  Portmarnock,  Turt.,  rare.  From  Larne  Lough, 
Co.  Antrim,  a specimen  has  been  sent  me. 

I have  not  noted  any  specimens  from  the  Dublin  or  other  eastern  coast, 
as  seen  in  collections  or  obtained  there  ; hence  Portmarnock  remains  on 
Turton’s  authority  only.  Youghal,  Bantry  Bay,  Dr.  Ball,  to  whom  it  is 
unknown  as  a Dublin  species.  One  specimen  found  in  Cork  Harbour, 
Mr.  Humphreys.  Galway  coast,  Professor  W.  H.  Harvey.  Birterbuy 
Bay,  Dr.  Farran. 

Genus  Solen. 

S.  vagina , Linn. 

Dublin  coast,  Br.  Turt.  This  species  seems  chiefly  to  be  met  with  on 
the  most  extensive  sandy  beaches.  A specimen  has  been  given  me  as 
from  Larne  Lough. 

S.  siliqua,  Linn. 

Most  common  of  the  genus  on  our  coast  generally. 

S.  ensis,  Linn. 

Dublin  coast,  common,  Br.  Turt.  Common  on  sandy  coasts.  Bally- 
sodare,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Clew  and  Clifden  Bays,  W.  T.  In  abundance  at 
Birterbuy  Bay,  where  S.  siliqua  is  rare,  Dr.  Farran. 

S.  pellucidus,  Penn. 

Dublin  coast,  Turt.  Catal.  Dredged  chiefly  from  about  3 to  6 fathoms, 
on  sandy  ground  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  H.  and  T.  Dundalk 
Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Not  a common  species. 

Mag  10^A,  1847. — Solen  pellucidus.- — Two  plaice  bought  in  Belfast 
market  to-day  had  their  stomachs  wholly  v filled  with  broken  remains  of 
this  shell. 

S.  legumen,  Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  Br.  Turt.  (Irish  Catalogues.)  “Plentiful  on  the  East 
coast  from  Cork  to  Belfast,”  Brown’s  Illust.  p.  113,  2nd  edit.  This  re- 
mark gives  quite  too  extensive  an  idea  of  its  distribution.  Specimens 
from  the  extensive  sandy  coasts  of  Louth  and  Dublin  only  have  come 
under  my  notice ; if  the  species  be  found  so  far  North  as  Down,  it  must 
be  only  on  the  more  southern  part  of  it. 

Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  Humphreys,  &c. 

S.  antiquatus,  Pult. 

Portmarnock,  Br.  Turt.  Red  Bay  and  Larne  Lough,  Co.  Antrim — 
Strangford  Lough,  8 — 10  fathoms,  soft  sand,  W.  T. 

Dublin  coast,  Dr.  Ball. 

S.  strigilatus,  Turt. 

“ Found  at  Howth,  by  Mr.  Tardy,”  Turt.  C.  D.  Bantry  Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA.  357 

Mi*.  Humphreys,  &c.  A small  specimen  procured  at  Portmarnock  by 
Dr.  Lloyd  of  Malahide. 

Genus  Saxicava. 

S.  rugosa , Linn. 

Common  around  the  coast  on  the  North  and  East ; found  from  between 
tide-marks  to  20  fathoms,  and  either  burrowing  or  free.  Found  shelter- 
tering  among  Balani  or  other  excrescences  on  oysters,  clams  {Pecten  max- 
imus ),  and  in  the  roots  of  the  tangle  {Laminaria  ’digitata).  I have  seen 
large  blocks  of  limestone  brought  up  from  some  depth  in  Dublin  Bay 
completely  honeycombed  externally,  apparently  by  this  species,  as  its  shells 
only  were  in  the  apertures. 

Jan.  1848.  Saxicava  rugosa. — I find  specimens  sheltering  among  broken 
Balani  and  in  the  interstices  of  Cellepora  cervicornis,  both  attached  to  a 
stone  brought  up  from  40  fathoms  off  the  Gobbins,  Co.  Antrim. 

I find  it  in  the  vacant  space  between  the  upper  portion  of  Anomia,  and 
the  oysters  to  which  they  are  attached. 

Family  TuBlGOLiE. 

Genus  Gasteoch^ena. 

G.  pholadia,  Mont. 

South  Islands  of  Arran,  off  Galway  Bay,  and  Youghal,  County  Cork, 
Dr.  Ball.  Burrowed  into  limestone  in  latter  locality.  Spike  Island,  Cork 
Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Dr.  Farran  obtained  it  at  Birterbuy  Bay,  as 
Sowerby  figures  it  from  the  Mediterranean,  within  a caddis-like  case, 
formed  by  itself  of  agglutinated  sand  and  shells. 

Genus  Pholas. 

P.  crispata,  Linn. 

Portmarnock,  Belfast  Lough,  Brown.  Inhabiting  indurated  clay 
(“  variegated  marl”),  about  low- water  mark,  Belfast  Bay.  Youghal,  Dr. 
Ball.  Ballycotten,  Co.  Cork,  Miss  Ball. 

P.  papyracea,  Turt. 

. Two  specimens  of  this  shell  in  the  Ordnance  Museum  are  labelled 

Portrush,”  North  of  Ireland.  In  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Annals,  p. 
14,  this  species  was  noticed  as  Irish,  with  some  doubt.  Prof.  Harvey  now 
writes  to  me,  that  “ the  specimen  there  alluded  to  as  found  in  a fishing- 
boat  at  Dublin,  was  procured  by  Mr.  Wm.  Todhunter,  who  believes  it  to 
have  been  dredged  on  a shelly  bank  between  Howth  and  Lambay.  It  cer- 
tainly was  embedded  in  a sandy  conglomerate  of  shells,  &c.,  which  is 
commonly  dredged  in  this  place ; the  Torbay  habitat,  if  I remember  right, 
is  hard  red  sandstone,  and  totally  different.”  It  is  remarked,  in  reference 
to  the  former  note — “ All  the  boats  of  a certain  class  in  this  port  (Dublin) 
are  called  ‘ Torbay  ’ boats,  as  they  originally  came  from  that  place.” 

“ This  shell  is  tolerably  abundant  in  Devonshire,  and  typifies  a peculiar  de- 
posit in  that  country  (red  marl).  Dr.  Farran  discovered  it  in  a position  and 
formation  greatly  at  variance  with  its  English  habitat,  having  found  it  in  com- 
pany with  three  other  Pholadce,  in  a submerged  bog,  directly  under  his  house 
at  Clonell,  near  Dungarvan.  Both  these  specimens  were  submitted  to  the  ex- 
amination of  Prof.  Edw.  Forbes,  during  his  recent  geological  visit  to  Waterford, 
and  elicited  from  that  learned  gentleman  the  remark  that  the  fish  was  excellent, 
but  that  the  Pholas  was  a noble  and  unsurpassed  specimen.  The  discovery  of 


358 


MOLLUSCA. 


this  mollusc  may  lead  to  some  interesting  geological  inferences,  and  should  give 
a stimulus  to  the  students  of  Irish  Natural  History,  to  endeavour  to  add  by 
unremitting  attention  and  examination  to  the  Fauna  of  their  country.” — Saunders' 
News-letter , Oct.  or  Nov.  1850. 

Prof.  Forbes  writes  me  that  he  saw  this  shell,  which  is  P.  papyracea. 
He  went  to  the  locality,  and  convinced  himself  that  it  had  been  found 
there. 

P.  striata,  Linn. 

January  7,  1842,  I was  favoured  with  the  following  communication  by 
Mr.  Warren  of  Dublin: — “ I send  for  your  examination  a Pholas  which  is 
new  to  me,  and  should  like  to  know  if  it  has  been  obtained  before  in  Ire- 
land. It  was  found  with  others  in  a piece  of  water-logged  mahogany, 
near  Killala,  in  the  County  Sligo,  by  Richard  Glennon,  jun.”  With  the 
letter  were  a single  valve  and  a perfect  specimen,  which  corresponded 
well  with  the  descriptions  of  Montagu  and  Fleming ; the  specimens  were 
4 lines  in  length,  and  7^  in  breadth;  the  plate  at  the  hinge  “sub-oval,” 
as  described  by  Montagu. 

In  January , 1844,  I was  further  informed  by  Mr.  Warren,  that  he  had 
received  a specimen  of  this  Pholas  from  Mr.  Gaggot,  who  found  several 
on  the  coast  of  Clare.  The  occurrence  of  the  species  in  the  first  instance 
was,  I believe,  noticed  in  the  Dublin  Penny  Magazine. 

P.  dactylus,  Linn. 

Howth  (Mr.  O’Kelly),  Brown.  Burrowing  in  variegated  marl,  from 
midway  between  high  and  low  water  mark  to  the  latter,  near  Carrick- 
fergus  Castle,  and  other  parts  of  Belfast  Bay.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  Bally- 
cotten,  Miss  Ball. 

P.  parva,  Mont., 

Was  procured  some  years  ago  off  the  Long  Strand,  Belfast  Bay,  by  Dr. 
J.  L.  Drummond ; subsequently  by  the  Ordnance  collectors  at  Whitehouse 
Point,  in  the  same  Bay. 

P.  candidus,  Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  rare,  Br.  With  P.  dactylus  in  the  locality  named,  W.  T. 
More  common  than  it  in  Belfast  Bay,  and  much  more  so  than  P.  crispata. 
P.  Candida  is  the  only  Pholas  included  in  the  lists  of  western  Mollusca 
supplied  me,  and  only  as  found  at  Birterbuy  Bay,  by  Dr.  Farran,  who 
states  that  it  is  common  there.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Teredo. 

T.  bipennata,  Turt. 

From  the  mast  of  a vessel  cast  ashore  at  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  Miltown 
Malbay,  Prof.  W.  H.  Harvey. 

T.  Norvagica,  Spengler. 

Previously  included  in  Bryce's  Tables,  &c.,  but  probably  from  sub-fossil 
specimens. 

Mr.  Getty  sent  me  specimens  found  in  blue  clay  near  Belfast,  Oct.  11, 
1844.  1847,  Kingstown,  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 

Donaghadee  (Co.  Down),  the  animal  alive. 

Miltown  Malbay  (Co.  Clare),  in  drift  timber. 


. TUNICATA. 


359 


Belfast,  in  the  bottom  of  a vessel  arrived  from  the  tropics  in  1846. 

Teredo  bipalmulata , Della  Chiaie. 

I found  numbers  of  this  comparatively  small  species,  together  with  a 
few  of  T.  navalis , Turt.,  in  the  timbers  of  a ship  on  her  return  to  Belfast 
from  a foreign  voyage  in  1846.  Portions  of  the  timbers  were  quite  honey- 
combed by  T.  malleolus,  so  that  the  vessel  had  in  consequence  to  undergo 
great  repair.  Turton  described  the  species  from  specimens  found  in 
drifted  timber  at  Torbay. 

Genus  Xylophaga. 

Xyl.  dorsalis,  Turt. 

(W.  T.  Ann.  N.  H.,  vol.  v.  p.  14).  In  rotten  wood  at  Ringsend,  Dublin 
Bay,  Prof.  Harvey.  In  wood  from  Dublin  coast,  Mr.  Warren,  1847. 


CLASS  TUNICATA. 

The  Mollusca  Tunicata  have  in  Ireland,  as  in  other  countries,  engaged 
very  little  attention  ; yet  if  mere  outward  beauty  be  any  attraction  to  the 
naturalist,  where  will  he  behold  it  more  surpassing  than  in  the  compound 
species  of  this  portion  of  the  animal  kingdom  ? Of  every  hue — arrayed 
in  purple  and  gold — will  he  find  them  even  in  this  “ cold  and  cloudy 
clime.  ” 

Genus  Ascidia. 

A.  mentula,  Miill. 

Belfast  Bay ; Roundstone  Bay,  Co.  Galway,  adhering  to  a stone  be- 
tween tide-marks,  W.  T.  &c. 

A.  rustica,  Linn. 

Commonly  investing  the  larger  marine  plants — found  on  shells,  stones, 
&c.  This  species  is  much  less  common  on  our  shores  in  the  adult  than  in 
the  young  state,  when,  assuming  a flattish  oval  form,  and  coloured  like  red 
cornelian,  it  is  seen  beautifully  studding  our  larger  Fuel. 

Lamarck  strangely  considered  that  the  A.  scabra , Miill.,  might  be  iden- 
tical with  this  ; they  certainly  have  no  relation  to  each  other.  Nor  can  I 
believe  with  him,  that  the  A.  patula  and  A.  aspersa,  Miill.,  have  any  con- 
nexion with  A.  rustica. — Anim.  sans  Vert.,  t.  iii.  p.  123. 

A.  venosa,  Miill. 

Obtained  by  dredging  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast ; first 
distinguished  as  an  Irish  species  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond.  It  is  remarked 
by  Miiller  to  be  common  about  Christiansand. 

A.  prunum , Miill.  (?) 

Procured  in  the  same  localities  as  last. 

A.  conchilega,  Miill. 

Coasts  of  Antrim  and  Down,  W.  T. 


360  MOLLUSCA, 

A.  parallelogramma,  Miill. 

X have  taken  this  beautiful  species  (which  is  admirably  represented  in 
the  work  of  Muller,  Z.  D.  vol.  ii.  p.  11)  on  different  occasions  when 
dredging  in  Strangford  Lough  ; it  was  attached  to  Algce. 

A.  canina,  Miill. 

Strangford  Lough  ; Clew  Bay  (Co.  Mayo),  W.  T. 

A.  aspersa,  Miill. 

Strangford  Lough. 

A.  scabra,  Miill. 

As  last.  Possibly  not  distinct  from  it. 

A.  ecliinata , Linn. 

Of  this  well-marked  and  pretty  species,  I obtained  an  individual  para- 
sitic on  one  of  the  larger  Ascidia  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough. 

A.  orbicularis , Miill. 

Obtained  on  Zostera  marina , in  Strangford  Lough. 

A.  mammillaris,  Della  Chiaie. 

Found  attached  to  Laminaria  digitata , &c.,  in  Belfast  and  Strangford 
Loughs.  The  spinous  tubercles  in  my  specimens  are  not  so  regularly 
disposed  over  the  body  as  represented  in  Chiaie’s  work ; they  are  most 
developed  about  the  orifices. 

A.  gemina,  Templeton. 

Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vii.  p.  129.  Entrance  of  Strangford  Lough,  adhering  to 
submerged  rocks. 

A.  tubulosa,  Miill. 

One  of  this  species,  about  twice  the  size  of  that  represented  in  the 
Zoologia  Danica,  was  dredged  from  pure  sand,  at  about  six  fathoms’ 
depth,  in  Ballyhome  Bay,  Co.  Down,  in  July,  1846  (Mr.  Hyndman  and 
"W.  T).  Professor  E.  Forbes,  to  whom  the  species  was  previously  known, 
says  that  it  is  common  in  the  Hebrides. 

A.  grossularia , Van  Beneden. 

This  species,  defined  as  having  the  “ test  corne,  presque  lisse,  de  couleur 
rouge,”  and  being  always  known  by  its  bright  red  colour,  was  found  in 
abundance  on  oysters  at  Brightlingsea  by  its  describer.  What  I consider 
to  be  the  same  species  is  likewise  abundant  on  shells,  stones,  and  occa- 
sionally on  Laminar  ice,  dredged  from  a few  fathoms’  depth,  on  the 
North-east  coast  of  Ireland.  It  seems  to  me  identical  with  what  is  repre- 
sented in  the  Zoologia  Danica,  vol.  i.  p.  15,  t.  15,  f.  3,  as  the  young 
state  of  Asc.  rustica  (previously  noticed  by  me  in  the  Annals,  vol.  v.  p. 
94).  No  allusion,  however,  is  made  by  Van  Beneden  to  the  A . grossularia 
resembling  any  other  Ascidia : but  I agree  with  him  in  considering  it  a 
perfectly  developed  species,  and  consequently  am  of  opinion  that  what 
Muller  considered  its  adult  state  is  another  species. 

A.  virginea,  Forb.  and  Hanl. 

I have  observed  a few  individuals  of  this  species  on  the  North-East 


TUNICATA. 


361 


coast.  I doubt  its  identity  with  the  A.  virginea,  Mull.  Zool.  Dan.,  vol.  ii. 
p.  12,  t.  49,  f.  4,  to  which  it  is  referred  in  the  work  quoted.  I have 
frequently  dredged  it  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  but  none  were  taken  in 
Strangford  Lough  on  the  8th  and  9th  Sept.  1851,  when  so  many 
other  species  occurred. 

A.  communis , Forbes,  MSS. 

Clew  Bay,  E.  Forbes,  &c. 

Genus  Phallusia. 

P.  intestinalis , Sav. 

Obtained  in  Strangford  Lough. 

Genus  Cynthia. 

C.  microcosmus,  Sav. 

North,  East,  and  West  of  Ireland. 

C.  claudicans,  Sav. 

Not  uncommon  on  oysters  and  other  shell-fish  taken  in  the  North-East 
of  Ireland.  Savigny  describes  it  as  common  on  the  oysters  brought  to 
Paris. 

Genus  Clavellina. 

C.  Lepadiformis,  Sav. 

Strangford  Lough. 


Genus  Distoma. 

D.  rubrum,  Sav. 

On  Laminaria  digitata  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  by  Edm.  Getty,  Esq., 
and  kindly  sent  me. 

This  species  was  communicated  by  Leach  to  Savigny,  who  notices  it 
simply  as  inhabiting  the  European  seas.  My  specimens  were  not  of  so 
lively  a colour  as  represented  in  Savigny’s  work. 

D.  variolosum-,  Gaert. 

A Distoma,  apparently  from  description  (I  have  not  seen  any  figure) 
of  this  species,  has  occurred  to  me,  investing  Fucus  serratus  in  Belfast 
Bay ; the  colour  was  always  whitish-yellow.  Gaertner  announced  the 
D.  variolosum  to  be  found  enveloping  Fucus  palmatus,  on  the  coast  of 
England. 

Genus  Aplidium. 

A.fallax,  Johnst. 

Found  by  me  on  the  North-East  coast,  several  years  since. 

Genus  Sidnyum. 

S.  turbinatum,  Sav. 

I once  procured  this  in  Strangford  ^ough ; and  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drum- 
mond it  has  since  been  found  in  Belfast  Bay. 


362 


MOLLUSCA. 


Genus  Amoroucium. 

A.  proliferum,  Edw. 

Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

A.  albicans,  Edw. 

Dredged  from  several  fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay  (1839),  and  on  the  Gal- 
way coast  (1840),  W.  T. 

Mr.  M‘Calla  mentioned  to  me  that  he  had  collected  this  species  on 
the  Irish  coast. 

Genus  Leptoclinum. 

L.  gelatinosum , Edw. 

On  the  roots  of  Laminarice,  in  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

L.  maculosum,  Edw. 

On  the  roots  of  Laminarice  in  Belfast  Bay  and  North  of  Ireland  ge- 
nerally ; — our  most  common  Leptoclinum,  W.  T. 

L.  asperum,  Edw. 

With  last. 

L.  auream,  Edw. 

Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Genus  Botryllus. 

B.  Leachii,  Sav. 

North-East  of  Ireland,  occasionally  investing  the  roots  of  Laminaria 
digitata,  & c. ; when  dried,  it  has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a sponge. 
This  species  was  sent  by  Leach  to  Savigny,  who  marks  it  with  doubt  as 
from  the  English  coast.  On  the  shores  of  Naples  it  has  been  found  by 
Della  Chiaie,  as  above  cited. 

B.  Schlosseri,  Linn. 

I have  occasionally  obtained  this  on  Algce  in  the  Loughs  of  Strang- 
ford and  Belfast,  and  have  found  it  attached  to  stones  at  the  island  of 
Lambay,  Dublin  coast. 

B.  polycyclus,  Sav. 

This  very  beautiful  species,  which  is  admirably  described  by  Savigny, 
I have  found  much  more  common  in  the  North  of  Ireland  than  the  B. 
Schlosseri ; it  occurs  chiefly  on  the  leaves  of  Laminaria  digitata.  The 
Adriatic  Sea  and  La  Manche  are  the  localities  whence  Savigny  pro- 
cured it.  What  Della  Chiaie  figures  as  a variety  of  this  species,  tab.  36, 
fig.  9,  has  occurred  to  me  as  commonly  as  the  ordinary  state. 

B.  gemmeus,  Sav. 

Adhering  to  Fuci  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  by  Edmund  Getty,  Esq. 

B.  bivittatus,  Edw. 

With  last. 


TUNICATA. 


363 


B.  violaceus,  Edw. 

On  Fuci,  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

B.  smaragdus,  Edw. 

A species  taken  at  Hollywood,  Belfast  Bay,  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond, 
in  the  summer  of  1846,  of  which  he  made  a drawing  and  noted  the  colour, 
seems  to  be  the  B.  smaragdus.  The  notes  are  not  in  sufficient  detail  to  in- 
sure certainty. 

Genus  Botrylloides. 

B.  albicans,  Edw. 

July  1 Qth,  1846.— I found  this  species  attached  to  the  under  side  of  a 
stone  in  a pool  between  tide-marks  at  Springvale,  County  of  Down.  It 
was  likewise  attached  to  Fuci  (F.  vesiculosus,  &c.)  growing  in  the  rock- 
pools,  and  was  in  much  smaller  masses  than  the  following  species  ; ge- 
nerally, but  one  system  of  individuals  existed  in  each  mass.  On  the  small 
branches  of  Fuci  to  which  it  was  attached  there  was  not  room  for  more  ; 
nor  was  there  indeed  on  the  broadest  portion  of  the  main  stem,  whence 
the  leading  branches  of  the  plant  issued : — the  latter  is  its  favourite 
position.  The  specimens  agreed  in  all  respects  with  the  descriptions  and 
figures  in  Edwards’  work. 

B.  rotifer  a,  Edw., 

Was  attached  to  the  under  side  of  the  same  stone  with  the  last,  and 
covered  several  square  inches  of  its  surface.  I mark  it  with  doubt  on  ac- 
count merely  of  some  little  difference  in  colour.  The  “ consistance  gela- 
tineuse”  was  rather  hyaline  than  “jaunatre  the  individual  forms  were 
more  of  a uniform  red  than  in  Edwards’  figure,  and  were  each  as  brightly 
coloured  as  in  B.  ruhrum,  Edw.,  and  of  the  hue  that  it  is  represented  to  be. 
The  individuals  being  arranged  in  a scattered  manner,  and  not  thrown 
into  masses  as  in  B.  rubrum,  was  a striking  character. 

B.  rubrum,  M.-Edw.  Mem.  Ascid.  Comp.,  p.  88,  pi.  6,  f.  3 ; Forb.  and 
Hanl.  Brit.  Moll.,  vol.  i.  p.  24. 

From  the  middle  of  February  last,  and  during  spring,  this  handsome 
species  was  commonly  thrown  ashore  at  Cultra,  Belfast  Bay,  its  bright 
colour  often  rendering  it  quite  a conspicuous  object  among  the  ordinary 
rejectamenta  of  the  waves.  Its  attachment  to  plants  which  grow  within 
a few  fathoms  of  depth  denoted  its  being  an  inhabitant  of  comparatively 
shallow  water.  The  largest  mass  which  came  under  my  notice  (brought 
to  me  by  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Patterson)  was  4f  inches  in  length,  1l  inch  in 
breadth,  and  ^ inch  in  thickness  at  the  thickest  portion  ; weight  f of  an 
ounce.  It  was  adherent  to  several  of  the  narrow  leaves  of  Zostera  marina, 
which  are  about  | of  an  inch  in  breadth,  and  to  these  only.  The  gela- 
tinous mass  was  reddish-brown  ; the  systems  of  animals  of  a brilliant 
orange-red.  It  agreed  in  all  respects  with  the  description  and  figure  of 
M.-Edwards.  The  variety  in  the  ramification  of  the  systems  of  animals 
through  so  large  a mass  was  extremely  beautiful,  resembling  an  elegant 
pattern  done  in  lace-work. 

A plant  of  Halidrys  siliquosa  dredged  from  five  fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay 
on  the  3rd  of  April  (kindly  sent  to  me  by  Edmund  Getty,  Esq.)  contain- 
ed several  masses  of  Botrylloides.  They  were  all  of  a very  pale  greyish 
gelatinous  colour  ; the  systems  of  animals  in  some,  more  irregularly  dis- 


364 


MOLLUSCA. 


posed  than  in  B.  rotifera,  as  figured  by  M.-Edwards,  were  whitish  ; others 
disposed  like  B.  rotifera  were  buff;  others  again  disposed  precisely  like 
B.  rubrum  were  orange.  Some  tadpole-like  larvae  as  figured  by  M.-Ed- 
wards (pi.  4)  were  observed. 

B.  rubrum  has  hitherto  been  recorded  as  found  on  the  coast  of  Nor- 
mandy (M.-Edwards)  and  at  Falmouth  (Alder)  only. 

Genus  Didemnum. 

D.  gelatinosum,  Edw. 

Adherent  to  Serpula  tubularia  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  Oct., 
1839,  &c.,  W.  T.  Dr.  Scouler  has  met  with  it  on  the  Irish  coast. 

A species  apparently  of  this  genus  may  not  uncommonly  be  found  in- 
vesting the  stems  of  Halidrys  siliquosa . It  is  of  a pale  grey  colour,  and 
may  be  said  to  give  the  plant  the  appearance  of  being  besmeared  with 
bird-lime. 


* At  the  Glasgow  meeting  of  the  British  Association  for  Science  in  1840,  I 
brought  forward  a series  of  Dredging  Papers,  the  first  of  which  had  been  filled 
up  by  my  lamented  friend,  the  late  Professor  Edw.  Forbes,  on  the  11th  of  July, 
1840,  on  which  day  he  had  visited  me  at  Bangor,  County  Down,  and  joined  in  a 
little  dredging  excursion,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  Mr.  Thompson  being  our  com- 
panions. Some  additional  papers  were  filled  up  the  succeeding  year,  and  all 
were  placed  in  the  hands  of  Prof.  Forbes,  who  on  more  than  one  occasion  pub- 
licly referred  to  them. 

Under  these  circumstances  it  may  seem  strange  that  no  mention  is  made  of 
my  name  in  connexion  with  the  list  of  Mollusca  found  in  Belfast  Bay,  as  now 
given ; nor  in  that  of  other  classes  belonging  to  the  Articulata  and  Radiata. 
This  may  be  explained  by  the  fact,  that  when  Prof.  Forbes,  in  1850,  had  com- 
pleted one  portion  of  his  Report,  he  handed  my  Dredging  Papers  to  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, by  whom  they  were  retained,  in  order  to  be  used  when  the  time  for  pre- 
paring for  press  that  portion  of  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland  should  arrive. 
His  premature  death  prevented  that  intention  from  being  fulfilled;  and  those 
Dredging  Papers,  still  unused,  were  found  among  his  Natural  History  MSS. 
and  handed  to  me  along  with  them. 

All  the  species  which  I had  enumerated  had  been  recorded  by  Mr.  Hynd- 
man, Mr.  Thompson,  or  other  friends ; there  seemed  therefore  no  sufficient  rea- 
son for  interpolating  my  name  in  the  MSS. 


Robert  Patterson. 


INSECTA. 


In  a note  appended  to  his  Report,  in  1843,  Mr.  Thompson  gives  the 
numbers  of  Irish  insects  then  known,  as  communicated  to  him  by  his 
friend  A.  H.  Haliday,  Esq.  Had  Mr.  Thompson’s  life  been  spared  until 
the  present  volume  was  approaching  completion,  he  would  doubtless 
have  applied  once  more  to  the  same  distinguished  entomologist  for  in- 
formation brought  up  to  the  present  time.  We  did  not  hesitate,  there- 
fore, to  ask  Mr.  Haliday  for  such  notes  as  would  enable  us  to  give  the 
number  of  species  of  the  several  orders  so  far  as  they  have  been  at  present 
investigated.  Our  application  was  responded  to  with  the  utmost  kindness 
and  promptitude.  The  annexed  list  has  thus  been  supplied. — Ed. 

COLEOPTERA. 


Stylopidae . 

. 2 

Mordellidae  . 

4 

Cantharidae 

. 2 

Anthicidae 

1 

Salpingidae 

. 3 

CEdemeridae  . 

3 

Lagridae  . 

. 1 

Pyrochroidae'. 

1 

Melandryidae  . 

. 3 

Tenebrionidae 

10 

Chrysomelidae  . 

. 81 

Donacidae 

10 

Cerambycidae  . 

. 13 

Curculionidae 

149 

Hylesinidae 

. 6 

Bostrichidae  . 

1 

Cetonidae 

. 1 

Rutelidae 

1 

Melolonthidae  . 

, 4 

Geotrupidae  . 

5 

Copridae  . 

. 2 

Aphodidae 

22 

Trogidae  . 

. 1 

Lucanidae 

1 

Ptinidae 

. 10 

Cleridae. 

3 

Melyridae 

. 3 

Lampyridae  . 

19 

Cyphonidae 

. 7 

Dascillidae  . 

1 

Elateridae  . 

. 17 

Buprestidae  . 

1 

Heteroceridae  . 

. 3 

Byrrhidae 

3 

Dermestidae 

. 4 

Trixagidae 

1 

Mycetophagidae 

. 1 

Cryptophagidae 

23 

Colydidae  . 

. 1 

Cucujidae 

1 

Nitidulidae 

. 26 

Phalacridae  . 

2 

Engidae 

. 2 

Lathrididae  . 

13 

Endomychidae  . 

. 2 

Coccinellidae . 

15 

Corylophidae 

. ' . 4 

Clambidae 

3 

Anisotomidae 

. 8 

Silphidae 

23 

Scydmaenidae  . 

. 5 

Pselaphidae  . 

9 

Staphylinidae 

. 91 

Histridae 

10 

Hydrophilidae  . 

. 45 

Elmidae 

5 

Gyrinidae  . 

. 6 

Dytiscidae 

65 

Carabidae  . 

. 153 

Cicindelidae  . 

1 

Trichopterygidae 

. 16 
929 

366 


INSECTA. 


Neuroptera. 


Forficulidae 

. 2 

Libellulidae 

• 7 

Locustidae  . 

8 

Aeschnidae  . 

3 

Gryllidae  . 

. 1 

Agrionidae 

. 15 

Achetidae 

1 

Phlaeothripidae 

6 

Blattidae  . 

. 1 

Thripidae  . 

. 34 

Lepismidae  . 

4 

Semblidae 

1 

Poduridae  . 

. 22 

Hemerobidae 

. 18 

Liotheidae 

9 

Coniopterygidae 

2 

Philopteridae 

. 47 

Phryganidae 

. 35* 

PsocidaB 

10 

— 

Perlidee 

. 10 

243 

Ephemeridse  . 

7* 

— 

Lepidoptera. 

Pterophoridse  . 

. 7 

Bombycidae  . 

51 

CrambidsB 

13 

HepialidaB . 

. 6 

Tineidas 

. 116 

Sphingidae  . 

21 

Tortricidae  . 

86 

Hesperidae 

. 2 

Noctuidse  . 

. 142 

Papilionidae  . 

36 

PyralidaB 

26 

645 

Phalsenidae 

. 139 

Hymenoptera. 

Tenthredinidae  . 

. Ill 

Dryinidae  . 

. 17 

Siricidae 

1 

Bethyllidae  . 

1 

Ichneumonidae  . 

. 223* 

Pompilidae 

. 8 

Braconidae  . 

325 

Sphegidae 

1 

Foenidae  . . 

. 1 

Crabronidae 

. 18 

Proctotrupidae 

*43 

EumenidaB  . 

2 

Scelionidae 

. 81 

Yespidae  . • 

. 3 

Ceraphronidae 

17 

Apidae  . - 

45 

Cyniphidae 

. 39 

Formicidae 

. 12 

Chalcidae 

263 

— 

Mymaridae 

. 35 

1247 

Chrysidae 

1 

— 

Diptera. 

Hippoboscidae  . 

. 4 

Tabanidae 

4 

Phoridae 

17 

Stratiomidae 

. 22 

(Estridae  . 

. 3 

Rhyphidae  . 

3 

Museidae 

494* 

HeteroclitaB 

. 6 

Conopidae . 

. 3 

Tipulidae 

73 

Syrphidae 

80 

Phlebotomidae  . 

. 16 

Pipunculidae 

. 8 

Culicidae 

11 

Platypezidae  . 
Lonchopteridae  . 

7 

Chironomidae 

. 60* 

. 4 

Simulidae 

4 

Dolichopidae . 

105 

Bibionidae . 

. 25 

Empidae  . 
Scenopinidae 

. 80 
2 

Cecidomyzidae 
Mycetophilidae  . 

15 
• 52 

Bombylidae 

. 7 

Pulicidae 

5 

Asilidae 
Leptidae  . 

3 

. 7 

1130 

INSECTA. 


367 


Hemiptera. 


Coccidae  . 

. 10 

Reduvidae 

3 

Aphidae 

53* 

Capsidae  . 

. 34 

Psyllidae  . 

. 30 

Coreidae 

. 

4 

Fulgoridae  . 

6 

Anisoscelidae 

. 3 

Cercopidae . 

. 41 

Lygeidae 

10 

Notonectidae . 

10 

Pentatomidae 

. 9 

Nepidae 

. 1 

Scutelleridae  . 

1 

Gerridae 

8 

Pediculidae 

. 6 

Hebridae  . 

. 1 

— 

Cimicidae 

9 

246* 

Tingidae  . 

. 7 



Summary. 

Coleoptera 

. 929 

Neuroptera 

243 

Lepidoptera 

. 645 

Hymenoptera 

1247 

Diptera  . 

. 1130 

Hemiptera  . 

246 

4440 

named  in  our  collections,  but  subject,  no  doubt,  to  much  correction  as  to 
names. 

The  numbers  followed  by  * denote  that  the  Irish  species  have  not  yet 
been  carefully  examined,  and  that  the  number  far  exceeds  that  which  is 
given ; the  * before  the  number,  that  they  are  much  more  numerous,  but 
that  there  are  no  names  yet  for  many  of  them. 

The  families  are  not  in  very  good  order,  and  many  are  kept  which 
would  be  better  sunk  in  neighbouring  families ; but  the  enumeration  helps 
to  show  the  local  distribution  of  groups  the  better. — A.  H.  H. 


CRUSTACEA. 


1st  legion,  podophthalmata. 

ORDER  DECAPODA. 

1st  Section,  Brachyttra. 

Genus  Stenorynchus. 

S.  phalangium , Leach. 

This  species  has  already  been  recorded  by  Templeton  as  “ not  uncommon 
on  the  Irish  coast,”  and  by  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson  as  “ very  abundant  in  the 
deep  water  of  the  harbour  of  Cove.” — JEnt.  Mag.  vol.  iii.  p.  371. 

It  has  occurred  very  commonly  to  my  scientific  friends  and  myself 
when  dredging  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  6 to  23  fathoms  ; 
and  to  Dr.  Ball  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran,*  as  well  as  at  Youghal  and 
Dublin.  The  motions  of  this  crab  are  slow,  though  its  light  body  borne 
on  such  long  legs  would  be  popularly  believed  to  indicate  considerable 
powers  of  locomotion.  The  editor  of  the  octavo  edition  of  Pennant’s 
British  Zoology  (1812)  remarks,  that  this  crab  “invests  itself  occasionally 
in  leaves  of  fuci  to  insnare  its  prey  : ” and  Dr.  Leach  states  that  “ it  has 
been  observed  by  Dr.  M‘Culloch  to  be  sometimes  covered  by  fragments  of 
a species  of  the  Linnsean  genus  Fucus,  which  are  attached  to  its  body  and 
legs.”  The  first  statement  seems  to  me  fanciful.  The  presence  of  frag- 
ments oifuci , &c.,  I should  rather  attribute  to  the  spinous  body,  and  the 
bristly  arms  and  legs  of  great  length  intercepting  adventitious  substances, 
which  in  floating  through  the  water  come  in  contact  with  them,  and  (as 
Dr.  Ball  reminds  me)  are  further  retained  there  by  a viscid  slime  cover- 
ing the  animal.  Many  marine  productions,  however,  both  of  a vegetable 
and  animal  nature,  have  their  birth  and  grow  to  beauty  on  the  shell  of 
this  as  well  as  other  species  of  our  native  Crustacea — corallines,  sponges, 


* On  different  parts  of  the  western  coast — Westport,  Clifden,  and  Killeries — 
it  was  dredged  by  us  in  1840. 

f I have  recently  had  several  specimens  of  the  S.  'phalangium  in  confine- 
ment ; some  of  those  when  captured  were  ornamented  with  portions  of  zoophytes 
or  algae.  I have  had  the  opportunity  of  observing  the  process  of  decoration 
adopted,  and  it  appears  to  be  a daily  operation  in  the  marine  vivaria.]  In  the 
Zoological  Gardens,  Phoenix  Park,  some  of  these  crabs  were  kept  in  a tank  in 
which  the  Enteromorpha  intestinalis  was  cultivated ; in  this  they  are  to  be 
observed  tearing  off  with  their  larger  claws  small  portions  of  the  Alga : these 
portions  they  appear  to  masticate  at  one  end  with  their  jaws  for  a little  time, 
and  then  attach  to  some  one  or  other  leg  by  means  of  the  pincer  claws  ; thus  the 
viscid  attaching  matter  would  seem  to  come  from  the  jaws  of  the  animal.  A 
similar  proceeding  has  been  observed  when  the  crab  was  confined  with  TJlva 
latissima. — R.  B.,  Dee.  16,  1854. 


DECAPODA. 


369 


zoophytes,  algae,  &c.,  may  thus  be  found.  JBalani  occasionally  cover  the 
entire  upper  surface  of  the  body  of  the  crab. 

Aug,.  22,  1840. — On  opening  a thornback  (Raid  clavata),  about  20  inches 
in  length,  caught  in  Belfast  Bay,  I found  its  stomach  entirely  filled  with 
S.  phalangium. 

S.  tenuirostris,  Leach. 

On  examining  some  fine  Stenorhynchi  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  from  a 
depth  of  20  to  23  fathoms  (shelly  sand),  in  Oct.,  1846,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  I 
found  that  like  specimens  obtained  there,  but  from  a much  less  depth,  some 
years  before,  had  more  characters  in  common  with  this  species  than  with 
S.  phalangium.  The  rostrum,  though  longer  than  in  the  latter, — 3 lines 
in  length  in  a specimen  whose  carapace  from  its  base  to  the  hinder  ex- 
tremity is  10  lines, — is  not  of  the  extreme  length  of  that  of  S.  tenuirostris: 
— instead  of  being  “ longer  than  the  peduncle  of  the  external  antennae,” 
it  is  not  so  long.  But  “ the  series  of  minute  spines  on  the  inner  part  of 
the  arm,  the  body  altogether  more  elongated,  and  the  spines  more  acute,” 
than  in  S.  phalangium,  mark  my  specimens  as  S.  tenuirostris. 

The  preceding  notes  were  made  on  a comparison  of  these  examples 
with  the  descriptions  of  Leach  and  Bell.  Having  subsequently  taken 
specimens  to  London  and  compared  them  with  those  in  the  British 
Museum  described  by  Leach,  the  result  was  the  same.  I therefore  look 
upon  S.  tenuirostris  and  S.  phalangium — although  extreme  forms  are  very 
distinctly  marked — to  be  in  reality  but  one  species.  It  may  be  added, 
that  in  one  of  the  two  Irish  examples  of  what  I have  called  S.  tenuirostris 
taken  to  the  British  Museum,  the  wrist  has  the  form  attributed  to  that 
species,  and  in  the  other,  that  attributed  to  S.  phalangium.  Both  of  these 
individuals  were  added  to  that  collection.  The  Sten.  Egyptius,  Edw.,  it 
need  hardly  be  remarked,  is  quite  different  from  those  under  considera- 
tion ; it  is  alluded  to  in  consequence  of  being  the  only  other  species  of 
the  genus. 

The  questions  occur : — is  the  S.  tenuirostris  a deep-water,  a local,  or  a 
geographical  variety?  The  following  remarks,  though  all  that  can  be 
given,  have  not  any  very  definite  bearing  on  these  points.  Leach  men- 
tions it  as  a very  common  inhabitant  of  all  the  deep  water  off  the  coast 
of  South  Devon.  Couch  in  his  Cornish  Fauna,  part  1,  p.  64,  states  that 
it  is  “ common  at  the  depth  of  from  2 to  20  fathoms.”  M.  Edwards  says 
of  S.  longirostris,  Fabr.  (sp.),  which  he  makes  synonymous  with  <S. 
tenuirostris,  Leach, — but  Mr.  Bell  thinks  that  they  may  be  distinct, — that 
it  inhabits  the  Manche  and  the  Mediterranean. 

S.  phalangium  is  noted  by  Leach  as  “ very  common  in  the  mouths  of 
rivers  and  in  estuaries.”  Couch  has  never  met  with  it  on  the  coast  of 
Cornwall.  M.  Edwards  notes  it  as  very  common  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Manche  and  the  Ocean. 

Oct.  10 tli,  1851. — Stenorhynchus  phalangium. — I found  one  cast  ashore 
to-day  on  the  beach  North  of  Newcastle. 

Genus  ACH^EUS. 

A.  Cranchii,  Leach. 

In  the  collection  of  Crustacea  formed  by  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson,  and  now- 
in  the  possession  of  the  Boyal  Dublin  Society,  is  a native  specimen  of 
this  crab,  which,  we  may  presume,  was  obtained  on  the  southern  coast.. 
Cove,  Cork  Fauna. 

2 B 


370 


CRUSTACEA. 


Genus  Inachus. 

I.  Dorsettensis,  Leach. 

This  species  is  stated  by  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson  to  be  common  in  the 
harbour  of  Cove.  Ent.  Mag.,  vol.  iii.  p*  371.  It  is  pretty  commonly  brought 
up  from  deep  water  in  the  dredge  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Bel- 
fast, but  in  much  smaller  quantity  than  Macropodia  phalanyium.  Under 
similar  circumstances  it  has  been  procured  by  us  at  Killery,  on  the 
western  coast.  Dr.  Ball  finds  it  in  Dublin  Bay.  All  the  examples ' of 
this  crab  which  I have  taken  were  invested  with  sponge,  which  generally 
covers  over  the  body,  arms,  and  legs ; algae  and  zoophytes  likewise  spring 
from  it.  In  this  extraneous  matter  some  of  the  smaller  Crustacea  find 
shelter,  and,  together  with  the  other  objects,  render  the  capture  of  the 
Inachus  Dorsettensis  interesting  far  beyond  the  acquisition  of  itself. 

Capt.  Beechey,  R.N.,  of  H.M.S.  Lucifer,  brought  up  a specimen  of  this 
Inachus  alive  in  the  dredge,  from  a depth  of  about  140  fathoms  off  the 
Mull  of  Galloway.  See  Annals  for  Sept.  1846,  p.  21. 

I.  leptochirus,  Leach. 

In  the  7th  vol.  of  the  Annals  I noticed  an  example  of  this  species  hav- 
ing been  dredged  in  Clifden  Bay,  Connemara,  during  a natural  history 
tour  made  to  that  quarter  by  Dr.  Ball,  Prof.  Forbes,  Mr.  Hyndman,  and 
myself ; and  that  about  the  same  time  a specimen  was  procured  by  Mr. 
It.  Patterson  in  Belfast  Bay.  Subsequently,  I have  seen  specimens  from 
the  latter  locality  in  the  Ordnance  collection. 

I.  Dorynchus,  Leach. 

Among  a number  of  Crustacea  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  in  the  summer 
of  1838  by  my  friend  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  and  kindly  sent  to  me,  was 
an  example  of  this  species.  Specimens  from  the  same  locality  are  in  the 
Ordnance  collection.  Larne  Lough,  Mr.  Darragh. 

Genus  Pisa. 

P.  tetraodon,  Leach. 

In  the  collection  of  Dr.  Ball,  now  in  the  Dublin  University  Museum, 
are  two  examples  of  this  species,  which  were  obtained  at  Boundstone, 
Connemara,  by  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

In  August,  1841,  I found  several  of  the  P.  tetraodon  thrown  ashore  at 
Compton,  Isle  of  Wight. 

Genus  Hyas. 

H.  araneus,  Leach. 

Mr.  Templeton  has  noticed  this  species  as  taken  at  Carrickfergus ; and 
native  specimens  are  in  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  collection.  It  has  been 
obtained  at  Youghal  and  Dublin  by  Dr.  Ball.  We  take  it  by  dredging  in 
the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  where,  too,  it  is  commonly  thrown 
ashore.  In  the  estuary  at  little  more  than  half  a mile  from  Belfast,  a 
number  of  large  specimens  of  this  crab  were  captured  in  the  month  of 
October,  1839,  on  the  hooks  attached  to  hand-lines,  much  to  the  surprise 
of  the  fishermen,  who  had  never  met  with  them  so  near  the  town  before, 
or  in  brackish  water.  The  lug-worm  ( Lumbricus  marinus ) was  the  bait  at- 
tacked in  this  instance  by  the  crabs.  Ilyas  araneus  was  taken  in  the  dredge 
at  Bundoran,  and  dead  on  the  beach  off  Clew  Bay,  on  the  western  coast,  by 
our  party  in  July,  1840,  and  very  small  living  specimens  were  found  under 


DECAPODA. 


371 


stones  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch,  on  the  coast  of  Clare.  In  Mr.  Hynd- 
man’s  cabinet  are  two  crabs  of  this  species  with  oysters  attached  to  their 
backs.  The  oyster  ( Ostrea  edulis ) on  the  larger  crab  is  3 inches  in  length, 
and  five  or  six  years  old,  and  is  covered  with  many  large  Balani.  The 
“ shell  ” or  carapace  of  the  crab  is  but  2\  inches  in  length,  and  hence  it 
must,  Atlas-like,  have  borne  a world  of  weight  upon  its  shoulders.  The 
presence  of  this  oyster  affords  interesting  evidence  that  the  Hyas  lived 
several  years  after  attaining  its  full  growth.  Both  crabs  and  oysters, 
though  dead,  were  brought  to  Mr.  Hyndman  in  a fresh  state.  The  hairs 
on  the  body  and  legs  of  specimens  in  my  collection  are  longer  in  the  small 
than  in  the  large  individuals.  On  the  North-East  coast  of  Ireland  th eH. 
araneus  is  very  much  preyed  on  by  the  cod-fish. 

In  January,  1840,  I saw  specimens  of  this  crab  of  very  large  size  on  the 
coast  near  Edinburgh : the  carapace  of  one  which  I measured  was  3 
inches  in  length,  and  the  extent  from  the  extremities  of  the  first  pair  of 
legs,  11  inches. 

H.  coarctatus,  Leach. 

This  species  is  set  down  as  Irish  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  catalogue,  his 
specimens  being  most  probably  from  the  southern  coast.  In  Dr.  Ball’s 
collection  are  examples  from  Youghal,  and  some  dredged  by  him  in 
Dalkey  Sound,  near  Dublin.  In  the  Loughs  of  Belfast  and  Strangford 
we  take  it  very  commonly  with  the  dredge.  Donaghadee,  in  8 — 10 
fathoms,  by  Dr.  Drummond.  I have  seen  an  example  from  the  Giant’s 
Causeway — thus  from  the  North  to  the  South  of  Ireland  the  species 
prevails. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  has  found  numbers  of  these  crabs  in  the  stomachs 
of  cod-fish  brought  to  Belfast  market.  The  largest  example  I have  seen 
was  found  in  the  mouth  of  a haddock  taken  at  Killough,  County  Down. 
Its  carapace  is  2 inches  2 lines  in  length ; each  arm  from  base  to  point  of 
claw  3 inches  7^  lines.  The  body,  legs,  and  arms  of  my  specimens  of  II. 
coarctatus  are  very  much  invested  with  zoophytes,  sponges,  and  algae. 

Examples  of  this  crab  have  been  sent  me  from  Portpatrick  by  Capt. 
Fayrer,  It.  N. ; and  I have  myself  obtained  it  on  the  opposite  or  eastern 
coast,  at  Newhaven,  near  Edinburgh.  Captain  Beechey,  R.  N.,  brought 
up  four  examples  of  this  species  alive  in  the  dredge  from  a depth  of  about 
140  fathoms  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway. 

Genus  Maxa. 

Main  Squinado,  Latr., 

Inhabits  the  southern  coast.  Native  specimens  of  this  crab  are  in  Mr.  J. 
V.  Thompson’s  collection.  Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  it  is  taken  not  un- 
frequently  with  lobsters  about  Youghal,  where  it  is  called  horrid-crab  ; it 
is  not  brought  to  market,  but  is  sometimes  eaten  by  the  fishermen — the 
carapace  of  a specimen  from  that  locality  in  this  gentleman’s  collection  is 
7 inches  in  length,  and  others  are  little  inferior  to  it. 

One  of  these  crabs  was  brought  to  me  at  Yentnor,  Isle  of  Wight,  where 
it  was  taken  in  a crab-pot  at  the  same  time  with  a Galathea  strigosa. 

Genus  Eurynome. 

E.  aspera,  Leach. 

Marked  as  Irish  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection.  It  is  rather  a 
rare  species,  and  an  inhabitant  of  deep  water.  In  Strangford  Lough  a 
single  specimen  was  taken  in  the  dredge  bv  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself  in 
2 b 2 


372 


CRUSTACEA. 


Oct.,  1834,  and  on  a subsequent  occasion  we  obtained  several  individuals 
in  the  same  locality.  It  has  been  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay  by  Dr.  J.  L. 
Drummond.  Dr.  Ball  once  found  this  species  cast  ashore  in  numbers  on 
the  Dublin  coast  after  a great  storm  ; and  in  his  collection  are  fine  speci- 
mens from  Roundstone,  on  the  western  coast. 

Capt.  Beechey,  R.  N.,  brought  up  a crab  of  this  species  alive  in  the 
dredge  from  a depth  of  50  fathoms  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway. 

On  examining  other  specimens  in  my  collection,  and  finding  great 
diversity  as  to  the  isolation  and  approximation  of  the  tubercles  so  as  to 
form  shields  in  the  different  individuals,  I became  certain  that  the  E. 
aspera  and  E.  scutellata  are  but  one  species,  the  latter  being  a state  of  the 
former  with  the  tubercles  drawn  together  so  as  to  form  shield-like 
patterns.  The  shields  in  all  the  specimens  examined,  except  the  first- 
mentioned,  show  that  they  are  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  tubercles  : 
in  it  however  no  trace  of  the  separate  tubercles  is  visible,  but  instead,  the 
five  on  either  side  the  central  one  on  the  cardiac  region  are  all  fused 
together.  Those  forming  the  smaller  shield  anterior  to  it  are  likewise 
fused  together  so  as  to  leave  no  trace  of  the  number  of  tubercles 
forming  it. 

Genus  Xantho. 

X.Jlorida,  Leach, 

Seems  to  be  a local  species.  It  is  recorded  as  Irish  in  Mr.  J.  Y. 
Thompson’s  catalogue.  In  the  Ordnance  collection  are  specimens  from 
three  localities  on  the  Antrim  coast — Carnlough,  Larne,  and  Carrick- 
fergus  ; and  in  Dr.  Ball’s  cabinet  there  is  an  example  from  Dublin  Bay. 
In  July,  1840,  this  species  was  found  commonly  by  Professor  Forbes  and 
myself  under  stones  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch,  County  Clare  : — the 
entire  claws  of  these  specimens  (all  under  half  adult  size)  are  of  a pale- 
brown  colour,  but  very  different  in  shade  from  any  part  of  the  body  of  the 
animal : in  Leach’s  Malacostraca  the  claws  are  described  and  figured  as 
black,  but  a variety  stated  to  be  rare  is  said  to  have  “ the  tops  of  the 
claws  of  the  same  colour  with  the  other  parts  of  the  animal.” 

Abundant  under  stones  on  the  beach,  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

X.  rivulosa , Risso. 

A fine  example  of  a crab  so  named,  and  which  is  an  addition  to  the 
British  Fauna,  is  in  the  Ordnance  collection — it  was  taken  at  Portrush, 
County  of  Antrim,  in  July,  1839.  Col.  Portlock  informs  me  that  having 
been  at  once  identified  as  the  X.  rivulosa , more  specimens  were  assidu- 
ously sought  for  in  the  locality,  but  in  vain.  I fully  agree  with  him  in 
considering  it  the  X.  rivulosa  as  described  by  M.  Edwards.  It  seems  to 
me  a well-marked  species.  It  is  said  to  inhabit  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  western  coast  of  France. 


Genus  Cancer. 

C.  Pagurus,  Leach. 

This,  the  common  edible  crab,  is  taken  on  all  quarters  of  the  Irish 
coast,  and  is  held  in  good  estimation  for  the  table.  It  is  the  only  species 
brought  on  sale  to  Belfast  market.  In  January,  1836,  a specimen  weigh- 
ing 9|-lbs.  was  taken  in  Strangford  Lough,  and  in  Aug.,  1841,  one  of 
9 lbs.  was  obtained  in  Belfast  Bay  : these  were  of  extraordinary  magni- 
tude for  the  North  of  Ireland  to  produce,  although  not  larger  than  what 
are  commonly  to  be  seen  in  the  London  market.  M.  Edwards  mentions  this 


DECAPODA. 


373 


species  as  sometimes  exceeding  5 lbs.  in  weight  on  the  coast  of  France, 
t.  i.  p.  414.  The  ordinary  method  of  taking  these  crabs  on  the  coast  of 
Ireland  is  the  same  as  that  resorted  to  in  England — “ wicker-baskets  in 
the  form  of  a wire  mouse-trap.”  But  Mr.  Hyndman  has  seen  them  sought 
after  and  captured  at  Donaghadee  by  persons  thrusting  a piece  of  iron 
hooked  at  the  end  into  the  crevices  of  rocks,  the  ordinary  retreat  of  the  crabs 
at  low-water : a similar  practice,  according  to  Dr.  Ball,  is  pursued  in  the 
South.  In  spring  and  summer  they  are  considered  to  be  in  season  at 
Belfast  and  Dublin,* — between  Christmas  and  Easter  is  the  period  men- 
tioned by  Leach.  As  this  is  not  a littoral  species  it  may  be  worth  re- 
marking, that  several  very  small  individuals  (their  carapace  an  inch  in 
breadth)  were  found  by  Mr.  E.  Forbes  and  myself  in  the  month  of  July, 
frequenting  the  shore  at  Lahinch  between  tide-marks. 

Genus  Pilumnus. 

P.  hirtellus , Leach. 

This  appears  to  be  a widely-distributed  species,  occurring  in  small 
numbers  where  found.  It  is  enumerated  among  the  native  Crustacea  in 
Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  catalogue ; and  in  the  first  vol.  of  the  Ordnance 
Survey  is  noticed  as  obtained  at  Carnlough,  County  of  Antrim.  In  the 
course  of  a day’s  dredging  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  one 
or  two  individuals  of  this  species  have  generally  been  procured  by  us. 
Dr.  Ball  has  taken  it  on  the  Dublin  coast  by  dredging,  and  has  likewise 
found  it  inhabiting  the  beach  between  tide-marks  at  Portmarnock— by 
Prof.  Forbes  and  myself  it  was  similarly  found  at  Lahinch.  Specimens 
from  Youghal  are  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection,  and  from  Courtmasherry  Har- 
bour— also  in  the  County  of  Cork,  in  Professor  Allman’s.  The  figures  of 
this  species  given  by  Leach  and  Pennant  are  good  and  characteristic : 
Desmarest’s  figure  (Consid.  Crust.,  pi.  11,  f.  1)  is  not  so. 

Genus  Pirimela. 

P.  denticulata,  Leach. 

Of  this  small  and  handsomely  sculptured  crab  I have  seen  but  two 
Irish  examples.  The  first  was  found  amongst  a number  of  species  of 
various  kinds  collected  on  the  coast  of  Antrim  and  Down  by  Dr.  J.  L. 
Drummond,  and  kindly  submitted  to  my  investigation.  The  other  was 
obtained  alive  by  Prof.  Forbes  and  myself  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch, 
on  the  coast  of  Clare. 

Dublin,  Dr.  Coulter. 

Genus  Carcinus. 

C.  Mcencis,  Leach. 

This  species  is  common  around  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  is  popularly 
known  by  the  name  of parten  in  the  North,  the  crab , par  excellence,  being  the 
Cancer pay ur us. f On  gravelly,  sandy,  and  muddy  shores  I have  remarked 

* Rutty,  writing  seventy  years  ago,  remarks — “ The  greatest  quantity  of  crabs 
and  lobsters  supplying  Dublin  comes  from  the  Isle  of  Man ; but  the  best  are  those 
from  Lambay,  Howth,  and  Skerries ; for  the  former  by  longer  carriage  and 
agitation  fret  and  waste  themselves,  and  thereby  become  much  worse  food.  They 
are  also  brought  from  the  Saltee  Islands,  about  80  miles  from  Dublin,  by  the 
fishermen  of  Bullock,  Dunleary,  and  Howth.” — Nat.  Hist.  Dioblin,  vol.  i.  p.  374. 

f This  species  being  distinguished  as  the  crab,  I should  hope  with  Mr.  T.  Bell 
(Zool.  Trans.)  that  it  were  considered  the  type  of  the  genus  Cancer. 


374 


CRUSTACEA. 


this  species  to  be  about  equally  common.  Dr.  Ball  states  that  it  inhabits 
holes  in  the  hard  mud,  but  whether  made  by  itself  he  cannot  say.  (The 
Gonoplax  bispinosa  is  said  by  Mr.  Cranch  “ to  live  in  excavations  formed 
in  the  hardened  mud,  and  that  their  habitations,  at  the  extremities  of 
which  they  live,  are  open  at  each  end.”  Leach,  Mai.  Pod.  Brit.)  In  the 
ordinary  rejectamenta  of  the  tide  it  occurs  much  more  frequently  than  any 
other  species,  and  generally  in  a young  state.  The  carapace  of  the  largest 
example  in  my  collection,  from  Belfast  Bay,  is  inches  in  breadth  and 
2^  in  length.  Pennant  and  Leach  state  that  this  crab  is  sent  in  quantities 
to  London,  where  it  is  eaten  by  the  poor  ; and  M.  Edwards  observes  that 
it  is  used  in  like  manner  in  Paris.  In  other  large  towns  also  I have  re- 
marked it  on  sale,  but  in  Belfast  the  Cancer  pagurus,  as  has  been  already 
remarked,  is  the  only  species  of  crab  used  as  an  article  of  food.  The 
Carcinus  Mcenas  is  much  in  request  by  juvenile  anglers  and  fishermen  for 
bait.  I have  seen  it  so  used  by  persons  fishing  for  flounders  {Platessa 
Jlesus)  in  the  river  Bann,  near  Portstewart.  By  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  I 
am  informed  that  its  liver  is  the  chief  bait  used  by  boys  at  Larne  in  fish- 
ing for  the  young  of  the  Merlangus  carbonarius,  called  there  pickock. 
Dr.  Ball  states  that  when  these  crabs  are  about  to  change  their  shells, 
or  have  recently  done  so,  they  are  sought  for  under  the  sea-weeds  at  low- 
tide  by  the  fishermen  at  Youghal,  chiefly  as  bait  for  flat-fish,  and  are 
superior  to  anything  that  can  be  used — in  this  soft  state  they  are  here 
called  pil-crabs  (qu.  peeled-crabs). 

A specimen  of  the  great  northern  diver,  shot  in  Dublin  Bay,  was  brought 
to  me  ; in  its  crop  I found  three  very  large  specimens  of  C.  Mcenas , de- 
prived of  their  legs.  I recently  found  in  same  locality  a specimen  of 
Actinia  gemmacea  in  the  act  of  swallowing  a well-grown  specimen  of 
this  crab,  thus  proving  that  the  race  has  more  enemies  than  I have  seen 
recorded. — R.  B.,  16  Bee.,  1854. 

At  the  quays  of  Youghal  these  crabs  are  caught  in  great  numbers  simply 
with  fish-entrails  tied  to  a string.  They  prove  such  an  annoyance  to  boys 
fishing  at  Belfast  quay  by  consuming  their  bait,  that  all  of  them  caught 
in  the  act  are  instantly  trampled  to  death,  and  hence  may  have  arisen  the 
proverb  of  “ crab’s  allowance.”  Dr.  Ball  was  once  witness  to  the  body  of 
a person  drowned  when  bathing  at  Youghal,  being  taken  out  of  the  water 
an  hour  and  a half  after  his  disappearance,  when  several  of  these  crabs 
were  engaged  eating  the  eye-lids  of  the  corpse. 

July  20,  1851. — Carcinus  Mcenas  of  all  sizes  up  to  3 inches  in  breadth, 
lying  dead  on  the  beach  at  Newcastle,  Co.  Down. 

M.  Edwards  remarks  that  the  name  of  “ Crabes  enrages  ” is  applied  to 
this  species  on  the  coast  of  Normandy ; and  it  is  sufficiently  appropriate, 
for  when  arrested  in  their  rapid  progress  over  the  beach — and  well  (as  re- 
marked by  that  author)  they  can  run — they  instantly  throw  up  their  claws 
in  anger  to  attack  the  intruder,  and  if  not  guarded  against,  will  give  him 
feeling  evidence  of  their  displeasure.  M.  Edwards  too  observes,  that  they 
have  been  kept  alive  for  a long  time  out  of  the  water,  but  he  would  per- 
haps hardly  be  prepared  to  expect  that  they  are  so  tenacious  of  life  as 
shown  in  the  following  instance,  communicated  by  Mr.  It.  Patterson  : — - 
“ I remember  above  twenty  years  ago  spending  one  of  my  school  vacations  at 
Holywood,  Belfast  Bay,  and  on  one  occasion  was  so  annoyed  by  the  com- 
mon crabs  {C.  Mcenas ) eating  the  bait  from  my  fishing-hook,  that  at  length 
I took  a number  of  the  crabs  and  by  way  of  retaliation  buried  them  alive 
in  the  garden.  Some  time  after,  but  how  long  I cannot  now  remember, 
I was  tempted  to  dig  them  up  to  see  what  kind  of  a state  they  were  then 


DECAPODA. 


375 


in,  when  to  my  surprise  they  were  not  only  living,  but  able  to  move  about 
as  actively  as  ever.  Wishing  to  verify  the  remembrance  of  this  boyish 
prank,  I took  some  of  the  crabs  in  the  summer  of  1837,  threw  a piece  of 
sea-weed  on  them,  and  buried  them  to  the  depth  of  twelve  or  fourteen 
inches,  the  soil  above  them,  being  closely  beaten  down.  When  leaving 
the  country  seventeen  days  afterwards  I found  them  living,  and  one  in- 
dividual was  so  brisk  that  he  caught  the  spade  in  his  claws.  I have  had 
no  opportunity  of  ascertaining  what  is  the  limit  of  the  time  they  would 
live  under  such  circumstances.” 

When  at  the  Isle  of  Wight  in  the  summer  of  1841,  I remarked  this  to 
be  the  most  common  crab  on  all  parts  of  the  coast.  At  Yentnor  it  was 
flung  from  the  crab-pots  as  useless. 

I don’t  know  whether  the  C.  Mcenas  be  found  in  the  Adriatic  Sea,  but 
a crab  which  I saw  under  one  of  the  bridges  at  Venice  seemed  to  be  this 
species.  I remarked  several  crab-pots  set  at  the  sea  or  eastern  entrance 
of  one  of  the  canals  here  where  the  bottom  is  oozy. 

Genus  Portumnus. 

P.  variegatus , Leach, 

Is  occasionally  found  thrown  ashore  on  extensive  sandy  beaches.  I have 
seen  examples  from  Macgilligan  and  Portrush  on  the  northern,  and  Port- 
marnock  on  the  eastern  coast.  Leach  mentions  this  as  “ the  most  com- 
mon species  of  the  Malacostracous  animals  that  inhabit  oUr  coasts,”  and 
that  “ it  is  found  thrown  on  all  the  sandy  shores  of  Great  Britain  in  great 
abundance,  especially  during  storms.”  On  the  Irish  coast  it  is  quite  a 
local  species.  In  the  course  of  dredging  in  the  open  sea  off  Down,  in  the 
Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  a single  example  only  of  this  species 
has  occurred, either  to  my  friends  or  to  myself.  In  dredging  on  the  Con- 
naught coast,  and  about  Dublin  Bay  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island,  I 
never  saw  this  species  brought  up — some  of  the  localities  dredged  over 
were  sandy  and  off  extensive  beaches  of  the  same  nature.  After  severe 
storms  chiefly,  we  find  it  cast  ashore  upon  the  sand.  Corystes  Cassiveluunus 
is  much  more  generally  distributed  on  the  sandy  coasts  of  Ireland  than 
Portumnus  variegatus. 

July  25, 1837. — Portumnus  variegatus  {Sept,  a second  specimen  obtained), 
Newcastle,  Co.  Down. 

Dec.,  1851. — I received  a specimen  from  Bartra  Island,  Killala  Bay, 
from  Mr.  Robert  Warren,  jun. 

Genus  Portunus. 

P.  puber , Leach. 

Of  this  species,  the  velvet  crab  of  British  authors — noticed  by  Templeton 
and  J.  V.  Thompson  as  Irish — I have  seen  examples  from  all  quarters  of 
the  coast.  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me  that  it  is  taken  commonly  at 
Bangor  (Co.  Down)  by  boys,  who  find  it  lurking  under  large  stones  in 
rocky  pools  at  low-water.  Between  tide-marks  we  found  it  common  at 
Lahinch.  Dr.  Ball  states  that  at  Youghal,  where  the  species  grows  to  a 
large  size,  and  is  known  by  the  name  of  Kerry  Witch,  it  is  caught  along 
with  Carcinus  Mcenas,  with  fish-entrails  used  as  bait. 

Under  stones  on  beach,  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

P.  Depurator,  Leach. 

From  Templeton  noting  this  crab  merely  as  “found  on  the  sands  at 
Dunfanaghy,  Co.  Donegal,  July  13,  1815,”  and  from  the  specimen  named 


376 


CRUSTACEA, 


P.  Depurator  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection  (now  in  the  College  of 
Surgeons,  Dublin)  being  in  reality  P.  lividus,  it  might  be  supposed  that 
the  species  is  not  common.  We  have  however  dredged  it  in  Strang- 
ford  Lough,  in  the  open  sea  off  Down,  and  on  the  Connaught  coast. 
During  some  weeks  spent  at  Bangor,  near  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay,  in 
the  autumn  of  1835,  I found  this  to  be  the  most  common  species  of  crab 
thrown  by  the  waves  upon  the  beach — Care.  Mcenas  being  the  common  one 
found  alive  between  tide-marks.  Dr.  Ball  mentions  that  the  P.  Depurator 
is  local,  but  abundant  where  it  does  occur  about  Youghal. 

Recently  taken  at  Dublin. — R.  P.,  1854, 

P.  lividus,  Leach, 

Is  not  common.  Templeton  mentions  it  as  found  by  him  “ on  the 
shore  at  Dunfanaghy.”  We  have  dredged  it  on  more  than  one  occasion 
in  Belfast  Bay,  and  have  obtained  it  on  the  beach  at  Carnlough,  County 
of  Antrim.  In  Dr.  Ball’s  collection  are  several  specimens  which  were 
dredged  in  Dublin  Bay.  Leach  mentions  his  having  seen  but  two  ex- 
amples of  this  species. 

Newcastle , Co.  Down,  July,  1851. — Portunus  lividus,  one  imperfect,  but 
sufficiently  perfect  for  positive  identification  on  comparison  with  Bell’s 
Crustacea,  found  in  a fishing-boat.  July  23rd,  1851. — A perfect  P. 
lividus  was  the  only  crab  I found  on  the  beach,  in  addition  to  the  above 
two  specimens. 

P.  corrugatus,  Leach. 

The  only  specimens  of  this  species  which  I have  seen  are  some  fine  ex- 
amples from  Larne  and  Carrickfergus  in  the  Ordnance  collection,  and  a 
single  specimen  obtained  on  the  Dublin  coast  by  Dr.  Ball.  Mr.  J.  V. 
Thompson  notices  P.  corrugatus  as  inhabiting  the  harbour  of  Cove,  but 
those  so  named  in  his  collection  are  the  wrinkled  variety  of  P.  Depurator. 

Dredged  in  20  fathoms,  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

P.  pusillus,  Leach, 

Generally  inhabits  deep  water.  It  is  ordinarily  taken  by  us  when 
dredging  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast ; at  the  Killeries  in 
Connemara  it  has  similarly  occurred,  as  well  as  in  Dublin  Bay.  In  the 
South,  too,  it  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson  in  the  harbour  of 
Cove — see  note  on  P.  marmoreus,  p.  282.  I have  several  times  found  it 
in  the  stomachs  of  fishes;  in  one  instance  in  a \Trigla  Gurnardus , taken 
in  the  open  sea  off  Down. 

At  Compton,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  I procured  several  of  this  species 
thrown  by  the  waves  upon  the  beach. 

P.  arcuatus,  Leach, 

Has  been  taken  occasionally  by  us  when  dredging  in  deep  water  in  the 
Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast ; and  has  been  found  cast  ashore  at 
Portmarnock  by  Dr.  Ball.  It  was  procured  by  our  party  in  the  summer 
of  1840,  when  dredging  in  Killery  and  Roundstone  Bays  on  the  western 
coast.  Specimens  are  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection,  and,  it  may  be 
presumed,  from  Cork.  All  the  examples  of  this  species  which  have  oc- 
curred to  myself  were  taken  in  the  dredge,  excepting  on  one  occasion 
(Oct.  1)  at  Killinchy,  on  the  shore  of  Strangford  Lough,  when,  looking  to 
the  refuse  in  a number  of  small  boats  which  had  been  employed  the  night 


DECAPODA. 


377 


before  in  herring  fishing,  I found  in  every  one  of  them  several  of  these 
crabs  which  had  been  brought  up  in  the  nets,  and  not  one  of  any  other 
species. 

Leach  remarks  that  “ P.  arcnatus  differs  from  P.  emarginatus  only 
in  the  form  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  shell,  and  may  be  no  more  than  a 
variety  of  that  species.”  M.  Edwards  considers  them  the  same.  All  the 
specimens  preserved  (about  thirty)  from  the  different  localities  mention- 
ed,— and  there  is  about  an  equal  number  of  both  sexes  ranging  from  a 
very  small  size  up  to  that  of  Leach’s  figure  of  P.  emarginatus, — have 
the  anterior  part  of  the  shell  corresponding  to  that  of  P.  arcuatus,  or 
in  other  words,  arched  : — “ fronte  arcuato  integro  ” is  Leach’s  descrip- 
tion of  it. 


Genus  Polybius. 

P.  Henslowii,  Leach. 

A crab  of  this  species  was  obtained  at  Crook  Haven,  County  Cork,  in  the 
month  of  August  by  Dr.  Allman,  who  kindly  sent  it  to  me.  It  was  remarked 
at  the  same  time  by  its  captor  that  the  species  appears  to  be  “ eminently 
natatory,”  and  that  “ the  one  taken  was  swimming  with  great  ease  near 
the  surface  of  the  water  among  shoals  of  Aculeplice .”  It  would  appear, 
from  the  general  work  of  Milne  Edwards  on  the  Crustacea,  that  this  is 
the  only  species  of  its  genus  known.  It  was  described  by  Leach  from 
specimens  taken"  on  the  coast  of  Devonshire,  and  is  given  by  M.  Edwards 
as  one  of  the  species  of  La  Manche,  these  being  the  only  localities  no- 
ticed for  it  in  the  two  works. 

Genus  Pinnotheres. 

P.  Pisum,  Leach. 

Templeton  has  noticed  this  species  as  “ dredged  up  in  Belfast  Lough.” 
It  is  commonly  found  in  Modiolus  vulgaris  on  the  Irish  coast,  where  it  is 
of  much  more  frequent  occurrence  than  in  the  locality  in  which  Dr. 
Leach  endeavoured  to  ascertain  the  number  found  in  a certain  quantity 
of  mussels.  In  the  article  Crustaceology  (Edin.  Ency.)  it  is  remarked 
that — “ in  one  hundred  of  Mytilus  modiolus,  Dr.  Leach  found  three  of 
this  species.”  On  opening  eighteen  specimens  of  the  Modiolus  vulgaris 
of  various  size  — the  produce  of  dredging  off  Bangor  (Co.  Down)  in 
October,  1835 — I found  fourteen  individuals  of  P.  Pisum,  all  females  : in 
one  shell  only  two  of  the  crabs  occurred.  I have  subsequently  opened 
quantities  of  these  Modioli  with  similar  results  as  to  the  number  of  the 
Pinnotheres,  but  in  all  other  instances  more  crabs  were  obtained  from  a 
like  number  of  shells  in  consequence  of  more  of  the  Modioli  producing 
two  of  them. 

The  smallest  Pinnotheres  I have  seen  was  found  by  Mr.  Hyndman  in  a 
living  Cardium  exiguum  dredged  by  us  in  Strangford  Lough  in  Oct., 
1834.  It  is  a male : the  carapace  is  under  a line  in  length  ; the  entire 
breadth  of  the  crab  from  the  extremities  of  the  outstretched  legs  is  3 
lines.*  The  Cardium  is  under  3 lines  in  length,  and  barely  exceeds  that 
admeasurement  in  breadth,  so  that  the  crab  when  in  the  position  just 
mentioned  must  have  on  both  sides  touched  the  walls  of  its  chosen  prison. 
The  Pinnotheres  likewise  inhabits  the  Cardium  edule.  Before  me  is  one 


* In  the  Entomological  Magazine,  vol.  iii.,  the  Zoea  of  this  Pinnotheres  is 
described  and  figured  by  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson. 


378 


CRUSTACEA. 


of  these  crabs,  of  which  the  carapace  is  2 lines  in  breadth,  obtained  by 
Mr.  Hyndman  in  a full-grown  C.  edule  from  Strangford  Lough ; but  from 
the  Sligo  coast,  where  this  shell  attains  an  extraordinary  large  size,  a 
crab  with  a carapace  4 lines  in  breadth,  and  with  outstretched  legs  7 
lines  across,  was  once  kindly  brought  to  me  by  Lord  Enniskillen.  Dr. 
Ball  informs  me  that  on  two  occasions  he  obtained  a great  number  of  the 
Pinnotheres,  and  which  were  all  males,  from  the  Cardium  edule  taken  at 
Youghal  * — about  nine  out  of  every  ten  cockles  contained  a crab.  On 
opening  oysters  from  Tenby,  in  Wales,  he  has  likewise  procured  the  Pin- 
notheres. This  crab,  like  the  Pagurus,  occupies  different  species  of  shells 
according  to  its  size,  and  at  every  age  generally  selects  such  as  with  out- 
stretched legs  it  would  fill  from  side  to  side — this  of  course  will  not  apply 
to  the  allied  species  P.  Pinnce.  On  one  occasion  I found  a female  Pinno- 
theres, of  adult  size,  alive  in  a Modiolus  vulgaris  six  days  after  it  had 
been  taken  from  the  sea — the  shell-fish  died  on  the  fourth  day. 

P.  Pinnce,  Leach. 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson  there  is  a specimen  so  named, 
and  marked  as  Irish.  It  is  imperfect,  but  appears  to  be  the  P.  veterum  of 
Leach,  made  synonymous  by  this  author  with  P.  Pinnce.  Writing  on 
Pinnotheres  in  the  Entomological  Magazine  (vol.  iii.  p.  89),  Mr.  J.  Y. 
Thompson  remarks — “ On  this  part  [Cork]  of  the  Irish  coast  but  two 
species  have  been  hitherto  observed,  viz.  P.  Pisum  and  P.  Pinnce,  the  lat- 
ter being  found  in  Pinnce  and  Modioli .” 

Genus  Gonoplax. 

G.  angulatus,  Edw. 

Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  collection  contains  an  Irish  specimen  of  this 
crab,  marked  “ rare.”  Dr.  Ball  has  found  the  species  in  the  stomachs  of 
cod-fish,  purchased  in  the  markets  of  Youghal  and  Dublin,  and  commonly 
in  those  brought  to  the  former  place — four  of  these  crabs  is  the  greatest 
number  he  has  obtained  from  the  stomach  of  a single  fish.  In  the  Ord- 
nance collection  is  a fine  example  of  G.  angulatus,  labelled  as  procured  at 
“Bangor  [Co.  Down],  January,  1839.” 

On  examination  of  several  specimens  of  Gonoplax  preserved  by  Dr. 
Ball,  I cannot — judging  from  Leach’s  figure  of  the  one  and  Desmarest’s 
of  the  other — see  any  grounds  for  considering  G.  angulatus  and  G.  rhom- 
hoides  as  distinct  species.  My  specimens  accord  better  with  the  latter, 
but  may  at  the  same  time  be  considered  intermediate : instead  of  the  second 
spine  on  each  side  is  the  little  knob  or  protuberance  characteristic  of  G . 
rliomboides.  From  the  descriptions  of  the  two  species  there  appears  to 
be  little  more  of  difference  than  the  relative  length  of  spine  on  each 
side  of  the  carapace — and  this  certainly  is  most  trivial. 

Gonoplax  angulatus.  Spring,  1848.  Mr.  T.  W.  Warren  obtained  on  one 


* With  respect  to  another  part  of  the  coast  of  Cork,  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson  ob- 
serves— “Let  any  person  take  a sweep  with  a dredge  on  any  bank  of  old  mus- 
sels, modioli  or  pinnce , where  the  Pinnotheres  have  been  before  observed,  and 
almost  every  shell  will  be  found  to  contain  one  full-grown  female,  some  two, 
and  others  three,  independent  of  young  ones  and  males,  which  occasionally 
occur  in  common  with  the  females.  * * * As  the  fishermen  at  Cove  often  have 
recourse  to  those  shell-fish  for  bait,  I have  had  a pint  and  upwards  of  the  pea- 
crab  brought  to  me  out  of  the  mussels  obtained  in  a few  hauls  of  the  dredge.” — 
Ent.  Mag.  vol.  iii.  p.  86. 


DECAPODA. 


379 


clay  six,  and  on  another  three,  of  these  crabs  at  Portmarnock  : he  gave  me 
three  of  the  specimens  in  May,  1840. 

Genus  Ebalia. 

E.  Bryerii,  Leach. 

The  first  native  example  of  this  species  which  came  under  my  ob- 
servation was  obtained  in  the  autumn  of  1838,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  when 
dredging  in  deep  water  in  Belfast  Bay.  In  the  Ordnance  collection  are 
two  specimens  similarly  obtained  from  the  same  locality  in  the  following 
year. 

Capt.  Beechey,  It.  N.,  brought  up  two  examples  of  this  species  alive  in 
the  dredge  from  50  fathoms  water  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway. 

JE.  Cranchii,  Leach. 

A single  specimen  was  dredged  from  deep  water  in  Boundstone  Bay, 
Connemara,  by  our  party  in  July,  1840.  Dr.  Ball  subsequently  found 
several  on  the  beach  at  Portmarnock  after  a storm.  Colonel  Portlock  in- 
forms me  that  this  species  was  taken  by  deep  dredging  in  Belfast  Bay  in 
the  course  of  the  Ordnance  Survey. 

JE.  Pennantii,  Leach. 

Although  this  species  must  be  considered  rare,  it  is  less  so  than  the 
two  already  noticed — JE.  Bryerii  and  JE.  Crancliii.  A specimen  (from 
Cork?)  is  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection.  In  Sept.,  1836,  one  was 
dredged  up  from  deep  water  in  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  and,  sub- 
sequently, another  was  similarly  obtained  there  by  Dr.  Drummond. 
Several  were  procured  in  the  same  locality  by  the  collectors  attached  to 
the  Ordnance  Survey,  who  likewise  dredged  a specimen  in  Larne  Lough. 
To  Prof.  Allman  I am  indebted  for  one  which  he  found  in  Dublin  Bay. 

Three  examples  of  the  E.  Pennantii  were  brought  up  alive  in  the 
dredge  from  a depth  of  50  fathoms  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway  by  Capt. 
Beechey,  B.  N. 

Two  specimens  dredged  in  Dalkey  Sound  by  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Atelecyclus. 

A.  heterodon,  Leach. 

Mr.  Templeton  notices  a crab  of  this  species  as  found  by  him  “ in  the 
stomach  of  a cod-fish,  Jan.  17th,  1817.”  In  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  col- 
lection is  an  Irish  specimen  probably  from  Cork.  In  Jan.,  1839,  I ob- 
tained a perfect  adult  male  from  the  stomach  of  a brill  ( Pleuronectes 
rhombus ) taken  at  Ardglass,  County  Down  ; it  somewhat  exceeds  in  size 
that  figured  by  Leach,  which  again  is  larger  than  Montagu  represents 
the  species  ; the  hairs  are  not  confined  to  the  arms  and  legs,  the  carapace 
being  likewise  covered  with  them.  The  circumstance  of  this  species 
being  found  in  the  stomachs  of  the  cod.  and  brill  would  indicate — were 
we  not  otherwise  informed  — its  being  an  inhabitant  of  deep  water. 
In  the  Ordnance  collection  are  examples  of  this  crab  from  Moville  (Co. 
Donegal),  Portrush,  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway,  and  Carrickfergus.  Dr. 
Ball  has  twice  obtained  it  on  the  Dublin  coast : on  one  occasion  many 
specimens  were  found  by  him  on  the  beach  at  Portmarnock  after 
a great  storm.  Montagu  remarks  that  several  of  the  A.  heterodon 
which  he  procured  were  all  males,  and  Dr.  Leach  mentions  females 


380 


CRUSTACEA. 


as  extremely  rare.  The  several  Irish  examples  I looked  to  with  reference 
to  their  sex  were  likewise  males.  It  may  be  remarked,  that  in  this  spe- 
cies the  females  might,  from  the  very  narrow  form  of  the  abdomen,  be 
without  due  attention  regarded  as  males. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1835,  I obtained  several  small  living  spe- 
cimens of  Atelecyclus  (carapace  about  2 lines  in  length)  in  rock-pools 
accessible  at  low-water  at  Bangor,  County  Down.  They  differ  a little  in  the 
contour  of  the  shell  (which  is  not  so  round),  and  in  the  form  of  the  teeth 
between  the  orbits,  from  the  adult  A.  heterodon , but  on  account  of  their 
diminutive  size,  and  in  the  absence  of  specimens  of  all  ages  for  com- 
parison, it  would,  I conceive,  be  rash  to  consider  them  otherwise  than  this- 
species. 

Genus  Corystes. 

C.  Cassivelaunus. 

“ Found  on  the  shore  at  Cushendall  Bay,”  Templeton.  Marked  as 
“ Irish  ” in  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  collection.  This  species  is  commonly 
found  after  storms  on  the  sandy  shores  of  the  North  and  East  of  Ireland. 
In  the  month  of  August,  1836,  a number  of  very  small  specimens  were 
dredged  from  a sandy  bottom  in  the  open  sea  off  Dundrum,  Co.  Down, 
by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself.  The  smaller  the  individuals  of  this  species, 
the  antennae  are  the  longer  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  body  : some 
of  these  with  the  shell  or  carapace  3 lines  in  length  have  the  antennae  6 
lines  long ; on  this  account  the  young  present  a very  singular  and  gro- 
tesque appearance : none  of  those  taken  on  this  occasion  had  the  carapace 
more  than  6 lines  in  length.  In  the  stomach  of  a smooth  dog-fish  (Mus- 
telus  Icevis ),  captured  in  Belfast  Bay,  I found  a perfect  adult  specimen  of 
this  crab. 

' Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  informs  me  that  he  has  frequently  taken  this 
species  at  Bangor  at  neap-tides,  when  he  detected  it  by  the  antennas 
(which  were  always  in  contact  with  each  other)  being  protruded  above 
the  surface  of  the  sand  for  nearly  their  whole  length.  Dr.  Ball,  wdio  has 
found  these  crabs  in  abundance  at  Youghal  and  Dublin,  has  seen  them 
shake  themselves  down  in  the  sand  so  as  to  conceal  all  but  the  antennae 
as  described.  He  is  of  opinion  that  the  antennae  are  not  thus  protruded 
for  any  special  object,  but  'simply  that  the  animal  feels  itself  sufficiently 
concealed  when  the  body  is  covered. 

Carnlough  beach,  W.  T.,  Corystes.  I find  a few  perfect  specimens,  every 
day,  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  July,  1851. 

Oct.  9 th,  1851.  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  Corystes.  Severe  gales  at  the 
beginning  of  this  month  cast  many  ashore. 

Genus  Thia. 

T.  polita,  Leach. 

Galway,  burrowing  in  sand.  Professor  Melville. 


DECAPODA. 


381 


2nd  Section,  Decapoda  Anomoura. 

Genus  Lithodes. 

L.  Maia,  Leach. 

Templeton  says  of  this  species — “ Found  on  the  coast  of  the  County 
Wexford : a specimen  thence  is  in  Trinity  College  Museum  [Dublin]. 
It  is  called  by  the  people  craban.”  * 

I have  not  seen  any  Irish  example  of  this  crab,  but  am  indebted  to  Dr. 
Wylie  of  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  for  a very  fine  specimen  which  was  taken 
in  a herring-net  there  in  the  summer  of  1838,  in  water  from  twenty  to 
thirty  fathoms  in  depth.  It  was  brought  to  Dr.  Wylie  by  the  fishermen 
as  a species  which  they  had  never  before  met  with. 

Genus  Pagurus. 

P.  Bernliardus,  Edw. 

Hermit-crabs  of  this  species  are  very  common  in  univalve  shells 
around  the  coast  of  Ireland.  Leach  mentions  their  “first  occupying  the 
shells  of  the  common  periwinkle  or  trochus  ” (Art.  Crustaceology  in  Edin. 
Encyclop.) ; but  some  examples  in  my  collection  are  much  smaller  than 
those  contained  in  the  species  just  named.  They  are  in  the  Littorina 
retusa,  Turritella  terebra , and  Nassa  macula  ; univalves  from  this  size  up 
to  that  of  the  largest  Buccina  are  commonly  inhabited  by  the  P.  Bern- 
hardus : a specimen  of  this  crab  from  the  coast  of  Down,  in  my  collection, 
is  6|-  inches  in  length.  Samouelle  speaks  of  the  shell  occupied  by  the 
Pagurus  being  “ destined  to  preserve  the  body  from  injury,  and  to  guard 
them  from  the  attacks  of  fishes,  which  would  otherwise  devour  them.” 
Entom.  Compend.,  p.  92.  In  this  latter  respect  the  shells  are  of  little 
service,  as  I have  remarked  Paguri  very  commonly  in  the  stomachs  of 
various  species  of  fishes,  but  especially  in  the  omnivorous  and  voracious 
cod : all  the  moderate-sized  and  large  hermit-crabs  which  have  thus 
occurred  to  me  must  have  been  dragged  from  their  shells,  which,  in  no 
instance  that  I recollect,  were  found  in  the  stomach  of  the  fish  along 
with  them. 

One  of  these  crabs  inhabiting  a Buccinum  undatum  was  brought  up 
alive  in  the  dredge  from  a depth  of  fifty  fathoms  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway. 
See  Annals,  vol.  x.  p.  21. 

P.  Prideauxii,  Leach, 

Has  been  taken  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself  when  dredging  in 
Strangford  and  Belfast  Loughs,  and  in  the  open  sea  off  Dundrum,  County 
Down,  and  in  every  instance  occupying  the  shell  invested  by  the  Adam- 
sia  maculata  {Actinia  maculata,  Adams).  Leach  states  that  “Mr.  Pri- 
deaux  has  observed  it  in  a vast  variety  of  habitations,  even  in  the  tubes 
of  the  Dentalia  and  in  the  shell  of  Scaphander  lignarius  \_Bulla  lignarid\ : ” 
no  allusion  is  made  to  its  connexion  with  Adamsia. 

To  me  this  appears  singular,  for  among  the  very  numerous  specimens 
of  Paguri  in  my  collection  from  all  quarters  of  the  Irish  coast,  and  found 
inhabiting  shells  of  various  species,  not  a P.  Prideauxii  occurs,  except  in 
connexion  with  the  A ctihia  already  named.  This  is  a remarkable  fact. 


* Dr.  Ball  thinks  there  is  some  mistake  here.  Maia  Squinado,  probably. — Ed. 


382 


CRUSTACEA. 


The  connexion  of  the  two  species  is  surely  more  than  accidental.  It 
may  be  further  stated,  that  in  the  localities  whence  P.  Prideauxii  was 
obtained  P.  Bernhardus  is  very  common ; and  in  the  loughs  mentioned  a 
few  individuals  of  two  or  three  other  species  of  Paguri  have  been  pro- 
cured. 

I had  observed  the  occurrence  of  the  Pagurus  in  Troclii  [ T.  cinereus , 
&c.],  and  Bulla  lignaria : — to  these  may  now  be  added  Buccinum  unda- 
tum and  Natica  Alderi.  The  smaller  shells  thus  resorted  to,  as  the  last- 
named,  and  Trochus  cinereus,  may  be  said  to  have  merely  formed  the  apex 
of  the  tenement,  as  “ the  thin  horny  expansion  attached  to  the  aperture  of 
the  shells,  and  forming  as  it  were  an  extension  of  the  body- whorl  in  a 
spiral  form,”  * constituted  from  one-half  to  two-thirds  of  the  entire  habit- 
ation of  the  crab. 

Dr.  Coldstream,  in  treating  of  the  Actinia  maculata  obtained  by  him 
at  “Torbay,  and  in  Rothsay  and  Karnes  Bays  in  Bute,”  remarks,  that  the 
shell  which  it  covered  was  “ always  found  inhabited  by  a variety  of  the 
hermit-crab.”  The  “ variety  ” thus  alluded  to  was  probably  P.  Prideauxii. 
By  Dr.  Coldstream,  and  also  by  myself,  the  Actinia  and  Pagurus  under 
consideration  have  always  been  found  associated.  Dr.  Leach  makes  no 
mention  of  their  connexion  ; and  Prof.  Forbes  states  that  not  a single 
specimen  of  the  Actinia  taken  in  the  course  of  a season  by  him  about  the 
Isle  of  Man  “ had  either  hermit-crab  or  horny  disc.”  (Annals,  vol.  v.  p. 
183.)  It  would  thus  appear,  that  on  the  British  coasts  this  strange  com- 
panionship is  not  invariably  constant.  By  Duges  the  two  species  have 
been  found  associated  on  the  coast  of  France. 

Dr.  Coldstream  enters  pretty  fully  into  the  subject  of  the  “ horny  ex- 
pansion,” and,  after  speculating  upon  its  formation,  thinks  that  it  is  proba- 
bly “ produced  by  the  Actinia.”  Opposed  to  this  view,  however,  is  the 
fact,  that  shells  possessing  the  horny  expansion  are  frequently  dredged  in 
localities  where  the  Actinia  was  never  met  with — and  where  the  P.  Pri- 
deauxii never  occurred.  I have  often  found  them  tenanted  instead  by 
Pagurus  Bernhardus. 

On  examining  such  shells  with  horny  expansions  as  are  preserved  in  my 
cabinet,  I find  the  expansions  to  consist  simply  of  a development  or  con- 
tinuation of  the  Alcyonium  echinatum  (and  which  it  occurred  to  Dr.  Cold- 
stream might  be  the  case)  beyond  the  shell  itself  after  this  is  covered,  or 
nearly  so,  by  the  zoophyte.  May  not  this  Alcyonium  be  selected  by  the 
Actinia  as  a base  upon  which  to  fix  itself,  on  account  of  its  papillary 
eminences,  thereby  enabling  it — the  parasite — to  retain  a firmer  hold  or 
“ seat  ” ? 

Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  Oct.  2nd,  1851.  I found  the  remains  of  a full- 
grown  one  in  the  stomach  of  a cod-fish  taken  off  here. 

Oct.  10th.  There  have  been  severe  gales  of  late.  On  the  beach,  North 
of  Newcastle,  I found  three  or  four  adult  specimens  to-day,  all  freed  from 
shells  ; more  than  I ever  saw  of  P.  Bernhardus  here  in  a day,  i.  e.  on  the 
beach  three  Irish  miles  in  extent,  walked  back  and  forward  by  different 
tracks. 

P.  erinaceus,  J.  V.  Thomp.f 

In  the  collection  of  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson  is  an  Irish  specimen  of  a 
Pagurus  considered  as  undescribed,  and  so  named  by  him. 


* Dr.  Coldstream  in  Edin.  New  Phil.  Journ.,  vol.  ix.,  and  cojpied  in  John- 
ston’s British  Zoophytes,  p.  219. 

f Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection  is  now  in  the  Royal  Dublin  Society’s 
Museum. 


DECAPODA. 


383 


On  examination  of  this  specimen  in  College  of  Surgeons’  Museum,  it 
seems  to  be  my  P.  Cuanensis,  W.  T.,  March,  1847. 

P.  Cuanensis,  Thomp. 

Found  in  Triton  erinaceus  at  Portaferry,  and  in  Bangor  Bay,  W.  T. 

Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drummond. 

June  22,  1846.  A specimen  of  this  Pagurus  was  dredged  in  Strang- 
ford  Lough,  in  fifteen  to  twenty  fathoms  water,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and 
myself.  It  was  alive  and  inhabiting  a Trochus  magus.  A conspicuous 
character  was  presented  in  its  beautifully  ringed  antennae.  These  were 
of  a bright  red  hue  alternating  with  pure  white  or  yellowish  horn-colour, 
the  rings  of  each  colour  very  unequal  in  extent.  The  portion  of  the  body 
exposed  to  view,  when  this  Pagurus  is  in  situ,  is  prettily  mottled  over 
with  reddish  brown  and  white. 

P.  ulidianus,  Thomp. 

Portaferry,  W.  T. 

P.  Hyndmanni,  Thomp. 

In  Turritella  terebra,  at  Portaferry,  W.  T.  Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drum- 
mond. 

P.  Icevis,  Thomp. 

Portaferry,  W.  T. 

P.  Forbesii,  Bell. 

In  20  to  35  fathoms  outside  of  great  Isle  of  Arran,  Professor  Melville. 

P.  Thompsoni.* 

Genus  Porcellana. 

P.  platycheles,  Edw. 

This  littoral  crab  seems  to  be  a local  species,  but  plentiful  where  it 
does  occur  ; Templeton  notices  it  as  found  on  the  “ Whitehouse  shore  by 
Mr.  James  Grimshaw,  jun.”  On  the  beach  near  Carrickfergus,  a few 
miles  distant  from  that  locality,  it  was  procured  in  abundance  in  June, 
1835,  by  the  late  Mrs.  Patterson  of  Belfast,  who  subsequently  obtained  it 
near  Cultra,  on  the  County  Down  shore  of  the  Bay.  Dr.  Ball  states  that 
this  species  is  very  abundant  on  the  shores  of  the  County  Dublin,  and 
especially  at  Portmarnock ; he  remarks  that  in  once  turning  over  a large 
stone  here  in  cold  wintry  weather  the  under  side  was  entirely  covered 

* P.  Thompsoni,  Bell. 

Dredged  in  50  fathoms,  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman.  This 
fine  species  is  described  in  the  end  of  Bell’s  Crustacea  with  the  following  re- 
marks : 

“ I have  a melancholy  gratification  in  dedicating  this  species  by  name  to  a 
gentleman  who  for  many  years  was  justly  considered  as  the  representative  of  the 
Zoology  of  Ireland,  and  whose  acute  discrimination  and  persevering  enthu- 
siasm in  his  favourite  pursuit  were  only  equalled  by  the  liberal  and  unselfish 
feeling  with  which  he  placed  his  treasures  in  the  hands  of  his  fellow-labourers, 
whenever  he  believed  the  interests  of  science  would  be  thereby  furthered.  The 
specimen  from  which  the  above  description  is  taken  was  placed  in  my  hands 
by  my  lamented  friend,  only  a very  few  days  before  his  untimely  death  de- 
prived the  science  of  Ireland  of  one  of  its  most  distinguished  ornaments,  and 
society  of  as  kind  and  true-hearted  a man  as  ever  lived.” — ( Bell’s  Crustacea,  p. 
373.)  Ed. 


384 


CRUSTACEA. 


with  these  crabs,  “ packed  as  close  to  each  other  as  tiles  on  a roof!  ” In 
June,  1838,1  found  the  P.  platy elides  in  numbers  beneath  large  stones  at 
the  island  of  Lambay,  off  the  Dublin  coast ; on  the  1st  of  this  month  the 
females  abounded  in  ova.  At  Lahinch,  County  Clare,  this  species  occurred 
to  Prof.  Forbes  and  myself  in  July,  1840,  between  tide-marks,  and  be- 
neath the  same  stones  P.  lonyicornis  was  met  with  alive.  Tory  Island, 
Mr.  Hyndman. 

P.  lonyicornis,  Edw. 

This  species  chiefly  inhabits  deep  water  on  our  coasts,  but  in  some 
localities  lives  on  shores  exposed  at  the  ebb  of  every  tide.  It  has  been 
dredged  up  in  abundance  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  and  in 
the  open  sea  off  the  North-East  coast  of  Ireland,  in  1834,  and  subsequently 
by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself.  It  is  generally  found  in  connexion  with 
large  shell-fish  brought  up  from  deep  water,  such  as  oysters,  horse-mus- 
sels ( Modiolus  vulgaris),  or  clams  ( Pecten  maximus ),  and  shelters  itself 
under  any  extraneous  matter  or  natural  roughness  (as  between  the  testa- 
ceous layers  of  an  old  oyster)  sufficient  for  the  purpose.  Dr.  Ball’s  col- 
lection contains  specimens  from  Youghal  and  Dublin  Bay  : — on  the  shore 
of  the  island  of  Lambay  I have  taken  it  alive,  as  well  as  at  Lahinch  on 
the  western  coast. 

Specimens  of  this  crab  have  been  sent  me  from  the  coast  of  Wigton- 
shire,  Scotland,  by  Captain  Fayrer,  B,.  N. 


3rd  Section,  Macroura. 

Genus  Galathea. 

G.  striyosa,  Edw., 

Would  appear  to  be  distributed  around  the  coast,  but  everywhere'  in 
very  limited  numbers.  Templeton  notes  it  as  found  at  “ Bangor,  Co. 
Down,  November,  1819,  and  in  the  stomach  of  a cod-fish.”  It  is  enumer- 
ated in  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  catalogue,  his  specimen  being  probably 
from  Cork.  Two  were  captured  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  when 
dredging  in  Strangford  Lough  in  October,  1834 ; and  others  have  subse- 
quently been  added  to  my  cabinet  from  the  rocky  coast  of  Antrim,  as 
from  Island  Magee  ; Glenarm  ; the  vicinity  of  the  Giant’s  Causeway; 
one  or  two  only  from  each  place : at  the  last-named,  a couple  of  indivi- 
duals, which  were  brought  to  me  alive  in  the  month  of  June,  were  cap- 
tured under  stones  at  low-water.  The  species  may  probably  resort  to  the 
shallows  to  deposit  their  ova,  which  in  these  examples  were  ready  for 
exclusion.  The  Ordnance  collection  contains  the  G.  striyosa  from  Bel- 
fast Bay.  Dr.  Ball  has  a specimen  from  Dublin  Bay  : — its  length  of  body 
is  4f  inches ; arm  from  basal  insertion  to  end  of  claw  4-|  inches. 

In  March,  1835,  a G.  striyosa  from  Portpatrick  was  kindly  sent  to  me 
by  Captain  Fayrer,  It.  N. ; and  on  the  beach  at  Newhaven,  near  Edin- 
burgh, I once  picked  up  a very  large  one,  which  had  probably  been  thrown 
out  of  some  of  the  fishing-boats.  At  Ventnor,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  one 
which  had  been  captured  in  a crab-pot  was  brought  to  me ; it  was  5 ^ 
inches. in  length  from  the  points  of  the  claws  to  the  extremity  of  the  tail- 
plates. 


DECAPODA. 


385 


Both  the  young  and  adult  specimens  in  my  cabinet  are  highly  attractive, 
from  still  retaining  their  fine  red  and  bright  blue  markings. 

G.  rugosa , Leach, 

Is  noticed  as  Irish  by  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson.  The  specimens  which  I 
have  seen  were  mostly  found  in  the  stomach  of  the  cod-fish.  Dr.  J.  L. 
Drummond  thus  obtained  two  of  them  from  fish  brought  to  Belfast  mar- 
ket. In  a cod  taken  near  Carrickfergus,  I once  found  a fine  male  G. 
rugosa ; its  length  of  body  from  base  of  eyes  to  extremity  of  tail-plates,  3 
inches  ; its  arm  from  base  to  point  of  claw,  5|  inches.  Another  individual 
was  found  in  the  mouth  of  a haddock  captured  at  Killough,  County 
Down.  Dr.  Ball  in  one  instance  procured  three  specimens  from  the  sto- 
mach of  a cod  taken  at  Youghal.  Dr.  Leach  remarks  “ that  the  G.  rugosa 
appears  to  be  a very  rare  species  in  Britain,”  and  so  may  it  likewise  be 
considered  on  the  Irish  coast.  It  is  probably  one  of  those  species  not  to 
be  found  in  numbers  anywhere. 

A G.  rugosa  has  been  kindly  sent  to  me  from  Portpatrick  by  Captain 
Fayrer,  It.  N.  Several  small  individuals  were  dredged  alive  in  water  from 
110  to  140  fathoms  in  depth  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway.  See  Annals, 
vol.  x.  p.  23.  None  of  them  exceeded  1^  inch  in  length  of  body. 

Among  the  genera  of  Crustacea  which  possess  a luminous  property 
when  living,  Galathea  is  included,  and  the  species  particularized  is  the  G. 
amplectens,  Fabricius  (M‘Culloch’s  West.  Isles,  Scotland,  vol.  ii.  p.  192), 
observed  by  Sir  Joseph  Banks  on  the  coast  of  Brazil.  It  is  perhaps  not 
worth  remarking,  that  in  a dead  specimen  of  G.  rugosa  I observed  the 
same  property.  On  the  evening  of  the  second  day  after  it  had  been  kept 
in  a warm  room,  the  entire  soft  portion  of  its  under  surface  was  highly 
luminous. 

G.  squamifera,  Leach, 

Is  marked  Irish  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  catalogue.  It  is  our  most 
common  species  of  Galathea,  and  is  found  on  all  sides  of  the  island.  f It  is 
not  uncommonly  dredged  up  by  us  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Bel- 
fast, the  specimens  being  generally  of  a small  size.  In  the  Ordnance  col- 
lection are  examples  from  Portrush,  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway.  At  La- 
hinch,  County  Clare,  two  of  the  G.  squamifera  were  procured  by  us  under 
stones  between  tide-marks.  Specimens  from  Youghal  and  the  western 
coast  are  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection. 

Captain  Fayrer,  B.  N.,  has  favoured  me  with  this  species  from  Port- 
patrick. 

G.  nexa,  Embleton. 

I have  found  it  in  the  stomachs  of  cod-fish  brought  from  the  coasts 
of  Down  and  Antrim  to  Belfast  market ; and  in  Dr.  Drummond’s  collection 
are  specimens  which  were  similarly  procured.  A comparison  of  one  of 
these  with  an  original  specimen  in  Dr.  Johnston’s  possession,  proved 
(what  from  its  agreement  with  the  description  and  figure  I had  previously 
little  doubt  of)  the  identity  of  the  species. 

Genus  Palinurus. 

P.  vulgaris,  Leach. 

The  spiny  lobster  is  found  sparingly  on  the  North,  but  commonly  on 
the  South  coast.  Smith  in  his  History  of  Kerry  remarks,  that  one  side  of 
Dingle  Bay  “ is  noted  for  having  very  large  cray-fish,”  and  in  his  History 
2 c 


386 


CRUSTACEA. 


of  Cork,  states  that  “ we  have  of  them  in  great  plenty  from  1 lb.  to  6 or 
8 lbs.  weight  on  the  South  coast  of  Ireland.”  Rutty,  in  his  Natural  His- 
tory of  the  County  of  Dublin,  says  of  the  Palinuris , “ this,  though  com- 
mon on  their  tables  at  Cork,  and  a more  delicate  food  than  the  lobster,  is 
rare  in  Dublin,  though  sometimes  brought  to  our  market  from  Munster, 
and  sometimes  from  England.”  Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  it  is  still  occa- 
sionally brought  to  Dublin,  and  that  it  is  at  the  present  time  rather  com- 
monly taken  at  Youghal  along  with  lobsters,  and  of  the  size  noticed  by 
Leach — from  18  to  20  inches  in  length  of  body.  It  is  considered  coarse 
food  at  the  last-named  place.  A specimen  obtained  many  years  ago  at 
Magilligan,  County  Londonderry,  is  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection  ; one 
or  two  have  subsequently  been  procured  there  by  the  Ordnance  Survey, 
as  well  as  on  the  coast  of  Donegal.  A specimen  captured  in  a crab-pot 
at  Carrickfergus  is  preserved  in  the  Belfast  Museum. 

Genus  Gebia. 

G.  deltura , Leach. 

In  the  stomach  of  a haddock  ( Gadus  PEgle-finus)  taken  off  Newcastle 
(Co.  Down)  on  the  6th  March,  1847,  I was  interested  in  finding  two  per- 
fect arms  of  this  rare  fossorial  species,  hitherto  known  to  have  been  ob- 
tained only  on  the  coast  of  Devonshire.  They  are  of  the  size  represented 
by  Leach,  Bell,  and  M.  Edwards.  The  stomach  of  the  fish  was  with  the 
exception  of  them  filled  with  the  remains  of  Ophiura  texturata.  It  was 
from  the  same  locality  that  I obtained  the  arms — and  these  only — of  the 
two  other  fossorial  genera  Callianassa  and  Calocaris  in  March,  1839.  The 
reason  of  these  parts  alone  of  the  animal  being  taken  may  perhaps  be 
owing  to  their  being  above  the  surface  of  the  bank,  ready  to  lay  hold  of 
any  food  within  their  reach,  while  the  body  remains  concealed,  and  the 
ground-feeding  fish  seizing  on  them,  the  Crustacean  sacrifices  its  exposed 
members  rather  than  give  up  its  whole  body  to  its  assailant. 

Professor  Bell  remarks : — “ The  difference  of  the  depth  which  the  va- 
rious species  of  this  fossorial  family  inhabit  is  very  remarkable ; the  pre- 
sent species  \_Gebia  stellata']  with  Callianassa  subterranea  being  found  in 
a sand-bank,  when  digging  for  Solenes,  whilst  Calocaris  Macandrece  was 
dredged  from  the  astonishing  depth  of  180  fathoms.”  [Hist.  Brit.  Crust., 
p.  224.) . 

The  difference  here  noticed  is  interesting  in  so  far  as  the  facts  narrated, 
but  can  scarcely  be  considered  characteristic  of  the  respective  species.  My 
specimens  of  Callianassa  and  Calocaris , if  not  taken  from  the  stomach  of 
the  same  individual  fish,  a Platessa  pola,  Cuv.,  were  procured  from  two 
fishes  of  that  species  taken  at  the  same  sweep  of  the  trawl-net  on  the 
same  bank  at  a depth  of  10  fathoms.  The  Gebia  was  probably  taken  at 
a similar  depth. 

Genus  Callianassa. 

G.  subterranea,  Leach. 

“ March  25,  1839. — On  examining  the  contents  of  the  stomach  of 
several  individuals  of  the  Platessa  Pola,  which  were  taken  early  this  morn- 
ing off  Newcastle  (County  Down),  two  of  the  larger  arms  of  this  species, 
so  peculiar  in  form  and  still  retaining  their  beautiful  pink  colour,  were 
detected.” 


DECAPODA. 


387 


Genus  Calocaris. 

C.  Macandrece,  Bell. 

Anterior  hands  found  in  stomach  of  a flat-fish. 

Genus  Astacus. 

A.  jluviatilis,  Edw., 

Inhabits  the  rivers  in  many  parts  of  Ireland,  but  is  generally  stated  to 
have  been  introduced  to  its  recorded  haunts  from  other  quarters.  Thus, 
Rutty  in  his  Natural  History  of  Dublin  remarks,  “ It  has  been  sometimes 
found  in  this  country,  chiefly  in  gentlemen’s  ponds,  and  lately  in  the  river 
near  Finglass  ; but  said  to  have  been  brought  thither  from  Munster.”  In 
an  essay  on  the  parish  of  Templepatrick,  written  in  1824,  it  was  stated, 
that  “ the  lady  of  the  late  Arthur  Upton  introduced  a stranger  into  our 
river  called  craw-fish.  It  was  put  into  the  brook  at  Templepatrick  ; it 
descended  the  Six-mile  Water,  where  it  found  a situation  perfectly  suited 
to  its  nature,  deep  water  and  banks  of  loam,  which  they  excavate  as 
lodgings  for  themselves  and  their  young ; they  have  increased  to  a very 
great  multitude.”  This  locality  is  about  ten  miles  distant  from  Belfast. 
The  date  of  the  introduction  of  the  cray-fish  unfortunately  is  not  given, 
nor  are  we  informed  whence  they  were  brought.  About  thirty  years  be- 
fore the  essay  was  written,  as  I am  informed  by  a venerable  friend,  cray- 
fish were  plentiful  some  miles  farther  up  the  river  than  where  they  are 
said  to  have  been  introduced.  They  were  obtained  in  drains  connected 
with  the  river  near  Doagh,  and  were  not  sought  for  as  a marketable  com- 
modity, but  served  up  at  the  table  of  the  Antrim  Hunt,  to  gratify  the 
special  palate  of  one  of  the  knightly  members  of  that  body. 

About  Florence  Court,  County  Fermanagh,  the  cray-fish  is  abundant, 
but  to  this  locality  also,  Lord  Enniskillen  tells  me,  that  the  species  is  said 
to  have  been  introduced  many  years  ago  from  Queen’s  County : — of  the 
correctness  of  this,  as  in  former  cases,  there  is  no  proof.  About  two  years 
ago,  however,  I had  “ ocular  demonstration  ” of  the  introduction  of  the 
cray-fish  into  a pond  at  Lismoyne,  the  seat  of  a relative  near  Belfast. 
Early  in  September,  1840,  supplies  taken  in  a small  river  in  the  County  of 
Kildare  were  from  time  to  time  forwarded  by  the  coach  from  Dublin  to 
Belfast,  and  arrived  in  tolerable  condition  on  the  second  day  after  cap- 
ture ; sometimes  all  were  alive  and  apparently  in  good  health  ; at  others, 
perhaps  one-fourth  would  be  sickly  or  dead.  At  this  period  none  con- 
tained ova,  but  a supply  sent  forward  in  the  middle  of  November  had 
them  well  developed.  It  may  be  worth  mentioning  that  these  cray-fish 
were  captured  by  a man  wading  up  to  his  middle  in  the  river,  and  thrust- 
ing his  hands  into  their  burrows  in  the  banks — the  water  must  be  low  at 
the  time  to  render  the  holes  visible.  When  caught  they  are  generally 
put  in  a bag  containing  a little  hay,  and  by  being  kept  cool  will  live  a 
few  days  out  of  the  water.  They  are  likewise  taken  in  numbers  by  bait- 
ing with  chickens’  entrails  a common  creel  or  basket,  which  is  let  down 
by  a rope  to  the  bottom  of  the  river  in  the  evening,  and  next  morning  is 
pulled  up  so  quickly,  that  the  contained  cray-fish,  having  no  time  for 
escape,  are  all  captured. 

River  Erne,  near  Belturbet,  Mr.  Getty. 

Templeton  says  of  the  Ast.  Jluviatilis  that  it  “ inhabits  several  of  our 
lakes  and  rivers ; near  Antrim,  in  the  Six-mile  Water ; in  great  abundance 
in  a lake  near  Tullahan,  County  Monaghan.”  About  Ballibay  and  Glas- 
2 c 2 


388 


CRUSTACEA. 


lough  in  this  County  it  is  now  said  to  he  met  with.  About  Kill  Lake, 
Lough  Sheehan,  &c.,  in  the  neighbouring  County  of  Cavan  it  is  found.* 
Dr.  Ball  states  that  the  cray-fish  is  taken  in  the  Royal  Canal  about  twelve 
miles  from  Dublin,  and  in  other  places  in  Kildare. 

Mr.  Patrick  Doran,  a well-known  and  intelligent  collector  of  objects  of 
natural  history,  gives  me  the  following  account  of  cray-fish,  as  observed 
by  him  in  Killymoon  river,  near  Cookstown,  County  Tyrone,  when  the 
water  was  very  low.  They  ascend  from  the  deeper  to  the  shallower  parts 
to  spawn.  It  is  the  office  of  the  males  to  cater  for  the  young.  He  has 
seen  them  catch  minute  fish  and  Gammari,  bring  them  to  the  female  and 
young,  and  break  the  fish  up  in  pieces  for  the  latter,  so  as  to  muddy  the 
water  in  the  process.  On  being  disturbed,  both  sexes  gather  the  young- 
under  their  tails  “ as  a hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings  ; ” but 
a singular  difference  prevails  between  the  sexes  with  regard  to  their  man- 
ner of  protecting  their  progeny.  The  male  on  being  lifted  out  of  the 
water  retains  the  young  under  his  tail ; but  the  female  on  being  captured, 
wiser  than  her  lord,  slaps  them  from  her  into  their  native  element  with 
great  force,  thus  producing  an  effect  which  is  likened  by  my  informant  to 
“ a shower  of  rain  upon  the  surface.”  He  has  repeatedly  witnessed  this 
different  procedure  of  the  two  sexes. 

Dr.  Ball  supplies  me  with  the  following  note : — “ Some  years  ago  I 
kept  a cray-fish  for  a considerable  time  in  a shallow  glass-vessel,  about 
twenty  inches  in  diameter,  and  containing  about  two  inches  depth  of  water. 
This  animal  gradually  acquired  great  viciousness,  and  would  eagerly  at- 
tack the  fingers  of  any  one  who  chose  to  put  them  within  his  range,  pursu- 
ing the  intruding  digits  round  the  boundaries  of  his  demesne.  After  he  had 
been  thus  a year  in  my  possession,  I was  one  day  surprised  to  see  a second 
cray-fish  in  the  vessel,  but  on  taking  the  intruder  in  my  hand  (believing 
it  to  have  been  placed  in  the  vessel  by  a waggish  relative)  it  proved  to  be 
the  exuviae  of  my  old  friend,  so  perfect  as  to  present  his  exact  counter- 
part. Instead  of  his  usual  boldness,  he  now  exhibited  the  most  remarkable 
timidity,  which  continued  for  three  or  four  days.  He  was  at  first  quite 
soft,  and  appeared  considerably  larger  than  before,  but  gradually  grew 
firmer,  and  on  the  fifth  day  felt  to  the  touch  as  hard  as  usual,  and  ad- 
vanced with  open  pincers  to  the  attack  of  my  finger,  though  evidently 
not  without  some  little  doubtfulness  of  his  powers.  Before  the  end  of  the 
week  he  was  himself  again,  came  on  more  boldly  that  ever  and  with 
greater  effect,  as  his  weapons  were  much  sharper.  He  lived  nearly  two 
years  with  me,  and  during  the  whole  time  received  no  food  excepting  a 
few  worms.  The  water  was  never  changed,  but  some  was  occasionally 
added  merely  to  supply  the  loss  by  evaporation.  I had  found  by  pre- 
vious experiments  that  cray-fish  placed  in  pans  with  much  water  died, 

* In  Mr.  Hyndman’s  cabinet  there  is  a specimen  of  a cray-fish  considerably 
smaller  and  more  delicately  proportioned  than  the  A.  fluviatilis,  and  apparently 
a different  species.  It  is  believed  by  him  to  be  Irish,  but  of  this  he  is  not  cer- 
tain. A very  intelligent  lady  who  saw  the  specimens  above  alluded  to  from 
Kildare — and  which  were  the  ordinary  A.  fluviatilis — remarked  on  their  being 
much  larger  than  those  she  had  been  accustomed  to  see  in  County  Cavan.  On 
Mr.  Hyndman’s  Astacus  being  shown,  it  was  stated  that  of  the  quantities  which 
she  had  seen  served  up  at  table,  none  wdre  ever  larger.  They  were  taken  in 
one  of  the  tributaries  to  Lough  Sheehan,  about  If  mile  above  the  lake,  and 
eight  miles  from  the  town  of  Cavan.  I have  as  yet  been  unable  to  obtain  cray- 
fish from  this  locality.  Silence  would  perhaps  have  been  more  judicious,  than 
the  introduction  of  matter  of  this  kind  without  any  positive  evidence. 


DECAPODA. 


389 


while  those  which  were  merely  covered,  or  in  such  a manner  that  they 
could  raise  a portion  of  their  bodies  above  the  surface,  lived  as  long  as 
they  were  taken  care  of.” 


Genus  Homarus. 

H.  vulgaris , Edw. 

Lobsters  are  in  plenty  around  the  rocky  shores  of  Ireland.  From  the 
iron-bound  North-eastern  coast  great  quantities  of  them  are  now  sent  by 
the  regularly  plying  steamers  to  Glasgow.  About  Dublin,  Dr.  Ball  in- 
forms me  that  the  flounder  [Platessa  Jlesus)  is  used  as  bait  for  the  lobster  ; 
and  at  Youghal,  that  the  best  plaice  ( Platessa  vulgaris ),  which  would 
bring  a good  price  at  market,  are  cut  up  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  lightest  looking  and  most  tasteful  lobster-pot  that  I have  seen  is 
that  used  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran  (off  Galway  Bay).  It  is  of  the 
form  and  about  the  size  of  a tenor-drum.  The  frame-work  consists  simply 
of  a small  hoop  at  each  end  fastened  to  three  almost  equally  light  but 
tough  pieces  of  wood,  so  as  to  present  the  drum  form  ; over  all  a net  is 
stretched,  having  an  opening  in  the  centre  of  each  end.  The  bait  used 
is  fish. 

Genus  Nephrops. 

N.  Norvegicus,  Leach. 

Templeton  says  of  this — “ a rare  species,  but  sometimes  found  in  Bel- 
fast Lough.”  I have  heard  of  its  being  taken  near  Portaferry  about  the 
entrance  to  Strangford  Lough,  and  that  it  has  been  procured  in  numbers 
off  D undrum  on  the  Down  coast,  but  specimens  have  not  come  under  my 
observation  from  these  localities.  It  is  brought  in  great  quantities  to 
Dublin  as  an  article  of  food,  and  is  chiefly  used  by  the  poorer  people. 
Dr.  Ball  informs  me  that  the  species  is  very  numerous  in  Dublin  Bay,  off 
the  Pigeon  House,  and  that  hence  the  town  is  supplied ; he  has  taken 
the  Nephrops  along  with  echini  and  star-fish  from  the  stomachs  of  cod 
bought  in  Dublin. 

Specimens  have  been  obligingly  sent  to  me  from  the  island  of  Holy- 
head  (Wales)  by  Captain  Fayrer,  R.  N. 

Nephrops  Norvegicus. — Newcastle,  Dozen,  Sept.,  1851. — An  old  fisherman 
here  informs  me,  that  this  species  is  taken  commonly  between  this  and 
the  Isle  of  Man,  by  the  trawl,  in  from  50  to  60  fathoms.  These  boats  take 
all  their  fish  to  Dublin,  and  hence  it,  and  not  Belfast,  is  supplied  with 
them. 

Nephrops  Norvegicus. — Oct.,  1851. — Patrick  Doran  tells  me,  that  on  the 
bank  (25  fathoms  water  over  it)  off  Glassdrummond  (Co.  Down)  he  has 
seen  great  quantities  of  these  taken  in  trawl  nets.  The  Nephrops  goes 
in  shoals,  and  he  has  known  several  instances  of  above  a ton  weight  of 
them  being  taken  by  a boat  in  a day.  They  are  doled  out  5 or  6 cwt. 
a day  to  the  salesmen  in  Dublin,  a fresh  supply  turned  out  every  morning 
so  long  as  they  last.  He  says  that,  different  from  the  Isocordia  Cor,  these 
are  taken  on  various  banks,  off  Down,  South,  and  Dublin  coasts,  or  “ be- 
tween Glassdrummond  and  Dublin.” 

Genus  Crangon. 

C.  vulgaris,  Leach. 

The  shrimp,  being  an  article  of  food,  is  noticed  in  several  of  our  old 
County  histories.  It  is  common  on  the  sandy  shores  and  adjacent  saline 


390 


CRUSTACEA. 


marshes  from  North  to  South  of  Ireland.  I have  taken  them  at  mid- 
winter as  well  as  midsummer  filled  with  ova.  The  western  shore  of  Bel- 
fast Bay  was  many  years  ago  of  a hard  sandy  nature,  so  as  to  admit  of 
being  ridden  over  by  persons  on  horseback.  At  that  period,  as  I am  in- 
formed, shrimps  abounded  there,  and  were  regularly  sought  for  as  objects 
of  sale.  At  present  this  same  part  of  the  shore  is  soft  and  oozy,  and  the 
shrimps  so  very  limited  in  number  and  small  in  size,  that  they  are  never 
looked  after.  Although  this  species  chiefly  frequents  sandy  shores,  I 
have  occasionally  seen  it  brought  up  in  the  dredge  from  deep  w'ater  and 
at  a considerable  distance  from  land,  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Bel- 
fast. Dr.  Ball  mentions  that  shrimps,  though  existing  in  large  quantities 
at  Youghal,  are  held  in  little  esteem,  but  that  the  prawn  ( Patcemon  serra- 
tus ),  caught  abundantly  at  spring-tides,  is  much  thought  of — this  latter  is 
called  “ shrimp  ” there  ; the  former  the  “ grey  shrimp  : ” this  term  is  also 
used  in  Smith’s  History  of  the  County  of  Cork,  written  nearly  a century 
since. 

C.  fasciatus,  Risso. 

Among  Crustacea  lately  submitted  to  my  examination  by  Dr.  R.  Ball 
are  two  individuals  of  this  species,  which  were  taken  by  him  at  Bray  in 
July  last.  They  are  nearly  1 inch  in  length,  and  exhibit  masses  of  mature 
ova.  The  species  is  admirably  characterized  in  Milne  Edwards’  descrip- 
tion above  referred  to.  Its  short  thick  form  at  once  arrested  my  attention 
as  distinct  from  that  of  C.  vulgaris : — the  colour  designated  by  the  trivial 
name  fasciatus  does  not  so  distinguish  it.  One  specimen  exhibits  a black- 
ish band  on  the  fourth  segment  of  the  abdomen,  and  the  other  none  ; and 
the  greater  number  of  specimens  of  C.  vulgaris  from  various  parts  of  the 
Irish  coast  examined  in  reference  to  this  character  have  more  or  less  of  a 
blackish  band  on  this  segment.  It  is  slightly  shown  too  in  Sowerby’s 
figure  on  Leach’s  Malacost.  Podophth.  Brit.  This  species  had  not  been 
noticed  as  British,  but  has  I believe  been  lately  obtained  by  Professor 
Bell. 

C.  sculptus , Bell. 

In  20  fathoms,  S.  sound  of  Arran,  Professor  Melville. 

C.  bispinosus,  Westwood. 

In  30  fathoms,  Galway  Bay,  Prof.  Melville. 

Genus  Pontophilus. 

“ P.  spinosus,”  Leach. 

In  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection  there  is  a specimen  bearing  the 
former  name,  and  marked  as  Irish.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the 
notice  of  the  Irish  Crustacea  in  this  collection  (now  in  the  College  of 
surgeons,  Dublin),  is  limited  to  a single  letter,  the  initial  “ I ” simply  in- 
dicating them,  as  “ F ” does  the  foreign  species.  The  native  specimens 
were,  I believe,  chiefly  derived  from  the  harbour  of  Cove,  whence  those 
were  brought  upon  which  that  naturalist  founded  his  highly  important 
and  celebrated  Researches  into  the  Metamorphoses  of  the  Crustacea. 

Genus  Processa. 

“ P.  (vel  Nika)  canaliculata,”  Leach. 

Irish  examples  of  this  species  are  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection. 


DECAPODA. 


391 


Genus  Athanas. 

A.  nitescens,  Leach. 

A single  specimen  was  found  under  a stone  between  tide-marks  at 
Lahinch,  County  Clare,  by  Prof.  Forbes  and  myself  in  July,  1840. 

Genus  Hippolyte. 

II.  varians , Leach, 

Is  an  inhabitant  of  deep  water  around  the  coast.  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s 
collection  contains  Irish  specimens.  This  species  has  been  dredged  in 
Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  and  was 
similarly  procured  by  our  party  in  July,  1840,  in  Clew  and  Roundstone 
Bays,  on  the  western  coast.  In  Dalkey  Sound,  Dublin  Bay,  an  H.  va- 
rians f was  taken  by  us  in  the  dredge. 

H.  Cranchii , Leach, 

Is  marked  in  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  collection  as  Irish. 

II  Thompsoni,  Bell. 

N.  W.  coast  of  Ireland,  W.  T. 

Genus  Pandalus. 

P.  annulicornis,  Leach, 

Is  in  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson’s  collection.  The  species  has  been  taken  com- 
monly by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself  in  the  rock-pools  accessible  at  low- 
water  throughout  the  Down  coast,  and  has  been  dredged  by  us  in  deep 
water  on  the  North-East  coast,  and  in  Killery  Bay,  Connemara.  Dr.  Ball 
has  specimens  from  the  shores  about  Dublin. 

Dredged  off  Donaghadee,  Dr.  Drummond. 

Genus  Pal^emon. 

P.  serratus,  Leach. 

The  prawn,  an  article  of  human  consumption,  is  noticed  in  some  of  our 
old  County  histories,  as  Harris’s  Down,  Smith’s  Cork  and  Waterford, 
Rutty’s  Dublin.  The  last  author  says,  apparently  * with  reference  to  this 
species,  that  “it  was  formerly  frequent  on  our  coast,  but  the  frost  in 
1740  destroyed  many  of  them”!  vol.  i.  p.  379.  Templeton  speaks  of  it 
as  “ once  common  in  Belfast  Lough  ; now  rare.”  Some  years  ago  I ob- 
tained from  this  locality  a very  large  specimen,  which  was  taken  in  a lob- 
ster-pot at  the  entrance  of  the  bay.  Here  the  species  has  more  lately 
been  obtained  by  the  collectors  attached  to  the  Ordnance  Survey,  who 
likewise  procured  it  at  Portrush  near  the  Giant’s  Causeway.  Dr.  Ball 
states,  that  at  Youghal  prawns  are  taken  only  during  the  first  quarter  of 
flood-tide,  and  then  plentifully:  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran  he  cap- 
tured numbers  of  them  in  the  summer  of  1835,  and  out  of  about  fifty, 
found  three  with  Bopyri  attached. — See  Annals,  vol.  v.  p.  256. 

P.  Squilla,  Leach. 

Templeton  notices  this  species  'as  “ common  on  the  shore  of  Belfast 
Lough.”  It  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  rock-pools  throughout  the  range 


* He  refers  to  Rondeletius  for  the  species  meant,  a work  which  I have  not 
at  present  to  consult. 


392 


CRUSTACEA. 


of  the  Down  coast,  and  is  likewise  occasionally  taken  in  deep  water  with 
the  dredge. 

Donaghadee,  8 — 10  fathoms. 

Palcenion  Squilla. — Newcastle,  Down,  August,  1851. — I have  been  much 
interested  by  looking  at  these  creatures  in  their  native  rock-pools  to  the 
southward  of  Bloody  Bridge,  where,  at  the  extreme  of  high-water  only, 
they  derive  any  new  accession  of  sea- water.  They  swam  about  within  a 
few  inches  of  me,  and  both  in  form  and  colour  were  highly  attractive. 
They  settle  (as  bees  do  on  flowers)  to  browse  upon  the  algae  ( ceramium 
rubrum),*  and  with  their  pretty  caerulean  claws  apparently  draw  the 
plants  to  their  mouths. 

I brought  some  home  with  me,  and  put  them  in  a pan  of  sea-water  filled 
within  two  inches  of  the  top.  They  frequently  jumped  out  of  this  on  the 
table,  where  they  even  ran  quickly.  One  of  them  leaped  from  the  table 
into  the  pan  of  water  again,  which  required  a leap  of  above  four  inches 
in  vertical  height  to  clear  the  edge,  the  pan  being  four  inches  high. 
Their  sight  is  very  acute.  They  are  tenacious  of  life,  as  I brought  them 
in  a phial  in  my  pocket  for  three  miles,  and  they  were  as  active  after 
being  24  hours  in  our  house  as  when  captured.  I did  not  keep  them 
longer.  They  were  several  times  five  or  six  yar^s  from  the  pan  of  water, 
including  a leap  from  the  table  to  the  floor  of  the  room.  Though  this 
leap  was  nearly  three  feet,  they  were  nothing  the  worse  for  it,  but  as 
active  as  ever  on  being  replaced  in  the  water. 

P.  varians,  Leach. 

A few  examples  have  been  procured  in  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs 
by  Dr.  Drummond  and  myself.  Leach  remarks  that  the  Astacus  squilla 
of  Pennant  may  be  his  P.  varians. 

P.  Leachii,  Bell, 

Is  the  name  attached  by  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson  to  an  Irish  specimen  in  his 
collection. 

Genus  Pasiphuea. 

P.  Sivado,  Bisso. 

In  the  British  Museum  there  is  a specimen  so  named,  and  labelled 
“ Ireland.”  From  the  donor,  the  Rev.  James  Bulwer,  I learned  that  it  was 
taken  by  him  in  the  vicinity  of  Dublin. 

Genus  Cuma. 

Cuma  trispinosa,  Goodsir. 

Portaferry,  Strangford  Lough,  1838,  Mr.  Patterson. 

Genus  Alauna. 

? A.  rostrata,  Goodsir. 

The  occurrence  of  an  individual  of  this  species  to  me  at  Newcastle  (Co. 
Down)  in  Aug.,  1836,  was  noticed  in  the  Annals,  vol.  xiii.  p.  435,  "accom- 
panied by  a mark  of  doubt  as  to  the  species.  When  lately  looking  over 
some  Crustacea  dredged  from  5 fathoms  at  the  Skerries,  on  the  Dublin 
coast,  in  the  autumn  of  1845,  by  Dr.  Ball  and  Professor  Edw.  Forbes,  I 
was  gratified  to  see  several  specimens  quite  similar  to  the  one  that  I had 


* On  bringing  some  of  these  algae  home  to  preserve,  I found  their  tops  had 
been  much  injured, — eaten  off,  I presume,  by  these  Palcemons. 


STOMAPODA. 


393 


myself  taken.  They  are  about  6 lines  in  length,  and  agree  in  all  respects 
with  Goodsir’s  description,  hut  present  at  the  same  time  a striking  charac- 
ter which  he  has  not  noticed — in  the  carapace  being  almost  wholly  covered 
by  series  of  minute  granular  spines  (if  such  an  expression  may  be  used) 
with  the  points  directed  forward,  and  hence  my  “ ? ” as  to  species.  The 
describer  of  Alauna  obtained  but  the  one  specimen. 


ORDER  STOMAPODA. 

Genus  Mysis. 

M.  spinulosus,  Leach.  * 

South  of  Ireland. 

M.  Chamceleon,  Thomp.  (J.  Y.) 

The  first  examples  described  under  this  name  were  "obtained  in  the 
harbour  of  Cork.  Specimens  from  each  side  of  the  island  have  come 
under  my  notice.  At  Bangor,  within  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay  ; 
Ballywalter,  on  the  open  coast  of  Down  (both  strictly  marine  localities) ; 
in  Dundrum  Bay,  same  County  (in  brackish  water)  ; and  in  the  tidal  river 
Lagan  at  Belfast ; I found  them  common  in  the  summer  or  autumn  of 
1835  and  1836.  In  the  three  first-named  places  they  were  taken  between 
tide-marks  ; in  rock-pools  in  the  two  first,  and  in  a sandy  bay  in  the  last. 
I have  seen  it  among  Crustacea  brought  up  in  the  dredge  in  water  5 
fathoms  deep  off  the  Dublin  coast  by  Dr.  Ball ; have  received  it  from  the 
West  coast  of  Cork  (Professor  G.  J.  Allman),  and  have  taken  it  myself 
along  the  shores  of  Connaught.  A detailed  note  of  June  22,  1846,  is  as 
follows  : — When  in  company  with  Mr.  Hyndman  to-day  at  Strangford 
Lough,  I took  a number  of  this  species  (which  is  admirably  figured  in  the 
work  quoted)  in  brackish  water,  at  Ardmillan.  They  were  in  extraordi- 
nary profusion,  and  viewed  in  the  water  were  at  first  sight  mistaken  for 
the  fry  of  fish.  They  appeared  to  be  all  about  the  same  size,  and  adult, 
as  were  the  specimens  taken,  the  largest  exceeding  1^  inch  in  length  from 
point  of  anterior  scales  to  end  of  the  caudal  plates. 

Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson  remarks  that  M.  Chamceleon  “ has  never  been  ob- 
served like  the  other  species  in  any  great  numbers  together,  but  scattered 
and  solitary,  often  associated  with  M.  vulgaris ,”  p.  29.  But  where  they 
came  under  my  observation  in  this  instance,  a small  arm  of  the  lough  a 
few  feet  in  depth  presented  the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  being  quite 
alive  with  them.  They  were  all  swimming  in  one  direction,  towards  the 
sea,  and  moving  regularly  and  horizontally  onward. 

It  is  difficult,  owing  to  the  figure  being  deficient  in  elaboration,  to  judge 
whether  or  not  Montagu’s  Cancer  astacus  multipes,  Linn.  Trans.,  ix.  (p. 
90)  pi.  5,  f.  3,  be  this  species,  but  I agree  with  Mr.  J.  V.  Thompson  that 
the  Cancer  Jlexuosus,  Mull.  Zool.  Dan.,  vol.  ii.  p.  34,  pi.  66,  is  so.  M.  Ed- 
wards (Hist.  Crust.,  vol.  ii.  p.  458)  observes,  that  spines  are  represented 
on  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  in  Muller’s  figure  of  M.  jlexuosus,  but 
although  such  an  appearance  is  presented  in  the  plate,  surely  it  is  the 
mere  setae  of  the  subabdominal  fins  which  are  intended  to  be  represented. 
The  specimens  taken  on  this  occasion  were  all  of  one  hue,  as  the  millions 
in  the  water  seemed  to  be  ; this  was  a very  pale  olive  or  “ pellucid 
cinereous,”  as  ascribed  to  the  M.  Leachii  by  Mr.  J.  Y.  Thompson,  from 
which  they  differed  only  in  having  black  instead  of  “ reddish  rust- 


394 


CRUSTACEA. 


coloured  ” spots.  Each  segment  of  the  body  in  every  specimen  examined 
(about  thirty  in  number)  is  marked  with  a round  black  spot,  whence,  in 
some,  arborescent  arms  branch  off ; in  others  there  is  no  arborescent 
appearance,  but  the  segment  is  dotted  regularly  over  with  extremely 
minute  points. 

M.  vulgaris , J.  V.  Thomp. 

On  the  occasion  mentioned  my  attention  was  first  directed  by  remarking 
among  those  captured,  individuals  wanting  the  black  spot  on  the  segments 
of  the  body,  when,  singling  out  three  of  these,  they  proved  to  be  of  this 
species — all  the  others  were  31.  Chamceleon.  The  segments  however  ex- 
hibit an  arborescent  veining,  though  wanting  the  black  central  spot. 
These  specimens  are  one  inch  in  length,  or  one-fifth  less  than  the  largest 
31.  Chamceleon  taken  with  them.  If  the  proportion  of  the  one  species  to 
the  other  in  the  myriads  seen  were  as  in  those  taken,  the  numbers  of  31. 
vulgaris  to  the  other  were  but  as  one  to  ten.  Some  of  these  (31.  vulgaris) 
produced  young  in  the  phial,  like  those  represented  by  Muller  in  the 
Zoologia  Danica,  pi.  66,  and  by  Kroyer  in  the  Voyages  Scandin.  et 
Lapon.  Crustaces,  pi.  9. 

Ballyhome,  Belfast  Bay,  July  4,  1846. — From  the  rocks  at  the  entrance 
of  this  bay  I captured  in  pure  sea-water  a number  of  the  31ysis  of  various 
sizes,  all  of  which  proved  to  be  31.  Chamceleon.  The  extraordinary  differ- 
ence in  colour  of  these  specimens,  all  taken  together  within  the  space  of 
a few  yards,  well  justified  the  specific  name.  They  were  brown,  green, 
pink,  red,  and  hyaline,  some  as  transparent  in  colour  as  the  water  itself ; 
a few  displayed  a whitish  longitudinal  stripe  down  the  back.  With  the 
view  to  a more  particular  examination  of  the  colours  at  home,  they  were 
placed  in  a phial  of  sea-water,  but  were  all  dead  on  my  arrival  there  a few 
hours  afterwards.  Of  the  many  species  of  the  more  minute  forms  of 
Crustacea  which  I have  preserved  in  spirits,  the  31ysidce  were  always 
among  the  first  to  become  soft  and  to  decay.  The  specimens  under  con- 
sideration, when  examined  in  spirits,  exhibited  on  each  segment  of  the 
body  a black  spot,  whence  more  or  less  of  an  arborescent  appearance  w'as 
manifest. 

31.  Chamceleon  has  occurred  to  me  much  more  frequently  as  well  as  in 
greater  numbers  on  the  Irish  coast  than  31.  vulgaris.  In  very  shallow 
pools  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch  (Co.  Clare)  the  latter  was  procured 
by  Professor  E.  Forbes  and  myself.  It  frequents  the  tidal  river  Lagan 
at  Belfast. 

Genus  Scorpionura. 

S.  vulgaris,  Thomp.,  J.  V. 

South  of  Ireland. 

S.  longicornis,  Thomp.,  J.  V. 

South  of  Ireland. 

S.  maxima,  Thomp.,  J.  V. 

South  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Cynthia. 

C.  Flemingii,  H.  Goodsir. 

Among  some  of  the  more  minute  Crustacea  taken  at  Strangford  Lough 
in  May,  1840,  by  Mr.  11.  Patterson,  is  a Cynthia,  but  hardly  sufficiently 


AMPHIPODA. 


395 


perfect  to  be  determined.  The  species  on  which  the  genus  was  founded 
was  taken  between  Madeira  and  Barbadoes.  Mr.  H.  Goodsir  added  the 
genus  to  the  British  Fauna  from  examples  obtained  on  the  East  coast  of 
Scotland. 

Genus  Themisto. 

T.  brevispinosa,  Goodsir. 

In  September,  1835,  I obtained  an  individual  of  this  species  in  rock- 
pools  between  tide-marks  at  Bangor,  Co.  Down. 


SECOND  LEGION— EDEIOPHTHALMATA. 

ORDER  AMPHIPODA. 

Genus  Talitrus. 

T.  locusta,  Latr. 

Abundant  and  general. 

Genus  Orchestia. 

O.  littorea , Leach. 

In  J.  Y.  Thompson’s  and  Mr.  Templeton’s  lists. 

O. ? 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  1835,  W.  T. ; distinct  from  O.  littorea. 

Genus  Dexamine. 

D.  spinosa,  Leach. 

Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs ; Ballywalter ; Newcastle,  Co.  Down. 
Genus  Gammarus. 

G.  locusta , Fabr. 

J.  V.  Thompson’s  and  Mr.  Templeton’s  catalogues. 

G.  Jluviatilis , Edw. 

Common  throughout  the  waters  of  Ireland,  from  North  to  South.  I 
have  found  the  stomach  of  the  Salmonidce,  from  Lough  Neagh,  often  en- 
tirely filled  with  it.  Abundant  in  Lough  Erne. 

G.  marinas,  Leach. 

Strangford  Lough,  1837,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. ; Ballysodare,  Co. 
Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Noticed  by  Leach  as  found  on  the  South  coast  of  Devonshire,  and  by 
M.  Edwards  on  the  coast  of  France. 

G.  campylops , Leach. 

Taken  at  high-water  in  the  tidal  river  Lagan,  above  the  bridge  at  Bel- 
fast, May,  1836,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Shore  of  Loch-Ranza,  Isle  of  Arran,  where  the  species  was  discovered 
by  Leach,  the  only  locality  hitherto  noticed. 


396 


CRUSTACEA. 


G.  longimanus , Leach  (sp.).  Mcera  longimana,  Leach  MSS. 

A single  one  taken  with  last: — same  as  Leach’s  unique  specimen  in  the 
British  Museum. 

G.  punctatus,  Johnst., 

I found  in  a case  formed  by  itself  among  the  branches  of  Corallina 
officinalis  growing  in  pools  between  tide-marks  at  Springvale,  Co.  Down, 
in  July,  1846.  The  species  was  determined  by  comparison  of  mine  with 
those  from  Berwick  presented  by  Dr.  Johnston  to  the  British  Museum. 

Genus  Amphithoe. 

A.  fucicola,  Leach  (sp.). 

Obtained  many  years  ago  at  Youghal  by  Dr.  Ball.  Leach  only  appears 
to  have  noticed  this  species  : he  remarks,  “ Habitat  inter  fucos  in  Dam- 
noniee  australis  mari  rarius.” 

A.  rubricate,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Procured  in  Strarigford  Lough  in  Oct.,  1839,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and 
myself.  In  shallow  rock-pools  between  tide-marks  on  the  open  coast  at 
Springvale,  Co.  Down,  I obtained  several  specimens  in  July,  1846.  Pre- 
viously noticed  only  as  found  on  the  South  coast  of  Devon  by  Montagu. 

Amphithoe , sp. 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  1835,  W.  T.  ; distinct  from  the  preceding  and  A. 
obtusata,  on  comparison  with  the  specimens  in  the  British  Museum. 

Genus  Opis. 

O.  typica,  Kroyer,  Yoy.  Scandinavie  et  Laponie  Crust.,  pi.  17,  f.  1. 

Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  Oct.,  1839,  and  June,  1846  ; on  the 
latter  occasion  picked  off  algae  brought  up  from  a depth  of  15  to  23 
fathoms,  where  they  grew  on  soft  sandy  ground — several  specimens  pro- 
cured on  each  occasion. 

Genus  Anonyx. 

Anonyx  (Kroyer),  sp. 

Several  specimens  of  an  Anonyx  of  various  sizes  were  dredged  from  5 
to  6 fathoms’  depth — pure  sandy  bottom — off  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  in 
July,  1846,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself.  They  are  distinct  from  and 
more  elegant  in  form,  colour,  and  markings  than  any  of  the  seven  species 
— A nanus,  littoralis,  ampulla,  holbollii,  plautus,  Edwardsii,  tumidus — re- 
presented by  Kroyer  in  such  parts  of  the  Scandinav.  et  Lapon.  as  were 
in  the  British  Museum  Library,  in  July,  1847.* 

They  are  all  plain  or  uniform  in  colour,  while  mine  has  conspicuous 
stellate  markings  ; it  is  also  of  a somewhat  deeper  tint  generally,  and  has 
the  antennae  longer  than  any  of  those  named. 

Although  a proper  description  cannot  (on  account  of  the  state  of  my 
eyes)  be  drawn  up,  some  idea  may  be  given  of  this  Anonyx — (which  is 
well  worthy  of  the  name  of  elegans ) — by  the  following  note  : — length  of 


* Since  the  above  was  written,  Kroyer ’s  Natuvhist.  Tidssk.,for  1846,  has  come 
under  my  notice,  and  in  it  ten  species  of  Anonyx,  including  the  seven  already 
named,  are  described  (in  Latin ) : the  additional  species  are  A.  gidosus,  A. 
minutus f and  A.  Vahlii. 


AMPHIPODA. 


397 


body  6 lines  ; of  upper  antennae  1 line  ; of  lower  antennae  4 lines ; general 
colour  yellowish-pink ; eyes  red ; lateral  or  abdominal  plates  adorned 
with  scarlet  stellate,  markings,  of  which  there  are  five  or  six  on  those 
nearest  the  head : they  become  gradually  fewer  on  those  towards  the  tail, 
so  that  not  more  than  one  appears  on  the  hinder  plates.  These  markings 
render  it  very  beautiful.  My  Anonyx  is  distinct  from  a British  species 
(locality  unknown)  in  the  collection  of  the  British  Museum.  As  this  is 
not  included  in  the  lately  published  Catalogue  of  the  Crustacea  therein 
contained,  the  present  is  the  first  notice  of  the  genus  as  British.* 

Genus  Cerapus. 

C.  falcatus,  Mont.  (sp.). 

I agree  with  M.  Edwards  (vol.  iii.  p.  61)  in  considering  the  forms  bear- 
ing these  two  names  as  one  species  : Leach  looked  upon  them  as  different. 
Both,  as  distinguished  by  the  form  of  the  claw,  are  among  my  specimens, 
of  which  a number  were  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough  in  Oct.,  1839,  by 
Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself.  Among  the  roots  of  a large  plant  of  the 
tangle  ( Laminaria  digitata)  brought  me  from  Donaghadee  by  Edmund 
Getty,  Esq.,  in  Aug.,  1846,  were  several  specimens. 

Devonshire  (Mont.)  and  the  Bell  Rock  (Leach)  are  the  only  published 
localities  I have  seen  for  this  species. 

Genus  Corophium. 

C.  Longicorne,  Latr. 

J.  V.  Thompson’s  and  Templeton’s  catalogues.  Belfast  and  Strang- 
ford Loughs. 

Genus  Hyperia. 

H.  galba,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Found  in  the  pouches  of  Rhizostoma  Cuvieri  on  the  Dublin  coast  in 
the  autumn  of  1838,  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Only  noticed  by  Montagu  as  found  on  the  South  coast  of  Devon. 

II.  Latreillii,  Edw. 

Obtained  at  Youghal  by  Dr.  Ball  nearly  thirty  years  ago  (“  about 
1818”)  in  great  numbers  in  the  cavities  of  a Rhizostoma.  This  species 
has  not  been  noticed  by  any  English  author,  but  specimens  of  Leach’s, 
marked  “ British  coast,”  are  in  the  British  Museum.  M.  Edwards  men- 
tions it  as  found  on  the  coast  of  France. 

Genus  Lestrigonus. 

Lestrigonus,  sp. 

An  individual  of  this  genus  is  in  the  same  phial  with  the  last,  and 
was  obtained  from  the  cavities  of  the  same  Rhizostoma  with  them. 
It  has  become  so  soft  in  the  spirits  from  incipient  decay  as  scarcely 
to  admit  of  specific  description.  With  respect  to  the  genus,  I have  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Bell  in  addition  to  my  own.  Of  the  two  species  of  this 
genus  described,  one  is  from  India,  the  other  from  Greenland.  (Edw. 
Hist.  Crust.,  vol.  iii.  p.  82.) 


* Anonyx , genus  ?,  or  rather  a form  between  it  and  Stegocephalus,  Kroyer,  was 
dredged  from  a depth  of  23  fathoms  (shelly  sand)  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  Oct.,  1846, 
by  Mr.  Hyndman. 


398 


CRUSTACEA. 


Genus  Chelura. 

C.  terebrans,  Philippi. 

All  that  has  been  published  on  this  species  has  already  appeared  in  the 
Annals ; Philippi’s  paper,  in  which  it  was  first  described,  having  been 
translated  and  republished  in  the  fourth  volume  ; and  Professor  Allman’s, 
introducing  it  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  British  seas,  having  a place  in  the 
number  for  the  month  of  June,  1847.  I have  therefore  only  to  offer  a few 
remarks  bearing  on  the  species  as  found  at  Ardrossan. 

Limnoria  and  Chelura  are  both  present  in  a piece  of  wood  from  Kings- 
town Pier,  Dublin  Bay,  given  me  in  1842  by  Dr.  Ball,  as  well  as  in  the 
wood  from  Ardrossan. 

Both  species  bore  in  the  direction  of  the  grain  of  the  wood,  and  their 
cells  are  quite  alike  in  character : I perceive  no  mark  of  distinction  when 
the  animals  are  of  equal  breadth.  The  first  piece  of  wood  pierced  by  the 
Chelura  which  I had  an  opportunity  of  examining — that  from  Kings- 
town— contained  the  excavations  of  large  adult  individuals.  The  borings 
of  these  were  so  considerably  larger  than  those  of  the  Limnoria  which 
had  come  under  my  notice,  as  to  lead  me  to  believe  that  the  difference  in 
the  size  of  the  aperture  would  at  once  distinguish  the  working  of  either 
species.  The  piece  of  wood  from  Ardrossan,  however,  not  only  proved 
that  this  was  no  criterion,  but — from  the  circumstance  of  the  Chelurce 
being  small,  and  less  in  breadth  than  the  Limnorice — that  theirs  were 
rather  the  smaller  cells. 

Both  the  Crustaceans,  like  the  Teredo  and  Xylophaga,  labour  harmoni- 
ously together  in  the  work  of  destruction,  and  are  mingled  in  the  wood 
as  if  they  were  all  of  one  species. 

They  can  be  readily  distinguished  from  each  other  either  when  alive  or 
dead,  the  Chelura  being  of  a reddish,  the  Limnoria  of  a pale  greyish  yel- 
low hue  resembling  that  of  light-coloured  pine  or  fir.  As  they  retain  their 
colours  after  death,  we  may  even  years  afterwards  distinguish  the  two 
species  in  the  excavations  which  they  had  formed  in  timber  subjected  to 
their  ravages.  From  this  circumstance,  added  to  that  of  their  burrows 
being  formed  in  the  closest  contiguity,  and  many  of  the  creatures 
dying  in  them  after  the  timber  has  been  removed  from  the  sea,  we  may 
in  our  museums  display  whole  catacombs  of  them  as  closely  packed  as 
ever  were  mummies  in  the  best-tenanted  tombs  of  Egypt.  And  the 
Crustaceans  have  this  advantage,  that 

“Each  in  his  narrow  cell  for  ever  laid  ” 
remains  perfect  as  in  life,  without  the  aid  of  any  preservative. 

On  first  learning  from  my  friend  Professor  Allman  that  the  two 
species  were  found  associated  together,  I re-examined — for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  whether  the  Chelura  might  not  have  been  overlooked — all 
the  wood  that  I had  preserved  on  account  of  Limnoria  borings,  but  in 
none  of  it  was  the  former  species  to  be  detected.  This  wood  was  all  pine, 
and  from  Portpatrick,  Donaghadee,  and  Belfast  Bay : from  the  first- 
named  places  obtained  in  1834,  and  from  the  last  in  the  present  year.  In 
the  more  marine  parts  of  this  bay  I was  not  surprised  to  find  that  the 
Limnoria  existed.  I had  however  hoped,  that  where  the  admixture  of 
fresh  with  sea-water  (if  such  take  place)  should  be  very  great  even  at 
full-tide,  and  where  at  low-water  the  former  only  prevails,  wood-work 
would  be  free  from  its  attacks,  but  such  I regret  to  state  is  not  the  case. 
For  the  purpose  of  testing  this,  I requested  my  friend  Edmund  Getty, 


AMPHIPODA. 


399 


Esq.  — who  is  officially  connected  with  the  harbour — to  have  all  the 
beacons  or  “ perches  ” marking  the  channel  of  the  river  (which  they  do  for 
about  two  miles  at  the  upper  part  of  the  estuary)  examined,  and  if  they 
proved  to  he  injured,  to  favour  me  with  specimens  of  the  damaged  wood. 
All  this  he  kindly  had  done  in  the  month  of  May,  1847,  when  the  beacons 
proved  to  have  been  all  attacked,  and  those  most  under  the  influence  of 
the  fresh-water  to  have  suffered  equally  with  those  nearest  to  the  open 
sea.  The  ship-carpenter,  who  cut  the  damaged  portions  off  that  were 
sent  me,  stated  to  my  friend  that  some  old  mooring-buoys  so  high  up  as 
the  Old  Long  Bridge  were  found  on  removal  injured  in  the  same  man- 
ner. The  Limnoria  was  the  only  borer  of  any  kind  found  in  the  beacons 
alluded  to. 

It  must  be  mentioned,  that,  judging  from  the  superior  size  of  the  Che- 
lura borings  to  those  of  the  Limnoria  in  Dublin  Bay,  I had  from  that 
circumstance  noted  down  the  perforations  in  pieces  of  oak  and  black  birch 
washed  ashore  at  Belfast  as  the  work  of  the  Limnoria ; but  perceiving, 
on  examination  of  the  wood  from  Ardrossan,  that  the  borings  of  the  two 
species  may  not  only  be  of  equal  size,  but  that  those  of  the  latter  species 
may  be  the  larger,  I was  taught  that  the  presence  of  the  excavator  himself 
must  be  essential  to  settle  the  point,  and  that  circumstantial  evidence  is 
insufficient.  The  wood  in  question  had  been  so  long  tossed  about  in  the 
sea  that  the  animals  were  all  washed  out : — both  pieces  had  also  been 
bored  by  the  Teredo  norvegica  (T.  navalis , Turt.). 

In  reference  to  the  length  of  time  that  the  Chelura  will  live  after  being 
removed  from  its  native  element,  the  following  note  was  made.  A few 
specimens  taken  from  the  sea  on  Monday  morning  and  received  by  me  in 
the  afternoon  of  that  day  were  alive  on  Thursday  morning,  or  seventy- 
two  hours  afterwards,  when,  leaving  home  for  England,  I took  the  piece 
of  wood  containing  them  with  me,  and  on  examining  it  next  day  found 
them  dead ; they  had  probably  lived  out  of  their  native  element  about 
ninety  hours.  A number  had  lived  in  the  same  wood  for  about  sixty-five 
hours;  they  were  alive  on  Wednesday  night  at  12  o’clock,  and  dead  on 
the  next  morning  at  7 o’clock.  The  wood  in  which  they  were,  was  a 
small  piece  about  six  inches  in  length  and  an  inch  in  thickness ; it  was 
not  wetted  since  being  received  on  Monday,  and  was  kept  in  a warm 
room  (about  65°  Fahrenheit)  all  the  time.  The  apparently  simple  fact  of 
the  species  thus  living  so  long  out  of  water  has  a very  important  bearing, 
for  it  suggests  to  us  that  this  species  could,  like  the  Limnoria,  commit  its 
devastations  in  wood  left  dry  by  the  ebbing  of  every  tide.  Dr.  Cold- 
stream informs  us  that  the  latter  species  “ often  effects  a lodgment  in 
piles  very  near  high  water-mark,  where  it  is  left  dry  by  the  receding 
tide  during  the  greater  part  of  every  twenty-four  hours,”  and  I have  very 
little  doubt  that  the  Chelura  could  play  a similar  part.  I have  not  heard 
that  the  extent  of  the  damage  done  at  Ardrossan  by  the  destructive  ani- 
mals noticed  in  this  communication  has  yet  been  estimated,  but  on  lately 
writing  to  my  obliging  friend  and  correspondent  there,  requesting  him  to 
procure  if  possible  perfect  specimens  of  the  Xylophaga  for  dissection — the 
testaceous  portions  only  had  before  been  sent — he  replied  that  the  oppor- 
tunity for  so  doing  was  now  past,  “ as  the  damaged  portions  of  the  dock- 
gates  had  been  replaced  by  sound  timber.” 


400 


CRUSTACEA. 


ORDER  L^EMODIPODA. 

Genus  Caprella. 

C.  Phasma , Latr. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

C.  linearis , Latr. 

Found  among  marine  plants  collected  near  Glenarm  by  Dr.  Drum- 
mond, in  May,  1836,  and  subsequently  obtained  in  abundance  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  myself  upon  Plumularice,  &c.,  dredged  in  Strangford 
Lough. 

C.  lobata,  Mull.,  Kroyer. 

Specimens  attached  to  zoophytes  ( Sertularia  chiefly)  dredged  from 
about  ten  fathoms  on  sand  near  Portaferry,  Strangford  Lough,  Oct.,  1839, 
Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

C.  tuberculata,  Goodsir. 

Specimens  taken  with  the  last. 

Guerin,  in  his  Iconographie,  &c.,  pi.  28,  f.  1,  represents  a species 
which  he  calls  by  this  name  ; it  is  from  the  Mauritius  (Texte  Descrip. 
Crust.,  p.  24). 

C.  acuminifera,  Leach. 

I found  a few  examples  of  this  species  living  among  Corallina  officinalis 
in  shallow  rock-pools  between  tide-marks  at  Springvale,  Co.  Down,  in 
July,  1846. 

Genus  Proto. 

P.  pedatum,  Leach. 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T. 

Genus  tEgina. 

JP.  ? longispina,  Kroyer. 

A single  individual  of  this  very  fine,  large,  and  spinous  form  was  taken 
with  the  two  first-noticed  Caprellce.  My  specimen  differs  only  from  that 
represented  by  Kroyer  in  having  one  or  two  more  spines  retrally  on  the 
body : it  is  wholly  red  like  his,  and  has  retained  this  colour  in  spirits  to 
the  present  time.  Goodsir’s  Caprella  spinosa  (Edin.  New  Phil.  Journ., 
vol.  xxxiii.  p.  187,  pi.  3,  f.  1)  approaches  very  near  to  this  species,  if  it  be 
not  the  same : it  is  described  as  having  “ the  whole  body  of  a pale  white 
colour.”  Caprella  linearis  of  authors  (already  recorded  as  Irish)  was 
taken  with  this  as  well  as  C.  lobata  and  C.  tuberculata. 


ORDER  ISOPODA. 
Genus  Arcturus. 


A.  longicornis,  Westwood. 
North  and  East  of  Ireland. 


ISOPODA. 


401 


Arcturus  longicornis,  West. 

Leachia  — Sower,  (sp.). 

On  examination  of  a specimen  dredged  by  Mr.  Hyndmanin  July,  1851, 
off  the  Copeland  Islands,  in  from  30  to  50  fathoms,  I find  it  to  be  this 
species  as  distinguished  from  Leachia  intermedia,  and  L.  gracilis , Goodsir. 

Body  of  the  specimen  1 1 lines  in  length.  Antenna  (inferior),  if  perfect, 
would  be  of  equal  length  ; wanting  the  last  segment,  they  are  10i  lines. 


Genus  Ldotea. 

I.  pelagica,  Leach. 

Dredged  off  Ballyhome  Bay.  Strangford  Lough ; Dundrum ; Bally- 
waiter,  W.  T. 

Found  among  Derry  oysters,  W.  T. 

J.  tricuspidata,  Edw. 

Down  and  Antrim,  coasts  and  bays. 

Donaghadee,  8 — 10  fathoms,  Dr.  Drummond. 

Dublin  Bay,  Professor  Allman. 

Connaught ; Lahinch,  Co.  Clare,  W.  T. — both  littoral  and  dredged. 

I have  found  it  in  the  stomach  of  gulls. 

I.  emarginata,  Edw. 

Templeton’s  notes,  “ on  rocks.” 

Dundrum,  1836,  W.  T. 

August  26th , 1836.  I should  suppose  that  plants  are  as  food  especial  fa- 
vourites with  this  ldotea , as  when  looking  over  heaps  of  sea-weed,  contain- 
ing many  different  species,  thrown  among  the  rocks  at  Newcastle  (in  the 
Co.  of  Down),  I found  the  Mesogloia  vermicularis  variously  attacked  by 
numbers  of  them,  and  every  piece  of  it  I saw  had  been  more  or  less  con- 
sumed by  them.  The  other  plants  had  not  been  touched,  nor  were  any 
ldotea  upon  them.  It  should  be  stated  that  the  Mesogloia  did  not  consti- 
tute more  than  perhaps  a 28th  part  of  the  mass  of  sea-weeds. 

I.  linearis , Edw. 

Newcastle  and  Dundrum,  W.  T. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  A specimen  thence  2\  in.  long,  including  antennae. 

I.  acuminata,  Leach, 

Among  Crustacea  kindly  sent  from  Dublin  for  my  inspection  by  Dr. 
Ball,  were  two  individuals  of  an  ldotea  10  lines  in  length,  very  dis- 
tinct in  form  from  our  three  common  species,  the  I.  pelagica,  I.  entomon , 
and  I.  oestrum  of  Leach.  They  were  purchased  of  Mr.  M‘Calla,  but  on 
what  part  of  the  coast  taken  was  not  stated.  I mark  the  species  with 
doubt  on  account  of  Leach’s  only  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  with 
which  they  were  compared,  being  in  a bad  state  of  preservation.  The  I. 
acuminata  was  first  noticed  in  the  British  Museum  Catalogue  of  Crus- 
tacea, p.  95  (published  in  1847),  as  among  Dr.  Leach’s  inedited  species. 
He  obtained  it  on  the  coast  of  Devon,  and  called  it  in  his  MS.,  Leptosoma 
lancifer. 


402 


CRUSTACEA. 


Genus  Tanais. 

T.  Dulonyii , Audouin  (sp.). 

Two  Crustaceans  which  I found  on  Alaria  esculerita  washed  ashore  at 
the  Giant’s  Causeway  in  July,  1839,  seem  so  like  this  species  as  figured  in 
the  great  French  work  on  Egypt,  that  I am  disposed  (in  which  Mr.  Adam 
White  agrees  with  me)  to  consider  them  the  same.  They  do  not  exhibit 
any  point  of  difference,  hut  are  not  quite  perfect.  The  second  species  of 
Tanais  described  by  M.  Edwards  is  from  Naples.  M.  Kroyer  has  de- 
scribed three  species  in  the  Isis,  one  of  which  is  from  Bahia,  and  the 
other  two  from  Madeira. 

Genus  Limnoria. 

L.  terebrans , Leach. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

Oct.,  1846.  Mr.  Getty  and  Mr.  Hyndman  found  one  of  the  beacons 
lately  put  down  at  Garmoyle  eaten  by  the  Limnoria , and  brought  me  a 
portion  of  the  wood  with  its  borers. 

May  ls£,  1848.  Having  heard  that  one  of  the  perches  or  beacons  in 
Belfast  Bay  (that  longest  down)  was  carried  away  by  being  struck  by  a 
vessel  near  Garmoyle,  I examined  it  on  being  brought  to  the  dock,  and 
found  that  only  about  \ of  the  wood  remained,  where  the  perch  had  been 
covered  by  the  sea  at  low  water.  The  Limnoria  alone  had  consumed 
| of  the  wood,  and  many  of  these  creatures  were  living  in  the  wood  when 
I examined  it.  The  perch  was  within  a month  of  being  six  years  down. 
The  wood,  where  eaten  away,  had  been  about  12  inches  in  diameter. 
The  portion  above  low  water-mark  had  not  been  touched.  This  as  well 
as  the  part  attacked  had  been  smeared  with  tar. 

Genus  Asellus. 

A.  aquaticus,  Oliv. 

“ Common  in  rivulets  and  ditches.”  Templeton  MSS. 

Genus  Jaera. 

J.  albifrons,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Common  under  stones  in  shallow  rock-pools  between  tide-marks  at 
Bangor,  Belfast  Bay  (1834,  W.  T.),  and  in  Strangford  Lough,  both  strict- 
ly marine  localities  ; also  obtained  in  the  tidal  river  Lagan,  at  Belfast. 
Known  only  hitherto  as  found  on  the  coast  of  Great  Britain. 

Genus  Oniscus. 

O.  asellus,  Linn. 

“ Common  among  rotting  timber.”  Templeton  MSS. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

Genus  Lygia. 

L.  oceanica,  Fabr. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

Nov.,  1847.  Mr.  Darragh  tells  me  is  very  common  on  the  beach  at 
Ballymacarrett  (Belfast),  and  very  often  entered  and  ran  about  the  floor 
of  his  house,  the  back  of  which  rises  direct  from  the  beach. 

Genus  Philoscia. 

P.  muscorum,  Latr. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  V.' Thompson. 


ISOPODA. 


403 


Genus  Porcellio. 

P.  scaber , Latr. 

“ Common  under  stones,  wood,  and  in  old  walls.”  Templeton  MSS. 

P.  Icevis,  Latr. 

“ Rare ; I have  only  seen  one  specimen.”  Templeton. 

Genus  Armadillium. 

A.  vulgare,  Edw. 

J.  V.  Thompson,  catalogue.  “ Inhabits  among  stones  and  moss.” 
Templeton. 

Genus  Praniza. 

P.  ccerulata,  Mont,  (sp.)  ? 

A letter  from  A.  H.  Haliday,  Esq.,  dated  October  9th,  1847,  conveyed 
the  following  information  : — “ I found  a species  of  Praniza  pretty  com- 
mon on  the  clayey  shores  of  Strangford  Lough  last  week,  in  company 
with  Anceus  maxillaris.  They  were  in  small  cavities  on  the  surface  of  the 
clay  under  stones,  sometimes  singly,  oftener  two  or  even  three  and  four  in 
each  hole  ; the  smaller  slender  green  ones  were  few  in  comparison.  You 
will  find  some  of  the  new-born  young  with  them,  having  all  the  charac- 
teristic form  of  the  parent,  but  the  posterior  thoracic  segments  not  so 
completely  confounded  together.  I have  given  but  a hasty  look  at  them, 
but  have  not  recognised  males  among  the  adults.” 

Along  with  Crustacea  since  received  from  Dr.  Ball,  were  sent  spe- 
cimens of  a Praniza , purchased  of  Mr.  M‘Calla  as  collected  on  the  Irish 
coast,  but  no  locality  is  given.  They  were  obtained  previous  to  those 
first  noticed. 

M.  Edw.,  vol.  iii.  195,  remarks  that  the  male  is  found  on  the  rocks  of 
the  coast  of  La  Manche  and  England,  and  the  female  appears  to  live 
habitually  fixed  to  the  branchia  of  various  fishes ; I have  never  seen  them 
on  deep-water  fishes,  though  they  may  infest  the  littoral  species,  as 
Father-lasher , &c. 

Genus  Anceus. 

A.  maxillaris , Lann. 

I obtained  specimens  dredged  with  Modiola  vulgaris  at  Bangor  in 
Sept.,  1835,  one  from  the  rejectamenta  brought  with  lobsters  from  Glen- 
arm,  Dec.,  1843,  and  two  or  three  brought  with  oysters  from  Stranraer 
(Scotland),  also  on  oysters  from  Bangor,  Down. 

Genus  Sphceroma. 

S.  serratum,  Leach. 

River  Lagan  and  Strangford  Lough,  W.  T. 

S.  Hookeri , Leach. 

South  of  Ireland.  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

8.  rugicauda , Leach. 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T. 


2 d 2 


404 


CRUSTACEA. 


S.  Prideauxiana,  Leach. 

An  example  of  this  species,  taken  in  a towing-net  where  the  water  was 
several  fathoms  in  depth  in  Belfast  Bay  in  August,  1846,  by  Mr.  R.  Pat- 
terson, was  brought  to  me  alive.  Its  colour  was  pale  brown  with  dark 
brown  markings ; its  motions  when  undisturbed  were  lively ; when 
touched,  it  rolled  itself  into  a ball. 

My  specimen,  which  on  comparison  with  the  original  one  from  “ De- 
von ” (where  only  it  has  yet  been  noticed)  in  the  British  Museum,  must 
be  considered  this  species,  at  the  same  time  cannot  be  said  to  differ  from 
S.  curtum  (a  view  in  which  Mr.  Adam  White  coincides) ; — it  is  interme- 
diate in  size,  form,  &c.,  between  the  individual  examples  of  the  two  spe- 
cies in  that  collection.  M.  Edwards  offers  some  remarks  on  the  diffi- 
culty of  distinguishing  S.  curtum  from  Leach’s  description  (Hist.  Crust., 
vol.  iii.  p.  209). 

S.  Griffithsii,  Leach  MSS.?  Brit.  Museum  Catal.,  p.  103. 

Three  Sphceromce  obtained  in  Belfast  Bay  and  Strangford  Lough 
(1835,  &c.)  are  similar  to  the  two  poor  original  specimens  from  Torbay, 
so  named  in  the  British  Museum,  excepting  in  the  caudal  plate  being 
rather  more  rounded  in  my  specimens. 

Genus  Cymodocea. 

C.  truncata,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Two  examples  procured  between  tide-marks  at  Cultra  and  Rockport, 
Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.,  1837.  Leach  remarks  that  the 
species  is  found  amongst  Fuci,  and  is  very  rare : Edin.  Ency.,  vii.  433. 
Mine  agree  with  his  specimen  in  the  British  Museum ; it  is  from  Devon 
(the  only  known  locality). 

Genus  Dynamena. 

D.  rubra , Leach. 

This  species  was  determined  from  comparison  with  Dr.  Leach’s  spe- 
cimens in  the  British  Museum.— Not  uncommon  on  the  North-East  coast. 

Genus  NES2EA. 

N.  bidentata , Desm. 

“ North  of  Ireland.”  Templeton. 

Genus  Cirolana. 

C.  hirtipes,  Edw. 

My  specimens  are  similar  to  those  so  named  in  the  British  Museum 
(but  whence  these  were  obtained  is  unknown),  and  agree  with  the  descrip- 
tion and  figure  of  M.  Edwards,  whose  only  locality  indicated  for  the  spe- 
cies is  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ! The  first  individuals  which  came  under 
my  notice  were  found  in  the  midst  of  a mass  of  boiled  cod-fish  ova 
sent  me  from  Portpatrick  about  ten  years  since,  by  Lieut.  Little,  R.  N.  In 
September,  1841,  several  found  adhering  to  a skate  ( Raia  batis ) taken  in 
Belfast  Bay,  were  brought  to  me  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  I have  also  procured 
it  on  the  gills,  and  once  alive  in  the  stomach  of  a holibut  ( Hippoglossus ), 
from  the  last-named  locality.  It  was  enumerated  in  my  Report  under  the 
name  of  Cirolana  Cranchii,  the  only  known  British  form  of  the  genus. 


ISOPODA. 


405 


Genus  Eurydice. 

E.pulchra,  Leach. 

This  pretty  species  has  been  taken  at  Larne  by  Mr.  R.  Patterson  (1838), 
and  at  Carrickfergus,  between  tide-marks,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  (March  and 
April).  Bantham,  Devon,  the  original  locality  (Leach,  Linn.  Trans.,  xi. 
370),  appears  to  be  the  only  one  yet  noticed  for  E . pulchra. 

Genus  ^Ega. 

JE.  bicarinata,  Leach. 

March  30,  1839.  I procured  an  individual  of  this  species  alive  in  Bel- 
fast market,  whither  it  was  brought  with  oysters  from  Carrickfergus.  It 
was  not  known  to  Dr.  Leach  whence  the  specimen  was  brought  that 
served  for  his  description,  and  the  works  accessible  to  me  in  which  the 
species  is  introduced  do  not  contain  any  information  as  to  its  habitat. 

2E.  tridens,  Leach. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Bopyrus. 

B.  squillarum , Latr. 

A Palcemon  serratus,  taken  by  Dr.  Ball  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran, 
off  the  coast  of  Clare,  in  June,  1835,  contained  within  the  plates  of  the 
head  a fine  specimen  of  this  Bopyrus,  6^-  lines  in  length,  and  agreeing 
with  the  female  as  represented  by  Desmarest  and  other  authors. 

B.  hyppolytes,  Kroyer. 

Two  females  of  this  species  were  found  within  the  carapace  of  the  Hip- 
polyte  varians , Leach,  which  I obtained  on  the  coast  of  Galway  in  July, 
1840.  M.  Kroyer  found  it  on  the  Hippolyte  polaris. 

B.  galatea,  Thompson. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  V.  Thompson  MSS.  West  of  Ireland,  Dr.  Ball. 


THIRD  LEGION— BRANCHIOPOD A. 

ORDER  PHYLLOPODA. 

Genus  Apus. 

A.  cancriformis,  Latr. 

North  of  Ireland  “ in  stagnant  waters.”  Templeton  MSS. 

Genus  Branchtpus. 

B.  siagnalis , Latr. 

“ In  a pond  along  with  Daphnia  pulexA  Templeton  MSS. 


JSf.  bijjes,  Fabr. 

Clifden  and  Roundstone. 


Genus  Nebalia. 


406 


CRUSTACEA. 


ORDER  CLADOCERA. 

Genus  Daphnia. 

D.  pulex,  Mull. 

“ Pond  at  Cranmore.”  Templeton  MSS. 

D.  longispina,  Miill. 

“ Pond  at  Cranmore.”  Templeton  MSS. 

Genus  Sida. 

S.  crystallina , Edw. 

Professor  Allman  lately  sent  me  sketches  of  a Daphnia  obtained  by 
him  during  autumn  in  a little  subalpine  lake  near  Killarney,  where  it 
was  in  profusion  adhering  to  the  under  sides  of  the  leaves  of  the  water- 
lily  ( Nymphcea  alba).  On  the  sketches  being  transmitted  to  Dr.  Baird  of 
the  British  Museum,  he  at  once  recognised  in  them  the  D.  crystallina , 
Miill.  (sida,  Straus),  adding  that  he  had  met  with  the  species  but  in  two 
localities — near  London — and  in  both  sparingly. 

Genus  Lynceus. 

P.  lamellatus,  Miill.  Eurycercus  lamellatus,  Baird. 

Taken  in  Lough  Neagh  at  the  beginning  of  August,  by  Mr.  A.  H.  ITa- 
liday  and  W.  T. 

Genus  Polyphemus. 

P.  oculus,  Miill. 

North  of  Ireland  “ in  marshes  and  drains,  very  rare.”  Templeton  MSS. 


FOURTH  LEGION— ENTOMOSTRACA. 

ORDER  OSTRAPODA. 

Genus  Cypris. 

C.  conchacea,  Desm. 

North  of  Ireland,  Templeton  MSS.  Clifden,  Mr.  Haliday. 

C.  Candida,  Desm. 

Clifden,  Mr.  Haliday. 

' C.  reptans,  Baird. 

Taken  with  last ; together  with  a species  of  Daphnia,  believed  by  Dr. 
Baird  to  be  undescribed ; the  lynceus  and  Cypris  were  named  by  this 
gentleman  ; the  specimen  of  the  latter,  being  in  a bad  state,  was  marked 
with  a note  of  doubt. 

Genus  Cytherea. 

C.  viridis,  Latr. 

“ Among  Fuci  at  Bangor  and  Macedon  Point,  in  Belfast  Bay.”  Mr. 
Templeton. 


COPEPODA. 


407 


C.  lutea,  Latr. 

“ Among  Fuci  at  Bangor.”  Mr.  Templeton. 


ORDER  COPEPODA. 


Genus  Cyclops. 

C.  quadricornis,  Latr. 

“ In  the  drains  at  the  Moss,  Cranmore.”  Mr.  Templeton.  Has  also 
been  found  by  Mr.  Haliday  about  Belfast. 

C.  longicornis,  Miill. 

“ In  drains  at  the  point-fields,  Belfast.”  * Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Cyclopsina. 

C.  staphylinus,  Edw. 

Early  in  the  spring  in  the  drains  of  Cranmore,  Mr.  Templeton.  Clifden, 
Mr.  Haliday. 

Genus  Anomaloceka.+ 

A.  Pattersonii,  Templeton. 

Larne  Lough,  Mr.  Patterson. 

Genus  Cetochilus. 

C.  septentrionalis,  Goodsir,  Edin.  New  Phil.  Journ.,  vol.  xxxv.  p. 
336,  pi.  6,  f.  1—11. 

Many  of  this  species  were  taken  with  the  last  in  May,  1840,  in  Strang- 
ford  Lough,  by  Mr.  Patterson: — in  October,  1843,  this  Cetochilus  was  de- 
scribed by  Mr.  Goodsir. 

Genus  Canthocarpus. 

C.  minuticornis,  Miill.  (sp.). 

Obtained  in  Strangford  Lough,  Oct.,  1839,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 


Genus  Notodelphys. 

N.  ascidicola , Allman. 

On  the  Irish  coasts,  swimming  freely  in  the  branchial  sac  of  Ascidia 
communis.  Professor  Allman,  Proc.  Ro.  Irish  Academy,  April,  1847, 
Dec.,  1847.  From  two  Ascidia  mentula ? about  1 inch  in  length  each 
(taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  Aug.  25,  1840,  E.  Getty),  and  preserved  on  account 
of  the  parasite,  I took  to-day  25  specimens  of  it,  and  more  may  still 
remain  within  the  tunics. 


* Another  of  this  genus,  without  specific  name,  appears  in  the  Report  and 
MSS.,  no  locality  mentioned. — -Ed. 

f Dr.  Baird  considers  these  genus  synonymous  with  Pontia,  Edw.  W.  T. 


408 


CRUSTACEA. 


ORDER  SIPHONOSTOMATA. 

Genus  Argulus. 

A.foliaceus,  Jurine. 

Belfast,  Oct.  29,  1838. — In  our  market  to-day  I had  the  pleasure  of 
detecting  one  of  these  very  interesting  and  handsome  parasites  attached 
to  the  dorsal  fin  of  a Salmo  Trutta,  about  a foot  in  length.  The  Argulus 
is  3^  lines  long,  is  a female,  and  in  addition  to  the  ova  exhibits  at  the 
base  of  the  tail  the  dark  green  spots  (“  noirs,”  Desm.  Consid.  Gen.  Crust., 
p.  332)  which  are  considered  to  mark  this  sex.  Although  the  fish  to 
which  it  was  attached  had  been  for  some  hours  out  of  the  water,  the  Argu- 
lus held  so  firmly  by  its  two  disks  that.  I had  some  difficulty  in  detaching 
it  without  injury.  For  about  ten  minutes  it  was  wrapped  in  a piece  of 
dry  paper,  and  then  placed  in  a vessel  of  water  in  which  salt  had  been 
dissolved  until  it  was  to  the  taste  like  strong  sea-water.*  This  was  no 
sooner  done  than  my  pretty  captive,  after  drawing  her  last  pair  of  feet 
together  several  times, t thus  calling  to  mind  the  common  housefly,  struck 
out  her  oarfe,  and  thereby  was  rapidly  impelled  through  the  fluid. 

The  figures  of  Desmarest  (tab.  50)  and  Yarrell  (Brit.  Fish.,  vol.  ii.  p. 
399)  are  very  characteristic  of  this  species,  but  the  great  beauty  exhibited 
in  the  specimen  before  me  is  at  the  same  time  not  shown,  perhaps  in  con- 
sequence of  the  upper  side  of  the  female  not  being  represented — this  con- 
sists in  its  being  closely  spotted  with  very  dark  green  along  the  central 
part  of  the  body  for  two-thirds  posteriorly,  commencing  a little  above  the 
ovary  in  the  form  of  a head,  and  extending  to  the  posterior  portion  ; the 
rest  of  the  upper  side  of  the  body  being  of  a very  pale  yellowish  green  hue 
and  semi-transparent  as  described,  the  part  thus  spotted  is  well  defined, 
and  is  strikingly  of  the  form  of  a coleopterous  insect,  which  the  Argulus 
in  another  point  of  view  resembles,  when  the  two  sides  of  the  greenishly 
transparent  “ boucliers  ” are  thrown  a little  apart,  as  we  see  the  elytra  of 
the  insect.  I was  further  reminded  of  the  resemblance  when  attempting 
to  remove  it,  as  in  holding  firmly  by  the  suckers,  the  body  was  drawn  in, 
and  the  “ boucliers  ” elevated  quite  above  it.  Its  motion  through  the 
water  seems  equally  rapid,  whether  it  be  on  the  upper  or  under  side,  or 
swimming  retrally — it  frequently  moved  along  the  surface  with  its  back 
downwards,  and  was  wholly  immersed  except  the  suckers,  which  were 
thrown  either  on  a line  with  the  water  or  quite  above  it,  and  thus  would 
the  animal  occasionally  remain  quiescent  for  a short  period. 

The  constant  motion  of  these  organs  (visible  to  the  naked  eye)  in  addi- 
tion to  the  rapid  play  of  the  feet,  impart  much  life  to  the  appearance  of 
the  Argulus,  and  present  not  the  same  aspect  for  two  continuous  seconds 
of  time,  whether  the  body  be  at  rest  or  otherwise.  They — i.  e.  the  mar- 
ginal row  of  minute  suckers,  which  appear  as  a dark  line  round  the 
disk  in  figures  of  the  species — are  frequently  drawn  together  to  the 
centre  of  the  disk,  exhibiting  a dark  point  not  larger  than  the  eye. 


* This  was  done  in  consequence  of  my  having  been  told  that  the  fish  was 
taken  in  the  sea ; the  stomach,  however,  contained  the  remains  of  fresh-water 
insects  (according  to  my  friend  A.  H.  Haliday,  Esq.,  to  whose  inspection  they 
were  submitted) , which  possibly  might  have  been  washed  into  the  sea  and  there 
obtained,  but  this  is  by  no  means  probable. 

f I observed  this  repeatedly  done  afterwards— they  seem  to  be  rubbed  against 
the  caudal  plates. 


SIPHONOSTOMATA. 


409 


The  eye  itself,  under  the  lens  or  microscope,  exhibits  constant  motion, 
and  even  to  our  unassisted  vision  its  red  colour — that  of  the  lady-bird, 
Coccinella  septempunc- 
tnta  — is  apparent  ; / 

when  magnified  it  / 

looks  black  where  the  //  ^ 

lines  and  dots  are,  red  / (^5)  \ 

elsewhere.  ' 

After  having  been  about  four  or  five  hours  in  the  salt  water,  and  dis- 
playing its  wonted  activity  to  the  last,  the  specimen  was  lost  during  my 
absence  from  the  room.  I had  intended  to  observe  how  long  it — a fresh- 
water species — would  live  in  salt  water,  but  though  foiled  in  this,  have 
thought  these  notes,  made  with  the  living  animal  before  me,  might  per- 
haps be  worth  the  room  they  occupy,  more  especially  as  the  Argulus 
seems  to  be  very  little  known  as  a British  species.  From  what  has  been 
stated  it  would  seem  to  be  very  tenacious  of  life.  The  individual  here 
treated  of  is  the  second  Irish  one  I have  seen ; the  other  was,  when 
swimming  freely  in  Lough  Neagh,  taken  by  Mr.  Hyndman  in  the  autumn 
a few  years  since.  Like  the  present  specimen,  it  displayed  a mass  of 
large  ova. 

Genus  Caligus. 

C.  Mulleri , Leach. 

“ North  of  Ireland,”  Mr.  Templeton. 

C.  salaris  f J.  V.  Thomp. 

“ South  of  Ireland,”  J.  V.  Thompson. 


C.  scombri,  J.  V.  Thomp. 

“ South  of  Ireland,”  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

C.  productus,  Mull. 

“ North  of  Ireland,”  Mr.  Templeton. 

Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

C.  minutus,  Otto. 

I obtained  a specimen  off  a holibut  in  Belfast  market  in  February, 
1837.  It  differs  very  little — hardly  in  species— from  C.  hippoglossi,  Kroyer, 
Tidssk.  hind  i.  p.  625,  pi.  6,  f.  3 (1st  series). 

M.  Edwards  notes  the  species  as  found  on  the  coast  of  Bretagne  in  the 
branchial  cavity  of  the  “ Bass  | [Basse.  Labrax  lupus,  Cuv.]. 

C.  diaphanus,  Nor  dm. 

Nordmann  obtained  this  species  off  Trigla  hirundo.  I have  procured 
it  not  only  on  that  fish  but  on  the  following,  purchased  in  Belfast  market : 
— Trigla  pini,  Pagellus  centrodontus,  Scomber  scombrus , Caranx  trachu- 
rus,  Merlangus  carbonarius,  Merlucius  vulgaris,  Lota  molva,  Platessa  vul- 
garis, and  Pleuronectes  maximus.  The  specimens  were  taken  in  March, 
August,  October,  and  December  (1837). 

C.  Stromii,  Baird, 

I have  found  on  Salmo  trutta  taken  in  Dundrum  Bay  (Co  Down),  Aug., 
1836,  and  on  the  same  species  cajffured  in  the  sea  at  Donaghadee  in 
March ; on  Salmo  eriox  from  the  latter  locality  in  Dec. ; on  Salmo  salar 
taken  on  ascending  two  of  the  Co.  Antrim  rivers  from  the  sea  in  June 


410 


CRUSTACEA. 


and  July.  M.  Edwards  indicates  this  species  merely  as  found  in  the  gills 
of  a salmon.  C.  vespa  was  noticed  this  year  for  the  first  time  as  found  on 
the  English  coast.  See  British  Museum  Crust.,  p.  118. 

C.  curtus,  Kroyer. 

On  Raia  maculata  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  April,  1839,  W.  T. 

C.  rapax,  Edw. 

C.  sturionis,  Kroyer, 

I obtained  on  Trigla  hirundo  and  T.  pini  brought  to  Belfast  market  in 
November,  1839. 

C.  Nordmanni,  Edw. 

I took  several  specimens  of  this  fine  Caligus  alive  on  a sun-fish  ( Or- 
thagoriscus  mold)  captured  on  the  coast  of  Antrim  in  September,  1848. 
They  were  all  adherent  externally  to  the  skin  of  the  fish  on  different 
parts  of  the  body.  When  living  they  were  marbled  over  with  greyish 
lilac  of  dark  and  light  shades.  This  species  was  erroneously  included  in 
a paper  published  in  the  20th  vol.  of  the  Annals,  p.  248.  The  name  C. 
Mulleri  being  substituted  there  for  C.  Nordmanni  will  make  all  correct. 
Two  others  noticed  in  the  same  page  require  the  following  correction, 
according  to  Dr.  Baird,  who  then  kindly  assisted  in  determining  them, 
but  has  since  given  the  subject  a more  rigid  examination. 

C.  pectoralis,  Kroyer. 

M.  Edwards  notices  this  as  found  on  turbot,  plaice,  and  other  flat-fishes 
(vol.  iii.  p.  454).  I have  procured  it  on  Platessa  Jlesus , P.  limanda,  Solea 
vulgaris , Scomber  scombrus,  Zeusfaber,  and  Conger  vulgaris , brought  to 
Belfast  market  in  March,  1837 : they  adhered  to  all  the  exposed  parts  of 
the  body  of  the  various  fishes,  and  not  to  the  gills,  &c. 

Genus  Trebius. 

T.  caudatus,  Kroyer. 

This  truly  generic  form  was  obtained  by  Kroyer  on  a Squalus  galeus 
taken  in  the  Kattegat.  My  specimens — both  male  and  female — were 
found  adhering  externally  over  both  sides  of  the  body  of  a Raia  batis 
captured  in  Belfast  Bay  in  September,  1838. 

Genus  Cecrops. 

C.  Latreilleii , Leach. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  V.  Thompson. 

On  Orthagoriscus  Mola,  taken  at  Dublin,  Dr.  Ball.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman. 

On  the  same  from  Antrim  coast.* 

Genus  Dichelestion. 

Z>.  sturionis,  Edw. 

South  of  Ireland,  J.  V.  Thompson. 

* On  Orthagoriscus  Mola,  Belfast  Bay,  1852. — Ed. 


LERNEADA. 


411 


ORDER  LERNEADA. 

Genus  Lernea. 

L.  uncinata,  Mull., 

I obtained  on  the  gills  of  a Gadus  callarias , taken  at  Larne  (County 
Antrim)  in  the  summer  of  1834.  By  Dr.  Bellingham  of  Dublin  I have 
been  favoured  with  specimens,  which  he  found  attached  to  the  gills  of 
whiting  ( Merlangus  vulgaris)  brought  to  the  market  of  the  metropolis. 

In  1846,  Dr.  Drummond  found  it  at  Holywood,  attached  to  the  base  of 
the  pectoral  fin  of  a small  codling. 

Genus  Chondracanthus. 

C.  cornutus,  Edw. 

To  Dr.  Bellingham  I am  indebted  for  specimens  of  this,  which  were 
found  by  him  attached  to  the  gills  of  sole,  purchased  in  Dublin  market 
in  May,  1837. 

C.  Lopliii,  Johnst.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  81,  f.  16. 

The  first  specimens  which  I have  seen  were  procured  by  Dr.  Scouler  on 
a Lophius  piscatorius  in  Dublin  ; more  recently  they  occurred  to  myself,  in 
the  pouches  of  a fish  of  the  same  species  brought  to  that  city. 

C.  gibbosus,  Kroyer. 

Taken  in  the  pouches  of  a Lophius  piscatorius  in  Dublin,  December, 
1839  (W.  T.),  and  from  pouches  of  three  individuals  captured  in  Belfast 
Bay,  November,  1841.  M.  Edwards  brings  this  species  with  doubt  under 
C.  Delarochiana  (Cuv.  Reg.  Anim.),  which  has  been  found  on  the  tunny, 
Thynnus  vulgaris.  C.  Lopliii,  Johnston,  Loudon’s  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ix. 
81,  f.  16,  already  recorded,  seems  to  me  identical  with  C.  gibbosus, 
Kroyer. 

Genus  Entomoda. 

E.  canicula,  Thomp.  J.  V. 

“ South  of  Ireland,”  J.  Y.  T. 

E.  puella,  Thomp.  J.  Y. 

“ South  of  Ireland,”  J.  V.  T. 

Genus  Brachiella. 

B.  salmonea,  Templeton. 

“ North  of  Ireland,”  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Lerneopoda. 

L.  galei,  Kroyer, 

Was  found  by  its  describer  on  the  fin  of  a Squalus  galeus,  Linn.  ; on 
which  species,  from  Belfast  Bay,  I likewise  obtained  my  specimen  in  De- 
cember, 1839 : — it  was  adherent  to  the  cavity  posterior  to  the  vent  of  the 
fish. 


412 


CRUSTACEA. 


Genus  Lerneonema. 

L.  monillaris , Edw. 

This  species  has  been  favoured  me  by  Dr.  Ball,  who  procured  speci- 
mens adhering  to  the  sprat  ( Clupea  Sprattus ) at  Youghal.  Dr.  Ball  re- 
marks that  when  alive  it  is  of  a beautiful  green  colour,  and  generally  ad- 
heres to  the  cornea  of  the  fish’s  eye : one  of  those  sent  to  me  is  fixed  to 
the  body  of  the  sprat  close  to  the  dorsal  fin. 

Genus  Lernea, 

L.  branchialis,  Kroyer. 

Gills  of  the  cod.  Belfast  Bay,  1844  and  1848,  W.  T. ; and  Dublin, 
Mr.  Glennon. 


ORDER  PYCHNOGONIDA. 

Genus  Nymphon, 

N.  gracile , Leach. 

Shores  of  Antrim  and  Down,  W.  T. 

N.  grossipes,  Linn. 

“ North  of  Ireland,”  Mr.  Templeton. 

N.  Johnstoni , Goodsir. 

The  first  specimen  of  this  Nymphon  which  I have  seen  was  taken  by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond  at  Macedon  Point,  Belfast  Bay,  upwards  of  twenty 
years  ago.  From  1834  to  the  present  time  I have  occasionally  procured 
it  on  the  North-East  coast. 

N.  spinosum , Goodsir. 

Examples  of  this  species  have  been  taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  & c. 

N.  femoratum,  Leach. 

Dredged  from  eight  to  ten  fathoms  at  Donaghadee  in  May,  1843,  by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond. 

Leach  only  is  quoted  by  M.  Edwards,  vol.  iii.  p.  534,  for  this  species, 
who  notes  it  however  as  inhabiting  “ La  Manche.” 

Genus  Orytiiia. 

O.  coccinea,  Johnst. 

Portaferry,  Strangford  Lough,  1837,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Genus  Phoxichilidium. 

P.  globosum , Goodsir, 

I obtained  among  zoophytes  thrown  ashore  at  Portmarnock,  on  the 
Dublin  coast,  in  Aug.,  1840.  This  species  was  only  known  to  its  describer 
as  taken  in  Orkney  by  Prof.  Forbes  and  Prof.  Goodsir. 


PYCHNOGONIDA. 


413 


Genus  MuNNA. 

M.  Kroyeri,  Goodsir. 

Taken  in  a towing-net  on  the  surface  of  Strangford  Lough  in  May, 
1840,  by  Mr.  It.  Patterson. 

The  genus  Munna  was  described  by  Kroyer  in  1841,  and  Mr.  Goodsir’s 
M.  Kroyeri  was  obtained  in  July,  1842,  in  the  Firth  of  Forth. 

Genus  Pasithoe. 

P.  vesiculosa , Goodsir. 

My  specimen  of  this  rare  form  was  dredged  at  Dalkey  island,  Bay  of 
Dublin,  in  August,  1840,  R.  Ball,  E.  Forbes,  W.  T.  Mr.  Goodsir’s  was 
procured  in  the  Firth  of  Forth. 

Genus  Pychnogonum. 

P.  balcenarum,  Fabr. 

This  common  species  was  accidentally  omitted  in  former  “ Additions  to 
the  Fauna  of  Ireland.”  Pyc.  balcenarum  must  on  our  coast  be  content 
with  a smaller  victim  than  a whale,  and  condescends  to  suck  the  juices  of 
an  Actinia.  In  January,  1834,  several  of  these  parasites,  from  a very 
minute  to  a middle  size,  were  found  upon  the  Actinia  mesembryanthe- 
mum  at  Bangor  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself : on  the  shore  near  Dublin, 
the  Pychnogonum  has  likewise  been  taken  on  Actinia  by  Dr.  Bellingham. 
Specimens  from  Ballintrae,  Ayrshire,  and  Whitehaven,  Cumberland,  are 
in  my  collection : among  oysters  brought  from  the  latter  place  to  Belfast, 
I have  found  them  particularly  numerous. 


CIRRIPED  A. 


I.  PEDTXNCTJLATA. 


Genus  Anatifa. 

A.  Icecis,  Lam. 

Drift  timber,  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T.  Dun- 
dalk, Mr.  Hyndman.  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Bundoran,  Mr. 
Hyndman. 

A.  dentata , Lam. 

A specimen  of  this  Anatifa  from  Magilligan,  County  Londonderry,  is 
in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection.  It  presents  every  character  of  A.  Icevis , 
Lam.,  except  in  the  dorsal  valve  being  slightly  dentate — a character  in- 
sufficient in  my  opinion  to  constitute  a specific  difference.  Of  200  speci- 
mens examined  in  1847,  only  12  were  dentate.  The  peduncle  of  all  was 
of  a very  dark  brown  colour. 

A.  striata,  Lam. 

Magilligan  and  Portstewart,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 
Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys.  West  of  Ireland,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Said  to 
be  densely  clustered  over  bark  of  a pine  found  floating  off  Waterford, 
and  presented  to  the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  in  1848,  by  Dr.  Farran. 

A.  vitrea,  Lam. 

In  1831,  Mr.  Hyndman  found  vitrea,  attached  to  Fucus  vesiculosus, 
and  F.  nodosus,  thrown  ashore  (and  quite  fresh)  at  Magilligan  and  Port- 
stewart, and  subsequently  found  it  on  both  species  at  the  Giant’s  Cause- 
way, as  well  as  on  feathers  of  sea-fowl. 

Dr.  Ball,  in  letter  of  December  14th,  1844,  mentions  having  got  his 
Anatifa  on  Halidrys  siliquosa  in  1819,  about  a mile  from  Youghal. 

Dr.  Farran,  in  a paper  read  to  the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  in  Dec.,  1844, 
and  published  in  Saunders’  News-letter  of  Dec.  1 2th,  mentions  his  finding, 
at  Roundstone  Bay,  A.  vitrea  adhering  abundantly  to  F.  vesiculosus.  Mr. 
M‘Coy,  in  his  remarks  on  the  paper,  mentioned  that  Mr.  Warren  in  1838 
presented  this  Anatifa  to  the  Soc.,  attached  to  F.  vesiculosus  gathered  on 
our  shores. 

A.  sulcata,  Lam. 

Of  this  beautiful  striated  species,  I saw  two  groups  attached  to  cork- 
wood found  at  Killiney,  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection. 

“ Found  on  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  by  Mr.  O’Kelly.” 

“ Found  by  Mr.  O’Kelly,  near  Kenmare  harbour  in  Ireland,  on  a piece 


PEDUNCULATA. 


415 


of  oak  bark,”  Turt.  C.  D.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball  in  Proc.  R.  I.  A.,  p.  32. 
Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys  ; Milton  Malbay,  Professor  Harvey. 

Dr.  Ball  obtained  it  many  years  ago  at  Youghal. 

Cirripeda,  noted  on  western  tour  of  1840. 

Ballyshannon,  July  1 5th.  A.  vitrea,  on  F.  nodosus,  thrown  ashore. 
Next  day  we  found  it  thrown  ashore  abundantly  at  Bundoran ; it  was  in 
a young  state,  and  on  feathers.  Mrs.  Hancock  has  a piece  of  the  bark 
of  a tree  thrown  ashore  at  Bundoran,  covered  with  A.  vitrea, '-with  the 
addition  of  A.  striata.  A.  Icevis  (common  barnacle)  in  some  quantity  on 
the  beach  at  Bundoran. 


Genus  Scalpellum. 

S.  vulgare,  Leach. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  adhering  to  Tubularia  indivisa,  G.  C.  H. 
and  W.  T. 

In  a fishing  boat  at  Carrickfergus,  G.  C.  H.* 

April  3rd,  1848.  Two  specimens  attached  to  a stem  of  Antennularia 
antennina  (var.  ramosa ),  dredged  from  5 fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay  to-day 
by  Mr.  E.  Getty,  and  shown  to  me. 

January,  1848.  S.  vulgare,  two  specimens  attached  to  Antennularia, 
found  amongst  oysters,  from  Groomsport,  Dublin  coast,  T.  W.  Warren’s 
collection,  on  Tubularia  indivisa.  Dublin  Bay,  Professor  Harvey,  Dr. 
Ball  in  Proc.  R.  I.  A.,  p.  32. 

Genus  Pollicipes. 

P.  cornucopice,  Leach;  Lepas pollicipes,  Gmel. 

Mr.  Warren  of  Dublin  informs  me  that  he  once  saw  fresh  specimens 
brought  to  Mr.  Glennon’s  shop,  and  which  were  stated  by  the  person  in 
whose  possession  they  were  to  have  been  found  in  the  taking  down  of  a 
lock  for  repairs  at  Ringsend,  Dublin. 

Genus  Cineras. 

C.  vittata,  Leach. 

On  the  bottoms  of  vessels  from  foreign  localities  (once  or  twice)  in 
Belfast,  and  on  wood  washed  ashore  at  Larne,  G.  C.  H.  Several  speci- 
mens quite  fresh  brought  to  G.  C.  H.,  by  one  of  the  fish-carriers  in  Bel- 
fast market,  who  stated  that  he  picked  them  off  oysters  from  Malahide. 
They  were  shorter  in  the  peduncle  than  those  obtained  from  the  bottoms 
of  vessels  by  G.  C.  H.  Attached  with  an  Otion.  to  a Balanus,  Dr.  Ball, 
in  Proc.  R.  I.  A.,  p.  32,  1836-37. 

Genus  Otion. 

O.  Cuvieri , Leach. 

The  remarks  on  Cineras  apply  also  to  this ; they  are  usually  associated. 


Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  April,  1852,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  Ed. 


416 


CIRRIPEDA. 


II.  SESSILXA. 

Genus  Balanus. 

B.  costatus,  Mont. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland.  Cork  Harbour,  on  Pinna,  from 
deep  water,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

B.  Communis,  Mont. 

Coast  of  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Dublin  coast,  W.  T.  Common  on 
coast  of  Cork,  on  rocks,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

B.  tintinnabulum,  Linn. 

On  drifted  wood  at  Howth,  Br.  Turt.  Cat.  In  Dublin  Bay  it  has  been 
found  affixed  to  the  Ostrea  operculans,  from  which  circumstance  it  is 
clearly  identified  as  a British  production,  Turt.  Con.  Die.  75.  Bottoms 
of  ships  in  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

B.  ovular  is,  Lam. 

In  Halichondria  celata,  dredged  with  oysters  in  Belfast  and  Strangford 
Loughs,  W.  T.  & 

Pigeon  House,  Killinchy  and  Killough,  Br.  Turt.  Cat. 

Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

B.  rugosus,  Mont. 

Down  coast,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

“ Dublin  Bay  and  Portmarnock,  common,”  Turt.  Cat.  and  C.  D. 

B.  Scoticus,  Brown’s  Illus.,  pi.  7,  f.  22. 

This  species  or  variety  is  found  on  Pecten  maximus  in  the  North,  and 
on  the  Dublin  coast  by  Dr.  Farran,  who  remarks  that  he  has  obtained  it 
only  on  this  shell.  Dredged  off  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

B.  Candidas,  Leach. 

Two  specimens  in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection  attached  to  Modiola  vulgaris, 
taken  in  Belfast  Bay  by  a Carrickfergus  fisherman. 

Specimens  of  this  fine  Balanus,  taken  off  the  northern  coast  of  Dublin, 
or  between  Carlingford  and  the  Isle  of  Man,  are  in  the  collections  of  Mr. 
Warren,  Dr.  Farran,  and  Dr.  Ball,  of  Dublin.  The  largest  specimen  is 
3 inches  in  height  (not  reckoning  valves)  and  nearly  as  much  in  diameter. 
The  species  varies  greatly  in  form,  being  sometimes  much  elongated,  and 
of  similar  breadth  from  base  to  top,  but  is  generally  sub-pyramidal.  Dr. 
Farran  states  that  it  is  always  adherent  to  Modiolus  vulgaris  ; and  is 
brought  up  in  the  trawl-nets  used  in  taking  flat-fish. 

B,  punctatus,  Mont. 

Covering  the  rocks  at  Tory  Island,  G.  C.  H. 

Found  at  Carrickfergus  ; common  on  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye,  Dub- 
lin coast  (W.  T.),  and  at  Youghal  (Dr.  Ball). 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  July  4th,  1846,  G.  C.  H.  and  W.  T. 

B.  punctatus,  Mont.,  is  the  species  (and  it  only)  covering  over  the  entire 
beach  and  the  base  of  the  rocks  at  Ballyholme  Bay.  Looking  across  the 
bay  it  imparts  a dull  whitish  (oaten-cake  colour)  appearance  to  the  entire 


SESSILIA. 


417 


base  of  the  rocks,  thus  reminding  one  of  coral  islands.  No  other  species 
is  anywhere  (that  I looked)  intermixed  with  it. 

Springvale,  Down,  July  16,  1846,  W.  T. 

None  are  found  far  up  the  Belfast  estuary,  where  the  water  is  brackish. 

April  29th,  1840. 

B.  punctatus,  Mont.  Every  object  on  the  beach  at  Craigavad,  Belfast 
Bay,  was  profusely  covered  with  the  young  of  this  species  (or  what  I con- 
sider as  such)  wherever  they  could  remain  stationary,  as  for  instance  in 
the  furrows  of  the  clam-shell  ( Pecten  maximus ),  though  on  the  elevated 
ridges  none  rested.  They  were  so  young  (l-20th  of  an  inch  in  length)  as 
to  give  a beautifully  beaded  appearance  to  the  furrows  of  this  shell.  I 
have  similarly  remarked  them  in  the  spring  of  the  year  covering  over  every 
object  on  the  beach  at  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye,  on  the  coast  of  Dublin. 
The  young  as  noted  here  on  April  19,  1835,  is  the  Lepas  convexula , Penn. 
I subsequently  saw  that  Dr.  Johnston  was  also  of  that  opinion  (Berwick 
Club  Proceedings). 

B.  punctatus,  April  14,  1848. 

I brought  some  on  stones  and  limpets  here  from  Cultra,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  keeping  them  until  they  would  produce  young.  From  the  first 
day  I brought  them  home — in  a large  botanical  box  packed  in  wet  Fuci — * 
they  threw  off  the  shuttlecock-like  exuviae  in  quantity,  but  these  only 
during  the  first  week. 

Sept.  29th,  1848. 

I examined  a great  number  of  Balani  this  evening,  in  reference  to  the 
growth  made  by  them  during  the  present  season,  and  found  it  to  average 
3 lines  diameter  at  base — the  largest  4 lines.  I saw  a few  minute  ones 
only  1 line  in  diameter,  implying  that  the  species  continued  to  breed  until 
lately ; these  were  not  more,  probably,  than  four  weeks  old.  The  young 
of  the  year  are  mdelibly  marked  from  the  older  ones,  by  their  pure  white- 
ness and  fresh  appearance.  Judging  from  the  size  of  this  year’s  speci- 
mens, and  of  the  older  on  the  same  stone,  I am  of  opinion  that  the  term 
of  life  of  the  species  is  two  years ; but  another  year’s  examination  (if  I 
live  myself)  will  enable  that  point  to  be  determined.  Nearly  all  the  adults 
on  the  rocks  from  which  Mr.  Darragh*  and  I took  specimens  in  spring  are 
dead,  with  the  valves  washed  away,  and  the  outer  shell  only  remaining. 
This  is  the  case  with  9-10ths  of  the  adults  which  I saw  living  on  the  shore 
here  in  spring. 

July  3rd,  1848. 

I measured  several  Balani  on  a large  stone,  with  the  view  of  ascertain- 
ing their  rate  of  growth. 

Sept.  30th,  1848. 

Those  of  2i  lines  diameter  and  upwards  then,  were  now  4f,  the 
maximum  size  of  the  species  on  the  stones  examined  to-day. 

B.Jistulosus,  Lam. 

Magilligan  and  Dundalk,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Bocks  below  Bantry  Bay,  rare,  Turt.  Cat. 

Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 

B.  Alcyonii,  Turt.  (sp.), 

Balani  adherent  to  the  tube  of  an  annelid  ( Syllis  armillaris  ?)  dredged 
off  St.  John’s  Point,  Co.  Down,  15  fathoms,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  I take  to 


* The  Curator,  Belfast  Museum. — Ed. 


418 


CIRRIPEDA. 


be  this  form,  as  I also  do  specimens  enveloped  in  Alcyonium  found  on 
the  Woodstown  strand,  Co.  Waterford,  by  Dr.  Farran.  I find  among  my 
dried  specimens  collected  at  Bangor,  in  September,  1835,  B.  Alcyonii  im- 
bedded in  Alcyonidium  adherent  to  Fucus  nodosus. 

The  following  forms  or  species  seem  to  be  taken  at  particular  depths. 
I write  from  memory  : — 

1.  B.punctatus,  Mont,  (abundant  N.  and  E.).  Littoral  (see  Down  Notes, 
1846). 

This  species  only  littoral  on  such  parts  of  coast  as  looked  to. 

2.  B.  ovularis.  Laminarian  region,  and  shallower  often  on  Laminaria. 
(Not  uncommon,  N.  and  E.) 

3.  B.  costatus.  Laminarian  region.  On  Laminaria , on  Pinnce.  (Not 
common,  N.  E.) 

4.  B.  rugosus , as  figured  in  Brown’s  Illustrations.  Between  littoral  and 
Laminarian  region.  (Common,  N.  E.) 

5.  B.  Communis.  Moderate  depths,  on  oysters.  Dredged  10  or  12  to 
15  fathoms,  Belfast  Bay. 

6.  B.  Scoticus.  On  Modiolus  vulgaris  and  shells  of  many  kinds.  (Com- 
mon, N.  E.) 

Sept.,  1847. — This  is  the  species  dredged  from  20  fathoms,  Belfast 
Bay,  G.  C.  H. 

Genus  Adna. 

A.  Anglica,  Leach. 

Three  dead  specimens  were  obtained  on  fragments  of  Caryophyllia  from 
rocky  ground  east  of  Cape  Clear,  40  to  50  fathoms,  by  Mr.  M'Andrew. 

Genus  Creusia. 

C.  verruca , Leach. 

On  wood  floating  in  sea ; on  crabs,  &c.,  as  well  as  shells,  Down  and 
Antrim  coasts.  On  Pinnce  taken  inside  and  outside  Cork  Harbour, 
Cork  Fauna.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Coronula. 

C.  diadema. 

I saw  in  Mr.  Warren’s  collection  one,  said  to  have  been  taken  off  a 
whale  at  Howth  many  years  ago.  March,  1847,  W.  T. 


ANNELIDA. 


ORDER  I.— APODA. 

TRIBE  NEMERTINA. 

Genus  Gordius. 

G.  aquaticus,  Linn. 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T.  East,  West,  and  South,  R.  Ball. 

Genus  Borlasia. 

B.  alba,  Thompson. 

Dec.  18,  1843. — Two  worms,  apparently  of  the  genus  Borlasia  (John- 
ston, Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  i.  p.  536)  and  of  the  same  species,  were  found 
on  the  beach  a short  way  northward  of  Carrickfergus  by  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  myself.  They  were  lurking  under  stones  between  tide-marks.  The 
species  may  be  described  as  new,  under  the  name  of  Borlasia  alba : — of  a 
whitish  colour  throughout,  excepting  behind  the  eyes  on  each  side,  where 
a reddish  spot  appears  : eyes  fourteen  ; the  first  four  on  each  side  near 
the  margin  of  the  body  disposed  in  a line,  and  at  equal  distances  from 
each  other ; considerably  behind  them  are  three  at  each  side  disposed  in 
a triangular  manner,  the  base  towards  the  head  of  the  worm  : 
entire  length  2 inches  when  stretched  out  so  that  its  breadth  is 
1 line  or  1-1 2th  of  an  inch. 

The  annexed  outline  shows  the  position  of  the  eyes. 

1.  Reddish  spots. 

B.  octoculata,  Johnst. 

A few  specimens  agreeing  in  size  and  all  the  characters  with  the  de- 
scription and  figures  were  obtained  with  the  last.  Cultra,  1848,  W.  T. 

B.  purpurea,  Johnst. 

This  species,  differing  little  from  the  last  in  any  external  character  but 
that  of  colour,  was  procured  at  the  same  time,  but  was  much  more  numer- 
ous. Several  specimens  of  this  and  the  other  species  of  the  same  family 
here  noticed  were  kept  alive  for  three  weeks  in  a phial  of  sea-water,  and 
thus  afforded  ample  opportunity  for  observation.  The  water  was  not 
changed  during  that  period,  but  the  length  of  time  that  they  would  have 
lived  under  such  circumstances  was  not  ascertained,  in  consequence  of 
my  leaving  home.  The  individuals  of  this  species  were  about  3 inches  in 
length  and  perfectly  agreed  with  the  description  and  figures ; some  had 
only  six,  and  others  eight  eyes  as  stated  by  Dr.  Johnston. 

B.  olwacea,  Johnst. 

A worm  agreeing  in  all  characters  of  form  and  colour  with  this — having 
four  eyes,  and  marked  with  red  over  the  site  of  the  heart ; characters 
2 e 2 


420 


ANNELIDA. 


specially  named  as  they  are  apparently  not  constant — was  procured  be- 
tween tide-marks  in  July,  1846,  at  Bangor,  Downshire,  by  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  myself.  A specimen  agreeing  with  this,  except  in  having  eight  eyes, 
was  taken  with  the  species  noticed  as  obtained  at  Strangford  Lough  in 
June,  but,  judging  from  zoological  characters  only,  I could  not  think  that 
it  was  distinct  from  B.  purpurea. 

Genus  Lineus. 

L.  longissimus,  Sow. 

Capt.  Fayrer  got  an  individual  of  this  species,  holding  on  to  a bait 
(the  “ buckie,”  Buccinum  undatum , Linn.)  on  his  long  line,  when  he  was 
fishing  for  cod,  off  Portpatrick.  Having  put  it  in  spirits,  diluted  with  an 
equal  portion  of  water,  Capt.  F.  observes  “ that  the  contortions  of  the 
poor  animal  were  really  horrible.”  Montagu  mentions,  that  one  about  8 
feet  long,  which  he  put  alive  into  spirits,  instantly  contracted  to  about  1 
foot,  at  the  same  time  increasing  to  double  the  bulk,  which  originally  was 
about  the  diameter  of  a crow-quill,”  Linn.  Trans.,  vol.  vii.  p.  73.  Judging 
from  this,  the  present  specimen  must  have  been  very  much  larger,  as  in 
its  present  contracted  state  it  is  about  3 feet  in  length,  and  from  1^  to 
3^  lines  in  diameter.  Its  colour  is,  as  described  by  the  author  just  quoted, 
“ dusky  brown,  with  a tinge  of  green,  with  five  [several]  faint  longitu- 
dinal lines,  of  a paler  colour.” 

A few  years  ago,  a specimen  of  the  Nemertes , about  1 2 feet  in  length, 
was  taken  on  the  opposite  coast  of  Ireland,  near  the  entrance  of  Strang- 
ford Lough,  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Hyndman  : in  this  instance  it  was  found 
sheltered  beneath  a stone,  at  low  water.  This  remarkable  worm,  the 
only  species  of  the  genus  I believe  yet  discovered,  has  three  generic  appel- 
lations attached  to  it ; being  the  Lineus  of  Sowerby,  the  Borlasia  of  Qken, 
and  the  Nemertes  of  Cuvier.  Also  taken  at  Killybegs  (6  feet  in  length 
before  being  placed  in  spirits),  sent  me  thence  by  Mrs.  Atherton,  W.  T. 
Halkey ; Clifden,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Meckelia. 

M.  trilineata,  Johnst. 

This  beautiful  worm  has  been  dredged  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself 
on  different  occasions  in  Strangford  Lough,  and  in  the  open  sea  at  Bally- 
waiter  on  the  Down  coast ; in  every  instance  it  was  free. 

Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drummond. 

Genus  Prostoma. 

P.  gracilis,  Johnst. 

I received  a specimen  of  this  worm  taken  at  Cultra,  Belfast  Bay.  It  is 
larger  than  Dr.  Johnston’s,  but  agrees  in  every  character  with  his  de- 
scription and  figure. 

P.  lactiflorea,  Johnst. 

With  the  last  species,  two  examples  of  this  were  procured.  The  eyes 
are  as  described  by  Dr.  Johnston,  and  consequently  the  worm  would 
seem  to  be  distinct  from  Planaria  rosea,  Mull.  My  specimens  when  ex- 
tended are  each  about  two  inches  in  length  and  of  a yellowish  flesh 
colour.  The  characters  are  ail  as  given  by  Dr.  Johnston. 

Found  also  at  Bangor,  July,  1846. 


APOD  A. 


421 


P.  melanocepliala , Johnst. 

Under  stones  resting  on  a rich  oozy  sand  between  tide-marks  at  Gull 
Island,  Strangford  Lough,  two  of  this  species  were  obtained  in  June  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  and  myself.  Both  were  of  a pale  yellow  colour ; the  one  | an 
inch,  the  other  1 inch  in  length  ; they  agreed  in  every  respect  with  the 
description  and  figures  given  in  Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.,  vol.  i.  p.  535,  pi.  17, 
fig.  5. 

P.  armata,  Templeton. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Planaria. 

P. cornuta,  Mull., Zool.  Dan.;  Johnston, Mag. Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  v.  p.  344. 
Aug.  26,  1844. — Mr.  Hyndman  dredging  to-day  off  Castle  Chichester, 
just  within  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay,  and  at  a depth  of  from  6 to  10 
fathoms,  took  three  specimens  on  Laminaria.  Although  the  figures  of 
this  Planaria  in  the  works  cited  differ  a good  deal,  I agree  with  Dr.  J ohn- 
ston  in  believing  them  to  represent  the  same  species.  The  Irish  spe- 
cimens as  observed  at  various  times  were  more  round  in  outline  than  Dr. 
Johnston’s  figures,  and  consequently  quite  different  from  those  of  Muller 
in  that  respect.  The  network  of  reddish  “ vein-like  ramifications  ” on  a 
cream-coloured  ground  renders  this  Planaria  viewed  as  a whole  very  beau- 
tiful; the  multitude  of  dot-like  black  eyes  on  a rich  white  ground 
looked  very  elegant  from  the  contrast  of  the  white  to  the  general  reddish 
hue  of  the  animal.  Its  progress,  as  Dr.  Johnston  remarks,  “ for  a worm” 
is  not  slow : the  tentacula  were  always  reflected  backwards  so  as  not  to  be 
visible  in  a profile  view.  The  species  has  been  already  so  fully  described 
that  further  observations  are  unnecessary.  One  which  I left  gliding  about 
in  sea-water,  apparently  in  perfect  health,  was  when  I looked  at  it  again 
after  eighteen  hours  not  only  dead,  but  almost  wholly  decomposed. 

P.  vittata,  Mont. 

A single  individual  of  this  extremely  beautiful  species  (of  which  Mon' 
tagu’s  two  original  specimens  only  have,  I believe,  hitherto  been  recorded) 
was  taken  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself  when  dredging  in  Strangford 
Lough  on  the  1st  of  October — in  size  it  exceeded  Montagu’s,  being  2 
inches  in  length  and  1 in  breadth.  It  was  of  a whitish  cream  colour  with 
black  lines,  occasionally  broken  or  non-continuous,  disposed  longitudi- 
nally over  the  upper  surface  of  the  body,  not  unlike  those  w'hich  on  a 
whiter  ground  render  so  attractive  the  plumage  of  the  male  silver  pheasant 
Phasianus  nycthemerus ) : these  lines  are  from  the  delicacy  of  the  animal 
all  visible  when  the  under  side — which  in  itself  is  plain  white — is  next 
the  spectator ; it  was  surrounded  by  a border  of  pure  opaque  white,  which 
from  the  transparency  of  the  entire  body  within,  imparted  a beautiful 
finish  to  its  appearance  ; the  two  auricular  appendages  which  emanate 
from  the  anterior  margin  exhibit  a black  line  along  their  basal  half  pos- 
teriorly ; eyes  could  not  be  distinguished. 

This  Planaria  was  in  form  quite  a proteus,  and  gliding  with  an  easy 
motion  folded  itself  gracefully  over  every  object  that  came  in  its  way. 
Having  placed  it  in  a phial  of  sea-water,  one  half  of  the  body  rested  on 
the  bottom  and  the  other  against  the  side,  and  being  thus  at  the  same  time 
horizontal  and  perpendicular,  and  presenting  throughout  its  entire  length 
one  mass  of  folds,  of  which  no  two.  were  alike  in  size,  it  looked  as  singu- 
lar as  beautiful.  Montagu’s  figure,  though  correct,  gives  no  idea  of  the 


422 


ANNELIDA. 


grace  of  the  original ; as  usual,  his  description  is  admirable ; he  remarks, 
that  a drawing  was  fortunately  made  from  his  specimens,  two  in  number, 
upon  the  day  on  which  they  were  procured,  as  next  morning  they  had 
disappeared,  having  been  dissolved  in  the  sea-water. 

Taken  by  W.  T.,  E.  F.,  and  R.  B.  at  Clifden. 

P.  tremellaris,  Miill. 

At  the  end  of  April  I have'taken  numbers  of  this  species  from  the  under 
sides  of  stones  in  pools  among  the  rocks  at  Rockport,  Belfast  Bay.  The 
specimens  were  rather  under  the  size — “ long.  9 lin.  lat.  4 lin.” — attributed 
to  the  species  by  Muller,  but  were  otherwise  identical. 

P.  rosea,  Miill. 

At  the  same  time  with  Planaria  cornuta  two  specimens  of  P.  rosea  were 
taken.  This  species  has  not  yet  a place  in  the  British  Fauna,  but  it  was 
obtained  on  the  coast  of  Anglesea  last  autumn  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew  and 
Professor  Edward  Forbes  when  dredging  there.  Muller’s  specimens 
were  from  the  coast  of  Norway. 

P.  Jlexilis,  Dalzell. 

April  14 th,  1848. — I found  at  Cultra,  Belfast  Bay,  two  Planarice  of  this 
species,  adherent  to  the  under  side  of  a stone  between  tide-marks,  and 
brought  them  home  in  sea-water  to  be  observed  at  leisure.  When  fully 
extended  they  are  6 lines  long,  and  at  the  head  2^  broad,  becoming 
thence  gradually  narrower.  Eyes  commencing  at  the  distance  of  a line 
from  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  body ; all  extremely  minute,  but 
differing  in  size ; disposed  irregularly  in  a somewhat  crescentic  form  on 
either  side  a transparent  circle.  The  vessels  along  the  centre  of  the  body 
are  prettily  ramified,  like  those  of  the  genus  Glossiphonia,  as  represented 
by  Moquin  Tandon  (Monog.  Hirudinees,  pi.  14,  2nd  edit.).  Outside  this 
central  distribution  of  vessels,  the  body,  to  very  near  the  margin,  is  most 
minutely  and  beautifully  ramified  all  over ; the  whole  worm  presenting 
the  appearance  of  a Glossiphonia,  “set” — in  jewellers’  language — in  the 
centre  of  a Planaria  which  broadly  expands  on  every  side.  This  appear- 
ance is  literally  “ shadowed  forth  ” in  Sir  J.  Dalyell’s  figure  2.  The 
colour  of  one  of  my  specimens,  which  lived  for  twelve  days  in  a phial 
of  sea-water,  changed  about  once  in  thirty-six  hours,  was  during  the 
time  transparent,  with  the  central  Glossiphonia-like  vessels  whitish ; the 
ramifications  outside  them  reddish-lilac. 

The  motion  of  these  Planariee  is  “ very  rapid,  smooth,  continuous,  and 
even,”  as  Dr.  Johnston  describes  that  of  the  Plan,  subauriculata  to  be 
(Loudon’s  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ix.  16,  f.  2),  and  with  which  species  I cannot 
but  consider  the  P.  Jlexilis  identical.  The  differences  set  forth  in  Dr. 
Johnston’s  diagnostic  characters  of  the  two,  are,  that  the  body  of  P.  Jlexilis 
is  “ semicircular  in  front,”  that  of  the  other  “ obtuse,”  and  that  the  inter- 
vening space  between  the  eyes  is  like  the  rest  of  the  body  in  P. Jlexilis ; 
but  that  “ a clear  circular  spot  to  each  of  the  two  clusters  of  eyes  ” exists 
in  P.  subauriculata.  The  individuals  examined  by  me  are  occasionally 
obtuse,  and  occasionally  semicircular  in  front,  and  present  themselves 
exactly  of  the  forms  represented  by  both  authors,  as  well  as  in  innumer- 
able other  shapes.  The  position  of  the  eyes  is  the  same  in  both  the 
supposed  species ; the  clear  “ circular  spot  ” to  each  cluster  may  either 
have  escaped  being  recorded  by  Sir  J.  Dalyell,  or  possibly  may  not  have 
existed  in  his  specimens  ; mine  have  both  clusters  of  eyes  within  one 


APODA. 


423 


transparent  circle.  On  full  considerations  of  the  descriptions  and  figures 
of  P.jlexilis , Daly  ell,  and  P.  subauriculata,  Johnston,  I cannot — although 
it  is  opposing  my  ignorance  to  Dr.  Johnston’s  knowledge  of  the  subject — 
believe  the  species  to  be  distinct.  My  specimens  agree  about  equally  well 
with  both  species.  Further,  it  may  be  remarked  that  my  specimens  have 
presented  the  form  of  Polycelis  pallidus,  Quatrefages  (Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  t.  iv. 
pi.  3,  f.  8,  1845),  to  which  they  seem  nearly  allied ; the  eyes  are  just  as 
represented  in  the  highly  magnified  fig.  9 of  that  species.  It  was  obtained 
by  M.  Quatrefages  on  many  parts  of  the  coast  of  Sicily.  The  P.jlexilis 
was  procured  in  the  Firth  of  Forth,  and  P.  subauriculata  in  Berwick 
Bay. 

P.  stagnalis , Mull. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

P.  lactea,  Mull. 

This  species  is  marked  with  doubt  from  the  circumstance  of  its  differ- 
ing in  the  following  characters  from  P.  lactea.  The  chief  central  vessel 
represented  in  the  figure  as  of  about  equal  breadth  throughout,  expands 
in  this  into  an  ovate  form  about  the  centre  of  the  body — and  the  ramifica- 
tions from  it,  represented  as  purple  in  P.  lactea,  are  in  this  of  a rich  fawn- 
colour.  My  specimens  are  9 lines  in  length,  when  the  breadth  is  2 lines  ; 
eyes  pyriform,  generally  two  in  number,  placed  as  in  P.  lactea  (a  speci- 
men had  two  at  one  side,  and  one  eye  at  the  other) ; colour  milk-white, 
but  the  main  vessel  and  its  ramifications,  spreading  throughout  all  the 
body  except  the  mere  margin,  imparts  a handsome  delicate  fawn-colour 
to  the  animal.  All  of  the  many  specimens  taken  were  of  the  same  colour  ; 
the  size  already  noted  marks  them  as  considerably  larger  than  Muller’s. 
When  in  motion  they  were  generally  more  elongate  (of  about  equal 
breadth  throughout)  than  P.  lactea  is  represented  to  be,  but  occasionally 
appeared  of  the  same  form  as  the  figure  in  the  Zoologia  Danica. 

During  an  excursion  round  the  shores  of  Lough  Neagh  at  the  begin- 
ning of  August,  1846,  when  I was  accompanied  by  A.  H.  Haliday,  Esq., 
this  species  was  found  to  be  very  common,  attached  to  stones  at  the 
margin  of  the  lake,  and  to  subaquatic  plants.  It  was  gregarious,  several 
individuals  being  generally  adherent  to  the  under  side  of  a stone  a few 
inches  in  diameter. 

P.  nigra,  Mull. 

This  species  was  found  abundantly  in  the  same  localities,  and  under 
similar  circumstances  with  the  last.  With  the  unimportant  exception  of 
being  more  of  a brown  colour  and  of  rather  less  size,  they  perfectly 
agreed  with  the  figure  in  the  Zoologia  Danica,  and  also  with  the  descrip- 
tion, so  far  as  given.  They  were  when  fully  extended  3 lines  in  length  ; 
under  a high  magnifying  power  a row  of  black  dots  appeared  closely  dis- 
posed round  the  margin  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  body.  Sir  John  G. 
Dalyell  figures  similar  dots  in  his  P.  nigra  (Observations  on  Planariae, 
fig.  5),  hut  in  my  specimens  there  are  three  for  one  represented  in  it — in 
the  description  however  they  are  mentioned  as  numerous. 

August  22,  1846. — Three  Planarice,  agreeing  with  Sir  J.  G.  Dalyell’s 
P.  nigra,  and  brought  from  the  pond  in  the  Zoological  Garden,  Phoenix 
Park,  Dublin,  with  Hydrce,  &c.,  in  May  last,  are  now  living  before  me. 
These  differ  from  the  P.  nigra  of  the  Zool.  Dan.  in  being  of  a jet-black, 
of  a much  softer  consistence,  more  shapeless,  and  being  able  to  diminish 
themselves  to  a much  less  size. 


424 


ANNELIDA. 


When  at  rest  they  sometimes  appear  as  a round  black  spot,  not  more 
than  half  the  size  of  the  other  when  contracted  to  the  utmost,  though 
when  stretched  out  they  reach  its  full  dimensions  : — they  are  much  more 
protean  in  the  forms  they  assume.  The  softness  alluded  to  is  well  shown 
in  Dalyell’s  figure  15 — the  L.  Neagh  specimens  are  always  of  a firm  con- 
sistence. When  changing  the  water  on  these  Planarice,  the  individuals 
(I  shall  not  call  them  distinct  species)  from  each  locality  exhibited  a 
marked  difference,  though  all  appeared  in  equally  good  health,  the  latter 
always  retaining  their  hold  against  the  sides  of  the  phial,  while  the  others, 
though  the  liquid  was  poured  out  in  the  gentlest  manner,  became  detached. 
Specimens  which  I have  obtained  on  subaquatic  plants  in  ditches  at  the 
outskirts  of  Belfast  were  similar  to  those  from  Lough  Neagh. 

P.  torva,  Mull. 

Several  individuals  just  as  described  and  figured  in  the  work  referred 
to  were  obtained  under  stones  at  Church  Island,  Lough  Beg  (adjoining 
L.  Neagh),  on  the  occasion  alluded  to  under  P.  lactea.  Templeton 
notices  “ P.  fused,  Pallas,”  as  Irish  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  239)  with- 
out giving  any  particulars  respecting  it.  This  species  and  P.  torva  are 
said  by  Duges  to  be  identical  (Lamarck,  2nd  edit.  vol.  iii.  p.  607). 

P.  Arethusa,  Dalzell. 

Found  in  April,  1851,  on  the  under  side  of  a stone  at  Shane’s  Castle 
Park,  Lough  Neagh,  W.  T. 


TRIBE  HIRUDINA. 

Genus  Udonella. 

U.  caligorum,  Johnston. 

Numerous  parasites  of  this  species  were  attached  to  a Caligus  on  a grey 
gurnard  ( Trigla  Gurnardus ) captured  on  the  coast  of  Down,  on  the  22nd 
of  June  last,  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Phylline. 

P.  hippoglossi,  Lam. 

For  some  years  past  this  species  has  commonly  [occurred  to  me  on 
halibut  ( Hippoglossus  vulgaris ) brought  to  Belfast  market,  and  captured 
on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim. 

Genus  Ekpobdella. 

E.  tessulata,  Mull.  (sp.). 

In  a letter  from  the  Rev.  Benj.  J.  Clarke,  dated  Tuam,  Nov.  22,  1843, 
it  is  remarked — “I  have  a living  Nephelis  tessulata  with  the  young  adher- 
ing ; I took  it  in  a river  here  last  July  with  others  of  the  same  species, 
and  as  this  one  contained  ova,  I kept  it  until  the  young  were  born.  They 
have  not  increased  in  size  for  the  last  two  months,  and  have  been  cling- 
ing to  the  unfortunate  mother  for  three  months.”  In  a subsequent  letter 
it  was  mentioned  that  “ the  parent  died  in  March  (after  having  been  kept 
in  a bottle  of  water  for  nine  months),  and  left  her  numerous  progeny 


APODA. 


425 


adhering  in  a cluster  to  the  side  of  the  glass.  They  did  not  leave  her 
body  until  the  hour  of  her  death  : they  have  increased  very  little  in  size 
in  the  last  four  months.” 

E.  vulgaris,  Johnst. 

Four  individuals  of  this  species  found  among  subaquatic  plants  at  Lough 
Neagh  on  the  occasion  already  alluded  to  were  brought  home  for  examina- 
tion. They  were  not  more  than  half  the  size  of  those  figured  by  M.- 
Tandon,  nor  of  so  dark  a hue  generally — anteriorly  they  were  somewhat 
hyaline.  They  each  possessed  eight  eyes,  which  changed  their  places  like 
objects  in  a kaleidoscope ; their  usual  position  was,  the  four  anterior  in  a 
straight  line  across  the  body,  and  so  they  always  appeared  when  s N 

the  anterior  portion  of  the  body  was  pressed  against  the  phial  r’**l 

in  the  act  of  progression  : the  hinder  pairs  of  eyes  generally  ap-  ["••j 
peared  as  here  represented,  or  across  the  body,  but  occasionally  displayed 
themselves  in  the  opposite  direction  thus,  and  the  anterior  eyes 
were  then  seen  as  figured,  the  head  of  the  creature  at  the  same 
time  having  quite  a truncated  aspect.  Of  several  species  of 
“ Hirudinees  ” brought  from  L.  Neagh  and  kept  alive  for  a few  weeks, 
this  was  the  only  one  that  exhibited  the  power  of  swimming ; it  was  ex- 
tremely active,  and  wriggled  about  through  the  water  like  an  Ammoccetes 
— it  was  truly  “ as  merry  as  a grig.” 

August  20,  1846. — Among  the  Hydra,  &c.  alluded  to  under  Planaria 
nigra  as  brought  from  the  Phoenix  Park,  Dublin,  was  an  individual  of 
this  species  the  water  from  which  it  was  taken  for  examination  to-day 
had  been  kept  unchanged  for  three  months  in  a large  glass  globe. 

Genus  Glossipora. 

G.  tuberculata,  Johnst. 

Neighbourhood  of  Coleraine,  Mr.  James  Bryce,  jun. 

G.  hyalina,  Johnst. 

Ballydrain  Lake,  &c.,  near  Belfast,  W.  T. ; Leamington,  Warwick- 
shire, W.  T. 

G.  bioculata,  Mull. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Glossiphonia. 

G.  Eachana,  Thompson. 

Specific  Character. — “ Body  oval ; anterior  portion  not  dilated  into  a 
distinctly-formed  head ; back  smooth ; ” margin  slightly  crenulate ; eyes 
eight ; stomachal  lobes  eight,  subpinnate  ; prevailing  hue  hyaline. 

The  size  commonly  extends  to  9 lines.  The  eight  eyes  are  disposed  in 
four  pairs,  each  pair  on  the  same  segment  of  the  body,  the  two  hinder 
pairs  the  larger  ; eight  pair  stomachal  lobes  anterior  to  great  stomachal 
pouches,  subpinnate — as  much  so  as  represented  in  G.  marginata,  Moquin- 
Tandon,  pi.  14,  f.  14,  2nd  edit. — the  two  anterior  pair  are  small,  and  when 
empty  but  little  apparent ; from  each  side  of  the  stomachal  lobes  emanate 
four  subpinnate  branches  which  appear  in  a continuous  row  with  the 
stomachal  lobes  anterior  to  the  pouches  on  each  side.  It  may  be  re- 
marked that  the  spur-like  form  of  the  stomachal  pouches  (see  pi.  13,  fig. 
6 c & d,  Moquin,  2nd  edit.)  was  not  always  clearly  defined,  in  which 


426 


ANNELIDA. 


state  their  four  branches  appeared  as  if  issuing  directly  from  the  main 
trunk  like  the  anterior  eight  pair  of  lobes.  This  difference  will  be  under- 
stood by  a reference  to  Moquin-Tandon’s  figure  4,  of  plate  13  (2nd  edit.), 
representing  the  ordinary  appearance,  and  his  fig.  3,  pi.  4 (1st  edit.),  the 
latter.  Four  pair  of  caeca.  Colour — back  viewed  with  a very  high  mag- 
nifying power  exhibited  about  four  distinct  rows  of  white  spots,  with  a 
few  smaller  spots  irregularly  interspersed ; but  the  general  aspect  was  of 
a glassy  transparency  of  a very  pale  red  tinge,  imparted  to  it  by  extremely 
minute  dots  of  red  disposed  over  the  body  and  disc.  This  glassy  trans- 
parency rendered  the  vessels,  of  the  digestive 
system,  which  were  of  a fine  dark  red  colour,  very 
conspicuous ; and,  owing  to  the  jagged  outline  of 
the  series  of  lateral  lobes,  &c.,  the  creature  was  so 
extremely  beautiful,  that  it  might  be  compared  to 
an  arborescent  agate.  It  is  well  entitled  to  the 
epithet  vermiculus  splendidissimus  applied  by 
Muller  to  the  very  nearly  allied  Gloss,  heteroclita. 

To  that  species  it  indeed,  judging  from  the  de- 
scription, bears  a strong  resemblance — but  belongs 
to  a different  division  of  the  genus : — to  that  de- 
fined as  having  more  than  six  stomachal  lobes, 
which  are  more  or  less  pinnate , and  termed 
“ Lobina  ” by  Moquin-Tandon  (p.  369,  2nd  edit.). 

This  is  the  genus  Hcemocharis  of  Filippi  (not  of  Savigny)  : the  species 
here  described  may  be  termed  Hcem.  Eachana  by  those  who  consider  the 
characters  of  generic  value. 

Genus  Piscicola. 

P.  geometra,  Linn.  (sp.). 

Lough  Eaghish,  County  Monaghan,  and  Lough  Neagh,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
Mr.  Templeton  has  described  and  figured  a new  species  from  the  latter 
locality  in  Loudon’s  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  vol.  ix.  p.  236,  f.  28, 
and  named  it  P.  Percce.  The  specimens  observed  by  Mr.  Hyndman  are 
the  true  P.  geometra  as  distinguished  from  P.  Percce. 

P.  Percce,  Templeton. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

P.  marina , Thompson  (MSS.). 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T. 

Smaller  one  having  the  margin  of  the  larger  sucker  “ minutely  crenulate 
under  a magnifier  ” (Hr.  J.).  This  specimen  (in  spirits)  is  an  inch  in 
length  and  1-L  lines  in  breadth.  It  was  found  attached  to  a Lophius, 
taken  in  Belfast  Bay,  August  19th,  1844,  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Larger  one  is  2\  inches  long  and  1^  lines  in  breadth,  the  margin  of 
large  sucker  is  plain  under  a magnifier  in  the  same  degree  as  the  smaller 
appears  crenulate.  This  large  specimen  was  found  attached  to  the  gills 
of  a holibut  brought  to  Belfast  market,  March,  1840. 

A third  specimen  found  adhering  externally  to  the  jaw  of  a cod,  De- 
cember 28th,  1842,  by  Dr.  Drummond. 

Genus  Pontobdella. 

P.  muricata,  Leach,  Zool.  Mis. 

April,  1847. — Among  oysters  (large  and  small  specimens)  from  Strang- 


APODA. 


427 


ford  Lough.  November,  1846. — The  largest  of  great  size,  the  smallest  (three 
or  four)  an  inch  long,  one  of  them  adherent  to  a capsule  or  ovum  of  a 
blackish-brown  colour.  September,  1847. — Several  (one  large  adult) 
taken  among  herrings  brought  to  Belfast  from  Strangford  Lough. 

P.  spinulosa , Leach  (Zool.  Mis.,  vol.  ii.  pi.  65). 

Belfast  Bay,  adherent  to  cod ; adhering  to  roof  of  mouth  of  ling  in 
Belfast  market,  caught  at  Killinchy,  in  October,  1846.  Carlingford, 
Stranraer,  Scotland  (with  oysters  to  Belfast). 

P.  Icevis,  Blainville. 

A Pontobdella  in  my  collection  agrees  with  this  species  in  all  the  de- 
tailed characters  assigned  to  it  in  the  work  referred  to,  in  which  the 
description  is  taken  from^Blainville’s  in  the  Diet.  Sci.  Nat.,  t.  47,  1827,  p. 
243.  The  species  differs  from  P.  muricata  and  P.  verrucata , as  its  name 
denotes,  in  being  smooth  ; which  it  is  all  over  the  surface.  Where  the 
specimen  described  by  Blainville  was  procured  was  not  known  ; but  it  is 
stated  to  have  been  sent  to  him  by  M.  Paretto  of  Genoa.  Mine,  which 
may  be  noted  as  4 inches  in  length,  was  obtained  alive  in  April,  1838, 
either  at  Portpatrick  or  Donaghadee,  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  R.  N.,  who  com- 
manded the  mail  steam-packets  between  these  ports.  This  gentleman  re- 
marked at  that  period,  when  sending  me  the  specimen,  that  he  found  it 
in  the  bottom  of  a fisherman’s  boat,  into  which  it  must  have  been  brought 
with  sea-weed,  then  being  gathered  for  manure  at  low-water.  This 
Pontobdella  gave  out  to  the  spirits  in  which  it  was  put  for  preservation  a 
beautiful  scarlet  colour.  A specimen  of  P.  muricata  which  I lately  (Oct., 
1846)  received,  imparted  a beautiful  and  intense  green  colour  to  the 
spirits  in  which  it  was  placed 

Genus  ELemopsis. 

JET.  vorax,  Johnston. 

Not  uncommon  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  W.  T. 

Genus  Hirudo. 

.iff.  medicinalis,  Linn. 

“There  are  also  medicinal  leeches*  on  the  south  side  of  the  lake 
[Mask],”  see  O’Flagherty’s  West  or  H-Iar  Connaught,  p.  19,  written  in 
1684.  Published  in  1846  by  the  Irish  Archeeol.  Soc. 

Medicinal  Leech. — November , 1849. — W.  It.  Wilde,  Esq.,  when  at  Lough 
Mask  in  September  last,  inquired  about  this,  and  was  told  that  it  had  of 
late  become  scarce  in  consequence  of  the  draining  of  the  lake  by  the  canal 
between  it  and  Lough  Corrib.  It  is  found  in  pools  and  wells  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lough  Mask,  near  the  canal.  A woman  who  consulted  him 
about  her  child,  which  he  ordered  to  be  bled  with  leeches,  said  the  kind 
from  the  lake  was  far  better  than  that  at  the  doctor’s,  which  was  smaller 
and  sold  at  Is.  each.  In  summer  the  leech-gatherers  there  sit  with  their 
legs  in  the  water,  on  which  the  creatures  fasten  and  are  thus  obtained. 


* Irish,  Dallog. — The  leeches  found  here  are  stated  to  be  of  a good  kind  ; but 
whether  they  are  used  or  approved  of  by  medical  men  for  topical  bleeding,  I 
have  not  ascertained.  The  country  people  in  the  neighbourhood  use  them  with 
good  effect. 


428 


ANNELIDA. 


TRIBE  LUMBRICINA. 

Genus  Nais. 

N.  vermicularis,  Mull. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

N.  serpentina , Mull. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Stylaria. 

S.  lacustris,  Linn. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Tubifex. 

T.  ri%ulorum,  Lam. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Lumbricus. 

L.  lineatus,  Mull. 

Coast  of  Down,  TV.  T.  Was  so  named  by  Dr.  Johnston,  to  whom  a large 
collection  of  Irish  Annelides  was  submitted  for  the  purpose  of  being 
named  and  described  ; the  localities  noted  were  attached  to  the  specimens. 

L.  pellucidus,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  omilurus,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  lividus,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  gor dianus,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  xanthurus,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  annularis,  Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  terrestris,  Linn. 

Common. 

Genus  Cirratulus. 

C.  medusa,  Johnst. 

Found  under  stones  on  the  beach  at  Clew  Bay,  Co.  Mayo,  July,  1840, 
W.  T.  Dredged  in  Dalkey  Sound,  Dublin  Bay,  R.  Ball  and  E.  Forbes. 

C.  tentaculatus,  Mont. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 


POLYPODA. 


429 


Genus  Trophonia. 

T.  Goodsiri,  Johnst. 

Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  near  Portaferry,  July,  1838,  W.  T.  The 
specimens  from  which  the  original  description  was  drawn  up,  were  taken 
in  June,  1839,  at  the  Orkneys,  by  Messrs.  Forbes  and  Goodsir.  Donagh- 
adee,  Dr.  Drummond.  In  20  fathoms,  Belfast  Bay,  1847,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
The  Irish  specimens  are  much  smaller  than  those  described  by  Dr. 
Johnston,  but  the  bristles  on  every  part  of  the  body  are  considerably 
longer  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  animal  than  in  those  from  Orkney ; 
they  are  finely  iridescent,  like  the  bristles  of  the  Aphrodita  acideata. 


ORDER  II.— POLYPODA. 

TRIBE  SERPULINA. 

Genus  Pectinaria. 

P.  belgica , Lam. 

North  of  Ireland  ; not  uncommon  ; fed  upon  by  flounders,  & c.,  W.  T. 
A tube  dredged  from  about  8 fathoms  in  Strangford  Lough,  July,  1838, 
W.  T. 

This  is  the  size  of  the  full-grown  Dentalium  entalis,  and  of  similar 
curvature,  but  tapers  more  gracefully  from  the  broad  to  the  fine  ex- 
tremity. 

Donovan,  in  figuring  the  “ straight-tubed  Sabella”  (S.  tubiformis,  vol. 
iv.  pi.  133),  remarked  that  the  S.  granulata , Linn.,  from  its  curvature  was 
probably  distinct,  and  consequently  he  adopted  Pennant’s  name  for  the 
straight  one.  Penn,  figures  it  quite  straight,*  as  well  as  Donovan — the 
latter  had  never  seen  it  curved.  Dr.  Drummond,  who  has  often  taken 
the  Amph.  auricoma,  never  saw  its  tube  otherwise  than  straight.  A 
specimen  of  the  curved  form,  of  small  size,  was  dredged  from  50  fathoms, 
off  South  Rock,  Co.  Down,  in  1843,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  Size  of  my  speci- 
men, length  1^  inches ; diameter  at  broader  extremity  l-6th  of  an  inch  ; 
at  narrower  l-16th  of  an  inch. 

Genus  Sabellaria. 

S,  alveolata,  Linn. 

Common  in  some  parts  of  Belfast  Bay,  between  tide-marks,  W.  T. 

“ Cork  and  Youghal  Harbours”  (Cork  Fauna). 

8.  crassissima , Penn. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Terebella. 

T.  conchilega,  Pall. 

Belfast  Bay,  Strangford  Lough,  and  coast  of  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  W.  T.  Bangor,  Dr.  Drummond. 


* He  describes  it  “ bent.” 


430 


ANNELIDA. 


T.  cirrhata,  Mont. 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T. 

T.  cristata,  Mull. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Genus  Sabella. 

S.  reniformis,  Turt.  (sp.). 

In  a pool  among  the  rocks  at  the  entrance  to  Strangford,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man  and  W.  T. 

S.  penicillus , Linn. 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T.  Bangor,  Mr.  Patterson. 

S.  carnea,  Johnst.  MSS. 

This  species  was  noticed  by  Montagu,  Test.  Brit.,  p.  544,  but  not 
named.  I have  a beautiful  figure  of  it,  made  some  years  ago  ; it  is  not 
uncommon  in  Berwick  Bay,  Belfast  Bay,  Strangford  Lough,  open  coast 
of  Down,  W.  T.  &c. 

S.  tubularia,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Genus  Spirorbis. 

S.  communis,  Flem. 

Generally  distributed  in  Ireland. 

/S'.  spirillum,  Linn.  (sp.). 

Common  in  different  parts  of  Ireland. 

S.  granulatus,  Linn.  (sp.). 

North  and  East  of  Ireland.  Very  plentiful  in  pools  of  water  a little 
North  of  Balbriggan,  and  at  Donaghadee,  Br.  Turt.  Cat. 

S.  minutus,  Mont.  (sp.). 

East  of  Ireland. 

S.  conicus,  Flem. 

Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  W.  T.  Roundstone,  W.  T.  Clifden, 
Dr.  Farran. 

S.  lucidus,  Mont.  (sp.). 

“Not  uncommon  in  Lough  Strangford  ” (Brown). 

Genus  Serpula. 

S.  vermicularis , Linn,  (not  Mont.). 

“ Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.”  Dr.  J. 

Templeton  gives  “ S.  vermicularis,  Linn.,”  in  his  catalogue,  Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  233 ; but  as  the  species  so  named  by  Linnaeus  and  that  by 


POLYPODA. 


431 


Montagu  are  different,  it  is  thought  proper  to  notice  both  here.  The  fol- 
lowing synonyms  relate  to  the  latter  species. 

S.  intricata,  Linn. ; S.  vermicularis,  Mull.,  Zool.  Dan.,  vol.  iii.  p.  9, 
t.  86,  f.  9 (animal) ; Mont.  Test.  Brit.,  p.  509.  >S.  Miilleri , Berkeley, 

Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vii.  p.  421,  Dr.  J.  S.  vermicularis , Mont.,  is  no- 
ticed in  Capt.  Brown’s  Irish  Testacea  as  found  on  the  Dublin  coast  and 
in  Lough  Strangford. 

S.  serrulata,  Flem. 

In  a letter  from  Mr.  J ohn  Humphreys  of  Cork,  this  species  is  mention- 
ed under  the  latter  name  as  “ detected  by  G.  B.  Sowerby  on  Pinnce  sent 
him  from  Cork  Harbour.” 

S.  vitrea , Fabr.  ? 

Adherent  to  a stone  brought  up  from  deep  water,  on  which  were  also 
Crania  'per sonata  and  Caryopliyllia  Smithii : Youghal,  Dr.  B.  Ball.*  Along 
with  the  last  on  a stone  capped  by  broken  Cellipora  cervicornis  dredged 
from  40  fathoms,  off  Whitehead,  Feb.,  1848. 

S.  triquetra,  Linn. 

July  loth,  1848. — On  looking  to  many  of  these  living  near  low-water- 
mark, at  Cultra,  Co.  Down,  I was  much  struck  in  every  instance  with  the 
pure  white  colour  of  the  recently-formed  portion  as  contrasted  with  the 
brown  colour  of  the  older.  It  suggested  two  queries  to  me : 1st,  Is  the 
pure  white  portion  the  work  of  this  summer,  the  brown  that  of  last  sum- 
mer, which  had  become  discoloured  during  winter,  and  consequently  does 
the  animal  not  increase  its  testaceous  tube  under  certain  temperature  ? 
All  the  white  portion  is  so  pure  in  colour  that  it  must  necessarily  be  the 
work  of  the  present  season.  Taking  this  for  granted,  we  can,  2ndly,  tell 
the  rate  of  progress  that  the  species  makes  in  shell-building. 

Genus  Filograna. 

F.  implexa,  Berk. 

Belfast  Bay,  on  tangle  roots  and  covering  the  limpets  which  burrow  in 
them,  W.  T.  Clifden,  Dr.  Farran. 

Genus  Ditrupa. 

D.  subulata,  Berkeley. 

The  only  part  of  the  coast  on  which  this  interesting  species  has  hither- 
to been  noticed  being  the  North-West  (Zool.  Jour.,  vol.  v.  p.  424),  it  may 
here  be  mentioned  that  specimens  dredged  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew  from  forty 
fathoms,  and  still  deeper  water  off  the  Old  Head  of  Kinsale  and  Cape 
Clear,  have  been  kindly  given  to  me  by  that  gentleman,  as  have  others  by 
Mr.  Stutchbury  (the  able  Curator  of  the  Bristol  Institution),  dredged  from 
ninety-three  fathoms,  at  a distance  of  ninety  miles  (English)  due  South  of 
the  last-named  locality.  Mr.  M‘Andrew  considers  this  “ an  abundant 
deep-water  species,”  and  has  “ obtained  it  off  Scilly  in  forty-five  fathoms  ; 


* Vermilia  armata,  Flem.  Edin.  Phil.  Journ.,  vol.  xii.  p.  243:  Strangford 
Lough,  W.  T., — Serpula  contortus,  Brown’s  MSS.  Illus.,  pi.  2 : Dublin  coast, 
Mr.  Warren, — are  brought  by  Dr.  Johnston  under  Serpula  triquetra , Linn. 


432 


ANNELIDA. 


in  the  middle  of  St.  George’s  Channel  from  sixty  fathoms  ; and  westward 
of  Zetland  from  eighty  fathoms.” 

Genus  Arenicola. 

A.  piscatorum,  Lam. 

Common. 

Aug.  3rd,  1848. — I have  been  surprised  of  late  to  see  the  many  kinds 
of  fish  that  are  taken  with  this  bait,  viz.  Squalus  Mustelus,  S.  Canicula 
(both  full-grown) ; S.  Galeus  ; Raia  clavata,  R.  maculata  (both  full- 
grown)  ; Trigla  Gurnardus ; Gadus  Morrhua,  G.  minutus,  Merlangus 
Carbonarius,  &c.  &c. 


TRIBE  NEREIDINA. 

Genus  Nereis. 

N.  viridis,  Johnst. 

North  and  South  of  Ireland. 

N.  pelagica,  Johnst. 

North  and  South  of  Ireland. 

N.  Dumerilii,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

N.fucata,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

N.  renalis,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

JV.  longissima,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Nereis  having  the  property  of  N.  noctiluca , but  not  that  species  of  the 
Zoologia  Danica. 

Sept.  21th,  1847. — Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  a few  specimens  on  Zoo- 
phytes from  20  fathoms  at  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay  (bottom  shelly  sand). 
They  gave,  on  being  disturbed,  and  then  only,  a succession  of  sparks 
throughout  their  entire  length;*  each  spark  apparently  at  the  junction  of 
the  feet  with  the  body.  When  broken  in  pieces  (and  they  are  ex- 
tremely brittle),  each  portion  continued  to  give  out  the  light,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  entire  animal. 

November,  1847. — Dr.  Johnston,  to  whom  this  was  sent,  writes  me  that 
he  knows,  but  has  not  described,  it. 

Genus  Syllis. 

S.  armillaris,  Mull.  (sp.). 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T. 


About  f inch  when  extended. 


POLYPODA. 


433 


Genus  Phyllodoce. 

April  3rd,  1848. — Mr.  Edmund  Getty  dredged  from  5 fathoms  to-day, 
in  Belfast  Bay,  a valve  of  an  oyster  filled  with  a mass  of  rich  “ oil-green  ” 
gelatinous  matter.  He  was  surprised  some  time  afterwards  to  perceive 
motion  in  it,  and  obtained  from  it  six  specimens  of  a beautiful  green 
Phyllodoce,  each  from  5 to  6 inches  long,  which  he  brought  to  me  alive. 
Their  dorsal  aspect  was  of  a rich  deep  green,  though  not  uniformly  of 
this  hue,  their  ventral  yellowish,  with  about  as  much  green  towards  the 
margin  as  yellow  along  the  middle.  Their  motions  were  extremely  live- 
ly, and  from  their  rich  green  colour  they  looked  beautiful  when  placed 
in  a white  bowl  containing  sea-water.  The  gelatinous  matter  in  which 
they  were  was  of  such  consistence,  as  to  remain  in  the  single  valve  of  the 
oyster  during  the  rough  operation  of  dredging,  until  it  reached  my  friend’s 
hand.  It  was  filled  with  dark-green  round  granules,  apparent  to  the 
naked  eye,  and  which  I concluded  to  be  ova.  The  specimens  are  pre- 
served, but  lost  their  green  colour  immediately  on  being  put  in  spirits. 
Part  of  the  ova  is  also  preserved  in  spirits. 

P.  lamelligera,  Johnst. 

Coast  of  Down  ; Belfast  Bay,  W.  T.  Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man,  and  W.  T.  Bangor,  Dr.  Drummond. 

“ Obs. — Except  in  being  of  much  smaller  size,  the  specimen  from  the 
last-named  locality  corresponds  well  with  Blainville’s  figure  of  P.  Paretti. 
The  more  I examine  the  subject,  the  more  I become  satisfied  that  Phyl. 
laminosa,  P.  lamelligera,  and  P.  Paretti,  are  one  and  the  same  species ; 
the  differences  pointed  out  between  them  depending,  first,  on  age ; se- 
condly, on  the  description  having  in  some  instances  been  made  from  liv- 
ing specimens,  and  in  others  from  specimens  preserved  in  spirits.”  Dr. 
Johnston. 

N.  viridis,  Johnst. 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T. 

Genus  Nephtys. 

N.  margaritacea,*  Johnst. 

Bangor,  Dr.  Drummond. 

August  3rd,  1838. — This  is  an  especial  favourite  with  fish  generally, 
being  much  preferred  to  the  lug-worm  (Arenicola  piscatorum ),  but  can 
only  be  got  by  the  fishermen  at  extremely  low  tides.  It  was  unknown  at 
Larne  until  the  Preventive  Service  came  there,  when  the  native  fishermen 
were  astonished  at  the  captures  they  made,  and  discovered  that  it  was 
owing  to  this  bait.  It  was  on  this  species  that  Dr.  Drummond  made 
the  experiment  with  fresh  water.  See  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1829,  vol.  ii.  p. 
121. 

Holywood,  June,  1848. — I saw  a fisherman  return  from  digging  quan- 
tities of  these,  at  extreme  low-water-mark  ; and  likewise  quantities  of  the 
lug-worm  of  both  species,  all  large  and  well  grown. 


* Is  it  this  species  that  is  called  Hairy  Bait  ? The  fishermen  at  Dalkey  have  dis- 
covered that  in  each  large  Buccinum  inhabited  by  a Hermit  crab,  is  also  to  be 
found  a Hairy  Bait  of  particularly  attractive  quality  to  fish,  and  used  accord- 
ingly. 


434 


ANNELIDA. 


Nephtys  is  called  white-bait  often  (on  account  of  its  silvery  appearance) 
here ; it  is  used  for  hand-line  fishing ; the  lug  being  considered  good 
enough  for  the  long  lines,  at  least  according  to  the  one  fisherman’s 
report. 

Genus  Pollicita. 

E.  peripatus,  Johnst. 

Bangor,  Mr.  Patterson. 

Genus  Euphrosyna. 

E.foliosa,  Aud.  and  Edw. 

Aug.  26,  1844.  A very  handsome  Aphrodite-looking  species  dredged 
to-day  by  Mr.  Hyndman  off  Castle  Chichester,  Belfast  Bay,  was  brought 
to  me.  It  was  taken  about  a mile  from  the  shore  on  shelly  ground  in 
from  six  to  ten  fathoms  water.  Being  soon  after  capture  sent  to  Dr. 
Johnston,  it  proved  as  new  to  him  as  to  myself,  and  was  left  at  Berwick 
for  him  to  notice  until  lately,  when,  in  consequence  of  his  having  ceased 
to  study  the  Annelides,  it  was  returned  to  me.  Professor  Allman  then 
kindly  undertook  its  examination,  and  determined  it  to  be  this  Euphro- 
syna. The  specimen  is  an  inch  in  length  ; the  size  attributed  to  the  spe- 
cies by  M.  Edwards.  Two  others,  differing  only  in  being  smaller,  were 
last  year  purchased  by  Dr.  R.  Ball  (of  M‘Calla),  but  it  was  not  stated  on 
what  part  of  the  coast  they  were  procured.  This  is  the  first  record  of  the 
genus  Euphrosyna  inhabiting  the  British  seas.  M.  Edwards’s  specimens 
were  taken  on  oyster-banks  in  the  two  neighbouring  localities  of  St.  Malo 
and  between  Granville  and  Chausey ; in  the  latter  locality,  a league  and 
a half  from  the  shore,  and  at  the  depth  of  fifteen  fathoms. 

Genus  Spio. 

S.  calcar ea , Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton.  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Patterson. 

Genus  Sigalion. 

S.  boa , Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Spinther. 

S.  oniscoides , Johnst. 

Captured  along  with  Euphrosyna  foliosa,  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Polynoe. 

P.  squamata,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

P.  cirrata,  Johnst. 

North  of  Ireland. 

P.  scolopendrina,  Johnst. 

North,  East,  and  West  of  Ireland. 


TOLYPODA. 


435 


Genus  Aphrodita. 

A.  aculeata,  Linn. 

Of  general  occurrence. 

Newcastle  ( Down ),  Oct.  2nd,  1851.  There  has  been  a great  storm  here 
from  the  South-East,  for  the  last  few  days,  and  some  of  these  Annelides 
have  been  washed  ashore.  Three  persons  brought  specimens  (each  one) 
to  me  as  “ curiosities  they  had  never  seen  before.”  One  which  I have 
preserved  is  very  large.  Algse  and  Zoophytes  seem  to  be  growing  to  its 
spines.  Polysyphonia  parasitica  is  certainly  parasitic  on  its  back. 

A.  hystrix,  Sav. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  8 to  10  fathoms,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Also  found  on  southern  coast. 


ENTOZOA. 

No  notes  on  Entozoa  have  been  found  among  Mr.  Thompson’s  papers. 
The  reader  is  therefore  referred  to  his  “ Report,”  in  1843,  for  the  cata- 
logue which  had  at  that  time  been  furnished  to  him,  by  the  kindness  of 
Dr.  Bellingham  of  Dublin,  in  which  Mr.  Thompson  has  embodied  a list  of 
the  species  recorded  by  Templeton,  and  those  contributed  by  Dr.  Drum- 
mond. 


2 r 2 


RADI  AT  A. 


ECHINODERMATA. 


ORDER  PINNIGRADA. 

Crinoidece. 

Genus  Comatula. 

C.  rosacea  Link  (sp.). 

Belfast  Bay,  Strangford  and  Larne  Loughs,  J.  V.  Thompson  (Cork  Har- 
bour). See  Forb.  Brit.  Echin.,  p.  14 — 16,  and  Introduction,  p.  xii. 
Abundant  on  “ Dalkey  Sound,  and  about  Ireland’s  Eye,”  Dr.  Ball,  1828. 

Summer , 1835.  Dr.  Ball  and  I took  (by  dredging)  the  Comatula 
abundantly  off  Ireland’s  Eye,  and  the  Pentacrinus  with  it ; this  latter 
being  in  every  instance  attached  to  the  fronds  of  Delesseria  sanguinea. 
J.  Y.  Thompson  found  the  Pentacrinus  on  the  stems  of  Zoophytes. 

Once  taken  at  Courtmasherry  Harbour  by  Dr.  Allman.  Mr.  M‘Calla  in- 
dicates it  as  found  in  Roundstone  or  Birterbuy  Bay. 


ORDER  SPINIGRADA. 

Ophiuridce. 

Genus  Ophiura. 

O.  texturata,  Lam. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Newcastle,  Co.  Down , 1851. — I saw  remains  of  it  in  the  fishing-boats  : 
they  attach  themselves  to  the  lines,  and  are  brought  up. 

Common  at  Dublin,  and  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  Abundant  on  South- 
West  coast,  Cork,  Prof.  Allman.  “ Cork  Harbour,”  Mr.  Humphreys. 

O.  albida,  Forbes. 

Taken  alike  on  the  open  coast  and  bays  of  County  Down.  Dredged 
from  8 to  10  fathoms  at  Donaghadee  by  Dr.  Drummond.  I have  more 
than  once  taken  a number  of  this  species,  and  no  other,  from  stomachs  of 
haddock  captured  in  the  open  sea ; so  there  would  seem  to  be  favourite 
banks  for  it  there  as  in  Strangford  Lough.  Two  specimens  dredged  at 
Killery  (3  to  12  fathoms),  1840,  and  Clifden  Bay,  Roundstone,  or  Bir- 
terbuy Bay,  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Dublin  coast,  Dr.  Hassall. 

January  2 6th,  1848. — The  stomach  of  a haddock  was  filled  with  brok- 
en Oph.  rosula,  excepting  space  occupied  by  four  specimens  of  O.  albida, 
all  of  which  were  perfect  to  the  extremity  of  the  arms.  I think  this 


- SPINIGRADA. 


437 


worth  noting,  on  account  of  the  difficulty  we  have  (though  certainly  less 
in  0.  albida  than  others)  in  keeping  the  arms  perfect. 

Genus  Ophiocoma. 

O.  neglecta , Forb., 

I find  common  on  the  roots  of  Algce  growing  in  rock-pools  between 
tide-marks  at  Annalong  and  Ardglass.  Common  on  the  North-East  coast. 
The  first  specimen  obtained  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  in  Strangford 
Lough,  in  January,  1834,  was  set  apart  as  an  undescribed  Ophiura.  Dr. 
Johnston,  taking  a similar  view,  described  the  species  as  new  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  July  4 th , 1846. — Abundant  under  stones  in  shallow 
rock-pools  between  tide-marks,  the  only  species  I met  with,  except  a very 
minute  Ast.  rubens.  I dredged  a specimen  from  about  8 fathoms  in  Strang- 
ford Lough,  1838,  and  have  one  similarly  obtained  in  Belfast  Bay,  from 
Holy  wood  outwards.  Lambay,  W.  T. ; Lahinch,  Co.  Clare,  W.  T.  Many 
dredged  at  Killery  (3  to  12  fathoms),  1840.  Dredged  in  Clew  Bay,  3 to  10 
fathoms,  1840.  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

O.  Ballii,  mihi. 

Disk  round  or  pentangular,  covered  with  imbricated  scales,  two  diverg- 
ing broadly  wedge-shaped  scales  at  the  base  of  each  ray. 

Largest  specimen — disk  2^  lines  broad,  rays  in  length  nearly  equal  to 
four  times  its  breadth ; rays  above  with  fan-shaped  scales,  beneath  with 
rudely  heart-shaped  plates  ; spines  four  in  each  row,  rough,  as  long  or 
longer  than  the  breadth  of  ray.  Colour  pink. 

Several  specimens  of  different  size  dredged  some  years  ago  in  Dalkey 
Sound,  on  the  coast  of  Dublin,  by  Dr.  Ball.  The  species  is  named  after 
my  friend,  than  whom  no  one  in  Ireland  does  more  to  advance  the  science 
of  natural  history. 

Since  obtained  from  Nymph  Bank,  and  in  several  English  localities. 

O.Jiliformis,  Forb.  Brit.  Echin.,  p.  42. 

Abundant  at  Killery,  most  so  of  any  species.  A specimen  was  taken  on 
a sandy  bottom  in  Courtmasherry  Harbour  by  Dr.  Allman,  who  sent  it  to 
me  for  examination.  Dublin  coast,  one  specimen,  Dr.  Hassall,  A.  N.  IT.,  ix. 
133. 

March  29 th,  1846. — A quantity  found  in  haddock  from  Killough,  but 
no  other  Ophiura  ; there  were  remains  of  Amphidotus,  bivalve  Mollusca, 
&c.  Apparently  this  specimen  was  dredged  by  Mr.  Hyndman  on  mud 
from  fifty  fathoms  off  South  Rock,  Co.  Down:  the  specimens  are  almost 
too  bad  for  identification.  Two  or  three  specimens  dredged  in  Round- 
stone  Bay,  1840,  W.  T.  Kingstown  Harbour,  Dr.  Ball. 

March  4 th,  1848. — A number  of  this  species  mixed  with  O.  rosula  and 
O.  albida  were  found  in  the  stomach  of  haddock — several  of  the  O.Jili- 
formis had  the  arms,  but  these  partially  broken,  attached  to  the  disk. 

O.  brachiata , Mont.  (sp.). 

Of  this  species,  apparently  known  only  to  Montagu,  two  specimens 
were  obtained  in  August,  1836,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  when  dredg- 
ing off  Dundrum  on  the  coast  of  Down ; the  body  of  the  more  perfect 
one  is  ^ of  an  inch  in  diameter,  the  least  injured  arm  3^  inches  long, 
and  where  broken  nearly  as  broad  as  at  the  base. 

April  23rd,  1842. — On  opening  a 10  lbs.  haddock  brought  from  New- 


438 


ECHINODERMATA. 


castle,  Co.  Down,  to  Belfast  market,  I found  it,  with  the  exception  of  a 
Nereis  and  a small  natica,  entirely  filled  with  from  twenty  to  thirty 
specimens  of  O.  brachiata  of  all  sizes,  but  chiefly  adult.  It  was  in  the 
same  locality,  Dundrum,  that  we  had  formerly  procured  the  species. 

April  2nd,  1847. — I took  sixteen  perfect  disks  and  a number  of  arms 
from  the  stomach  of  a haddock  taken  at  Newcastle  (Co.  Down),  it  con- 
tained no  other  Ophiura,  but  had  the  remains  of  Crustacea , Mullusca  (bi- 
valve), and  Annelides — particulars  are  preserved  as  to  all  the  species. 

Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  1851. — O.  brachiata,  jiliformis,  and  belli? . Sep- 
tember 11th,  I took  several  of  the  first,  a few  of  the  second,  and  one  of 
the  third  from  the  stomachs  of  small  haddock  taken  off  Newcastle. 

September  19 th. — O.  brachiata  and  O.  Jiliformis.  I found  in  the  stomach 
of  a haddock  to-day,  one  of  the  latter  and  several  of  the  former,  of  which 
there  were  twenty  for  one  of  the  O.  Jiliformis,  in  the  many  haddock  I 
have  examined  here.  There  were  no  other  than  the  two  of  Ophiocoma, 
but  three  specimens  of  shells. 

O.  granulata,  Link  (sp.). 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T.  The  species  figured  by  Templeton  (Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.,  ix.  237)  with  doubt  as  this  species  is  the  O.  rosula.  Common  on 
the  Dublin  coast,  Dr.  Ball,  in  whose  collection  is  one  an  inch  across  the 
body,  and  six  inches  in  all  in  diameter. 

O.  bellis , Link  (sp.). 

Coast  of  Dublin,  Dr.  Ball.  Ireland’s  Eye,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Belfast  and 
Strangford  Loughs,  W.  T.  One  dredged  from  8 to  10  fathoms  at  Donag- 
hadee,  Dr.  Drummond.  Dredged  at  Killery  with  O.  Jiliformis,  1840.  West 
of  Cork,  Dr.  Allman  ; Cork  Harbour,  Humph. 

O.  rosula,  Link  (sp.). 

Abundant  at  Dublin  and  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  On  South-West  coast  of 
Cork,  Dr.  Allman.  Several  dredged  at  Killery,  1840 ; and  in  Clew  Bay 
and  Clifden.  “ Cork  Harbour,”  Mr.  Humphreys.  In  April,  1840, 1 found 
a few  alive  in  shallow  rock-pools  between  Holywood  and  Bockport. 
Boundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

O.  minuta,  Forbes. 

This  Ophiocoma,  as  distinguished  by  Professor  Forbes  from  O.  rosula 
(Wern.  Mem.,  vol.  viii.),  has  occurred  to  me  in  the  North;  and  among 
marine  productions  from  Courtmasherry  Harbour  (County  Cork),  favour- 
ed me  by  Dr.  Allman,  is  a fine  specimen.  Templeton  has  noted  the  O. 
minuta  of  Pennant  as  Irish,  but  its  identity  with  the  present  species  is 
doubtful. 


OBDEB  CIBBHIGBADA. 


Genus  Uraster. 

U.  glacialis,  Linn. 

This  species  attains  a very  large  size  on  the  southern  coast ; on  the 
North-East  I have  obtained  a few  very  small  specimens  only.  Ast.  glacialis  is 


CIRRHIGRADA. 


439 


noticed  in  Templeton’s  catalogue  as  having  been  found  by  Mr.  Grimshaw, 
from  whom  I learn  that  the  A.  glacialis  of  Flem.  Brit.  Anim.  ( Stell . rubens , 
Forbes)  is  the  species  alluded  to,  and  not  the  present  one. 

Common  in  deep  water  at  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball,  in  whose  collection  is 
one  15  inches  in  diameter;  many  naticce  found  in  them.  Occurs  on  the 
South-West  coast  of  Cork  abundantly,  chiefly  on  a rocky  bottom,  Dr. 
Allman.  [A  large-sized  specimen  taken  in  3 feet  water  at  Ardrossan,  sent 
me  by  Major  Martin.]  One  dredged  in  Clifden  Bay,  4 to  10  fathoms,  1840. 
Roundstone,  by  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Glendore,  Co.  Cork,  Dr.  Allman.  Common 
species  at  Youghal,  according  to  Dr.  Ball,  and  eats  the  bait  off  the  long 
lines,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  fishermen.  Cyprcece  have  been 
found  in  it  by  Miss  M.  Ball.  Taken  on  South-West  coast  of  Cork  by  Dr. 
Allman.  “ Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys.  Lahinch,  County  Clare,  be- 
tween tide-marks,  and  abundant  among  rocks,  W.  T.  Dredged  at  Killery, 
1840,  and  Bundoran,  W.  T. 

U.  violacea , Mull. 

Northern,  eastern,  and  southern  coasts  (Dr.  Ball).  The  typical  forms  of 
U.  violacea  and  U.  rubens  are  very  distinct  in  appearance,  yet,  through  their 
varieties,  they  sometimes  approach  so  nearly  as  to  render  the  propriety 
of  their  separation  as  species  somewhat  doubtful. 

Taken  on  South-West  coast  of  Cork,  by  Dr.  Allman ; many  dredged  at 
Killery,  1840.  Dublin  coast,  Mr.  Hassall ; cast  ashore  in  Belfast  Bay, 
like  JJ.  rubens  and  8.  papposa. 

U.  rubens,  Linn. 

Common  from  30  fathoms  to  a few  feet. 

U.  hispida,  Penn. 

Coast  of  Down,  W.  T.  Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

Genus  Cribella. 

C.  oculata,  Penn. 

North  of  Ireland.  “ Found  about  Dublin  and  Youghal,”  Dr.  Ball,  who 
says  it  is  purple  when  recent.*  Dredged  in  Clew  Bay,  3 to  10  fathoms, 
1840,  W.  T. 

Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

C.  rosea , Mull. 

In  Dr.  Ball’s  collection  I have  seen  two  specimens  of  this  star-fish, 
which  is  an  addition  to  the  British  Fauna  ; they  were  obtained  in  1818 
at  the  Nymph  Bank,  off  the  southern  coast.  One  specimen,  which  is  per- 
fect, is  4 inches  across  ; the  arms  of  the  other,  though  much  injured,  are 
each  5 inches  in  length.  The  species  is  admirably  represented  in  the 
Zoologia  Danica. 

Genus  Solaster. 

8.  endeca,  Linn. 

North  of  Ireland,  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T.  Dublin  and  Youghal,  specimens 
9 inches  in  diameter  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection.  Miss  M.  Ball  has  found  Na- 
tica  intricata  in  it. 


* I obtained  purple,  bright  yellow,  bright  scarlet,  and  variegated  specimens 
this  year,  1854,  at  Dalkey.  R.  Ball. 


440 


ECHINODERMATA. 


S.  papposa,  Linn. 

Often  thrown  ashore  in  large  quantities  at  Portmarnock.  Dr.  Ball  has 
one  11  inches  in  diameter  in  his  collection — rays  12  to  15  in  number. 
Cypraa  Europcea  found  in  one  of  his  specimens.  Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys. 
Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

Genus  Palmipes. 

P.  membranaceus,  Retz. 

Belfast  Bay  and  Strangford  Lough.  A specimen  6 inches  in  diameter 
from  Youghal,  in  Dr.  Ball’s  collection,  the  only  specimen  he  obtained 
there  ; but  the  fishermen  informed  him  that  they  had  often  taken  the  spe- 
cies when  trawling.  Mr.  J.  W.  Warren,  in  March,  1846,  wrote  me  (I 
saw  it  afterwards)  that  he  had  got  a very  perfect  specimen,  dredged  about 
seven  miles  off  the  Dublin  coast. 

Genus  Asterina. 

A.  gibbosa,  Penn. 

Coasts  of  Down,  Antrim,  and  Dublin,  W.  T. ; southern  and  western 
shores,  Dr.  Ball. 

Aug.  25th,  1851. — I found  several  about  the  roots  of  Cystoseira  in 
rock-pools  at  Ardglass.  Strangford,  W.  T.  Taken  on  South-West  coast 
of  Cork,  Dr.  Allman.  Kinsale  and  Glendore,  Dr.  Ball.  Lambay  Island, 
W.  T.  Laliinch,  Co.  Clare,  W.  T.  Youghal,  Miss  M.  Ball.  Cork  Har- 
bour, Mr.  Humphreys.  Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla.* 

Genus  Goniaster. 

G.  Templetoni,  Thomp. 

On  examination  of  a species  of  Goniaster  obtained  by  Dr.  Ball  from 
the  Nymph  Bank  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  it  seemed  to  correspond 
with  the  description  of  what  Mr.  Templeton  considered  doubtfully  as  the 
Ast.  equestris  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  237),  and  appearing  at  the 
same  time  to  be  undescribed,  I named  it  as  above.  Mr.  Templeton’s  spe- 
cimen is  not  now  available  for  comparison,  but  the  gentleman  who  found 
it,  on  being  lately  shown  one  from  the  South,  stated  that  they  were  cer- 
tainly of  the  same  species.  The  G.  Templetoni  approaches  the  Ast.  pul- 
villus,  Mull.  Z.  D.,  vol.  i.  p.  19,  tab.  19,  more  nearly  than  any  other,  and 
chiefly  differs  from  it  in  the  under  surface  being  conspicuously  tessellated. 

A specimen  taken  by  us  in  Strangford  Lough,  5 inches  in  diameter. 
June,  1844.  Dr.  Allman  presented  to  the  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society,  a 
specimen  obtained  by  Mr.  Gabbet  on  the  coast  of  Clare.  Tory  Island, 
Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Asterias. 

A.  aurantiaca,  Linn. 

Strangford,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T.  One  specimen  dredged  by  us 
off  Bundoran,  1840 ; one  dredged  off  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  with  a Donax 
trunculus  in  its  mouth.  Taken  on  the  South-West  coast  of  Cork  gener- 
ally, and  abundantly  in  Ross  Bay,  by  trawling,  Dr.  Allman.  Not  uncom- 
mon in  deep  water  at  Youghal,  Miss  M.  Ball ; who  has  found  nine  spe- 
cimens of  Natica  intricata  and  a Turritella  terebra  in  one  individual.  A 


* The  Rt.  Hon.  the  Lord  Chancellor  Brady  obtained  this  species  at  Kilkee, 
in  1855,  and  forwarded  several  specimens  by  post  to  Dr.  Ball,  who  thus  re- 
ceived them  alive. 


CIKRHI-SPINIGRADA. 


441 


specimen  of  Dr.  Ball’s  is  7|  inches  in  diameter  ; the  species  attains  9 inches 
at  Youghal.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Luidia. 

L.  fragillissima,  Forbes. 

Deep  water  near  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball ; sometimes  16  inches  in  diameter, 
and  with  7 rays. 

Not  unfrequent  at  Glandore,  Dr.  Allman.  Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 


ORDER  CIRRHI-SPINIGRADA. 

Echinidce. 

Genus  Echinus. 

E.  sphcera , Mull. 

Of  general  occurrence.  Tory  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

E.  miliaris,  Leske. 

On  all  the  Irish  coasts.  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  1851  ; two  of  these  were 
dredged  by  me  from  4 fathoms  in  Strangford  Lough,  each  1^  inches  in 
length,  and  1 inch  in  height,  not  reckoning  spines.  I have  taken  several 
others  of  similar  size  up  to  If  inch,  the  largest  mentioned  by  Forbes. 

The  form  of  these  Echini  (taken  in  Strangford  Lough)  was  not  “ de- 
pressed,” as  it  is  stated  by  that  author  the  species  always  is.  They  are  of 
the  same  form  as  E.  sphcera  of  equal  size. 

E.  Flemingii,  Ball. 

In  deep  water  off  Youghal,  South-West  of  Ireland,  Dr.  Ball. 

E.  lividus,  Lam. 

Coasts  of  Galway  and  Mayo,  Dr.  Ball.  West  coast  of  Cork,  Dr.  All- 
man.  “ Bantry,”  Cork  Fauna. 

Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Numerous  among  loose-rolled  stones  of 
granite — and  consequently  not  burrowing — on  the  beach  at  Tory  Island, 
Mr.  Hyndman.* 

Genus  Echinocyamus. 

E.  pusillus,  Mull. 

Taken  many  years  ago  in  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T.  Numbers  dredged  from 
20  to  23  fathoms,  shelly  bottom,  Belfast  Bay,  Oct.  3rd,  1846,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man. West  coast  of  Cork,  Dr.  Allman.  Cork  Harbour,  Mr.  Humphreys. 
Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 


Genus  Spatangus. 

S.  purpureus,  Mull. 

Mag,  1842. — A number  of  fine  specimens  dredged  up  alive  at  entrance 
of  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  In  same  locality,  20  to  23  fathoms, 


* Bay  of  Dunfanaghy,  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher,  1852,  also  at  Malin  Head,  1853. — 
Ed. 


442 


ECHINODERMATA. 


shelly  bottom,  Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Cork,  Mr.  Humphreys. 
December  16th,  1850.  In  the  stomach  of  a haddock  taken  at  Newcastle, 
Co.  Down,  I found  a perfect  small  specimen  of  this  species  and  another 
broken  one.  Off  Bray,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Brissus. 

B.  lyrifer,  Forbes. 

Of  this  species — discovered  by  Professor  E.  Forbes  in  the  Clyde,  in  1840 
— a few  individuals  were  obtained  off  the  South-West  coast  of  Ireland  by 
Mr.  M ‘Andrew.  To  use  this  gentleman’s  words,  “ One  or  two  specimens 
were  brought  up  from  a depth  of  forty  fathoms  off  Cork  and  off  Cape 
Clear,  and  from  thirty  fathoms  in  Bantry  Bay,  near  Great  Bear  Island.  I 
have  found  it  a frequent  inhabitant  of  muddy  bottoms  in  from  12  to  100 
fathoms.” 

Genus  Amphidotus. 

A.  cordatus,  Penn. 

Of  general  occurrence ; is  thrown  ashore  on  the  beach  at  Newcastle  in 
quantity,  so  much  so,  as  sometimes  to  look  like  a row  of  round  frothy 
balls  sent  in  before  the  advancing  tide. 

A.  roseus,  Forbes. 

Not  so  generally  distributed. 


ORDER,  CIRRHI- VERM  IGR  AD  A . 

Holothuriadce. 

Genus  Psolus. 

P . phantapus,  Linn. 

In  September,  1835,  I obtained  by  the  dredge  a single  specimen  at 
Bangor,  County  of  Down. 

Genus  Cucumaria. 

C.  pentactes,  Mull. 

Among  a quantity  of  marine  productions  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  by 
my  friend  Edmund  Getty,  Esq.,  and  kindly  sent  to  me,  was  an  injured 
specimen  2 inches  in  length,  apparently  of  this  species.  I can  now  an- 
nounce the  species  with  certainty,  Dr.  Drummond  having  procured  an 
example  of  it  when  dredging  at  Bangor  in  June,  1839.  Several  specimens 
dredged  in  15  to  30  fathoms  in  Bantry  Bay,  Mr.  M‘ Andrew. 

C.  communis , Forbes  and  Goodsir. 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T.  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball.  Roundstone,  Mr. 
M‘Calla. 

C.  fusiformis,  Forbes  and  Goodsir,  Brit.  Echin.,  p.  219. 

This  species  has  already  been  enumerated  in  my  report  on  the  Inverte- 
brata  of  Ireland,  but  no  particulars  respecting  it  have  been  published. 
The  specimen  there  alluded  to  was  dredged  in  10  fathom  water,  at 
Donaghadee,  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  in  the  summer  of  1843. 


CIRRHI-VERMIGRADA. 


443 


C.  Drummondii,  mihi. 

Of  an  olivaceous  and  white  colour,  with  light  brown  suckers,  which  are 
very  numerous  on  the  angles,  from  6 to  12  in  each  transverse  irregular 
row  ; when  contracted,  tentacula  long,  pedicled,  trifid,  plumose,  purple. 

Length  10  inches. 

After  having  been  kept  in  spirits  for  a short  time,  it  appears  angular, 
corrugated,  the  corrugations  smooth  ; a few  suckers  between  them. 

The  specimen  was  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  the  month  of  June,  by  Dr. 
J.  L.  Drummond,  who  drew  up  the  following  description  from  the  living 
animal : — 

“ Bangor , June  27, 1839. — Holothuria  dredged  yesterday  of  an  olivaceous 
and  white  colour  ; at  first,  the  shape  of  a lemon,  and  nearly  as  large  as  a 
middle-sized  one  ; to-day,  10  inches  long,  contracting  itself  slowly  in 
various  places,  but  has  not  yet  shown  its  tentacula.  It  has  five  broad 
longitudinal  bands  of  tubercle-like  suckers  running  from  end  to  end  ; 
these  have  four  in  each  transverse  row  ; suckers  light  brown  ; down  the 
middle  of  each  of  the  five  series  a whitish  band  extends ; spaces  between 
the  belts  of  suckers  of  a bluish- white,  with  numerous  irregular  narrow 
transverse  whiter  lines  of  various  breadth.” 

C.  Uyndmani , mihi. 

White,  5-angled,  skin  smooth,  a double  close  row  of  large  (non- 
retractile  ?)  suckers  on  each  angle  ; tentacula  10,  sessile,  white,  plumose. 

Length  2 inches. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  by  my  friend  Mr.  G.  C.  Hyndman,  a well- 
informed  and  zealous  naturalist,  to  whom  it  is  dedicated. 

Many  dredged  at  Killery,  3 to  12  fathoms,  in  1840.  Roundstone, 
Mr.  M‘Calla. 

C.  inhcerens , Mull. 

An  example  of  this  species,  about  3 inches  in  length,  or  as  represented 
in  the  Zoologia  Danica,  was  found  by  Mrs.  W.  J.  Hancock,  cast  on  the 
beach  at  Balbriggan  (County  Dublin)  after  a storm  in  March,  1843. 
This  has  not  been  noticed  as  a British  species. 

C.  niger,  Couch. 

Obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Todhunter,  on  the  West  coast,  Sept.,  1848.* 
Genus  Ocnus. 

O.  brunneus,  Forbes. 

Of  this  species  I obtained  several  specimens  by  dredging  in  Strangford 
Lough  in  June,  1838.  At  the  same  period  of  the  following  year,  some 
were  similarly  procured  by  Dr.  Drummond,  in  Belfast  Bay. 

O.  lacteus,  Forbes  and  Goodsir. 

North-East  coast,  W.  T.  Lahinch,  Co.  Clare,  W.  T.  Glendore,  Pro- 
fessor Allman. 


* At  Tory  Island,  off  the  North-West  coast  of  Donegal,  Mr.  Hyndman  pro- 
cured a specimen  of  this  genus  in  a rock-pool  between  tide-marks,  in  August, 
1845.  I abstain  from  naming  the  species,  even  with  doubt,  in  the  present  state 
of  our  knowledge  of  the  Holothurice. 

Supposed  to  be  C.  Niger. — Ed. 


444 


ECHINODERMATA. 


Genus  Thyone. 

T.  papillosa,  Miill. 

May , 1846. — Six  specimens  found  among  Killinchy  oysters  in  Belfast 
market,  brought  to  me  alive. 

October , 1846. — Ten  specimens,  as  above. 

Bantry  Bay,  15  to  30  fathoms,  Mr.  M‘Andrew.  A few  dredged  at 
Killery,  1840. 

T.  Portlockii,  Forbes. 

Belfast  Bay,  Colonel  Portlock. 

T.  raphanus,  Duben  and  Koren. 

A specimen  was  dredged  from  between  15  to  30  fathoms  about  Bantry 
Bay,  by  Mr.  M‘Andrew,  in  1846. 

Genus  Chirodota. 

C.  digitata,  Mont.  (sp<). 

On  the  18th  of  December,  1843,  an  individual  of  this  species,  which 
had  hitherto  been  obtained  only  by  Montagu,  in  Devonshire,  was  found 
lying  on  the  sand  between  tide-marks  near  Carrickfergus  Castle,  during  a 
search  for  natural  history  objects  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself. 


ORDER  YERMIGRADA. 

Sipunculidce. 

Genus  Syrinx. 

S.  papillosus,  mihi. 

Vermiform,  brownish- white,  skin  striated  concentrically  and  covered 
with  brown  papillae. 

This  is  a fine  and  large  species  ; throughout  the  greater  part  of  its 
length  posteriorly,  the  papillae  are  more  numerous  and  larger  on  the  two 
sides  than  on  the  dorsal  and  ventral  surfaces,  and  are  particularly  numer- 
ous at  the  posterior  extremity,  which  is  pointed  and  not  perforated.  It 
does  not  appear  to  be  parasitic. 

Specimens  have  been  obtained  at  Miltown  Malbay  by  Professor 
Harvey,  and  at  the  South  Islands  of  Arran  (an  adjacent  locality)  by  Dr. 
Ball.  Professor  Harvey  informs  me  that  this  species  is  not  uncommon 
under  stones  in  sand-covered  rocks  at  Miltown  Malbay. 

S.  Harveii , Forbes. 

Two  specimens  of  a Syrinx  were  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough  from  a 
depth  of  15  to  20  fathoms  on  an  oozy  bottom  in  June  last,  by  Mr.  Hynd- 
man and  myself.  They  agree  with  the  S.  Harveii , and  at  the  same  time 
with  the  S.  granulosus,  M‘Coy  (Annals,  vol.  xv.  p.  272,  pi.  16,  fig.  2),  ac- 
cordingly as  they  are  viewed  by  the  unassisted  eye  or  by  magnifying  power . 
The  body  of  the  former  is  described  as  being  “ quite  smooth,”  of  the  latter 
“ nearly  smooth,  very  minutely  and  uniformly  granulated  ; ” a difference 
which  we  might  expect  to  find  between  examples  of  2^  and  7 inches  in 


VERMIGRADA. 


445 


length ; these  being  the  respective  dimensions  of  those  described  by  Pro- 
fessor Forbes  and  Mr.  M‘Coy.  The  body  of  my  specimens — the  larger  of 
which  is  under  2 inches  in  length — appears  to  the  unassisted  eye  not  only 
quite  smooth,  but  shining,  though  in  a subdued  tone  ; yet,  when  magni- 
fied, extremely  minute  papillae  are  seen  over  its  surface.  I therefore  re- 
gard S.  granulosus  as  not  distinct  from  S.  Harveii.  The  figure  of  S. 
granulosus  represents  my  specimens  very  well : they  are  of  a very  pale 
greyish-brown  colour. 

S.  Forbesii,  M‘Coy  (Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xv.). 

Roundstone,  not  uncommon,  Professor  M‘Coy. 

S.  tenuicinctus,  M‘Coy  (Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xv.). 

Very  common,  West  of  Ireland,  Professor  M‘Coy.* 

Genus  Sipunculus. 

S.  JSernhardus,  Forbes. 

Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs ; Killery  in  the  West,  W.  T. 

S.  Pallasii,  Thompson  MSS. 

North  of  Ireland. 


Genus  Priapulus. 

P.  caudatus,  Lam. 

North  of  Ireland,  W.  T.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Coulter.  Roundstone,  at 
low-water  mark,  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Dredged  in  Birterbuy  Bay,  Dr.  Farran. 

From  Larne  Lough,  in  October,  1849,  Mr.  Wm.  Darragh  brought  two 
of  these,  where  they  were  dug  up  with  the  two  species  of  lug-worm. 
They  are  used  as  bait,  but  the  fish  do  not  take  them  so  freely  as  they  do 
the  two  kinds  of  lug-worm.  The  young  coal-fish  take  them  more  freely 
than  the  young  codlings  do. 

Genus  Thalassema. 

T.  Neptuni,  Gsertn. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 


* Mr.  Hyndman  found  two  specimens  of  an  unknown  species  (?  ?)  of  this 
genus  under  stones  at  Tory  Island. 


ACALEPHA. 


SIPHONOPHORA. 


Genus  Diphya. 

D.  elongata,  Hyndman. 

North  of  Ireland. 

In  the  West,  at  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Physalia. 

P.  pelagica,  Eschscholtz. 

South  of  Ireland,  Miss  Ball.  Two  specimens  obtained  at  different 
times. 

Genus  Velella. 

V.  mutica , Lam. 

August  11  th,  1836. — Groomsport,  W.  T. 

June  (end  of),  1840. — Dr.  Wm.  M‘Gee  gave  me  several  specimens  which 
he  picked  up  after  northern  winds  on  the  strand  at  Portrush  ; in  an  hour 
he  would  find  about  twenty  specimens. 

July , 1843. — On  looking  to  specimens  in  spirits'1  from  Larne,  Portrush, 
and  Youghal,  they  seem  to  be  V.  limbosa,  as  I think  specimens  were 
picked  up  by  us  about  Ballyshannon,  Bundoran,  &c.,  on  the  western 
coast  in  July,  1840. 

South  of  Ireland,  Mrs.  Mant. 

V.  subemarginata , Thompson. 

Membranous  base  oblong,  slightly  cut  round  the  edge,  in  length  2 
inches  10  lines,  breadth  1 inch  7^  lines : crest  almost  crescentic  in  form  or 
obscurely  pointed  at  highest  part,  thick  in  substance,  with  a minute  vein- 
like ramification  appearing  throughout;  body  proper,  or  skeleton,  of  a 
narrow  oblong  form,  rounded  at  ends,  in  length  2 inches  4 lines,  breadth 
10  lines. 

Colour  when  recent  according  to  Professor  Allman  : “ Disc,  margin  and 
tentacula  fine  sky-blue ; sail  light  blue,  nearly  transparent,  margined 
with  delicate  violet.  Skeleton  colourless  and  transparent.” 

This  species  differs  from  the  ordinary  Velella  of  the  Irish  coast  in  its 
greatly  superior  size,  in  the  margin  of  the  membranous  base  being 
slightly  emarginate,  in  the  crest  being  of  a much  stronger  consistence  and 
of  a more  rounded  outline. 

The  specimen  here  described  was  given  to  me  by  Professor  Allman, 
who  saw  great  abundance  of  them  on  the  shore  of  Courtmasherry  Harbour 
(County  Cork)  after  a south-westerly  gale  late  in  the  autumn  of  1838  or 
1839,  but  preserved  only  one. 


CILIOGRADA. 


447 


This  description  of  a Velella  from  spirits  must  necessarily  be  unsatis- 
factory, but  it  seems  to  me  better  that  a species  should,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, be  noticed  than  passed  over  altogether — named  it  perhaps 
• should  not  be,  but  this  has  already  been  done  in  my  Report  on  the  In- 
vertebrata  of  Ireland;  the  specific  name  there  is  given  erroneously 
emarginata. 

Genus  Agalma. 

A.  Gettiana,  Hyndman. 

Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Getty. 


CILIOGRADA. 

Genus  Beroe. 

B.  cucumis,  Fabr. 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  July,  1846,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

B. fulgens,  Macartney. 

On  Macartney’s  authority  (Prof.  E.  Forbes).  This  is  a mistake;  the 
specimens  were  taken  in  Herne  Bay. 

Genus  Cydippe. 

“ C.  pileus,  Lin.  (sp.),  Irish  Sea.” 

Communicated  by  Professor  E.  Forbes. 

C.  lagena,  Forbes. 

North  of  Ireland. 

C.  pomiformis,  Patterson. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Alcinoe. 

A.  Smithii,  Forbes. 

North  of  Ireland. 

A.  Hibernica  (sp.),  Patterson. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 


PULMOGRADA. 

Genus  Melicertum. 

“ M.  campcinulatum,  Ehrenb.  Ballycastle  ; Portrush,  near  Giant’s 
Causeway.” 

Professor  E.  Forbes. 

Genus  Hippocrene. 

H.  Britannica,  Forbes. 

Ballycastle,  Professor  Forbes.  Strangford  Lough,  Mr.  Patterson. 


448 


ACALEPHA. 


Genus  Sarsia. 

S.  tubulosa,  Lesson. 

April  18,  1840. — I had  the  satisfaction  to-day  of  identifying  with  this 
species  a Medusa,  of  which  several  individuals  were  brought  to  me  by  Mr. 
Hyndman,  just  after  their  capture  in  Belfast  Bay.  On  calling  the  attention 
of  Mr.  R.  Patterson  to  them,  a reference  to  his  notes  on  Medusce  showed 
that  he  had  procured  the  same  species  at  Larne  (County  Antrim),  in  May, 
1835,  and  June,  1838 ; and  again  at  Bangor  (County  Down),  in  July, 
1839.  As  my  friend  could  not  find  the  species  described — Sars’  work  he 
had  not  for  reference — he  drew  up  a detailed  and  interesting  account  of 
the  animal,  accompanied  by  several  characteristic  sketches  of  it  in  various 
positions. 

Having  remarked  that  one  of  my  specimens,  which  was  in  a phial  con- 
taining 1^  ounce  of  sea-water,  appeared  as  lively  after  four  days’  captivity 
as  at  first,  although  the  fluid  had  not  been  changed,  nor  any  nutriment 
added,  I,  before  leaving  home  for  some  days,  handed  it  over  to  Mr.  Pat- 
terson, that  the  period  the  animal  would  live  under  such  circumstances 
might  be  noted.  From  him  I learn  that  this  individual  lived  thus  for 
twelve  days  (from  the  18th  to  the  30th  of  April),  and  that  for  the  first 
ten  it  retained  its  ordinary  vivacity. 

Genus  Oceania. 

O.  papillata,  Mull. 

Of  this  very  minute  species,  1^  line  in  diameter,  a specimen  occurred  to 
me  in  Strangford  Lough  in  October. 

Genus  Thaumantias. 

T.  hcemisphcerica,  Mull. 

On  October  5,  1838,  I obtained  one  of  these  Medusce  in  Belfast  Bay, 
and  a day  or  two  afterwards  many  specimens  were  brought  me  by  Mr. 
Hyndman  from  the  same  locality.  In  size  they  rather  exceeded  Muller’s, 
measuring  5 lines  in  diameter  in  their  most  depressed  state.  This  and 
the  preceding  species  were  determined  from  accurate  drawings  taken  of 
the  living  animals.  Mr.  R.  Patterson  informs  me  that  he  obtained  the 
P.  hcemisphcerica  at  Larne  in  the  summer  of  1835. 

T.  pileata,  Forbes. 

North  of  Ireland,  at  Portrush,  Smith  and  Forbes. 

T.  Thompsoni,  Forbes. 

West  and  South  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Ephysa. 

E.  simplex,  Penn. 

North  of  Ireland. 

“ Probably,  as  Cuvier  suggests,  some  species  in  a mutilated  state,  ” 
Professor  E.  Forbes. 

E.  hcemisphcerica,  Templeton. 

North  of  Ireland. 

“ Perhaps  a young  state  of  Aurelia,”  Professor  E.  Forbes. 


PULMOGRADA. 


449 


Genus  Obelia. 

O.  vitrea , Penn.  (sp.). 

North  of  Ireland. 

In  middle  of  July,  1847,  I saw  a few  at  Holywood,  the  largest  about 
12  inches  in  diameter : they  were  pure  hyaline,  with  a rich  brown  spot 
in  the  centre,  and  rays  of  the  same  colour  nearly  reaching  the  margin. 

Genus  Ocyroe. 

? O.  cruciata , Temp. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Chrys^eora. 

C.  tuber culata,  Penn.  (sp.). 

“This  and  the  preceding  are  badly  observed  species,”  Prof.  E. 
Forbes. 

Genus  Aurelia. 

“ A.  aurita,  Linn.  (sp.). 

“ North,  West,  and  East  coasts,”  Prof.  E.  Forbes.  A species  so  called 
has  been  before  noticed  as  Irish,  but  as  more  than  one  has  passed  under 
the  name,  the  true  species  according  to  Prof.  Forbes  is  here  repeated. 

Co.  Down,  Bangor,  July  4th,  1846,  G.  C.  H.  and  W.  T.  A.  aurita. 
Of  all  sizes  in  profusion.  We  watched  their  graceful  motions  in  a deep 
pool  for  a long  time,  with  extreme  interest. 

July  20th,  1849. — A N.  W.  wind  has  been  blowing  for  the  last  two  days, 
and  has  been  the  means  of  the  greatest  number  of  these  being  thrown 
ashore  at  Holywood  Warren  that  ever  I saw.  A quarter  of  a mile  of  the 
beach,  or  so  far  as  I walked,  and  for  about  twelve  yards  in  breadth  from 
low-water  mark  inwards,  has  fully  one-fifth  of  its  entire  surface  covered 
with  them. 

Middle  of  July,  1847,  a great  number  on  the  beach  at  Holywood 
Warren. 

End  of  July,  I did  not  see  one  there. 

“A.  bilobata , Forbes  MSS.  Portrush.” 

Prof.  E.  Forbes. 


Genus  Rhizostoma. 

R.  Cuvierii,  Blainv. 

Belfast,  August  6,  1838. — I received  a fine  specimen  of  this  Medusa 
from  Edmund  Getty,  Esq.,  whose  attention  was  called  to  it  yesterday  by 
an  old  fisherman  seventy  years  of  age,  who  stated  that  “ a large  starfish, 
he  had  not  seen  the  like  of  before,”  was  lying  on  the  beach  near  Holywood 
(Belfast  Bay).  The  specimen  exactly  accords  with  Blainville’s  figure  of 
R.  Cuvierii  and  with  the  Med.  undulata  of  Borlase,  as  quoted  by  Pen- 
nant and  Fleming.  Its  total  length  is  18  inches,  the  body  7^,  and  thence 
to  extremity  of  peduncles  10^  inches  ; entire  outer  surface  of  the  body, 
which  is  12  inches  in  diameter,  granulated  over  like  the  rind  of  an  orange 
or  lemon.  The  body  is  almost  hyaline,  with  a very  slight  tinge  of  dusky 


450 


ACALEPHA. 


yellow ; peduncles  and  their  appendages  delicately  tinged  with  lilac  and 
roseate  hues.  Weight  6 lbs. 

Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Cyan^ea. 

“ C.  Lamar ckii,  Peron. 

County  Galway  coast.  July,  1840.”  Dr.  Ball,  W.  Thompson,  Prof. 
Forbes. 

End  of  July,  1847. — Judging  chiefly  from  its  dark  reddish-brown 
(mahogany  colour)  hue,  in  which  it  is  strikingly  different  from  the  latter, 
is  abundant  at  Holy  wood  Warren,  having  taken  the  place  of  the  next 
species,  which  was  plentiful  in  the  middle  of  July. 

C.  capillata,  Linn.  (sp.). 

North  and  West  of  Ireland. 

Mid.  July , 1847. — What  I take  to  be  this  species  from  its  light  colour, 
&c.,  abundant  of  all  sizes  to  near  18  inches  diameter  at  Holy  wood 
Warren. 

The  same  stinging  species  at  same  place  and  of  huge  size  (same  as 
thrown  on  the  beach,  nearly  a yard  in  diameter,  i.  e.  feelers,  &c.,  and  appear- 
ing as  one  mass),  I remarked  the  first  about  ten  days  ago. 

The  two  last  named  are  the  only  native  stinging  species,  according  to 
Prof.  Edward  Forbes.  One  of  these  species  at  least  makes  its  appearance 
in  Belfast  Bay  in  multitudes  at  the  beginning  of  August. 

Genus  JEquorea. 

? JE.  radiata,  Templeton. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Callirhoe. 

? C.  dubia,  Templeton. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Medusa. 

“ M.  scintillans ,”  Macartney. 

North  of  Ireland.  (“ Probably  the  fry' of  some”  species.)  Prof.  E. 
Forbes. 


ZOOPHYTES. 


ORDER  HYDROIDA. 

Genus  Clava. 

C.  multicornis,  P.  S.  Pallas. 

Plentifully  on  Fuci,  within  tide-marks,  at  entrance  to  Strangford  Lough. 
Oct.,  1839.  Clifden,  Connemara,  ¥.  T. 

C.  capitata,  Muller. 

North  and  East  of  Ireland. 

C.  minuticornis,  Muller. 

“ Adhering  to  F.  vesiculosus,  at  White  House  Point,  Belfast  Lough. 
Oct.,  1840.”  Templeton. 

Genus  Coryne. 

C.  pusilla,  Gaertner. 

(T.  muscoides,  Linn.).  A few  specimens  of  a Tubularia  which  I ob- 
tained in  Strangford  Lough,  in  January,  1835,  parasitical  on  Fucus  nodo- 
sus,  and  subsequently  between  tide-marks  at  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye> 
off  the  Dublin  coast,  were  placed  in  my  collection  under  this  name. 
Having  supplied  a specimen  to  my  friend  Dr.  G.  Johnston,  he  remarked 
upon  it — “ This  is  what  Agardh  and  Lamouroux  say  is  the  real  T.  mus- 
coides of  Linn.,  but  not  of  any  other  author  excepting  Muller  and  Fabri- 
cius — you  are  the  first  to  discover  it  on  our  shores.”  In  so  far  as  my 
limited  observation  extends,  this  would  seem  to  be  a littoral,  T.  indivisa 
and  T.  larynx  to  be  deep-water  species. 

C.  Listen,  Van  Ben.  (sp.). 

I obtained  this  zoophyte  attached  to  stones  between  tide-marks  at  Bal- 
lyliolme,  Belfast  Bay.  Both  polype  and  polypidom  agreed  in  every  cha- 
racter of  form  and  colour  with  the  description  given  in  Dr.  Johnston’s 
work,  but  I cannot  think  this  and  the  Coryne  (C.  squamata,  Johnst.  Brit. 
Zoop.,  pi.  2,  figs.  2 & 3,  1st  edit.)  which  is  commonly  found  on  the  Fuci 
(especially  Fucus  nodosus ) of  our  shores,  the  same  species.  This  latter 
generally  forms  masses  at  the  base  of  the  branches  and  around  the  stem 
of  the  plant  named  : each  individual  rises  singly  from  its  base,  as  repre- 
sented in  the  figures  referred  to.  The  one  is  a branched,  the  other  a 
simple,  species : the  polypidom  is  horny  ( Tubidaria-like)  in  S.  Listen  ; in 
the  other  soft  and  fleshy. 

Genus  Cordylophora. 

C.  lacustris,  Allman. 

In  the  dock  of  the  Grand  Canal,  Dublin,  Professor  Allman. 

2 g 2 


452 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Genus  Eudendrium. 

E.  rameum,  Johnst. 

Black  Bock,  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

E.  ramosum,  Ellis. 

Noticed  by  Templeton  as  found  in  Dublin  Bay ; it  occurs  not  uncom- 
monly on  shells  dredged  in  deep  water  on  the  North-East  coast. 

Found  sparingly  around  the  coast  of  Ireland,  investing  shells.  The 
figure  in  Ellis’s  Corall.,  pi.  XVII.,  is  a good  representation  of  the  species 
as  it  has  occurred  to  me ; I have  never  met  with  E . ramosum , even  in  a 
dried  state,  in  which  it  could  be  confounded  with  T.  larynx  (see  Brit. 
Zoop.,  p.  117).  The  specimens  which  have  come  under  my  observation 
were  always  of  a stronger  texture,  and  of  an  extremely  different  habit 
from  any  variety  of  T.  larynx,  having  moreover  a brownish  horn-colour, 
instead  of  the  hyaline  aspect  of  that  species.  More  might  be  said  on  the 
subject,  but  a comparison  of  Ellis’s  fig.  of  T.  ramosa,  pi.  XVII.,  with  Dr. 
Johnston’s  T.  larynx,  will  exhibit  other  differences  sufficiently.  W.  T. 

I found  this  specie^  along  with  many  other  Zoophytes  in  the  trawl-nets 
of  the  Howth  (Co.  Dublin)  fishermen,  in  April,  1835 ; have  dredged  it  in 
Belfast  Bay,  and  found  it  parasitic  on  oysters  and  the  Capulus  Hungaricus 
from  the  Down  coast,  but  rarely  more  than  one  or  two  specimens  on  any 
occasion.  Obtained  at  Magilligan  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  1838.  Ellis’s  figure 
in  plate  XVII.  is  a good  representation  of  the  species  as  it  has  occurred 
to  me.  Killery  Bay,  W.  T. 

Courtmasherry  Harbour,  Co.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman.  On  Pinna  in  my 
collection  from  Cork. 

Genus  Tubularia. 

T.  indivisa,  Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  Prof.  Harvey,  1834;  Youghal,  Miss  Ball,  1836;  Belfast 
and  Strangford  Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. 

Fine  specimens  9 inches  in  height  obtained  by  Dr.  Ball  in  Dublin  Bay, 
Sept.,  1839. 

Dredged  in  the  open  sea  along  the  Antrim  coast,  by  Mr.  B.  Patterson. 
On  a Balanus  attached  to  an  oyster  dredged  at  Greencastle,  Londonderry, 
W.  T.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

T.  larynx,  Ellis. 

Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  Mr.  Hyndman  and  W.  T. ; Dublin 
Bay,  Dr.  Ball. 

This  is  not  uncommonly  found  attached  to  T.  indivisa ; but  in  Belfast 
and  Strangford  Loughs  is  chiefly  parasitic  on  Eesmarestia  aculeata. 
From  about  every  inch  or  so  of  the  stem  and  main  branches  of  the  plant 
the  tubes  issue  somewhat  in  a whorled  manner  (to  use  a botanical  ex- 
pression) to  about  the  distance  of  one  or  two  inches  on  every  side. 

In  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  a fine  specimen  3|  inches  in 
height,  and  as  much  in  breadth,  and  which  springs  from  a single  base. 
The  tubes  are  simple  throughout.  W.  T. 

Genus  Thoa. 

Thoa  halecina,  Lam. 

Clew  Bay  and  Antrim,  Down,  and  Dublin  coasts,  W.  T.  Killery  Bay, 
W.  T.  Magilligan,  Co.  Londonderry,  Mr.  Hyndman.  The  specimens 


HYDROIDA. 


453 


brought  thence  by  Mr.  Hyndman  are  remarkably  fine,  their  ordinary 
height  being  9 inches  ; some  of  them,  too,  branch  profusely,  so  as  to  occupy 
nearly  as  much  space  in  breadth  as  in  height : — one  specimen  had  at- 
tained the  height  of  12  inches.  Nov.,  1842,  attached  to  Pecten  maximus 
in  Belfast  market ; the  shells  stated  to  have  been  dredged  in  the  Bay. 
W.  T. 

T.  Beanii,  Johnst. 

Procured  by  dredging  in  Belfast  Bay,  where  it  in  some  situations  seems 
to  take  the  place  of  T.  halecina.  Before  it  was  described  as  a distinct 
species,  its  peculiarities,  independently  of  the  remarkable  ovaries,  were 
noticed  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself ; its  general  aspect  or  habit  first 
attracted  our  attention.  Instead  of  the  rigid  “ herring  bone  ” appearance 
of  T.  halecina,  it  is  somewhat  flexible  and  graceful.  Although  not  men- 
tioned in  the  description,  this  difference  is  observable  in  the  plates  of  the 
British  Zoophytes. 

, Among  Zoophytes  collected  in  Dublin  Bay,  by  Prof.  Harvey,  in  1834, 
and  kindly  sent  to  me,  were  examples  of  this  species.  Adherent  to 
oysters  dredged  at  Killough,  Co.  Down.  W.  T. 

T.  muricata , Johnst. 

For  the  only  Irish  specimen,  a mere  fragment  of  this  Thoa  which  I 
have  seen,  I am  indebted  to  Dr.  Hassall,  who  found  it  near  the  Giant’s 
Causeway.  W.  T.  1842. 

Genus  Sertularia. 

S.  polyzonias , Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  1834,  Prof.  Harvey.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Magilligan,  Co. 
Londonderry,  Mr.  Hyndman.  This  is  one  of  our  most  common  Sertu- 
larice , on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim,  and  indeed  those  of  Ireland 
generally ; it  is  usually  attached  to  Algce  and  Zoophytes , more  especially 
to  Halidrys  siliquosa  and  Flustra  folia  cea.  The  largest  and  finest  speci- 
mens I have  seen  were  from  deep  water,  where,  even  on  our  northern 
coasts,  they  in  more  than  one  locality  attained  the  magnitude  mentioned 
by  Templeton  of  5 inches  in  height.  See  his  description  of  S.  pinnata. 
The  Sertularia  which  commonly  passes  under  the  name  of  polyzonias  in 
Ireland  is  the  form  figured  in  Ellis,  and  which  is  considered  by  M.  Ed- 
wards distinct  from  the  erect  form  represented  on  the  same  plate.  He 
names  the  flexuous  form  S.  Fllisii. 

All  the  specimens  in  my  collection  from  various  localities,  whether 
growing  in  a flexuous  or  erect  state,  winding  round  the  stem  of  Algae,  or 
expanding  in  an  arborescent  form,  with  a single  main  stem  (if  it  may  so 
be  called),  have  the  cells  with  a toothed  rim,  and  the  vesicles  toothed. 
I have  not  seen  any  vesicles  with  such  an  orifice  as  is  represented  in  the 
erect  form  by  Ellis,  plate  2,  fig.  A. 

S.  rugosa,  Linn. 

On  Flustra  foliacea  collected  at  Magilligan,  Co.  Londonderry,  by  Mr. 
Hyndman,  1838.  On  same  species  from  Bootle  coast,  Liverpool,  Mr. 
Henry  Johnston,  1840 ; and  on  same,  dredged  at  Sana  Island,  off  the  Mull 
f Cantire,  Mr.  Hyndman,  1841. 

S.  rosacea , Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  1834,  Prof.  Harvey.  April,  1835. 


454 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Found  commonly  attached  to  other  Zoophytes,  picked  from  the  trawl- 
nets  of  the  Howth  (Co.  Dublin)  fishermen,  Dr.  Ball  and  W.  T.  On  the 
stems  of  Laminaria  digitata , thrown  ashore  in  Belfast  Bay,  and  similarly 
procured  at  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Much  more  delicate  and  graceful  when  springing  from  the  stem  of  its 
kindred  species  ( Sertularia  argentea , Plumularia  falcata,  &c.)  than  from 
those  of  the  Lam.  digitata,  the  colour  also  in  the  former  case  being  of  a 
brighter  and  more  agreeable  hue.  In  the  same  locality,  Belfast  Bay,  it 
differs  thus  according  as  it  emanates  from  a Zoophyte  or  Laminaria.  The 
much  stronger  and  more  robust  development  of  S.  rosacea  on  the  stems 
of  Lam.  digitata,  remind  me  of  the  equally  greater  development  of  an 
Alga  ( Ptilota  plumosa ) upon  its  stems,  than  when  springing  from  a rock, 
and  in  so  far  as  specimens  have  come  under  my  observation,  each  state  of 
the  Zoophyte  is  as  permanent,  according  to  the  object  upon  which  it  is 
based,  as  is  the  case  in  the  Alga. 

The  vesicles  too,  it  should  be  mentioned,  differ  ; those  on  my  S.  rosacea 
based  on  the  Zoophyte  are  admirably  represented  in  Ellis’s  Cor.,  pi.  4, 
fig.  A. 

S.  pumila,  Linn. 

Antrim,  Down,  and  Dublin  coasts.  Clifden,  Connemara,  W.  T. 

A littoral  species  growing  on  the  Fuci  (especially  F.  serratus,  F.  nodo- 
sus,  and  F.  vesiculosus ),  in  shallow  water,  and  those  exposed  to  the  air  at 
every  ebb  of  the  tide.  At  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye  (Dublin  coast),  it 
most  profusely  invests  the  Fuci  exposed  at  low  water,  so  that  a person 
might  say  with  truth  that  he  could  walk  for  some  distance  treading  all 
the  time  on  S.  pumila.  W.  T. 

On  Furcellaria  fastigiata,  &c.  At  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.*  Ballysodare 
Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Ballantrae, 
Ayrshire,  and  Fresh-water  Bay,  Isle  of  Wight,  W.  T.  Foreign  specimens 
are  in  my  collection  from  California,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  Van  Die- 
men’s land. 

April  14th,  1841. 

It  not  only  grows  abundantly  on  Fuci  attached  to  large  stones  between 
tide-marks  at  Cultra,  but  the  entire  otherwise  bare  side  of  a huge  stone  is 
bearded  with  it.  Fuci  however  droop  over  the  side  of  the  stone  from 
above,  rooted  on  the  top  of  the  stone. 

S.  pinaster,  Ellis. 

This  species,  exactly  as  represented  by  Ellis,  and  bearing  vesicles,  was 
dredged  at  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  who  has  ob- 
tained it  by  similar  means  from  a depth  of  40  fathoms  near  Sana  Island, 
on  the  Scotch  coast,  both  in  1841  and  1842,  but  on  both  occasions  the 
few  specimens  were  without  vesicles,  as  was  likewise  a specimen  dredged 
by  Capt.  Beechy,  B.  N.,  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway,  at  the  depth  of  from 
110  to  140  fathoms.  In  some  cases  a single  plume,  in  others  several, 
spring  from  the  same  base.  The  branches  are  more  produced  than  re- 
presented by  Ellis  and  Solander,  and  in  one  instance  secondary  branches 
are  thrown  out,  as  we  see  in  luxuriant  specimens  of  its  near  allies,  Sert. 
abietina,  and  S.Jilicula.  Dr.  Hassall’s  Sert.  Margarita  seems  to  me  only 
a variety  of  this,  differing  in  the  vesicles.  Specimens  of  the  form  he  de- 


* In  whose  collection  are  specimens  from  this  locality  in  a free  branched 
state,  not  adherent  to  any  other  object. 


HYDROIDA. 


455 


scribes  were  collected  in  Dublin  Bay,  in  1834,  by  Prof.  Harvey,  and  sent 
to  me  at  that  time  along  with  many  other  Zoophytes.  They  were  at  once 
laid  aside  as  examples  of  a species  unrecognised  as  British,  until  a leisure 
opportunity  should  arrive  of  studying  the  beautiful  tribe  to  which  they 
belong. 

S.  tamarisca,  Linn. 

This  species  must  have  been  accidentally  omitted  from  Mr.  Templeton’s 
Catalogue,  as  I find  a named  specimen  in  his  collection  with  the  locality, 
“ Belfast  Lough,”  attached  to  it.  A single  example  was  once  found  by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond,  at  Ballycastle,  Co.  Antrim.  On  an  inspection  of 
the  fishermen’s  trawl-nets  at  Howth  (Co.  Dublin)  in  April,  1835,  a very 
few  specimens  of  S.  tamarisca  were  found  by  Dr.  Ball  and  myself,  amid 
a profusion  of  other  species  : a plume  or  two  of  it  has  generally  occurred 
to  me  among  masses  of  other  species  at  Portmarnock  on  the  same  coast. 
It  would  seem  to  be  very  sparingly  produced  anywhere.  W.  T. 

S.  abietina , Linn. 

Dublin  Bay,  common,  1834,  Prof.  Harvey. 

Coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim,  W.  T. 

Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  From  the  northern,  eastern,  and  southern  shores, 
I have  seen  examples  of  this  species,  those  obtained  from  the  fishermen’s 
nets  at  Howth,  in  1835,  being  remarkably  fine. 

S.Jilicula , Ellis. 

In  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond’s  collection  is  a specimen  of  this  coralline  ob- 
tained many  years  ago  near  Ballycastle  by  that  most  distinguished  botan- 
ist, R.  Brown.  Bangor  (Down),  Sept.,  1835,  and  subsequently,  W.  T. 

This  species  is  particularly  partial  to  the  clam-shell  (Pecten  maximus), 
on  which,  from  various  localities  on  the  coasts  of  Dowli  and  Antrim,  I 
have  found  it  growing.  On  old  oyster-shells  dredged  in  3^  fathoms 
water  in  Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  It.  Patterson.  Attached  to  Flustra  foliacea, 
collected  at  Magilligan,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  and  on  Flustra  truncata  sent 
me  from  Portpatrick,  in  1837,  by  Capt.  Fayrer,  It.  N.  On  Venus  Is- 
landica,  dredged  at  Dalkey,  Dublin  Bay,  1840,  W.  T. 

March , 1843. — I observed  several  single  stems  growing  from  an  old 
musket  dredged  off  the  Gobbins.  Several  specimens  attached  to  a piece 
of  limestone  (bored  by  Spio  calcarea)  dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  Nov-, 
1846. 

Feb.,  1848. — I obtained  it  on  oysters  from  Clew  Bay. 

S.  operculata,  Linn. 

Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  abundant,  generally  found  on  the  stems  of 
Laminaria  digitata.  I have  obtained  a few  specimens  of  a black,  as  well 
as  many  of  a red,  hue.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman,  specimens  from 
which,  very  large,  attaining  6 inches  and  upwards  in  height.  Ballysodare 
Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

S.  argentea,  Ellis. 

Dublin  Bay,  Prof.  Harvey,  1834.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Antrim 
and  Down  coasts,  grows  occasionally  in  brackish  water  and  shallow  pools  ; 
a mass  of  it  was  once  brought  to  me  from  one  of  the  flood-gates  to  a dock 
in  Belfast,  on  which  it  had  grown.  I once  found  it  plentifully  attached 
to  dead  mussels  in  a shallow  pool  in  Dundrum  Bay  (Co.  Down),  into 


456 


ZOOPHYTES. 


which  a river  flows.  All  the  finest  specimens  which  have  come  under  my 
observation  were  from  deep  water,  on  the  coasts  of  Dublin  and  London- 
derry. Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock ; Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 
At  Newcastle,  Co.  Down,  1851. 

I found  it  very  large,  rooted  to  the  sandy  gravel  within  Dundrum  Bay, 
at  the  edge  of  low-water  mark,  but  where  left  dry  at  every  ebb. 

S.  cupressina , Linn. 

Belfast  Bay ; Howth,  Co.  Dublin,  1835,  W.  T. 

Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Clew  Bay,  1840,  W.  T.  Portpatrick,  Capt.  Fayrer,  It.  N.  This  and  the 
preceding,  with  many  other  smaller  species,  constituted  the  most  beau- 
tiful collection  of  Zoophytes  I ever  beheld  when  gracefully  depending 
from  and  interlacing  the  spacious  trawl-nets  of  the  Howth  fishermen  as 
they  were  hung  up  to  dry  ; some  specimens  of  S.  cupressina  and  S. 
argentea  attained  almost  two  feet  in  height. 

Genus  Thuiaria. 

T.  thuia,  Flem. 

Northern  coast  of  Ireland. 

T.  articulata,  Ellis. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball,  1839.  On  examining  a number  of  the  clam- 
shells ( Pecten  maximus ) dredged  near  Donaghadee,  I found  a specimen 
of  T.  articulata  adherent,  and  have  received  a specimen  on  a Pecten  oper- 
cularis  from  the  Isle  of  Man  (E.  Forbes),  W.  T.  Numerous  specimens 
from  the  Bootle  coast,  near  Liverpool,  were  sent  me  in  1840,  by  Mr. 
Henry  Johnston  of  that  town.  Near  Sana  Island,  on  the  western  coast  of 
Scotland,  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  it  in  or  about  40  fathoms  water  in  1841 
and  1842;  in  the  latter  year  in  same  quantities,  and  the  specimens  re- 
markably fine,  some  of  them  greatly  branched,  spreading  out  to  6 inches, 
and  one  example  has  attained  the  height  of  10^  inches.  It  is  a deep-water 
and  I should  think  rather  local  species,' but  often  plentiful  where  it  does 
occur.  The  pinnae  are  alternate  in  the  specimens  alluded  to. 

Genus  Antennularia. 

A.  antennina,  Flem. 

This  species  either  in  a simple  or  branched  state  is  found  around  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  The  simple  form  attains  a great  size  in  Dublin  Bay, 
specimens  which  I collected  there  in  1835  having  exceeded  12  inches  in 
height.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Strangford  Lough,  W.  T.  Dredged  from 
about  40  fathoms  near  Sana  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

(A.  arborescens,  Hass.) 

The  branched  form  is  found  in  Belfast  Bay,  Killery  Bay,  Connemara, 
W.  T.,  and  Dublin.  It  may  be  worth  mention  that  the  branched  form  is 
assumed  by  the  species  in  Belfast  Bay ; the  simple  in  the  neighbouring 
Lough  Strangford,  as  exemplified  in  numerous  specimens  dredged  by 
my  scientific  friends  and  myself  in  both  localities.  Both  forms  have 
been  dredged  outside  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay  by  Mr.  Hyndman, 
May,  1842. 

Genus  Pltjmularia. 

P.  falcata , Lamx. 

Dublin  Bay,  Prof.  Harvey,  1834.  Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  W.  T. 


HYDROIDA. 


457 


Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman  : here  and  on  the  Dublin  coast  it  grows  most 
luxuriantly,  occasionally  attaining  a foot  or  a little  more  in  height ; and 
is  often  densely  branched,  in  which  state,  and  when  uninjured,  it  is  a 
very  beautiful  object. 

Clew  Bay,  W.  T.  1840. 

P.  cristata,  Lamx. 

Youghal,  Dublin  Bay,  Miss  Ball.  Waterford  coast,  Miss  A.  Taylor. 
Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Down  and  Antrim  coasts, 
Alum  Bay,  Isle  of  Wight  (in  profusion,  Sept.  1841),  W.  T. ; all  my  spe- 
cimens from  these  localities  are  on  Halidrys  siliquosa.  A.  Plumularia  in 
my  collection,  obtained  at  California  by  Dr.  Sinclair,  seems  in  every  re- 
spect identical  with  native  specimens  of  P.  cristata. 

P.  pennatula,  Ellis  and  Soland. 

Specimens  of  this  rare  and  beautiful  species  profusely  invest  about  six 
inches  of  the  stem  of  a Laminaria  digitata  obtained  in  a fresh  state  by 
Miss  M.  Ball  at  Youghal  in  1837.  It  must  rather,  I presume,  have  been 
owing  to  the  East  Indies  being  the  locality  whence  the  specimens  de- 
scribed by  Ellis  and  Solander  were  brought,  than  to  any  fault  in  Fleming’s 
description  (which  seems  as  good  as  one  so  brief  could  be),  that  led  some 
authors  on  the  continent  to  attribute  it  to  other  species.  The  Irish  spe- 
cimens correspond  with  the  descriptions  in  the  works  of  Ellis  and  So- 
lander, Fleming  and  Johnston,  and  with  the  figures  in  the  first  and  last — - 
some  of  them  are  4^  inches  in  height. 

Found  also  at  Roundstone  by  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

Dec.  29,  1851. — I saw  a very  fine  group  of  this  species  to-day  in  Miss 
Ball’s  collection.  It,  with  several  other  groups,  was  found  at  Ballycotton 
(Co.  Cork)  in  August  last  by  Miss  Gaggin.  The  piece  I saw  appeared 
attached  to  the  stem  of  a common  Laminaria  (tangle). 

P.  pinnata,  Lamx. 

In  Mr.  Templeton’s  collection  there  are  specimens  of  this  Plumularia , 
although  it  is  not  recorded  by  him.  Dredged  in  8 fathoms  water  in  Bel- 
fast Bay.  Dublin  Bay,  1834,  Prof.  Harvey.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Fine 
specimens,  from  4 to  6^-  inches  in  height,  dredged  upon  the  same  day 
(June  15,  1842)  in  Red  Bay,  Co.  Antrim ; and  about  Sana  Island  in  40 
fathoms,  on  the  neighbouring  coast  of  Scotland,  where  very  fine  spe- 
cimens were  dredged  by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

My  specimens,  with  vesicles  and  agreeing  in  all  respects  with  Dr.  J.’s 
S.  pinnata , except  in  three  branches  springing  from  each  joint,  I find  is 
perfectly  identical  with  the  fig.,  Dr.  Ellis,  Coral.,  pi.  xi.  fig.  A.,  in  having 
only  one  pinna  springing  from  each  joint. 

P.  setacea , Lamx. 

Antrim  and  Down  coasts,  Clew  Bay,  Co.  Mayo,  W.  T.  Ballysodare 
Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Glendore,  Co.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman.  Spe- 
cimens in  Mr.  Hyndman’s  collection,  dredged  at  Donaghadee,  July  12, 
1842,  are  remarkably  fine.  They  densely  invest  the  stem  and  main 
branches  of  a specimen  of  Halidrys  siliquosa,  throughout  about  a foot  of 
its  length,  and  from  every  plume  throughout  the  mass  issues  a series  of 
vesicles  closely  placed  together  from  the  base  to  near  the  summit ; these 
vesicles  generally,  if  not  always,  spring  from  the  upper  side  of  the  stem. 
Among  Zoophytes  given  me  by  the  late  Archibald  Menzies,  Esq.,  were 


458 


ZOOPHYTES. 


specimens  of  P.  setacea , brought  up  in  the  trawl-net  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  from  30  fathoms  water,  June  1,  1801. 

P.  myriophyllum,  Lamx. 

Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Isle  of  Man,  Prof.  Forbes.  A specimen  dredged 
from  40  fathoms  water,  at  Sana  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman,  W.  T. 

P.  frutescens,  Flem. 

Youghal,  Miss  Ball,  1836.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

Genus  Laomedea. 

L.  dichotoma,  Lamx., 

Is  found  around  the  Irish  coast,  attaining  to  a great  size  on  that  of  the 
Co.  Dublin.  Of  numerous  specimens  obtained  in  the  fishermen’s  nets  at 
Howth,  in  April,  1835,  some  reached  to  the  height  of  18  inches,  and  were 
besides  beautifully  and  profusely  branched.  Ballantrae,  Ayrshire,  W.  T. 
Dredged  from  40  fathoms  at  Sana  Island  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  W.  T. 
Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  On  an  Aporrhais  pes-pelicani  dredged  at  Bangor,  in 
5 — 6 fathoms,  July,  1846. 

Laomedea  geniculata,  Lamx. 

Clifden,  Connemara,  W.  T. 

Specimens  are  before  me  from  the  North,  East,  and  South  coasts  of 
Ireland.  It  is  very  common  on  Algae ; occasionally  on  Zoster  a marina. 
The  Algae  preferred  are  the  Halidrys  siliquosa  and  the  fronds  of  Lamina- 
ria digitata,  and  very  different  does  the  imperfect  state  of  the  Laomedea 
appear  on  the  two  plants.  In  the  former  the  roots,  if  so  they  may  be 
called,  twine  round  the  stem  and  vesicles  of  the  sea-weed ; on  the  broad 
leaves  of  the  tangle,  its  first  state  is  occasionally  a regular  piece  of  net- 
work, though  the  meshes  are  of  various  size,  junction  of  the  meshes  ap- 
parently tied  in  a knot  (as  it  were  by  fairy  fingers),  from  these  knots  in 
due  time  spring  the  Zoophytes  known  as  Laomedea  geniculata . 

L.  gelatinosa , Lam. 

Youghal,  Miss  Ball ; Bangor,  County  Down,  Oct.  1835,  W.  T.  In  the 
ordinary  state  parasitical  on  Zostera  marina  in  both  localities.  Miss  Ball 
has  likewise  obtained  specimens  presenting  the  finest  state  of  the  species, 
and  11  inches  in  height. 

Prof.  Allman  has  found  it  at  Courtmasherry  Harbour,  Co.  Cork. 

Genus  Campanularia. 

C.  volubilis,  Lamx. 

Dublin  coast,  1835 ; Belfast  Bay,  on  various  Zoophytes  and  Algae ; of 
the  former  Sertularia  abietina  and  Plumularia  falcata , and  of  the  latter 
Halidrys  siliquosa,  are  favourites.  On  the  broad  leaves  of  Delesseria  sinuosa. 
Donaghadee,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Courtmasherry  Harbour,  Co.  Cork,  Prof. 
Allman.  Freshwater  Bay,  Isle  of  Wight,  W.  T.  Commonly  invests  Sar- 
gassum  from  the  Mar  de  Sargasso  in  my  collection. 

C.  syringa,  Lam. 

Of  this  species,  which  has  not  a place  in  Mr.  Templeton’s  published 
catalogue,  1 find  specimens  labelled  “ Belfast  Lough  ” in  his  collection — 
to  myself  it  has  occurred  on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Dublin. 


HYDROIDA. 


459 


C.  ? dumosa,  Flem. 

On  Tubularia  indivisa  at  Youghal,  1836,  Miss  Ball. 

On  Serialaria  lendigera  and  various  corallines  in  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball,  Sept.,  1839.  Bootle  coast,  Liverpool,  from  Mr. 
Henry  Johnston.  Adherent  to  a stone  from  Strangford.  Dredged  in 
about  40  fathoms  water  at  Sana  Island,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  parasitic  on 
Thuiaria  articidata.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Parasitic  on  various  zoophytes ; 
among  others  I have  seen  the  delicate  Serialaria  lendigera  covered  with  its 
tubes.  Invests  the  upper  portion  of  shells  of  the  Dentalium  entalis,  dredged 
with  the  animals  living  in  Strangford  Lough,  July,  1838,  W.  T. 

C.  verticillata,  Lamx. 

Found  commonly  thrown  ashore  at  Portmarnock,  in  1835,  and  subse- 
quently more  rare,  but  of  occasional  occurrence  in  deep  water  in  Belfast 
Bay,  W.  T.  Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Courtmasherry  Harbour,  Prof. 
Allman,  W.  T. 

C.  integra , Macgill. 

North  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Hydra. 

H.  viridis,  Linn. 

East  and  South  of  Ireland. 

Obtained  at  Bandon  (Co.  Cork),  by  Prof.  Allman. 

H.  vulgaris , Pall. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland.  August  20,  1846,  I saw  in  a 
glass  globe — such  as  gold  fish  are  kept  in  — half  filled  with  water,  in 
Mr.  Hyndman’s  house,  about  twenty  living  Hydrce,  which  were  ob- 
tained by  him  in  May  last,  from  the  pond  in  the  Zoological  Gardens, 
Dublin,  a locality  previously  known  by  Mr.  Callwell  as  frequented  by 
the  species.  Not  one  of  these  specimens  showed  any  attenuation  below, 
and  hence  are  not  II.  attenuata  or  LL.  oligactis.  The  tentacula  are  not 
“ shorter  than  the  body,”  hence  they  are  not  H.  viridis.  They  were 
longer  than  the  body  and  six  in  number  in  all  the  specimens,  as  I saw 
them  displayed.  The  colour  of  the  body  is  a very  pale  reddish-brown. 
When  the  body  is  fully  extended,  nearly  6 lines  long,  or  5 lines  certain. 
The  tentacula  are  of  about  the  same  length,  but  when  not  so  (and  this 
was  the  case  in  all  but  one  specimen)  they  were  considerably  longer  (5 
lines). 

Hydra.  See  Johnston’s  Zoop.,  p.  131,  2nd  edit.  Effect  of,  on  Limneus 
pereger — Sept.  1846.  Mr.  Hyndman  observing  a Limneus  moving  towards 
a Hydra  fixed  on  the  side  of  a glass  globe  half  filled  with  water,  remarked 
that  the  moment  the  tentacula  of  the  Limneus  touched  the  arms  of  the 
Hydra,  the  Mollusc  suddenly  drew  back  and  changed  its  course.  The 
Hydra  did  not  draw  in  its  arms.  On  a subsequent  occasion,  Mr.  Hynd- 
man observed  a Planorbis  marginatus  (under  half  size)  moving  towards  a 
Hydra,  and  on  coming  in  contact  with  its  body,  the  Mollusc  was  not  affect- 
ed, but  endeavoured  to  move  onwards,  at  risk  of  displacing  the  Hydra ; 
this  species,  however,  kept  its  ground,  and  the  Planorbis  moved  off  in  the 
direction  of  its  arms,  which  were  no  sooner  touched  than  it  also,  like  the 
Limneus,  suddenly  drew  back,  and  moved  in  another  direction.  The  re- 


460 


ZOOPHYTES. 


pulsive  power  of  the  Hydra  would  thus  seem  to  exist  in  its  tentacula,  and 
not  in  its  body, 

H.fusca,  Linn. 

East  of  Ireland.* 

H.  verrucosa , Temp. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Supposed  identical  with  H.  fusca. 


ORDER  AS  TEROID  A. 

Genus  Virgularia. 

V.  mirabilis , Lam. 

Still  to  be  had  by  dredging  about  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

April  3,  1848. — A few  fine  specimens  reaching  to  7 inches  in  length, 
dredged  from  5 fathoms  in  Belfast  Bay,  by  Edm.  Getty,  Esq.,  and 
brought  me.f 

Genus  Gorgonia. 

G.  anceps , Pall. 

Stated  by  Ellis  as  found  on  Irish  coast. 

G.  verrucosa , Linn.,  Johnst.  Brit.  Zooph. 

The  first  Gorgonia  of  any  species  which  I have  seen  from  the  coast  of 
Ireland,  was  a portion  of  G.  verrucosa  sent  to  me  by  Dr.  Ball.  The 
specimen  was  procured  at  the  island  of  Lambay,  off  the  Dublin  coast,  and 
taken  to  Mr.  Warren  by  the  man  who  found  it,  on  account  of  the  size  (18 
inches  from  base  to  extremity  of  branches),  he  having  never  seen  any  so 
large  before.^  West  of  Ireland,  It.  Ball. 

Genus  Alcyonium. 

A.  digitatum , Linn. 

Common  on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim. 

Unattractive  as  this  species  is  when  dead,  it  is  a highly  beautiful  object 
in  a living  state  when  the  polypes  freely  display  themselves.  W.  T. 
Sept.  27, 1847,  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  from  20  fathoms  at  entrance  to  Bel- 


* Plentiful  in  the  lower  pond  of  the  Belfast  Botanic  Garden. — Ed. 
f Twenty-four  specimens,  some  of  them  above  8 inches  in  length,  were  ob- 
tained in  our  presence  at  one  haul  of  the  dredge  off  Bock-port,  Belfast  Bay, 
June  9th,  1855. — Ed. 

J This  has  been  inadvertently  called  Gorgonia  flabellum  in  the  published  list 
of  donations  to  the  Dublin  University  Museum,  Dec.,  1848,  p.  8.  A specimen 
of  G.  flabellum , with  the  root  attached,  was  brought  up  in  a trawl-net  from  8 to 
10  fathoms  depth  off  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  last  summer,  by  Mr.  Hyndman,  who 
judiciously  considered  it  a foreign  specimen.  That  it  had  for  some  time  been 
a denizen  of  our  seas  was,  however,  evident  from  the  native  productions  which 
were  attached,  such  as  Crisia  eburnea,  Cellularia  ciliata,  Grantia  compressa 
and  G.  ciliata , Serpula  triquetra,  with  small  portions  of  Confervce  and  other 
native  Algae.  This  Gorgonia  was  14  inches  in  height  and  the  same  in  breadth. 


ASTEROIDA. 


461 


fast  Bay  (bottom  shelly  sand),  attached  to  large  bivalve  shells  of  various 
species,  the  true  “ dead  man’s  hands,”  or  “ dead  man’s  toes,”  the  first  time 
thaJ  I remember  to  have  seen  it  from  our  N.  E.  coast.  All  the  other  spe- 
cimens that  I have  seen — -and  they  are  very  commonly  taken  everywhere 
by  dredging — were  the  orange-coloured  variety  or  species,  which  was  like- 
wise taken  to-day.  All  of  the  innumerable  specimens  of  this  latter  that  I 
have  seen  were  of  an  orange  colour,  they  were  also  in  form  when  large 
much  more  attenuated  and  irregularly  branched  than  the  true  form  ob- 
tained to-day.  This  is  just  the  colour  of  dead  men’s  hands  and  toes. 
An  examination  should  be  made,  as  to  whether  they  be  of  the  same 
species. 

Couch’s  Al.  sanguineum  is  of  this  form,  of  the  orange  variety  common 
here;  his  A.  digitatum  of  the  other.  See  his  pi.  13,  for  both. 

A.  glomeratum , Hassall. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

Genus  Sarcodictyon. 

S.  catenata,  Forbes. 

Dredged  in  deep  water  at  Youghal,  Dr.  Ball. 

Feb.  1848. — On  a stone  dredged  off  Whitehead,  County  Antrim,  at  base 
of  a mass  of  Tubularia  indivisa.  A few  individuals  only,  and  not  joined 
or  catenated.  Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 


ORDER  HELIANTHOIDA. 

Genus  Turbinolia. 

T.  milletiana,  Defrance. 

This  species,  only  known  as  fossil  until  Mr.  M‘Andrew  dredged  it  alive 
off  the  coast  of  Cornwall  in  the  spring  of  1845,  was  obtained  by  similar 
means  off  the  Isles  of  Arran  (Galway  Bay)  in  the  summer  of  that  year  by 
Mr.  Barlee. 

Since  this  note  was  taken,  the  Irish  station  has  been  published  in  the 
2nd  edit,  of  Johnston’s  “ Zoophytes.” 

Genus  Caryophyllia. 

C.  Smithii,  Stokes. 

A few  specimens  were  procured  at  Youghal,  by  Miss  Ball,  in  April, 
1836,  and  subsequently — diameter  of  the  largest  7'£  lines. 

Bundoran,  Co.  Donegal,  Dr.  Ball. 

Nov.  1849. — Mr.  T.  W.  Warren  showed  me  a quantity  of  these  (part  of 
half  a pint),  and  gave  me  some  of  them,  which  were  brought  him  about 
four  years  ago  by  a fisherman  from  the  Nymph  Bank,  whence  Dr.  Ball 
had  them  in  1819. 

Genus  CORYNACTIS. 

C.  viridis,  Allman. 

Crook  Haven,  Co.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman. 


462 


ZOOPHYTES. 


C.  Allmani , Thompson. 

A species  of  Corynactis,  differing  considerably  from  C.  viridis,  Allman 
(Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  xvii.  417,  pi.  11),  has  been  procured  by  dredging  in 
Belfast  Bay  and  Strangford  Lough  (15  to  20  fathoms).  It  is  somewhat 
doubtfully  on  my  part  given  as  specifically  distinct  from  C.  viridis ; but 
Professor  Allman,  to  whom  a specimen  was  submitted  in  a living  state, 
considers  it  to  be  so. 

Spec.  Char. — C.  with  several  regular  concentric  series  of  capitate  ten- 
tacula,  those  of  the  third  and  fourth  rows  being  about  equally  regular  and 
numerous  as  those  of  the  two  outer  rows ; those  nearer  the  mouth  irre- 
gularly disposed. 

The  colour — red  of  various  shades— is  wholly  different  from  that  of  C. 
viridis,  though  not  included  in  the  diagnostic  characters. 

Genus  Zoanthus. 

Z.  Couchii,  Johnston. 

{Dysidea?  papillosa,  Johnst.  Brit.  Sponges,  p.  190,  pi.  16.  fig.  6.) 

This  species,  dredged  from  a depth  of  15  to  20  fathoms  in  Strangford 
Lough,  on  the  22nd  June,  1846,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  was  brought 
home  in  a living  state,  and  proved  on  the  expansion  of  its  tentacula  to  be 
a Helianthoid  Zoophyte.  It  was  then  noted  as — “ coming  very  near  Zoan- 
thus, Cuv.  (Rfeg.  Anim.,  vol.  iii.  p.  293,  edit.  1830),  if  indeed  it  should  be 
generically  separated  from  it.  The  character  of  each  individual  rising  from 
a common  base  does  not  apply  to  it,  and  the  generic  character  must  conse- 
quently be  either  altered  to  suit  the  species,  or  this  be  constituted  a new 
generic  form.”  Other  observations  made  at  the  same  time  are  now  unne- 
cessary (as  the  sequel  will  show) ; the  preceding  note  is  given  merely  with 
reference  to  one  on  this  subject  at  p.  252,  second  edition,  British  Zoo- 
phytes. 

When  on  board  Mr.  M‘ Andrew’s  yacht  at  Southampton,  Sept.,  1846, 
Professor  Porbes  pointed  out  to  me  living  specimens  of  Zoanthus  Couchii 
(according  to  the  Cornish  Fauna)  which  had  been  dredged  off  the  southern 
coast  of  England,  and  these  to  my  surprise  proved  to  be  the  same  spe- 
cies as  I had  obtained. 

All  the  specimens  named  Z.  Couchii,  that  I had  previously  seen,  were 
the  very  different  Sarcodictyon  catenata,  Forbes  (Johnst.  B.  Z.,  p.  179,* 
pi.  33,  figs.  4 — 7,  2nd  edit.).  On  referring  to  Couch’s  work,  I agreed  with 
my  friend  about  the  identity  of  the  species,  which,  being  certainly  the 
same  as  that  from  Strangford  Lough,  decided,  at  least  to  my  mind,  the 
question  that  D.  ? papillosa  and  Z.  Couchii  are  not  distinct.  Dr.  John- 
ston, not  having  seen  the  living  animal,  placed  his  D.  papillosa  doubtfully 
among  the  sponges.  In  doing  so  he  judiciously  remarked,  that  it  is 
nearly  allied  to  the  Alcyonium  ocellatum  of  Ellis  and  Solander,  Zoop., 
p.  180,  tab.  i.  fig.  6 ; and  it  is  probable  that  the  two  productions  are  of 
the  same  nature,  whatever  this  may  be.” — Brit.  Spong.  p.  191. 

This  species  was  dredged  by  us  in  Strangford  Lough  in  1835,  as  no- 
ticed in  the  Annals  (vol.  v.  p.  254).  It  was,  as  on  the  last  occasion,  found 
adherent  to  dead  bivalve  shells — Venus  aurea,  V.  ovata,  Corbula  striata . 
The  figure  referred  to  in  the  British  Sponges  represents  the  species  from 
this  locality. 


* Dr.  Johnston  has  here  (p.  180)  correctly  brought,  the  Yonghal  species 
under  this — it  is  the  Zoanthus  Couchii  of  my  Report. 


HELIANTHOIDA. 


463 


Genus  Anthea. 

A.  cereus,  Johnst. 

In  September,  1835, 1 made  a note  of  this  species  as  being  the  most 
common  Actinia  of  Ballyholme  Bay  (Co.  Down),  where  it  was  gregarious, 
forming  in  some  places  a continuous  fringe  round  large  rock-pools  and 
stones,  exposed  to  view  at  low  water.  In  such  quantity  it  is  not  now  to 
be  seen  there,  having  become  gradually  scarcer  since  the  period  mentioned. 
In  Dublin  Bay  and  on  the  western  coast  this  species  likewise  prevails.  It 
is  commonly  of  a dull  ash-colour  throughout,  but  wherever  I have  re- 
marked it,  some  few  individuals  were  to  be  found  of  a green  colour,  with 
the  tentacula  partially  or  wholly  red.  The  A.  cereus  is  doubtless  one  of 
the  species  mentioned  under  another  name  by  Mr.  Templeton  as  found  at 
Ballyholme  Bay  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  303),  but  in  uncertainty 
which  of  his  should  be  referred  to,  I have  thought  it  better  to  notice  the 
subject  again. 

I once  saw  it  literally  fringing,  without  a single  gap,  a small  rock-pool 
about  five  yards  long  with  their  fully  expanded  tentacula  ; the  specimens 
were  very  large,  one  of  them,  the  largest  I had  ever  seen,  was  6 inches  in 
diameter  from  point  to  point  of  the  opposite  tentacula.  They  were  all  of 
the  ordinary  dull  hue  throughout. 

Genus  Adam  si  a. 

A.  maculata,  Johnst. 

This  extremely  beautiful  species,  taken  by  dredging  at  Strangford 
Lough,  in  January,  1835,  by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself,  has  subsequently 
occurred  to  us  commonly  there  and  in  Belfast  Bay — to  Bulla  lignaria  as 
well  as  the  larger  Trochi  it  is  occasionally  found  attached.  Every  shell 
that  I have  seen  the  A.  maculata  invest  was  tenanted  by  the  Pagurus 
Prideauxii,  Leach,  a species  which,  extensively  as  the  native  Paguri 
have  been  collected  by  me,  never  occurred  under  other  circumstances. 

On  the  Waterford  coast,  investing  dead  shells  (inhabited  by  Pagurus 
Bernliardus)  of  Buccinum  undatum , Dr.  Farran. 

Genus  Actinia. 

A.  mesembryanthemum,  Ellis. 

Common  around  the  shores  of  Ireland,  where  the  different  seasons  of 
the  year  have  no  effect  that  ever  I could  observe  upon  its  colours  (see 
Brit.  Zoop.,  p.  212). 

A.  margaritifera,  Templeton. 

Copeland  Isles  (mouth  of  Belfast  Bay),  August,  1811,  Mr.  Templeton. 
West  side  Donegal  Bay,  Prof.  Forbes. 

A.  viduata,  Mull.  Zool.  Dan. 

Observed  between  tide-marks  at  Lahinch  (Co.  Clare)  by  Prof.  Forbes 
and  myself. 

Bangor,  Co.  Down,  July  4,  1836,  G.  C . H.  and  W.  T. 

I found  two  very  small  specimens  attached  to  a stone  between  tide-marks ; 
their  colour  was  an  olive  green,  with  the  stripes  pure  white  from  base  to 
apex,  and  between  the  main  stripes,  when  wider  than  usual,  short  white 
rays  shot  from  the  base  a short  way  upwards.  These  specimens  were 
quite  free  from  sand,  and  seemed  not  to  differ  from  A.  mesembryanthe- 


464 


ZOOPHYTES. 


mum,  except  in  colour.  This  latter  species  is,  as  Dr.  Johnston  states  of 
England  (Brit.  Zoop.,  p.  212,  1st  edit.),  of  all  the  respective  colours  in 
summer  that  they  are  in  winter. 

A.  coccinea,  Mull. 

West  coast  of  Ireland,  Prof.  Forbes. 

A.  bellis,  Ellis. 

I have  taken  this  beautiful  species  in  Ballyholme  Bay,  Co.  Down.  It 
is  admirably  represented  by  Gaertner  in  Phil.  Trans.,  vol.  lii.  tab.  16,  f.  2,  A. 
W.  T. 

“ Island  of  Rathlin,  August,  1/95,”  Templeton. 

A . gemmacea,  Temp. 

Vide  Templeton  in  Mag.  Nat.  History,  vol.  ix.  I can  add  nothing  to  this 
but  that  very  large  examples,  3 inches  in  diameter,  are  occasionally  taken 
with  the  dredge  in  deep  water  on  the  coasts  of  Down  and  Antrim. 

Dec.,  1842. — A corked  quart  bottle,  with  only  a small  bit  broken  out  of 
the  side,  was  found  to-day  in  the  stomach  of  a cod  in  Belfast  market,  and 
brought  to  me  by  a trustworthy  fish-vender  who  “ extracted”  it.  The 
peculiar  mucus  indeed  with  which  the  bottle  was  invested  sufficiently  de- 
noted its  late  “ whereabouts.”  Were  the  cod  sold  by  weight  here  (which 
it  is  not)  it  might  be  supposed  that  the  bottle  had  been  introduced  dis- 
honestly to  add  to  the  profit  of  the  salesman.  However,  if  the  fish  did 
swallow  the  bottle,  its  magnet  of  attraction  was  evident,  in  the  shape  of  a 
a large  Actinia,  apparently  of  this  species,  which  was  based  on  the  glass 
to  which  it  still  closely  adhered.  Its  base  was  very  irregular  in  shape, 
and  occupied  about  3 inches  in  diameter.  The  entire  surface  of  the  Ac- 
tinia was  smooth.  The  bottle  had  been  a very  short  time  in  the  stomach  of 
the  fish,  as  some  of  the  Scrpula  on  it  were  still  alive.  W.  T.  Springvale, 
Down,  July  16,  1846. — I saw  one  on  the  beach  between  tide-marks,  as  I 
have  done  between  Ballyholme  Bay  and  Groomsport ; the  body  was  deep 
red  ; the  tentacula  beautifully  annulated  with  pale  red  and  hyaline  alter- 
nating. Oct.  3,  1846. — A small  specimen  dredged,  adherent  to  a stone 
from  upwards  of  20  fathoms,  about  the  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay  ; colour 
delicate  orange  red ; tentacula  ringed  with  same  colour  and  hyaline. 
Among  the  Zoophytes  obtained  on  the  same  occasion,  are  Sertularia  tama- 
risca,  Campanularia  verticillata,  Cellepora  ramulosa. 

A.  dianthus,  Ellis. 

Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drummond ; Edm.  Getty,  Esq.,  Strangford  Lough, 
W.  T.  Amongst  the  various  forms  it  assumes,  I have  seen  this  species 
present  the  exact  appearance  of  the  Act.  plumosa  of  the  Zoologia  Danica. 
Mr.  Templeton  marks  it  with  doubt  as  Irish. 

April  22,  1848. — A fine  specimen  of  this — or  rather  than  A.  dianthus, 
Johnst.,  precisely  of  A.  plumosa,  Miill.  Z.  D.,  vol.  iii.  p.  12,  t.  88,  f.  1,  2 — ■ 
dredged  yesterday  by  E.  Getty,  Esq.,  in  Belfast  Bay,  was  brought  me 
alive.  It  adhered  to  a large  Modiola  vulgaris,  and  was  when  fully  ex- 
panded about  4 inches  in  length.  It  is  of  a rich  creamy  flesh-colour,  and 
was  vigorously  alive  after  being  48  hours  out  of  the  water,  when  I put  it 
in  spirits. 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


465 


Genus  Iluanthos. 

I.  scoticus,  Forbes. 

On  the  beach  at  Balbriggan,  after  a storm,  March,  1843,  Mrs.  Hancock. 
Genus  Lucernaria. 

L.  fascicularis,  Flem. 

Donaghadee,  Mr.  Templeton. 

L.  auricula , Fabr. 

I once  found  two  examples  of  this  species  attached  to  a Polysiphonia 
collected  at  Carnlough,  Co.  Antrim,  by  Dr.  J.  L.  Drummond.  W.  T. 

L.  campanulata,  Coldstream. 

Miltown  Malbay,  Professor  Harvey. 

West  coast,  on  Fucus  tuberculatus,  Mr.  Andrews.  Bray,  It.  Ball. 


ORDER  ASCIDIOIDA. 

Genus  Serialaria. 

8.  lendigera , Lam. 

Found  on  the  North,  East,  and  South  coasts  of  Ireland.  In  Belfast 
Bay  and  at  Hyde,  Isle  of  Wight,  I have  observed  that  it  is  equally  partial 
to  Halidrys  siliquosa  as  a base.  Occasionally  on  Zoophytes,  as  Notamia 
loriculata,  & c.  W.  T.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

Genus  Vesicularia. 

V.  spinosa , J.  V.  Thompson. 

I have  seen  specimens  from  the  North,  East,  and  West  coasts  of  Ire- 
land. The  species,  like  indeed  all  our  Zoophytes,  attains  a much  greater 
than  ordinary  size  on  the  Dublin  coast. 

Genus  Valkeria. 

V.  cuscuta,  J.  Y.  Thompson. 

This  species,  although  little  known,  is  by  no  means  rare.  Dublin  Bay, 
1838,  Miss  Ball.  Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Magilligan, 
Co.  Londonderry,  Mr.  Hyndman.  In  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  on 
various  Algse,  but  more  especially  on  Halidrys  siliquosa,  which  superla- 
tively bears  the  palm  as  the  favourite  of  the  Zoophytes. 

V.  Uva,  Flem. 

North  and  East  of  Ireland. 

Adherent  to  Flustra  foliacea,  dredged  20  fathoms,  Belfast  Bay,  Sept., 
1847,  G.  C.  H. 

V.  pustulosa,  Johnst. 

Belfast  Bay,  W.  T.  Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

Genus  Bo^verbankia. 

B.  densa,  Farre. 

When  shown  this  Zoophyte  by  Dr.  Farre  in  the  spring  of  1837,  I re- 


466 


ZOOPHYTES. 


cognised  it  as  a species  which  had  not  uncommonly  occurred  to  me  on  the 
North-East  coast,  attached,  in  the  form  of  minute  tufts,  to  the  stems  of 
Desmarestia  aculeata,  Furcellaria  fastigiata,  &c.  I once  procured  it  from 
the  under  side  of  a stone  in  Belfast  Bay. 

Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

B.  imbricata,  Johnston. 

Obtained  around  the  coast  of  Ireland.  The  first  time  I gave  any  atten- 
tion to  this  species,  in  situ , was  in  Clew  Bay  (Co.  Mayo)  in  July,  1840, 
when  it  was  obvious  that  Boicerbankia  densa,  which  appeared  in  quantity 
along  with  it,  was  only  its  early  state.  I remarked  the  same  in  Round- 
stone  Bay  soon  afterwards.  I was  not  aware  at  this  time  that  any  other 
naturalist  had  come  to  the  same  conclusion.  W.  T. 

Genus  Lagenella. 

L.  repens,  Farre. 

In  January,  1835,  this  occurred  to  me  in  Strangford  Lough,  but  I was 
unable  to  identify  it  with  any  described  species.  Dr.  Farre’s  excellent 
memoir,  which  appeared  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions  for  1837,  sup- 
plied this  want ; and  since  that  time  I have,  by  the  examination  of  the 
living  polype  obtained  in  the  locality  just  named  (and  on  the  same  species 
of  Algse  as  the  B.  densa),  ascertained  to  a certainty  its  identity  with 
B.  repens. 

Genus  Pedicellina. 

P.  echinata,  Sars. 

North,  East,  and  South  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Crisia. 

C.  cornuta,  Johnston. 

On  Algae  from  the  island  of  Ireland’s  Eye,  Dublin  coast,  1837,  Miss 
Ball.  Down  and  Antrim  coast,  on  various  Algae,  more  rarely  on  Zoophytes. 
Killery  Bay,  Connemara,  W.  T. 

C.  eburnea,  Lamx. 

Common  on  Algae  and  Zoophytes  around  the  coast  of  Ireland.  Clifden, 
Connemara,  W.  T.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

C.  luxata,  Flem. 

Attached  to  the  base  of  various  Algae  collected  near  Glenarm,  by  Miss 
Davison,  in  1833.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball.  Waterford  coast,  Miss  A. 
Taylor. 

C.  aculeata,  Hassall. 

On  Pecten  maximus,  dredged  on  the  Antrim  coast,  Mr.  Patterson. 
Strangford  Lough,  Oct.,  1839,  W.  T.  Kingstown  Harbour,  Dr.  Hassall. 

Genus  Tubulipora. 

T.  patina,  Lam. 

On  Cellepora  cervicornis,  &c.,  from  the  southern  coast,  in  Dr.  Ball’s 
collection.  North-East  coast,  W.  T.  Dublin  Bay,  1837,  Miss  Ball. 

Var.  T.  bellis,  Thomp.  See  W.  T.’s  description  in  Johnston’s  Zoop.,  p. 
267.  The  Tubulipora  are  subject  to  such  variety  that  I fear  to  call  this  a 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


467 


new  species.  It  forms  snowy  white  circular  patches  of  various  size  (but 
generally  about  3 lines  in  diameter)  on  Zostera  marina , in  Strangford 
Lough,  where  I first  obtained  it  in  January,  1835. 

T.  bellis  may  be  likened  to  the  central  portion  (omitting  the  raised 
marginal  tubes)  of  Tub.  patina  of  the  British  Zoophytes  set  within  a broad 
white  circular  rim,  which  is  perfectly  flat,  instead  of  being  raised  or 
saucer-like. 

T.  hispida,  Flem. 

Not  uncommon  on  marine  plants  and  shells  in  the  North  and  South. 
Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  on  shells,  Zoophytes,  and  stones  ; but  chiefly  on 
Algae  such  as  the  Delesserice  and  Nitophyllce,  occasionally  even  on  the 
filiform  Griffithsia  setacea.  On  a plant  of  this  species  I have  an  interest- 
ing specimen,  in  which,  as  if  for  want  of  room  to  fully  expand  itself,  the 
polypidom  assumes  .the  form  of  a double  circle,  and  the  marginal  base 
folds  in,  so  that  taken  altogether  we  have  somewhat  the  appearance  of 
the  scroll  or  volute  of  an  Ionic  pillar,  the  lines  thus  marking  the 

form  which  the  margin  assumes.  On  (^T/o)  Cellepora  cervicornis  from 
the  Nymph  Bank,  in  Miss  Ball’s  col-  lection.  On  various  species 

of  Algm  in  my  Herbarium,  from  Van  Diemen’s  Land,  W.  T.  I possess 
ova  of  dog-fish  ( S . canicula ) with  fish  not  excluded,  having  a full-grown 
T.  hispida  on  it. 

T.  serpens,  Linn. 

Common  around  the  coast  of  Ireland,  adherent  to  flexible  Zoophytes 
(Sertularia  abietina  being  a favourite),  shells  (especially  within  old  bi- 
valves), stones,  and  Algse  (even  on  the  filiform  species,  as  Griffithsia  setacea, 
&c.),  W.  T.  After  an  examination  of  very  numerous  examples  of  this 
species  on  the  variety  of  bases  just  mentioned,  I feel  satisfied  that  the 
objects  figured  in  the  Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  vi.  pi.  6,  figs.  3 and  4,  as 
Tub.  verrucaria,  and  in  the  same  work,  vol.  vii.  pi.  10,  figs.  1 and  2,  under 
the  name  of  Tub.  lobulata,  are  merely  T.  serpens.  T.  lobulata,  with  its 
six  arms  or  expansions,  should,  I conceive,  be  regarded  simply  as  a very 
aged  individual  which  had  lived  long  enough  to  describe  a circle  with  its 
arms.  Specimens  are  before  me  with  one,  two,  three,  and  four  expansions 
of  a similar  nature  in  all  respects  to  the  six  of  T.  lobulata. 

By  reference  to  Mr.  Templeton’s  specimens,  I find  that  his  Plierusa 
tubulosa  (Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ix.  p.  469)  is  the  Tubulipora  serpens,  Flem.  (T. 
transversa,  Lam.) — This  species,  it  will  be  recollected,  was  the  Millepora 
tubulosa  of  Ellis  and  Solander. 

T.  obelia , Johnst., 

Obtained  with  the  specimens  from  Kinsale,  have  been  noticed  by  Dr. 
J.  E.  Gray,  but  the  species  being  considered  rare,  a second  and  northern 
habitat  is  given. 

On  Pinna  from  the  coast  of  Cork.  Pectunculus  pilosus  from  Magilligan, 
Co.  Londonderry,  W.  T. 

T.ffiabellaris,  W.  Thompson. 

The  delicate,  smooth,  and  somewhat  hyaline  specimens  which  I obtained 
on  the  beach  at  Bangor,  Co.  Down,  in  1833,  and  subsequently  dredged  in 
the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast,  are  regarded  by  me  as  identical  in 
species  with  the  large  greyish- white  rugose  form  (in  some  specimens  the 
tubes  are  even  ridged  across)  procured  on  the  open  coast  of  Down,  at 
2 h 2 


468 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Ballywalter.  Examples  precisely  similar  to  the  latter  are  on  Algae  in  my 
collection,  from  Van  Diemen’s  Land.  Our  species  of  Tubulipora  are  so 
widely  diffused  over  the  seas  of  the  globe,  and  have  met  with  such  atten- 
tion from  naturalists,  that  I cannot  believe  this  form  to  be  peculiar  to  our 
latitudes,  or  to  have  hitherto  escaped  detection.  I cannot  however  refer 
it  with  certainty  to  any  species.-  It  may  be  the  Tubiporajlabellaris  of  the 
Fauna  Grcenlandica,  p.  430,  but  the  inapplicability  of  the  word  “ parallels  ” 
to  the  tubes  renders  this  doubtful.  Risso’s  brief  description  of  Discopora 
palmata,  t.  v.  p.  339,  applies  tolerably  to  it.  The  chief  difference  between 
T.  plumosa  and  T.  serpens  when  adherent  to  an  expanded  surface  is,  that 
the  former  emanates  generally  from  a single  stem  or  tube,  is  broadly 
plumose,  has  the  tubes  curved  and  much  elongated,  and  not  disposed  more 
or  less  in  the  regular  series  in  which  they  appear  in  T.  serpens.  See 
figures  for  those  differences.  Occasional  departures,  however,  from  the 
typical  form  of  T.  plumosa  suggest  the  possibility  of  its  being  another  of 
the  Protean  forms  of  T.  serpens.  How  happy  this  trivial  name,  in  the 
poetical  sense  at  least,  of  the  serpent  assuming  a variety  of  forms  ! W.  T. 

Genus  Alecto. 

A.  granulata,  Edw. 

Found  attached  to  stones  and  shells  brought  up  from  deep  water  in 
Belfast  Bay,  &c. 

A.  major , Johnst. 

Adherent  to  old  bivalve  shells  dredged  outside  the  entrance  of  Belfast 
Bay,  from  the  depth  of  25  to  35  fathoms,  in  July,  1848,  and  sent  to  me 
by  Mr.  Hyndman. 

A.  dilatans,  J ohnst. 

With  last.  I had  previously  noted  this  species  or  form — for  I do  not 
feel  altogether  satisfied  respecting  the  specific  distinctness  of  A.  major  and 
A.  dilatans — as  observed  with  other  deep-water  Zoophytes  on  a stone 
dredged  from  40  fathoms  off  Whitehead,  County  of  Antrim.  Its  three 
branches  render  this  specimen  more  elegant  than  any  of  those  figured  by 
Johnston. 


Genus  Eucratea. 

E.  chelata,  Lamx. 

Dr.  Johnston  (Brit.  Zoop.)  notes  this  as  Templeton’s  “ Lorieula 
loricata,”  by  which  name  I have  no  doubt  that  Notamia  loriculata  (not 
otherwise  given  in  Templeton’s  catalogue)  was  meant.  Although  I have 
thought  it  proper  to  allude  to  this,  it  is  hardly  worth  correction,  as  Tem- 
pleton’s remark  of  “ common  on  the  coast  of  Ireland  ” applies  equally  to 
E.  chelata  as  to  N.  loriculata. 

Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  chiefly  on  other  Zoophytes,  sometimes  on 
Algae,  1835,  W.  T.  Magilligan,  on  various  Zoophytes,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
Dublin  Bay  and  Youghal,  on  -S',  argentea,  &c.,  Miss  Ball.  Clifden, 
Connemara,  W.  T.  Glendore,  Co.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman.  Ballysodare 
Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Notamia. 

N.  loriculata , Flem. 

Common  on  the  North  and  East  coasts  of  Ireland,  and  of  a much 
larger  size  than  the  maximum — 4 inches — given  in  Brit.  Zoop.,  W.  T. 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


469 


Genus  HippothoA. 

II.  catenularia,  Flem. 

This  is  very  common  on  Pinna  dredged  on  the  coast  of  Cork,  W.  T. 
(On  shells  dredged  in  40  fathoms  water  at  Sana  Island,  West  coast  of 
Scotland,  Mr.  Hyndman.)  . (On  a Pholas  dactylus  found  at  Compton 
Bay,  Isle  of  Wight,  W.  T.)  On  Buccinum  Zetlandicum  taken  on  long 
lines  in  deep  water  at  Bunowen,  Co.  Galway,  Dr.  Farran’s  collection. 

January , 1848. — On  stone  dredged  from  40  fathoms  off  Gobbins,  Co. 
Antrim,  a fine  specimen  of  Cellepora  cervicornis  on  same  stone. 

H.  divaricata , Lamx. 

This  species  is  of  much  less  frequent  occurrence  on  the  Pinnce  I have 
seen  from  the  coast  of  Cork  than  H.  catenularia , investing  the  roots  of  a 
small  plant  of  Laminaria  digitata  found  at  Bangor,  Co.  Down,  in  1835 ; 
subsequently  obtained  on  Solen  fragilis,  and  on  a stone  dredged  in  Strang- 
ford  Lough,  W.  T.  On  a Solen  dredged  in  Dalkey  Sound,  Dublin  Bay, 
Dr.  Ball,  W.  T.,  &c.  On  various  shells  [Lima  tenera,  Pecten  obsoletus 
and  P.  opercular  is,  Psammobia  jlorida,  & c.)  dredged  from  a depth  of  40 
fathoms,  near  Sana  Island,  by  Mr.  Hyndman.  In  this  locality  it  is  much 
more  common  than  H.  catenularia,  W.  T.  Belfast  Bay,  on  shells,  Mr. 
Hyndman,  1844. 

H.  sica,  Couch. 

Found  within  a very  large  dead  Pinna  dredged  at  the  entrance  of  Belfast 
Bay.  Mr.  Couch’s  description,  but  not  his  figure,  is  applicable  to  my 
specimen.  The  striking  characters  may  be  noticed.  The  length  of  the 
cells  is,  as  described,  “ about  four  times  their  transverse  diameter,”  and  the 
apertures  “ are  long  and  tubular,  frequently  as  long  as  the  cell.”  But 
whether  this  remarkable  form  may  not  be  due  to  the  security  and  free- 
dom from  injury  enjoyed  by  the  Zoophyte  within  the  closed  valves  of  the 
Pinna,  I shall  not,  from  the  examination  of  a single  specimen,  pretend  to 
determine.  Mr.  Couch’s  specimens  were  however  procured  “ on  stones, 
from  deep  water,  common.”  But  for  this  character  (which  probably  may 
not  be  permanent)  I should  not  enumerate-  my  Hippothoa  as  distinct  from 
II.  divaricata,  which  too  is  described  by  Dr.  Johnston  as  sometimes 
having  the  apertures  “ shortly  tubular.” 

Genus  Anguinaria. 

A.  spatulata,  Lam. 

This  is  stated  in  Mr.  Templeton’s  catalogue  to  have  been  “ found  on 
the  shore  at  Carrickfergus,  on  the  sand,  Aug.,  1811.” — Mag.  Nat.  Hist., 
ix.  p.  466.  The  specimen  labelled  under  this  name  in  Mr.  Templeton’s 
collection  is  Campanularia  syrinya,  but  having  “ Belfast  Lough  ” simply 
written  on  it,  may  not  be  the  one  published.  Of  the  A.  spatulata  I possess 
specimens  which  invest  the  stem  of  Dasya  coccinea,  collected  at  Youghal 
by  Miss  Ball. 

At  Freshwater  Bay,  and  Yentnor,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  I found  it  com- 
monly investing  various  Algae,  as  Dasya,  Plocamium,  Sphacelaria  scoparia, 
Griffithsia,  &c.  Foreign  specimens  appear  on  Algae  in  my  collection  from®' 
Trieste,  “ Briaritz,  Atlantic  Ocean,”  and  Van  Diemen’s  Land.  W.  T. 


470 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Genus  Cellepoka. 

C.  pumicosa,  Linn. 

Common  around  the  coast  of  Ireland. 

Springvale , July,  1846. — Cellepora  pumicosa,  found  patches  of,  spreading 
over  branches  of  Ptilota  plumosa,  W.  T. 

C ramulosa,  Linn. 

Obtained  at  Youghal  by  Miss  Ball.  Portmarnock,  1835,  W.  T. 

Small  specimens  have  been  dredged  in  deep  water,  Belfast  Bay,  by  Mr. 
E.  Getty  and  Mr.  Hyndman;  attached  to  flexible  Zoophytes,  as  P. 
falcata,  & c.  May,  1843. — Dredged  in  from  8 to  10  fathoms  at  Donaghadee, 
by  Dr.  Drummond ; adherent  to  Sertularia  abietina. 

C.  Skenei , Ellis  and  Solander  (sp.). 

Among  “ corallines  ” taken  in  the  trawl-nets  in  very  deep  water  off  the 
eastern  coast  of  Ireland,  and  preserved  in  Miss  Ball’s  collection,  is  a speci- 
men of  C.  Skenei  which  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  that  lady  in  May  last. 
Dr.  Johnston,  in  his  British  Zoophytes,  p.  276,  remarks — “ Notwithstand- 
ing the  apparent  dissimilarity  in  habit  of  the  three  preceding  Celleporce 
[C.  Skenei,  C.  ramulosa,  and  C.  pumicosa ],  I cannot  but  suspect  that  they 
are  merely  different  states  of  the  same  species,  for  in  these  productions 
the  ‘ fronti  nulla  fides  ’ receives  many  an  apposite  illustration.”  This 
specimen  tends  to  bear  out  the  correctness  of  the  view  that  the  three 
forms  are  not  specifically  different : the  form  C.  Skenei  is  rare  ; C.  ramu- 
losa not  common  ; C.  pumicosa  abundant : this  last  may  perhaps  be  con- 
sidered the  base  of  both  the  others.  With  this  one  specimen  of  C.  Skenei, 
a good  deal  of  C.  ramulosa  was  taken  of  small  size  adherent  to  Sertularia 
argentea. 

C.  cervicornis,  Flem. 

Obtained  many  years  ago  in  abundance  from  the  Nymph  Bank  by 
Dr.  Ball. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  Ordnance  Collection  (W.  T.,  August,  1843). 
Roundstone,  Mr.  M‘Calla.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

Feb.,  1847. — A very  fine  specimen  attached  to  a stone  dredged  off  Car- 
rickfergus  was  sent  to  E.  Getty,  Esq.  On  the  same  stone  was  Alecto 
granulata , and  attached  to  the  Cellepora  a beautiful  tubular  sponge,  per- 
haps S.  limbata,  also  Serpula  vitrece. 

Genus  Lepkalia. 

L.  hyalina,  Johnst. 

Common  on  marine  plants,  &c.,  on  the  shores  of  Ireland  from  North  to 
South. 

Killery  Bay,  Connemara,  on  Laminaria  digitata,  W.  T. 

Common  on  Algae  around  the  coast  of  Ireland,  looking  especially  beau- 
tiful from  the  purity  of  its  colour  on  our  fine  red  Delesserice  and  Nitophyllce. 

L.  tenuis,  Hassall. 

* Irish  Channel,  off  Sana  Island,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


471 


L.  assimilis,  Hassall. 

On  dead  valves  of  Pecten  maximus. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  Hassallii,  Johnston. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  coccinea,  Johnst. 

This  species  first  occurred  to  me  of  a snow-white  colour,  on  the  bark  of 
a tree  washed  ashore  at  Bangor  (Down)  in  January,  1834.  On  stones  and 
shells  dredged  in  deep  water  on  the  North-East  coast,  it  was  of  the  ordi- 
nary pale-reddish  purple  hue. 

L.  simplex , Johnst. 

I find  this  very  fine  and  well-marked  species  on  old  bivalve  shells, 
Modiola  vulgaris , Pecten  opercularis , &c.,  dredged  on  the  same  occasion 
as  Alecto  major. 

L.  ventricosa , Hassall. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  Hyndmanni,  Johnst.  P 

As  last.  Marked  with  doubt  on  account  of  the  specimens  being  much 
worn. 

Found  with  L.  simplex  in  deep  water  off  the  Copeland  Isles. 

L.  ovalis,  Hass. 

Feb.,  1848. — Adherent  to  Cellepora  cervicornis  growing  on  a stone 
dredged  off  the  Whitehead  entrance  to  Belfast  Bay,  in  40  fathoms  water. 
Dr.  Hassall  considers  it  a very  rare  species,  and  obtained  but  one  Irish 
specimen  at  Kingstown.  I have  but  to  add  that  my  specimen  is  of  a 
beautiful  silvery-white  hue,  and  most  thin  and  delicate  texture,  that  the 
front  portion  of  the  aperture*  rises  up  into  a short  process,  usually  bifur- 
cate, and  that  from  its  hinder  (distal,  Dr.  J.)  spring  two  or  three  very  long 
and  delicate  spines.  See  Johnston,  p.  308.  Johnston’s  fig.  1,  pi.  56,  re- 
presents my  specimen  well,  but  in  it  the  spines  are  longer  and  more 
delicate,  terminating  in  a sharp  point. 

• L.  linearis,  Hassall. 

Giant’s  Causeway  and  Kingstown  Harbour,  Dr.  Hassall.  Beaufort’s 
Dyke,  Capt.  Beechy. 

L.  auriculata , Hassall. 

Bray,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  punctata,  Hassall. 

Ireland,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  biforis,  Johnst. 

Adherent  to  stone  dredged  in  40  fathoms,  Feb.,  1848,  off  Whitehead, 
Co.  Antrim,  on  which  a broken  piece  of  Cellepora  cervicornis  grows.  See 
specimen  on  base  of  stone  touching  largest  specimen,  Tubulipora  obelia. 


* “ Upper  lip,”  Johnst. 


472 


ZOOPHYTES. 


L.  Peachii,  Johnst. 

Associated  with  Alecto  major,  Belfast  Bay. 

L.  pediostoma,  Hassall. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

In  masses  attached  to  under  side  of  stones  in  rock-pools.  It  covered 
for  a few  square  inches  the  stone  with  a pinkish  incrustation,  which 
appeared  very  beautiful. 

L.  verrucosa,  Esper  (sp.). 

Dublin  coast,  Miss  Ball,  1837. 

L.  granifera,  Johnston. 

North  of  Ireland. 

L.  variolosa,  Johnst. 

On  Pinnce  dredged  at  Cork,  and  favoured  me  by  Dr.  Ball,  rare.  I 
have  obtained  this  species  on  the  shell  of  the  common  edible  crab  ( Cancer 
Pagurus,  Leach)  taken  near  the  entrance  of  Belfast  Bay. 

L.  immersa,  Johnst. 

On  Pinnce  from  Cork.  North-East  and  Dublin  coast,  Mr.  Hyndman 
and  W.  T. 

L.  nitida,  Johnst. 

On  stones,  &c.,  dredged  in  deep  water  at  entrance  of  Strangford 
Lough  ; also  in  Belfast  Bay. 

L.  ciliata,  Johnst. 

Common  on  marine  plants,  shells,  &c.,  around  the  Irish  coast. 

Roundstone,  Connemara,  W.  T.  Shores  of  Down  and  Antrim,  W.  T. 
Magilligan,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

L.  innominata,  var.  ? Couch  (description,  not  figure),  Johnst. 

B.  Z.,  p.  319. 

With  Alecto  major,  &c. 

L.  semilunaris,  Hassall. 

On  Pecten  maximus,  off  Bray,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  unicornis,  Johnston. 

Adherent  to  a stone  dredged  from  5 fathoms  at  Donaghadee,  in 
August,  1848. 

L.  Ballii,  Johnst. 

A very  distinct  species.  With  Alecto  major,  &c. 

L.  trispinosa,  Johnst.  ? 

Agreeing  with  the  description  (Brit.  Zooph.,  p.  324,  2nd  edit.)  better 
than  with  the  figure,  in  the  aperture  being  “ small  and  circular,”  &c. 

With  the  last. 

L.  appensa,  Hassall. 

Ballywalter,  Co.  Down,  W.  T. 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


473 


L.  spiniferci,  Hassall. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall. 

L.  violacea,  Forbes. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

L.  concinna , Busk,  MSS. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

L.  labrosa,  Busk.  MSS. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

Genus  Membranipora. 

M.  pilosa,  Ellis. 

Very  common  on  Algae,  shells,  and  around  the  Irish  coast. 

Var.  B,  with  the  long  bristle  abortive,  common  also. 

Ballantrae,  Ayrshire  ; Freshwater  Bay,  Isle  of  Wight,  W.  T.  Invest- 
ing an  Algae  in  my  collection  from  Van  Diemen’s  Land,  W.  T.  Youghal, 
Miss  Ball.  Var.  stellata. 

Stellata,  or  of  a sub-stellate  outline,  cells  without  hairs  or  setae. 

Polypidom  of  a light  sandy  colour,  incrusting  the  larger  marine  Algae 
in  somewhat  of  a stellate  form  ; a few  inches  in  diameter ; aperture  of  the 
cells  without  hairs  or  bristles  (like  those  of  M.  pilosa  and  M.  spongiosa, 
Temp.),  but  beset  with  spines  or  denticles,  varying  much  in  number,  one 
at  the  base  generally  exceeding  the  others  in  magnitude.  Along  the 
centre  of  each  ray  extends  a series  consisting  of  a few  rows  of  oblong  or 
roundish-oblong  cells,  on  either  side  of  which  are  transverse  rows  of 
square  and  roundish  cells  considerably  larger  than  those  which  constitute 
the  central  portion  ; “ parietes  of  the  cells  prettily  punctured.”  This 
description  applies  to  the  species  in  its  most  perfect  state.  When  the 
stellate  figures  coalesce — which  they  rarely  do — so  as  to  cover  the  surface 
of  the  plant,  the  form  and  arrangement  of  the  cells,  as  just  mentioned, 
are  generally  preserved.  When  deviations  from  this  arrangement  do 
occur,  the  general  form  of  the  Zoophyte  is  the  most  obvious  character. 
This  species  first  occurred  to  me  in  Belfast  Bay,  in  September,  1833,  when 
a quantity  of  tangle,  Laminaria  digitata,  had  been  thrown  ashore,  on  the 
broad  leaves  of  which  its  stellate  form  at  once  arrested  my  attention.  In 
Strangford  Lough  I similarly  found  it  afterwards  ; and  more  recently  in 
Scotland,  near  Ballantrae  (Ayrshire),  on  Fucus  serratus,  but  not  in  per- 
fection on  this  plant,  whose  leaves  are  too  narrow  to  permit  its  perfect 
growth  : on  the  shore  at  Leith  too  I have  gathered  it ; and  on  a specimen 
of  Nitophyllum  Gmelini,  from  Sidmouth,  favoured  me  by  Dr.  Greville,  it 
appears.  Its  distribution  .would  thus  seem  to  be  extensive. 

I lately  ascertained  that  it  had  been  found  by  Dr.  Drummond,  many, 
perhaps  thirty,  years  ago,  at  Larne. 

M.  membranacea , Flem. 

Flustra  tuber culata , Johnst.  B.  Z.,  289,  pi.  34,  f.  9.  On  shells  and  stones 
from  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  W.  T. 

Often  inside  our  largest  dead  univalve  shells.  On  stones  and  Algae. 
On  Pectunculus  pilosus,  from  Magilligan,  Co.  Londonderry. 


474 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Genus  Flustra. 

F.foliacea,  Linn. 

Dublin,  Down,  Antrim,  and  Londonderry  coasts.  On  the  last  produced 
very  fine,  some  specimens  broadening  out  towards  the  extremities,  so  as 
to  present  the  outline  of  Padina  Pavonia,  some  whole  or  entire,  others 
divided ; in  Dublin  Bay  in  same  state.  About  Leith  I have  found  it 
thrown  up  plentifully,  and  of  a much  larger  size  than  it  attains  on  the 
Down  and  Antrim  coasts. 

F.  chartacea,  Gmelin. 

East  and  South  of  Ireland.  First  added  by  Prof.  Allman. 

F.  truncata,  Linn. 

This  species  is  local  on  the  Irish  coast.  In  Templeton’s  collection  are 
specimens  from  Dublin  Bay.  It  is  common  in  Belfast  Bay. 

F.  carbasea , Ellis  and  Soland. 

North  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Templeton. 

F.  avicularis,  Somerby. 

Dredged  at  Kingstown  (1837)  and  Dalkey  Sound. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball  and  W.  T.  Belfast  Bay,  W.  T. 

Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

F.  lineata,  Linn. 

On  Laminaria  digitata  and  on  stones  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough, 
W.  T.  On  same  dredged  in  Killery  Bay,  Connemara,  W.  T.  &c. 

F.  Murrayana , Bean. 

In  deep  water,  Dublin  coast,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

F.  membranacea , Ellis. 

This  most  common  species  was  by  some  oversight  omitted  in  Temple- 
ton’s catalogue.  It  is  abundant  round  the  coast  on  the  fronds  of  Lami- 
naria digitata. 

Genus  Cellularia. 

C.  ciliata,  Pallas. 

This  beautiful  and  graceful  species  is  sparingly  found  on  Algae  and 
Zoophytes  (I  have  one  specimen  adherent  to  a stone)  around  the  coast 
of  Ireland.  W.  T. 

C.  scruposa,  Pallas. 

Noticed  by  Templeton  as  found  on  the  Dublin  coast,  whence  I had  it 
in  1834  and  subsequently.  W.  T. 

C.  reptans,  Pallas. 

Common  around  the  coast  of  Ireland  on  various  objects,  especially 
Algae  ; sometimes  springing  from  the  Furcellaria  fastigiata  and  JDesma- 
restici  aculeata,  &c.,  as  well  as  from  the  stems  and  broad  leaves  of 
Laminaria  digitata. 

C.  avicularia,  Ellis. 

Parasitic  on  Alcyonidium  gelatinosum , Flustra  foliacea,  and  Algae, 


ASCIDIOIDA. 


475 


dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  Dr.  Drummond  and  W.  T.,  and  timber  taken  up 
at  Kingstown,  Dr.  Ball. 

Genus  Acamarchis. 

A.  neritina,  Lamx. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton.  (Probably  Cellularia  avicularia, 
W.  T.) 

A.  plumosa  f 

Dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  1834.  G.  C.  H.  and  W.  T.  (two  speci- 
mens). Dredged  at  Bangor,  1838,  Dr.  Drummond  (one  specimen). 

Genus  Eschara. 

F.  foliacea,  Lam. 

Obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Todhunter,  off  Cape  Clear,  winter  of  1848. 

Genus  Retepora. 

R.  Beaniana , King. 

Cape  Clear.  Prof.  Allman. 

Genus  Farcimia. 

F.  sulicornia,  Johnston. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  and  Dublin  Bays,  W.  T. 

F.  sinuosa,  Hassall. 

Dredged  in  Belfast  and  Dublin  Bays,  W.  T. 

Genus  Alcyonidium. 

A.  gelatinosum,  Lamour. 

Of  occasional  occurrence  on  the  North-East  coast,  W.  T, 

Dredged  at  Bangor,  Belfast  Bay,  in  1835  and  subsequently,  W.  T. 
Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

A.  hirsutum , Johnst. 

Not  uncommon  on  the  northern  shores,  IV.  T. 

Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  Dr.  Drummond  and  W.  T.  I have  some- 
times found  it  in  profusion  investing  various  species  of  Algse,  particularly 
the  Floridea,  of  which  the  Delesseria  alata  would  seem  to  be  the  favour- 
ite : appears  occasionally  to  have  an  independent  existence,  no  portion  of 
a plant  being  visible  at  the  base ; whether  it  may  have  absorbed  the  lad- 
der by  which  it  aspired  to  its  full  height,  I do  not  know.  Clifden,  Con- 
nemara, W.  T.  Glendore,  Co.  Cork,  Prof.  Allman.  Youghal,  Miss  Ball. 

A.  f parasiticum,  Johnst. 

Attached  to  Sertularice,  &c.,  on  the  northern  and  eastern  shores,  W.  T. 

Dublin  Bay,  1834,  Prof.  Harvey ; common  here,  chiefly  on  Plumularia 
falcata  and  Sertularia  argentea . 

A.  echinatum , Johnst. 

Commonly  incrusting  univalve  shells  around  the  coast. 

March , 1844. — Mr.  James  M‘Adam,  jun.,  who  has  just  returned  from 


476 


ZOOPHYTES. 


Balbriggan  Bay,  brought  me  specimens  of  Fusus  corneus,  Turritella  tere- 
bra , and  Natica  Alder i,  stating  that  out  of  thousands  of  univalve  shells 
examined  by  him  there,  these  three  species  only  were  coated  with  A. 
echinatum.  W.  T. 

Genus  Cycloum. 

C.  Jiispidum , Fabr. 

Ballysodare  Bay,  Co.  Sligo,  Mrs.  Hancock.  Dublin  Bay,  Miss  Ball. 
Sept.,  1839.  Belfast  and  Strangford  Loughs,  W.  T. 

Genus  Sarcochitum. 

S.  polyoum , Hassall. 

North  and  East  of  Ireland,  Dr.  Hassall. 

July  1 5th,  1848. — I found  what  appears  to  be  this  species  in  a limpet 
between  tide-marks  at  Cultra,  and  adherent  to  stones  there  also.  Hassall 
makes  a similar  remark,  Johnst.  B.  Zoop.,  2nd  ed.  p.  367. 

Genus  Cristatella. 

C.  mucedo,  Cuv. 

Fresh  waters  in  East  and,  South  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Alcyonella. 

A.  stagnorum , Lam. 

Fresh  waters,  East  of  Ireland. 

Genus  Plumatella. 

P.  repens , Lam.,  Johnst. 

In  rejectamenta  on  the  shores  of  Lough  Erne,  I obtained  this  species 
in  Sept.,  1837. 

P.  emarginata,  Allman. 

East  and  South  of  Ireland,  Prof.  Allman. 

P.  fruticosa,  Allman. 

East  and  South  of  Ireland,  Prof.  Allman. 

Genus  Fredericella. 

P.  Sultana,  Allman. 

Bandon,  Dublin,  Prof.  Allman. 

P.  dilatata,  Allman. 

Fresh  waters,  Dublin,  Prof.  Allman. 

Genus  Paludicella. 

P.  articulata,  Gervais. 

Grand  Canal,  Dublin,  Prof.  Allman.  Lough  Erne,  1837,  W.  T. 


FORAMINIFERA. 


Genus  Spirulina. 

S.  Carinatula,  Mont.  (sp.).  Nautilus  Car  in.,  Mont. 

In  shell-sand  from  Bundoxan,  Co.  Donegal,  collected  by  Mrs.  Hancock. 

S.  subarcuatula,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Bundoran,  Mr.  Warren. 

Genus  Triloculina. 

T.  Glabra,  Brown’s  Illus.,  pi.  1,  f.  20,  21. 

In  shell-sand  collected  at  Portmarnock,  and  sent  me  by  Mr.  Warren. 

T.  rotundata,  Brown’s  Illus.,  pi.  1,  f.  14,  15. 

Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

T.  minuta , Brown,  (sp.).  ? 

Magilligan,  1833,  W.  T. 

Genus  Renoidea. 

R.  oblonga,  Brown’s  Illus.,  pi.  1,  f.  16,  17. 

Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Lenticulina. 

L.  calcar,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Miltown  Malbay  (Co.  Clare),  in  sand,  Professor  Harvey. 

L.  Icevigatula,  Mont. 

With  the  last. 

L.  depressula,  Mont.,  (sp.). 

Portmarnock,  Turton  Cat.  5. 

Genus  Noionina. 

N.  umbilicatula,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Portmarnock,  Turton  Cat.  5. 


478 


FORAMINIFERA. 


Genus  Rotalia. 

JR.  beccarii,  Mont.  (sp.). 

In  sand  from  Portmarnock.  Portmarnock,  Turton  Cat.  5.  East.  Port- 
marnock, Miss  M.  Ball. 

JR.  beccarii-perversus,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Portmarnock,  Turton.  Portmarnock,  Miss  M.  Ball. 

JR.  injiata , Mont.  (sp.). 

Portmarnock,  Turton. 

JR.  crassula , Mont.  (sp.). 

Brown  Illust.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Lobatula. 

L.  vulgaris , Mont.  (sp.). 

Portmarnock,  Turton.  Portmarnock,  Miss  M.  Ball.  Miltown  Malbay, 
Prof.  Harvey.  Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Vermiculum. 

V.  intortum,  Mont. 

On  a sponge  from  Strangford,  Templeton’s  MS.  Of  general  occur- 
rence. 

V.  oblongum,  Mont. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton.  Portmarnock,  Turton. 

V.  subrotundum,  Mont. 

Portmarnock,  Turton. 

Genus  Lagenula. 

L.  (Flem.)  striata,  Mont. 

Among  sand  at  the  Whitehouse  Point  [Belfast  Bayl,  October,  1810, 
Temp.  MS. 

L.  globosa,  Mont. 

Among  Conferva  pennata,  Belfast  Bay,  Temp.  MS. 

JL.  Icevis,  Walk. 

Miltown  Malbay,  rare — in  sand.  Professor  W.  H.  Harvey. 

Genus  Nodosaria. 

N.  legumen,  Linn. 

Portmarnock,  Turton. 

N.  recta,  Maton  and  Back,  (sp.)  Mont. 

Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 


FORAMINIFERA. 


479 


Genus  Nautilus. 

N.  pulchella , Temp.  (R.) 

Annals,  N.  H.,  April,  1840,  p.  99.  Bangor,  Co.  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
AT.  dentatus,  Temp.  (R.) 

Annals,  N.  H.,  April,  1840,  p.  99.  Bangor,  Co.  Down,  Mr.  Hyndman. 
Genus  Rotalina. 

It.  communis , D’orb. 

Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock,  1840;  Mr.  Warren,  1844. 

Genus  Miliola. 

M.  ovata,  Crouch. 

Common  on  the  North,  East,  and  South  coasts. 

Genus  Quinqueloculina. 

Q.  semilunaris,  D’orb. 

Bundoran,  Mr.  Warren. 

Var.  Q.  cor  a,  D’orb. 

Portmarnock,  1835,  W.  T. 

Genus  Globulina. 

G.  gibba,  D’orb. 

Bundoran,  Mrs.  Hancock. 

Genus  Arethusa. 

A.  lactea,  Mont.  (sp.). 

Roundstone,  Co.  Galway,  Mr.  Barlee,  by  whom  I have  been  favoured 
with  a specimen  thence. 


AMORPHOZOA. 


Genus  Tethea. 

T.  lyncurium,  Linn.  (sp.). 

Strangford  Lough,  both  on  dead  and  on  living  specimens  of  Modiolus 
vulgaris,  and  on  dead  univalve  shells.  They  were  all  bright  yellowish- 
orange  in  colour  (hence  Pallas’  name  aurantium ) when  recent,  but  be- 
came at  once  discoloured  on  being  put  in  spirits.  The  largest  Tethea  is 
If  inch  high  by  If  inch  in  diameter.  The  numerous  spicula  were  in 
some  individuals  confined  to  the  apices  of  the  tubercles,  and  in  others 
projected  from  all  parts  of  them,  so  as  to  give  to  the  entire  surface  of  the 
animal  when  alive  a conspicuously  hispid  appearance.  One  or  two  spe- 
cimens of  what  seem  to  be  young  Tethea  (half  an  inch  diameter)  on  the 
same  shell  with  the  old,  are  quite  smooth  on  the  surface. 

Genus  Halichondria. 

II.  oculata,  Pall. 

Found  on  the  shore  of  Belfast  Lough,  Mr.  Templeton. 

Belfast  Bay,  Sept.  1837,  Messrs.  Getty  apd  Hyndman.  Dublin  Bay, 
Dr.  Hassall. 

H.  cervlcornis,  Pall. 

Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Templeton,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Dublin,  Professor  Harvey. 
Waterford,  Miss  Ball. 

Birterbuy  Bay,  dredged  by  Dr.  Farran.  Since  which,  Mr.  M‘Calla  ob- 
tained it  of  large  size  and  in  abundance,  adhering  to  shells,  in  eighteen 
fathoms  water. 

II.  hispida,  Mont. 

This  species  was  only  I believe  known  from  Montagu’s  description  of 
specimens  obtained  in  Devonshire  until  Dr.  Scouler,  in  a contribution  to 
Annals  N.  H.  (vol.  xvii.  p.  176),  noticed  it  as  having  been  dredged  from 
deep  water  at  Boundstone  by  Mr.  M‘Calla,  collector  of  objects  of  na- 
tural history.  A few  specimens  were  taken  under  the  circumstances  al- 
ready mentioned  in  June  last  at  Strangford  Lough  : the  largest  is  attach- 
ed to  a valve  of  Cytherea  ovata,  over  which  its  base  spreads,  and  thence 
it  branches  out  on  either  side.  Montagu’s  figure  of  the  species  is  cha- 
racteristic, and  his  description  admirable  as  usual,  and  so  full  as  to 
require  no  addition.  Halichondria  mammillaris,  Dysidea  fragilis,  D.  ? 
papillosa  (as  already  noticed),  Aliona  chelata,  &c.,  were  obtained  on  the 
same  occasion. 


SPONGES. 


481 


II.  ventilabra,  Flem. 

Specimens  of  this  sponge  (with  one  of  which  I have  been  favoured) 
were  obtained  by  Dr.  Ball  from  the  Nymph  Bank,  in  1818. 

II.  simulans,  Johnst. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Hassall.  Connemara,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

H.  cinerea,  Grant. 

East  and  West  of  Ireland,  Clew  Bay,  W.  T. 

H.  fucorum,  (W.  T.)  See  Johnst.  Br.  Sp.,  p.  112  and  113. 

In  Belfast  Bay  I generally  find  this  species,  as  it  is  represented  in  pi. 
ix.  of  Brit.  Sponges,  on  Halidrys  siliquosa.  When  exposed  for  a time  on 
the  beach,  it  assumes  a brilliant  orange  colour.  Killery  Bay,  1840,  W. 
T.  Common  on  Algse  and  Zoophytes  (littoral  and  deep-water),  Down 
and  Antrim.  Not  uncommon  on  marine  plants  and  the  large  corallines 
on  the  North-East  coast,  W.  T. 

H.  panicea , Pall. 

In  addition  to  bringing  Templeton’s  sp.  urens  and  cristata  under 
this,  Johnston  also  brings  his  Alcyonium  tomentosum  and  medullar e (var. 
S.  tomentosa , common  on  Algse  and  Zoophytes,  Down  and  Antrim).  This 
species  invests  Inachus  scorpio,  in  the  North.  Burren,  Co.  Clare, 
W.  T. 

Spongia  palmata,  Templeton.  A var.  H.  panicea , Johnst.  Br.  Sp., 
p.  94. 

This  species  is  most  common,  investing  to  a great  extent  the  stems  of 
Laminaria  digitata , on  the  coasts  of  Down,  Antrim,  and  Dublin. 

II.  cegagropila,  Scouler. 

On  ovum  of  common  dog-fish,  brought  with  Derry  oysters  to  Belfast, 
W.  T.  Connemara,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

H.  incrustans,  Esper.  (sp.). 

Abundant,  adherent  to  rocks  between  tide-marks  on  the  Down  coast. 
Dr.  Johnston  calls  it  an  “ unattractive  species,”  in  which — but  it  is  a mat- 
ter of  mere  taste — I cannot  agree.  Its  reddish  orange  colour  on  the  dark 
rocks  is  to  my  eye  most  lively  and  pleasing,  and  more  particularly  so 
when  other  sponges  are  in  its  immediate  proximity.  At  Ballyholme, 
Belfast  Bay,  within  the  space  of  a very  few  square  feet,  this  species  may  be 
seen  in  small  orange  patches  on  the  rock  ; Hal.  panicea  in  green  masses, 
and  by  throwing  aside  the  hanging  fronds  of  Fucus  nodosus  (covered  by 
their  parasite  Polysiphonia  fastigiata ),  Ptilota  plumosa  densely  clothing 
the  shaded  rock  is  exposed  to  view,  and  on  it  the  Grantia  botryoides  and 
G.foliacea  grow  plentifully,  and  the  G.  ciliata  is  sparingly  seen. 

Although  H.  incrustans  inclines  generally  to  look  directly  down  upon 
the  water,  or  to  grow  on  the  under  surface  of  rocks  (see  Grant,  quoted  in 
Johnst.  B.  S.,  p.  124),  I find  it  also  attached  to  their  perpendicular  sides, 
and  when  so,  the  “ fecal  orifices  ” are  elevated,  but  not  very  much,  above 
the  surface. 

2 I 


482 


AMORPHOZOA. 


I saw  no  other  sponge  attached  to  the  rocks  here. — Springvale,  Down, 
July  16th,  1846. 

II.  saburrata,  Johnst. 

West  of  Ireland,  Mr.  M‘Calla. 

H.  areolata,  Johnst. 

Belfast  Bay,  August,  1840,  Messrs.  Getty  and  Hyndman.  Dublin,  Dr. 
Hassall.  Killery  and  Roundstone,  W.  T. 

II.  seriata,  Grant. 

Ireland’s  Eye,  W.  T.  Tory  Island,  August,  1845,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Invest- 
ing stems  of  Laminaria  digitata , at  Springvale,  Down,  February,  1846, 
and  of  a deep  red  colour  when  fresh,  W.  T. 

II.  sanguinea,  Grant. 

Springvale,  Co.  Down,  W.  T.  Covering  Pecten,  in  Clew  Bay. 

H.  macularis . (See  Dr.  Johnston,  in  Berw.  Club  Proc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  196.) 

This  sponge  incrusts  the  inside  of  an  old  valve  of  Pecten  opercularis 
dredged  in  Strangford  Lough. 

When  dredging  in  Strangford  Lough  on  the  22nd  of  June,  1846,  with 
Mr.  Hyndman,  we  were  singularly  fortunate  in  the  number  of  sponges  ob- 
tained ; there  were  as  many  species  as  all  our  former  dredgings  com- 
bined produced : — the  depth  was  from  fifteen  to  twenty  fathoms,  the  bot- 
tom soft  and  rather  oozy.  Among  them  was  this  new  species. 

H.  hirsuta,  Flem. 

Strangford  Lough,  W.  T. 

H.  suberia,  Mont. 

This  species,  as  represented  by  Dr.  Coldstream,  has  occurred  to  me  in- 
vesting univalve  shells  dredged  in  the  Loughs  of  Strangford  and  Belfast. 
In  the  former  locality  I,  in  1835,  obtained  the  Spongia  ? suberia , which  in 
the  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  vol.  vii.  p.  491,  is  described  and  figured 
by  Dr.  Johnston,  who  considered  it  the  “ perfect  state  of  the  H.  suberica.” 

Sept.  2,7th,  1847. — Dredged  from  20  fathoms,  entrance  Belfast  Bay. 
When  recent,  this  species  is  often  on  the  upper  side  (i.  e.  upper  as  to  the 
motions  of  the  Pagurus  inhabiting  the  Turritella  terebra , on  which  the 
sponge  is  based)  bright  orange,  much  paler  on  the  under  side,  or  that  from 
the  light.  The  shell  on  which  this  sponge  grows  is  almost  invariably 
tenanted  by  a Pagurus  of  some  species  : species  various,  W.  T.  Carling- 
ford,  Mr.  Hyndman. 

II.  mammillaris,  Mull. 

A specimen  of  this  sponge,  which  I have  not  seen  referred  to  as  identi- 
cal with  any  British  species,  was  dredged  in  Strangford  Lough,  in  1835, 
by  Mr.  Hyndman  and  myself. 

H.  carnosa,  Johnst. 

The  only  locality  for  this  species  given  in  Dr.  Johnston’s  work. is 
Roundstone  Bay,  Connemara.  The  author  omitted  noticing  the  species 
as  from  Strangford  Lough,  where  I dredged  it  in  July,  1838,  and  sent  it 


SPONGES. 


483 


to  him  with  many  other  sponges,  on  being  informed  of  his  contemplated 
work  upon  the  subject:  in  the  same  year  this  species  was  procured  in 
Belfast  Bay  by  Dr.  Drummond.  In  July,  1840,  it  was  dredged  by  our 
party  at  Killery  Bay,  Connemara  ; two  specimens  thence  in  my  collection, 
as  well  as  the  first  alluded  to,  are  attached  to  Turritella  terebra.  Several 
procured  in  Strangford  Lough  are  attached  to  Cytlierea  ovata — the  largest 
is  2f  inches  in  height,  and  quite  pyriform. 

In  1843  Mr.  Hyndman  dredged  it  in  Carlingford  Bay,  attached  to  Tur- 
ritella terebra . 

Genus  Cliona. 

C.  celata , Grant. 

In  perforations  of  the  shell  of  the  oyster  ( Ostrea  edulis ) taken  in  Belfast 
Bay  and  elsewhere  on  the  North-East  coast,  W.  T. 

January,  1848. — In  Belfast  market  to-day  I observed  a very  fine  Car- 
rickfergus  oyster,  6 inches  in  diameter,  covered  with  this  species,  both  in 
a mass  outside  its  shell,  and  filling  up  the  drilled  apertures  through  the 
layers  of  the  shell.  It  thus  at  once  presented  var.  A and  var.  B of  John- 
ston on  Sponges,  p.  125.  I found  that  shells  so  invested  are  called  in  the 
market  “rotten  oysters,”  and  to  prove  the  correctness  of  this  term,  a 
vender  of  the  oysters  showed  me  how  the  shell  broke  between  his  fingers. 
He  remarked  that  the  oyster  itself  was  nevertheless  quite  good,  as  the 
inner  portion  of  the  shell  next  it  always  remained  sound.  (This  is  quite 
in  accordance  with  Dr.  Grant’s  observations.)  Among  oysters  from 
Strangford  Lough  “ rotten  ones  ” also  are  found. 

March  ls£,  1848. — I found  Cliona  filling  the  perforations  in  two  im- 
mense Carrickfergus  oysters  (2  lbs.  and  If  lb  weight) ; it  rises  above  the 
surface  of  the  shell  outside,  in  little  eminences.  One  shell  that  it  appears 
through  (except  on  inner  surface,  which  is  entire,  a yellowish^brown 
marking,  however,  there  denoting  the  presence  of  the  Cliona ) is  If  inch  in 
thickness. 

Genus  Spongilla. 

S.  Jluviatilis,  Pall. 

North  of  Ireland,  Mr.  Templeton.  Hiver  Inver,  Larne.  Branched  form, 
shores  Lough  Erne,  1837,  W.  T. 

March  24 th,  1837. — I received  from  James  Grimshaw,  jun.,  Esq.,  speci- 
mens of  a Spongilla  “which  grew  about  pipes  in  one  of  the  ponds  at 
Whitehouse.”  They  assume  very  different  forms,  several  being  flattish, 
and  which  probably  had  spread  over  the  pipes,  and  one  large  mass  a foot 
long,  and  half  as  much  broad,  is  much  branched ; but  this  is  chiefly  an 
incrustation  on  what  appears  like  the  remains  of  an  old  heather  besom, 
but  when  there  is  nothing  woody  for  a foundation  it  branches  out  con- 
siderably. This  latter  form  seems  identical  with  the  Ephydatia  canalium, 
as  figured  by  Fleming  (Phil,  of  Zool.,  t.  v.  f.  4).  ^ This  figure  is  stated  to 
have  been  taken  “ from  an  Irish  specimen  ” (vol.  ii.  p.  614),  but  when  pro- 
cured, or  by  whom  obtained,  is  not  mentioned.  Of  the  two  British  species 
of  Spongilla,  this  agrees  with  S.  Jluviatilis  {Halicondria  Jluv.,  Flem.  Brit. 
An.,  p.  524), the  S.  lacustris  being  of  a “ hard”  nature. 

S.  lacustris,  Flem., 

Was  noticed  by  Dr.  Allman  before  Dublin  Nat.  Hist.  Society,  in  1848’ 
as  found  by  him  in  the  lower  lake  of  Killarney,  and  in  some  of  the  County 
Wicklow  lakes. 


2 i 2 


484 


AMORPHOZOA. 


Genus  Spongia. 

a S',  pulchella , Sow. 

Carrickfergus,  Mr.  Templeton. 

S.  limbata,  Mont. 

Specimens  from  Bangor,  1835,  Dalkey  Sound,  1836,  Dr.  Ball,  Spring- 
vale,  Down,  have  been  so  named  by  Dr.  Johnston.  Strangford,  W.  T. 
Grows  about  roots  of  tangle,  as  well  as  stones,  &c. 

Genus  Grantia. 

G.  compressa , Fabr. 

On  the  stems  of  various  species  of  Algae,  Corallina  officinalis , and 
Zoophytes,  on  Antrim  and  Down  coasts,  and  generally  distributed. 

G.  lacunosa , Bean. 

Strangford  Lough,  near  Portaferry,  July,  1838,  W.  T. 

Dredged  from  a depth  of  8 to  10  fathoms  at  Donaghadee,  May,  1843, 
Dr.  Drummond. 

G.  ciliata,  Fabr. 

This  very  beautiful  species  I have  commonly  found  on  marine  plants 
on  the  North-East  coast,  and  occasionally  of  large  size.  Specimens 
attached  to  a small  Mytilus  from  Belfast  Bay,  December,  1844.  On  various 
Algae  and  Zoophytes,  Down  and  Antrim  coasts,  Killery  Bay,  1840,  W.  T. 
Two  small  specimens  inch  in  height)  of  this  sponge  were  found 
attached  to  the  carapace  of  a living  spider  crab  (Stenorhyncus  phalangium) 
dredged  in  Belfast  Bay.  This  species  is  generally  distributed  on  the 
Irish  coasts. 

G.  botryoides , Ellis  and  Solander. 

On  various  Algae  and  Zoophytes  on  Down  and  Antrim  coasts  ; Strang- 
ford Lough,  W.  T.  See  remark  on  this,  G.  compressa , and  G.  ciliata , 
under  Hal.  incrustans;  but  they  are  found  in  rather  deep  water,  as  well  as 
between  tide-marks.  Killery  Bay,  1840,  W.  T. 

G.Jistulosa,  Johnst. 

Portaferry,  W.  T. 

G.  nivea,  Grant. 

West  of  Ireland,  Mr.' M‘Calla, 

G.  coriacea,  Mont., 

Was  found  on  an  Anomia  attached  to  an  oyster  dredged  at  Killough, 
Downshire,  March,  1835,  W.  T. 

Genus  Dysidea. 

D.fragilis,  Mont., 

Belfast  Bay,  Mr.  Templeton.  On  tangle-root,  Bangor,  1835,  W.  T. 
Dredged  in  Belfast  Bay,  August,  1840,  Mr.  Hyndman.  Strangford 
Lough,  from  20  fathoms,  June,  1846,  G.  C.  H.  and  W.  T. 


APPENDIX. 


I.  SYNONYMS  OF  MOLLUSCA. 


In  consequence  of  the  great  change  that  has  taken  place  in  the  no- 
menclature of  this  class,  the  names  used  by  Mr.  Thompson  are,  in  many 
cases,  different  from  those  of  Forbes  and  Hanley,  the  latest  authorities  on 
the  subject.  It  has  therefore  been  considered  desirable  to  enumerate  all 
such  species,  giving  in  one  column  the  name  employed  by  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, and  opposite  to  it  in  another  column,  the  corresponding  term  of 
Forbes  and  Hanley. 


Thompson. 

Sepia  rupellaria 
Loligo  sagittata 
L.  subulata 
L.  Eblanse 
Eledone  octopodia 
Rossia  Jacobii 
Spirula  Australis 
Peracle  Flemingii 


CEPHALOPODA. 

Forbes  and  Hanley. 

Sepia  bisserialis 
Ommastrephes  sagittatus 
Loligo  media 
Ommastrephes  Eblanse 
Elodone  cirrhosus 
Rossia  macrosoma 
Spirula  Peronii 
Spirialis  Flemingii 


NUDIBRAN  CLIIATA. 


Doris  obvelata 
Polycera  typica 
P.  citrina 
P.  cristata 

Euplocamus  claviger 
Tritonia  lactea 
Calliopsea  bifida 
Eolis  pallida 
E.  violacea 
Alderia  amphibia 


Doris  Johnstoni 
Polycera  quadrilineata 
P.  Lessonii 
Ancula  cristata 
Triopa  claviger 
Dendronotus  arborescen; 
Hermsea  bifida 
Eolis  picta 
E.  tricolor 
Alderia  modesta. 


TECTIBRAN  CLIIATA. 

Bulla  lignaria  Scaphander  lignarius 

B.  Akera  Akera  bullata 

B.  cylindracea  Cylichna  cylindracea 


486 


APPENDIX. 


Thompson. 

Forbes  and  Hanley. 

B.  truncata 

Cylichna  truncata 

B.  obtusa 

C.  obtusa 

B.  mammillata 

C.  mammillata 

B.  hyalina 

Amphisphyra  hyalina 

B.  pectinata 

Philine  scabra 

Bullsea  aperta 

P.  aperta 

B.  pruinosa 

P.  pruinosa 

PULMONIFERA. 

Arion  ater 

Arion  empiricorum 

Limax  maximus 

Limax  cinereus 

L.  arboreus 

L.  arborum 

L.  carinatus 

L.  Sowerbyi 

Helix  alliaria 

Zonites  alliarius 

H.  cell  aria 

Z.  cellarius 

H.  pura 

Z.  purus 

H.  radiatula 

Z.  radiatulus 

H.  lucida 

Z.  nitidus 

H.  excavata 

Z.  excavatus 

Bulimus  lubricus 

Zua  lubrica 

Pupa  marginata 

Pupa  muscorum 

Vertigo  edentula 

P.  edentula 

V.  pygmsea 

P.  pygmsea 

V.  substriata 

P.  substriata 

V.  palustris 

P.  antivertigo 

V.  pusilla 

P.  pusilla 

V.  angustior 

P.  Venetzii 

Balsea  perversa 

B.  fragilis 

Ancylus  lacustris 

Ancylus  oblongus 

Planorbis  imbricatus 

Planorbis  nautilus 

P.  umbilicatus 

P.  marginatus 

PECTINIBRANCHIATA. 


Chemnitzia  Jeffreysii 

Chemnitzia  scalaris 

C.  unica 

Aclis  unica 

C.  nitidissima 

A.  nitidissima 

Turritella  terebra 

Turritella  communis 

Brochus  striatus 

Caecum  Trachea 

B.  lsevis 

C.  glabrum 

Paludina  tentaculata 

Bithinia  tentaculata 

Lacuna  quadrifasciata 

Lacuna  vincta 

Rissoa  Harveyi 

Odostomia  excavata 

R.  semicostata 

Rissoa  striata 

R.  interrupta 

R.  parva 

R.  unifasciata 

R. rubra 

R.  Balliae 

Chemnitzia  indistincta 

R.  tristriata 

R.  semistriata 

R.  Warreni 

Odostomia  Warreni 

R.  albella 

Jeffreysia  diaphana 

Odostomia  crassa 

Odostomia  bulimoides 

Skenea  depressa 

Skenea  planorbis 

S.  serpuloides 

S.  divisa 

APPENDIX. 


487 


Thompson. 

Trochus  littoralis 
T.  papillosus 
Monodonta  crassa 
Ianthina  nitens 
Scalaria  clathrus 
Triphoris  adversus 
Nassa  macula 
N.  varicosa 
Buccinum  ovum 
Fusus  corneus 
F.  muricatus 
F.  Barvicensis 
F.  Bamfius 
Pleurotoma  Boothii 
P.  turricula 
P.  costata 
P.  septangularis 
P.  attenuata 
P.  nebula 
P.  linearis 
P.  purpurea 
P.  gracilis 
P.  Trevellyana 
P.  Farrani 
P.  brachy stoma 
P.  Ulideana 
P.  laevigata 
P.  teres 

Triton  erinaceus 
Erato  laevis 
Sigaretus  perspicuus 
S.  tentaculatus 
Capulus  Ungaricus 
Fissurella  Graeca 
Emarginula  fissura 
Lottia  virginea 
L.  testudinalis 
L.  fulva 


Forbes  and  Hanley. 
Trochus  cinerarius 
T.  granulatus 
T.  lineatus 
Ianthina  pallida 
Scalaria  communis 
Cerithium  adversum 
Nassa  incrassata 
N.  pygmaea 
Buccinum  Dalei 
Fusus  Islandicus 
F.  muricatus 
Trophon  Barvicensis 
T.  clathratus 
Mangelia  Leufroyi 
M.  turricula 
M.  costata 
M.  septangularis 
M.  attenuata 
M.  nebula 
M.  linearis 
M.  purpurea 
M.  gracilis 
M.  Trevellyana 
M.  striolata 
M.  brachystoma 
M.  rufa 
M.  nebula 
M.  teres 
Murex  erinaceus 
Marginella  laevis 
Lamellaria  perspicua 
L.  tentaculata 
Pileopsis  Hungaricus 
Fissurella  reticulata 
Emarginula  reticulata 
Acmaea  virginea 
A.  testudinalis 
Pilidium  fulvum 


CYCLOBRANCHIATA. 

Patella  ancyloides 
Chiton  marginatus 
C.  fuscatus 
C.  laevigatus 

BRACHIOPODA. 


Propilidium  ancyloide 
Chiton  cinereus 
C.  cinereus 
C.  marmoreus 


Terebratula  aurita 
T.  psittacea 
Crania  personata 


Terebratula  Caput — Serpentis 
Hypothyris  psittacea 
Crania  anomala 


488 


APPENDIX. 


LAMELLIBRANCHIATA. 


Thompson. 

Anomia  squamula 
A.  undulata 
A.  punctata 
A.  cylindrica 
Pecten  sinuosus 
P.  glaber 
P.  lsevis 
P.  obsoletus 
Lima  tenera 
Avicula  Atlantica 
Area  fusca 
Nucula  margaritacea 
N.  minuta 
N.  Polii 

Modiola  vulgaris 
M.  Gibbsii 
M.  discrepans 
M.  marmorata 
M.  vestita 
Pinna  ingens 
Alasmodon  margaritiferus 
Cardium  ciliare 
C.  fasciatum 
C.  exiguum 
C.  Loveni 

Donax  complanatus 
Tellina  squalida 
Lucina  radula 
L.  rotundata 
Amphidesma  prismatica 
A.  Boysii 
A.  tenuis 
A.  intermedia 
Cyprina  minima 
Montacuta  purpurea 
Astarte  Danmoniensis 
A.  Scotica 
Cytherea  ovata 
Venus  Pennantii 
V.  sinuosa 
Pullastra  aurea 
P.  vulgaris 
P.  decussata 
P.  virginea 
Petricola  ochroleuca 
Corbula  striata 
Anatina  prsetenuis 
Lutraria  vulgaris 
L.  hians 
L.  compressa 


Forbes  and  Hanley. 
Anomia  ephippium 
A.  patelliformis 
A.  ephippium 
A.  ephippium 
Pecten  Pusio 
P.  Danicus 
P.  tigrinus 
P.  tigrinus 
Lima  hians 
Avicula  Tarentina 
Area  tetragon  a 
Nucula  radiata 
Leda  caudata 
Nucula  decussata 
Mytilus  modiolus 
Modiola  barbata 
Crenella  discors 
C.  marmorata 
Modiola  Ballii 
Pinna  pectinata 
Unio  margaritiferus 
Cardium  aculeatum 
C.  elongatum 
C.  pygmseum 
C.  suecicum 
Donax  politus 
Tellina  incarnata 
Lucina  borealis 
Diplodonta  rotundata 
Syndosmya  prismatica 
S.  alba 
S.  tenuis 

S.  intermedia 
Circe  minima 
Turtonia  minuta 
Astarte  sulcata 
A,  sulcata 
Venus  ovata 

V.  striatula 
Lucinopsis  undata 
Tapes  aurea 

T.  pullastra 
T.  decussata 
T.  virginea 
Diodonta  fragilis 
Corbula  nucleus 
Cochlodesma  preetenue 
Lutraria  elliptica 

L.  oblonga 

Scrobicularia  piperata 


APPENDIX. 


489 


Thompson. 

Solen  vagina 
S.  legumen 
S.  antiquatus 
S.  strigilatus 
Pholas  papyracea 
Teredo  bipalmulata 


Ascidia  rustica 
A.  tubulosa 
A.  grossularia 
Phallusia  intestinalis 
Botryllus  Leachii 


Forbes  and  Hanley. 
Solen  marginatus 
Ceratisolen  legumen 
Solecurtus  coarctatus 
S.  candidus 
Pholadidea  papyracea 
Teredo  palmulata 

TUNICATA. 

Cynthia  rustica 
Molgula  tubulosa 
Cynthia  grossularia 
Ascidia  intestinalis 
Botrylloides  Leachii 


II.  ADDITIONS  TO  THE  FAUNA  OF  IRELAND. 

The  following  additions  to  the  Fauna  of  Ireland  have  been  announced 
since  Mr.  Thompson’s  death  (Feb.  1852).  We  have  not  sought,  as  he 
would  have  done,  to  investigate  the  nature  of  the  claim  put  forward  on 
behalf  of  any  species  to  be  enrolled  in  the  Irish  Fauna,  but  give  them  on 
the  responsibility  of  the  several  gentlemen  whose  names  are  appended. 

Mammalia. 

Vespertitio  mystacinus. 

County  Clare,  Dr.  Kinahan,  Dublin  Natural  History  Review,  vol.  i.  p. 
248. 

Birds. 

Malacorynchus  membranaceus. 

Castlemaine  Bay,  Co.  Kerry,  Wm.  Andrews,  Esq.  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev., 
vol.  i.  p.  25,  76.* 

Puffinus  obscurus. 

Yalentia,  Co.  Kerry,  Watter’s  Birds  of  Ireland. 

Fishes. 

Batistes  capriscus. 

Galway  Bay,  Prof.  Melville.  See  Dr.  Carte,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  i. 

p.  161. 

Polyprion  cernium. 

Dingle  Bay,  W.  Andrews,  Esq.,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  ii.  p.  38. 
Lepidopus  argyreus. 

Dublin  Bay,  Dr.  Ball,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  ii.  p.  45. 

Mollusca. 

JRissoa  fulgida. 

Arran,  Ireland.  Cork  Harbour.  Bantry  Bay.  Forbes  and  Hanley. 

* Dr.  Ball  thinks  that  this  bird  could  not  have  occurred  in  Kerry,  except  as 
one  escaped  from  confinement. — Ed. 


490 


APPENDIX. 


Rissoa  soluta. 

Cork  Harbour,  Jeffreys.  Forbes  and  Hanley. 

Nucula  radiata. 

Lundy  Island,  M‘Andrew.  Forbes  and  Hanley. 

Thracia  villosiuscula. 

Cork  Harbour,  Wright  and  Carroll,  Annals  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  157. 
Chemnitzia  rufescens. 

Cork  Harbour,  Wright  and  Carroll,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  157. 
Cylich7ia  nitidula. 

Cork  Harbour,  Wright  and  Carroll,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  157. 
Cylichna  striyilla. 

Cork  Harbour,  Wright  and  Carroll,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  ix.  p.  157. 
Teredo  megotara. 

ICillery  Bay,  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  x.  p.  77. 
Cytherea  chione. 

Dalkey  Sound,  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  x.  p.  77. 
Anomia  striata . 

Dalkey  Sound,  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  x.  p.  77. 
Corbula  rosea. 

Off  Dublin  Bay,  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  xii.  p.  366. 
Astarte  elliptica. 

Dalkey  Sound,  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  xii.  p.  366. 
Iantliina  pallida. 

Kilkee,  W.  Hopkins,  Esq.,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  ii.  p.  97. 

Succinea  oblonga. 

Finnoe,  Ed.  Waller,  Esq.,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  iii.  p.  19. 

Teredo  malleolus. 

W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  near  Roundstone.* 

Psammobia  costulata. 

W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Birterbuy  Bay.* 

Rissoa  Zetlandica. 

W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Birterbuy  Bay.* 

Amphisphyra  hyalina. 

W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  Birterbuy  Bay.* 


* While  this  sheet  was  passing  through  the  press,  we  were  favoured  with  a 
note  from  W.  W.  Walpole,  Esq.,  giving  the  names  of  these  four  additional  spe- 
cies of  unrecorded  Irish  Mollusca. — Ed. 


APPENDIX. 


491 


Annelida. 

Nereis  tubicola. 

Co.  Galway,  W.  Andrews,  Esq.,  Dublin  N.  H.  Rev.,  vol.  ii.  p.  35. 
Zoophytes. 

Campanularia  parvula. 

North  of  Ireland,  Rev.  Thomas  Hincks,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  xi.  p.  178. 
Campanularia  caliculata. 

County  Cork,  Rev.  Thomas  Hincks,  Ann.  N.  Hist.,  vol.  xi.  p.  178. 


III.  LIST  OF  MR.  THOMPSON’S  PUBLICATIONS. 


L Note  on  Sterna  arctica,  Hirundo  Doug  alii  and  cantiaca , and  Larus  capis- 
tratus  as  Irish. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1833,  I.  p.  33;  XIII.  p.  11. 

2.  On  an  immature  specimen  of  the  Long-tailed  Manis  ( Manis  tetradactyla, 
Linn.)  from  Sierra  Leone. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  II.  p.  28. 

3.  Notice  of  the  Cuckoo  ( Cuculus  canorus,  Linn.). — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond. 
II.  p.  29. 

4.  Catalogue  of  Birds  new  to  the  Irish  Fauna. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  II. 
p.  29. 

5.  On  some  Additions  to  the  British  Fauna. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  III.  p.  77. 

6.  On  some  Yertebrata  new  to  the  Irish  Fauna. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  III.  p.  78. 

7.  On  some  rare  Irish  Birds.— Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  III.  p.  82. 

8.  On  the  Herring  Gull  of  the  North  of  Ireland. — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  III.  p.  83. 

9.  On  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland,  with  a description  of  a new  genus  of 
Fishes  (Echiodon) . — Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  V.  p.  52. 

10.  On  Vertebratse  new  to  Science — to  Britain,  to  Ireland,  &c. — Proc.  Zool. 
Soc.  Lond.  1837,  p.  51. 

11.  On  a new  subgenus  of  Fishes  allied  to  Ophidium. — Tr.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  II. 
p.  207,  fig. 

12.  Observations  on  some  species  of  native  Mammalia,  Birds  and  Fishes,  in- 
cluding additions  to  the  British  Fauna.  List  of  Land  and  Freshwater  Mol- 
lusca  new  to  Ireland. — Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.  1834,  V.  p.  298. 

13.  On  some  remarkable  Crystals  of  Snow. — Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag. 
1834,  V.  p.  318. 

14.  On  the  Teredo  navalis  and  Limnoria  terebrans,  as  at  present  existing  in 
certain  localities  on  the  coasts  of  the  British  Islands. — Edinb.  New  Phil. 
Journ.  XVIII.  p.  121. 

15.  On  Larus  Sabini. — Jard.  and  Selby's  111.  of  Orn.  new  ser.  No.  6,  1839. 

16.  On  the  Irish  Hare  ( Lepus  Hibernicus ).  Dubl.  1838,  4to. — Tr.  Roy.  Irish 
Acad.  XVIII.  2.— Proc.  R.  I.  Acad.  1838,  p.  177.— Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  II. 
p.  70. 

17.  Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland  (Vertebrata) . — Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1840, 
p.  353. 

18.  Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland.  Div.  Invertebrata. — Rep.  Brit.  Assoc. 
1843,  p.  245. 

19.  Supplementary  Report  on  the  Fauna  of  Ireland. — Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1852, 
p.  290. 

20.  On  Irish  Algae.— Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  IX.  p.  147. 

21.  On  the  Natural  History  of  a portion  of  the  South-west  of  Scotland. — Mag. 
Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  II.  p.  18. 


492 


APPENDIX. 


22.  On  the  Red  Band-Fish,  Cepola  rubescens,  Linn. — Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  II. 
p.  214. 

23.  On  the  Identity  of  Hunter’s  Delphinus  bidentatus,  Baussard’s  Hyperoodon 
honfleuriensis , and  Dale’s  Bottle-head  Whale. — Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  II.  p. 
221. 

24.  Zoological  Notes  on  a few  species  (of  Mammalia)  obtained  from  the  South- 
west of  Scotland. — Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  III.  p.  585. 

25.  On  a new  genus  of  Fishes  from  India.  —Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  IV.  p.  184. 

26.  On  the  Pollan  (Coregonus  pollan,  Thomps.)  of  Lough  Neagh. — Mag.  Zool. 
and  Bot.  I.  p.  247. 

27.  On  Hybrids  produced  in  a wild  state  between  the  Black  Grouse  ( Tetrao 
tetrix ) and  Common  Pheasant  ( Phasianus  colchicus ). — Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot. 
I.  p.  450. 

28.  Contributions  to  the  Natural  History  of  Ireland. — Mag.  Zool.  and  Bot.  I.  p. 
459  ; II.  pp.  42,  170,  427.— Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  I.  pp.  12,  181. 

29.  Contributions  towards  a knowledge  of  the  Crenilabri  (Cuv.)  of  Ireland,  in- 
cluding descriptions  of  species  apparently  new  to  science. — Mag.  Zool.  and 
Bot.  I.  p.  450. 

30.  On  the  Snowy  Owl  ( Sarnia  nyctea,  Dum.).— Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  I.  p.  241. 

31.  On  Fishes  new  to  Ireland. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  I.  p.  348;  II.  pp.  14,  270. 

32.  On  Fishes  ; containing  a Notice  of  one  Species  new  to  the  British  and  of 
others  to  the  Irish  Fauna. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  II.  p.  266. 

33.  On  the  Breeding  of  the  Woodcock  ( Scolopax  rusticola , Linn.)  in  Ireland. — 
Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  II.  p.  337. 

34.  Observations  on  several  British  Fishes,  including  the  description  of  'a  new 
species. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  II.  p.  402,  fig. 

35.  On  an  apparently  un described  species  of  Lepidogaster,  and  on  the  Gobius 
minutus,  Miill.,  and  Cyclopterus  minutus,  Pall.  ? considered  as  the  young  of 
C.  lumpus , Linn. — Belf.  Nat.  H.  Soc.  Dec.  1838. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  III. 
p.  34. 

36.  Note  on  the  Migration  of  the  Snowy  Owl  ( Surnia  nyctea , Dum.). — Ann.  of 
Nat.  Hist.  III.  p.  107. 

37.  Note  on  the  Effects  of  the  Hurricane  of  Jan.  7,  1839,  in  Ireland,  on  some 
Birds,  Fishes,  &c. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  III.  p.  182. 

38.  Notes  on  Irish  Birds. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  IV.  p.  284;  V.  p.  364. 

39.  Note  on  the  Occurrence  at  various  times  of  the  Bottle-nosed  Whale  ( Hype- 
roodon butzkopf,  Lacep.)  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  on  its  nearly  simultane- 
ous Appearance  on  different  parts  of  the  British  Coast  in  the  autumn  of  1839. 
— Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  IV.  p.  375. 

40.  Description  of  Limneus  involutus,  Harv.;  with  an  Account  of  the  Anatomy 
of  the  Animal,  by  J.  Goodsir. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  V.  p.  22. 

41.  On  a minute  Alga  which  colours  Ballydrain  Lake. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  V. 
p.  75. 

42.  Contributions  towards  a Knowledge  of  the  Mollusca  nudibranchia  and  Mol- 
lusca  tunicata  of  Ireland,  with  descriptions  of  some  apparently  new  species  of 
Invertebrata. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  V.  p.  84,  fig. 

43.  Note  on  Argulus  foliaceus,  Jur. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  V.  p.  221. 

44.  On  a Torpedo  taken  on  the  Irish  Coast— Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  V.  p.  292. 

45.  Catalogue  of  the  Land  and  Freshwater  Mollusca  of  Ireland. — Ann.  and 
Mag.  N.  Hist.  VI.  pp.  16,  109,  194. 

46.  On  Eels  killed  by  the  late  Frost,  Feb.  1841. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  VI.  p.  75, 

47.  Notes  on  British  Char  ( Salmo  umbla,  Linn.). — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  VI. 
p.  439. 

48.  On  the  species  of  Stickleback  ( Gasterosteus , Linn.)  found  in  Ireland. — Ann, 
and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  VII.  p.  95. 

49.  Additions  to  the  Fauna  of  Ireland,  Vertebrata  and  Invertebrata. — Ann.  of 
Nat.  Hist.  V.  pp.  6,  245—  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  VII.  p.  477  ; XIII.  p. 
430 ; XV.  p.  308 ; XVI.  p.357  ; XVIII.  pp.  310,  383 ; XX.  pp.  169,  237  ; 
Ser.  2,  I.  p.  62 ; VII.  p.  477.— Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.  1845. 


APPENDIX. 


493 


50.  Notice  of  migratory  Birds  which  alighted  on  or  were  seen  from  H.  M.  S. 
Beacon,  Capt.  Graves,  on  the  passage  from  Malta  to  the  Morea  at  the  end  of 
April,  1841. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  VIII.  p.  125. 

51.  Cyclostoma  elegans,  Lam.,  an  Irish  Shell. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  VIII. 

p.  228. 

52.  The  Birds  of  Ireland  (continued).— Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  VIII.  pp.  273, 
353,  406,  486;  IX.  pp.  141,  221,  373;  X.  pp.  50,  171 ; XI.  p.  283  ; XII. 
pp.  31,  254. 

53.  Note  on  Puffinus  major,  Fab.  (Greater  Shearwater). — Ann.  and  Mag.  N. 
Hist.  IX.  p.  433. 

54.  Note  on  Clouds  of  Diptera. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  X.  p.  8. 

55.  Results  of  deep  dredging  off  the  Mull  of  Galloway,  by  Capt.  - Beechey , R.N., 
drawn  up  by  W.  Thompson,  Esq. — Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1842,  Sect.  p.  72. — Ann. 
and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  X.  p.  21. 

56.  The  Crustacea  of  Ireland.  Order  Decapoda. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  X. 
p.  274;  XI.  p.  102. 

57.  Note  of  Pagurus  Prideauxii. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  XI.  p.  238. 

58.  Note  on  Griffithsia  simplicifilum. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  XII.  p.  296. 

59.  Notice  of  the  Blind  Fish,  Cray  Fish,  and  Insects  from  the  Mammoth  Cave, 
Kentucky. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist:  XIII.  p.  111. 

60.  Vessel  pierced  by  Weapon  of  Sword-Fish. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  XIII.  p. 
235. 

61.  On  Ova  believed  to  be  those  of  the  large  Spotted  Dog-fish,  Scyllium  catulus, 
Linn. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  XIV.  p.  23,  fig. 

62.  Reference  to  Fossil  Infusoria  of  Down. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist.  XVI.  p.  213. 

63.  Note  on  the  Alcedo  alcyon , Linn.,  obtained  in  Ireland. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N. 
Hist.  XVI.  p.  430  ; XVII.  p.  69. 

64.  Notice  of  an  American  Bittern,  Botaurus  lentiginosus , Mont.,  obtained  in 
Ireland. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  XVII.  p.  91. 

65.  Notice  of  a Bottle-nosed  Whale,  Hyperoodon  butzkopf,  Lacep.,  obtained  in 
Belfast  Bay,  Oct.  1845. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  XVII.  p.  150. 

66.  Notice  of  a Surf  Scoter,  Oidemia  perspicillata,  Linn,  (sp.),  obtained  on 
the  coast  of  Ireland.— Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  XVIII.  p.  368. 

67.  Periods  of  Flowering  of  Plants  in  the  Spring  of  1846. — Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist. 
XIX.  p.  223. 

68.  On  the  Teredo  norvegica,  &c. — Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1847. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N. 
Hist.  XX.  p.  157. 

69.  On  the  Occurrence  of  the  Larus  Bonapartii,  Rich,  and  Sw.,  for  the  first 
time  in  Europe. — Ann.  and  Mag.  N.  Hist.  ser.  2,  I.  p.  192. 

70.  Note  on  Golden,  Sea,  and  Bald  Eagles. — Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  2,  II.  p.  164. 

71.  Coloration  of  Water  of  Serpentine,  London. — Botanical  Gazette,  Nov.  1850. 

72.  Memoir  on  the  Metamorphosis  and  Natural  History  of  the  Pinnotheres , or 
Pea  Crabs. — Entom.  Mag.  p.  85. 

73.  The  Natural  History  of  Ireland:  Birds.  Lond.  1849-51,  3 vols.  8vo. 

Thompson  (William)  and  Patterson  (Robert). 

1.  On  some  Snow  Crystals  observed  on  the  14th  of  January,  1838. — Mag.  Nat. 
Hist.  ser.  2,  III.  p.  107. 


Note. — The  preceding  list  is  a copy  of  that  which  appeared  in  the  “ Bibliogra- 
phia  Zoologiee  et  Geologise.”  Ray  Society,  London,  1854.  In  it  the  several 
papers  which  were  in  continuation  of  the  same  subject  have  very  judiciously 
been  placed  together.  In  Mr.  Thompson’s  original  list — a copy  of  which  was 
sent  to  the  Editors  of  the  “ Bibliographia  ” — each  paper  was  recorded  according 
to  the  date  of  publication. — Ed. 


494 


APPENDIX. 


IV.  LIST  OF  SPECIES  NAMED  AFTER  THE  LATE 
WM.  THOMPSON,  ESQ. 

Aeipenser  Thompsoni,  Ball,  Proc.  R.  I.  Academy,  n.  25,  p.  21. 

JBulimus  Thompsoni*  Pfeiffer,  Proc.  Zool.  Society. 

Lepeoptheirus  Thompsoni,  Baird,  Hist.  Brit.  Entomostraca,  p.  278. 
Thaumantias  Thompsoni,  Forbes,  Annals  Nat.  Hist.  vol.  vii.  p.  84. 
Meloseira  Thompsoni,  Harvey,  Manual  Brit.  Algae,  p.  195,  1st  edit. 
This  is  the  Lyngbya  Thompsoni  of  Hassall. 

Spirillum  Thompsoni,  Hassall,  Brit.  Fresh- water  Algae,  p.  278,  1st  edit. 
This  is  the  Andbaina  spiralis  of  W.  T. 

Dolichospermum  Thompsoni,  Ralfs,  Annals  Nat. . Hist.'  vol.  v.  p.  336. 
This  is  Harvey’s  Andbaina  Jlos-aqucs. 

Tterinea  Thompsoni,  Portlock,  Geol.  Survey  of  Londonderry,  p.  431. 
Hippolijte  Thompsoni,  Bell,  Hist.  Brit.  Crustacea,  p.  290. 

Pagurus  Thompsoni,  Bell,  — — p.  373. 

There  may  possibly  be  other  species,  named  in  like  manner,  but  of 
which  we  are  not  at  present  informed. — Ed. 


V.  FISHES  OF  LOUGH  NEAGH  AND  LAKE  GENEVA,  f 

In  the  department  of  fishes,  a comparison  between  the  two  lakes  is 
very  interesting,  not  only  as  illustrative  of  geographical  distribution,  but 
of  the  comparative  value  of  their  finny  inhabitants.  The  number  of  spe- 
cies found  in  each  lake  may  be  set  down  as  the  same,  or  twenty-one  in 
each.  Of  this  number  eight  are  common  to  both  localities,  namely, 
Perea  Jluviatilis, 

Gobio  — 

Leuciscus  Erythrophthalmus. 

Cobitis  barbatula. 


* With  respect  to  this  species,  we  find  the  following  memorandum  in  Mr. 
Thompson’s  hand-writing : “ This  is  a South  American  species,  brought  home 
by  Gordon  A.  Thompson,  Esq.,  to  Belfast  Museum,  and  which  I placed  in  the 
hands  of  M.  Pfeiffer,  jun.,  for  description.  Hence  it  was  named  after  me;  but 
as  I was  not  particularized,  I wished  it  to  be  understood  as  called  after  the  gen- 
tleman named ; and  wrote  to  the  describer  to  that  effect.” 

•f  [It  seems  to  have-  been  Mr.  Thompson’s  intention  to  have  investigated  the 
Natural  History  of  Lough  Neagh  and  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  both  positively  and 
comparatively;  but  that  part  of  his  MSS.  which  treats  of  the  fishes,  is  the  only 
portion  which  has  been  left  in  a state  sufficiently  far  advanced  to  warrant  pub- 
lication.— Ed.] 


APPENDIX. 


495 


Esox  Lucius. 

Salmo  Trutta. 

— Umbla . 

Anguilla  acutirostris. 

Those  found  in  Lough  Neagh,  and  not  in  Lake  Geneva,  are, 
Gasterosteus  aculeatus. 

— pungitius. 

Abramis  Brama. 

Salmo  Salar. 

— Eriox. 

— Fario. 

— ■ ferox. 

Coregonus  pollan. 

Anguilla  latirostris. 

— mediorostris. 

Petromyzon  marinus. 

— Jluviatilis. 

— Planeri. 

Ammoccetes  branchialis. 

Those  obtained  in  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  and  not  in  Lough  Neagh,  are, 
Coitus  gobio. 

Cyprinus  carpio. 

— ■ tinea. 


— alburnus. 

— jaculus. 

— bipunctatus. 

— phoxinus. 

Coregonus  thymallus. 

— fera. 

— liiemalis. 

Lota  vulgaris. 

Here  we  find  the  general  result  that  might  be  anticipated  from  the  geo- 
graphical position  of  the  two  lakes,  the  more  northern  being  the  richer  in 
species  of  the  genus  Salmo ; the  more  southern  in  species  of  the  Cyprinidce ; 
for  it  is  well  known  that  in  continental  Europe  the  Salmonidce  increase 
in  number  northward,  and  the  Cyprinidce  southward. 

The  value  of  the  fishes  of  the  northern  lake  is  vastly  greater  than  that 
of  the  southern.  The  most  striking  difference  in  connexion  with  the 
species  which  are  common  to  the  two  lakes  is,  that  eels,  which  are  rare  at 
Geneva,  are  abundant  at  Lough  Neagh.  There  are  four  fisheries  at  which 
they  are  taken  in  the  autumn,  on  descending  from  the  lake  to  the  sea. 
The  greatest  of  these  fisheries  is  at  Toome,  where  the  waters  of  the  lake 
are  discharged  into  the  river  Bann.  Here  from  50  to  60  tons  weight  of 
eels  are  annually  taken  in  the  season.  So  many  as  70,000  fish,  varying 
from  ^ lb.  to  5 lbs.  in  weight,  have  been  caught  in  one  night.  I have 
myself  seen  10,000  taken.  They  are  sold  at  the  fishery  at  2 d.  per  lb. ; 
but  the  greater  portion  of  these  is  sent  alive,  in  well-boats,  to  London, 
where  they  produce  from  10^.  to  Is.  per  lb.  The  only  species  of  fish  at 
Geneva,  of  which  we  have  regular  returns  of  the  number  captured,  is  the 
Salmo  Trutta,  and  I regret  that,  owing  to  its  being  captured  at  L.  Neagh 


496 


APPENDIX. 


along  with  other  species,  returns  of  it  cannot  specially  be  given,  for  the 
sake  of  comparison.  But  as  the  S.  Trutta  is,  with  the  exception  of  the 
char,  the  only  Salmo  inhabiting  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  we  may  compare 
the  trout  of  L.  Neagh  generally,  exclusive  of  the  salmon,  with  it. 

By  so  doing  we  learn  that  the  quantity  obtained  in  the  Irish  lake  is 
vastly  greater  than  that  of  which  we  have  returns  in  the  Swiss  one.  "We 
have  no  indication  of  the  quantity  taken  throughout  the  lake.  At  a 
small  bay,  as  it  is  called,  of  L.  Neagh,  1 \ ton  weight  of  trout  has  been 
brought  ashore  by  four  boats  in  one  day.* 

Of  the  two  species  of  Coregonus  inhabiting  the  Lake  of  Geneva  [C. 
hiemolis,  and  C.  fera),  we  have  no  indication  of  the  quantity  taken  of  the 
former ; immense  numbers  of  the  C.  fera  are  said  to  be  captured  during 
the  three  summer  months  at  various  parts  of  the  lake  ; they  would  ap- 
pear to  be  taken  only  in  trammel  or  set  nets. 

These  will  not  take  perhaps  more  than  ^ of  what  the  draught-net  will 
take  ; the  latter  is  chiefly  used  in  the  fishery  of  the  Coregonus  pollan  of  L. 
Neagh.  There  are  no  positive  returns  of  the  quantity  of  Coregoni  taken 
in  either  lake,  but  from  the  manner  in  which  C.  fera  is  mentioned,  and 
the  circumstance  of  the  trammel-net  being  used,  its  numbers  are,  pro- 
bably, not  at  all  approximate  to  those  of  the  L.  Neagh  species,  which  has 
occasionally  been  caught  in  quantities  with  which  the  herring  alone  will 
bear  comparison.  Often  10,  and  occasionally  12,  one-horse  carts  filled 
with  these  fish  (about  6000  fish  to  each  cart)  are  brought  from  the  lake 
to  Belfast  in  one  morning.  As  the  Pollan  is  conveyed  for  sale  to  all  the 
districts  around  the  lake,  from  20  to  30  cart-loads,  or  from  120,000  to 
130,000  fish  on  the  whole,  may  be  said  to  be  not  uncommonly  taken  in 
the  course  of  a fine  autumnal  evening  or  night. 

The  salmon  I leave  to  the  last,  as  but  few  are  now  taken  in  the  lake  it- 
self, owing  to  the  obstructions  opposed  to  them  in  the  river  Bann,  on  their 
ascent  from  the  sea.  The  numbers  captured  at  the  chief  fishery,  called  the 
salmon-leap,  at  Coleraine,  will  indicate  with  what  abundance  they  would 
overspread  L.  Neagh,  were  justice  done  to  them.  In  the  season  of  1842, 
i.e.  from  February  to  the  12th  of  August,  13,590  salmon  were  taken  here. 
In  1843,  21,660— and  in  1844,  15,01  Lf 


* This  weight  in  lbs.  is  not  very  much  less  than  that  taken  of  trout  during  the 
year  1802  at  Geneva,  both  when  descending  the  Rhine,  and  when  the  species 
was  entering  the  lake.  The  number  taken  at  Geneva  in  1802  was  4055  lbs., 
and  during  the  six  subsequent  years  the  average  taken  may,  in  round  numbers, 
be  said  to  be  about  double  that  taken  at  L.  Neagh  in  this  one  instance.  See 
Jurine  on  L.  Geneva,  p.  177. 
f See  Fishery  Report,  p.  34. 


INDEX 


Abdominales  . 

Abramis  Brama  .... 
Buggenhagii  . 

Acalepha  ....  446, 
Acamarchis  neritina  . 

plumosa  ? . 

Acanthopterygii  . 69,  233, 

Acanthorrhini  .... 
Achseus  Cranchii 
Achatina  acicula  .... 

oetona  . . . . 

Acipenser  Sturio  . . . 245, 

latirostris  . . 245, 

Thompsonii  . 

Huso  . . . . 

Acme  fusca  .... 
Actaeon  viridis  .... 
Actinia  maculata 
Actinia  mesembryanthemum 
margaritifera  . 

viduata  .... 
coccinea  .... 
bellis  .... 
gemmacea 

dianthus  .... 
Adamsia  maculata 
Adeorbis  subcarinatus  . 

Adna  Anglica  .... 
iEga  bicarinata  .... 

tridens  .... 
jEgina  longispina 
iEgirus  punctilucens  . 

iEquorea  radiata 

Agalma  Gettiana  .... 
Alasmodon  margaritiferus  . 
Alauna  rostrata  .... 
Alcinoe  Smithii  . . 

Hibernica 

Alcyonella  stagnorum  . 
Alcyonidium  gelatinosum 
hirsutum  . 

( ?)  parasiticum 
echinatum 
Alcyonium  digitatum  . 

2 K 


PAGE 


Alcyonium  glomeratum 

461 

Alderia  amphibia 

278 

Alecto  granulata  . 

468 

major 

468 

dilatans 

468 

Alosa  Finta 

177 

communis  . . 

177 

Ammocaetes  branchialis 

266, 

267 

Ammodytes  Tobianus  . 235, 

236, 

238 

Lancea  235— 

-237, 

239 

Amoroucium  proliferum 

362 

albicans  . 

362 

Amorphozoa  . • . 

480 

Amphidesma  prismatica 

346 

Boysii 

346* 

347 

tenuis 

346 

intermedia 

346 

Amphidotus  roseus 

442 

Amphioxus  lanceolatus 

268 

Amphipoda  . . . . 

395 

Amphithoe  fucicola 

396 

rubricata  . 

396 

obtusata 

396 

Anarrhicas  Lupus 

111 

Anatifa  dentata  . 

414 

striata 

414* 

415 

laevis 

414 

vitrea 

414* 

415 

sulcata  . 

414 

Anatina  praetenuis 

354 

Anceus  m axillaris 

403 

Ancylus  fluviatilis 

305*, 

306 

lacustris 

305 

Angel-fish , or  Angel  Shark  . 

255 

Angler , the  .... 

119 

Anguilla  acutirostris  222,  223, 

225- 

-227 

mediorostris  . 

225, 

227 

latirostris 

225- 

-227 

conger  . 

228 

Anguinaria  spatulata  . 

469 

Anguis  fragilis 

64 

Annelida  .... 

419 

Anodon  cygnea  . 

340 

intermedia 

340 

135 

136 

137 

450 

475 

475 

234 

246 

369 

298 

298 

246 

246 

246 

246 

302 

281 

382 

463 

463 

463 

464 

464 

464 

464 

463 

321 

418 

405 

405 

400 

275 

450 

447 

341 

392 

447 

447 

476 

475 

475 

475 

475 

460 


498 


INDEX. 


Anodon  anatina  .... 
cellensis  .... 
ventricosa 
ponderosa 

Anomalocera  Pattersonii 
Anomia  ephippium 
squarnula 
undulata 
punctata 
cylindrica 

aculeata  .... 
striata  .... 
Anonyx  elegans  .... 
Antennularia  antennina  . 415, 
(arborescens)  . 

Anthea  cereus  .... 
Aphrodita  aculeata 
hystrix 

Aplidium  fallax  . . 

Aplysia  depilans  . . . 279, 

punctata .... 
nexa  . . . 279, 

Apoda  ..... 
Aporrhais  pes-pelecani 
Apus  cancriformis 

Area  fusca 

tetragona  . 

raridentata  .... 
barbata  .... 

Arcadse 

Arcturus  longicornis  . . 400, 

Arenicola  piscatorum  . 

Arethusa  lactea  .... 
Argentina  sphyraena 
Argentine,  the  .... 
Argulus  foliaceus. 

Arion  ater  ..... 

hortensis  .... 
Armadillium  vulgare  . 

Artemis  exoleta  .... 
lincta  . 

undata  .... 
Arvicola  amphibia 

agrestis  .... 
pratensis 

riparia  .... 
neglecta  .... 
Ascidia  mentula  . . . 359, 

rustica  .... 
patula  .... 
venosa  .... 
prunum  .... 
conchilega 
parallelogramma 
canina  .... 

. aspersa  .... 
scabra  .... 
echinata  .... 


Ascidia  orbicularis 

. 360 

mammillaris  . 

. 360 

gemma  . 

. 360 

tubulosa  . 

. 360 

grossularia 

. 360 

virginea  . 

. 360 

communis 

360,  407 

Asellus  aquaticus 

. 402 

Aspidophori 

. 71 

Aspidophorus  cataphractus 

. 82 

Astacus  fluviatilis 

387, '388 

Astarte  Danmoniensis  . 

. 351 

Scotica  . 

. 351 

elliptica  . 

. 490 

Asteriadse  . 

. 438 

Asteria  saurantiaca 

. 440 

Asterina  gibbosa  . 

. 440 

Atelecyclus  heterodon  . 

379,  380 

Athanas  nitescens 

. 391 

Atherina  Presbyter 

. 106 

Atherine , the 

. 106 

Aurelia  aurita 

. 449 

bilobata  . 

. 449 

Auricula  denticulata  . 

. 303 

bidentata 

. 303 

fusiformis 

. 303 

Auriculadae  . 

. 302 

Avicula 

. 335 

Atlantica 

. 335 

hirundo  . 

. 335 

Ayiculad^e 

. 335 

B. 

Badger , the 

. 5 

Baleea  perversa  . 

. 301 

Balaena  Mysticetus 

. 56 

Rondeletii 

. 58 

Balaenoptera  Boops 

. 58 

Balanus  costatus  . 

. 416 

communis 

416,  418 

tintinnabulum 

. 416 

ovularis  . 

416,  418 

rugosus  . 

416,  418 

Scoticus  . 

416,  418 

candidus 

. 416 

punctatus  . 416,  417,  418 

fistulosus 

. 417 

Alcyonii 

417,  418 

ovularis 

. 418 

Balistes  capriscus 

244,  489 

Band-fish , red 

. 97 

Basse,  the  . 

. 69 

Bat,  common,  or  Pipistrelle 
Reddish-grey. 

. 1 

. 2 

Daubenton’ s . 

. 2 

long-eared 

. 2 

Bear,  the  . 

. 33 

Beard,  great  forked 

. 187 

PAGE 

340 

340 

340 

340 

407 

332 

332 

332 

332 

332 

332 

490 

396 

456 

456 

463 

435 

435 

361 

280 

279 

280 

419 

327 

405 

336 

336 

336 

336 

336 

401 

432 

479 

175 

175 

408 

282 

282 

403 

351 

351 

351 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 

407 

359 

359 

359 

359 

359 

359 

360 

360 

360 

360 


INDEX. 


499 


Beard,  lesser  forked  . 

Belone  vulgaris  . 

Bergylt,  the  .... 
Beroe  cucumis  .... 
fulgens 

Bestir 

Bib,  the  ..... 
Blennius  Yarrellii 

Pholis  .... 
Gattorugine  . 

Gunnellus  . 

Blenny,  YarrelVs .... 
smooth,  Shahny  or  Shan  . 
gattoruginous  . 
viviparous 

Blind-worm,  the  .... 
Boar,  wild  ..... 
Bonito,  the  ..... 
Bopyrus  squill  arum 
hyppolytes 
galatea 

Borlasia  alba  .... 
octoculata 

purpurea  . . 419, 

olivacea 

Bos  Taurus 

Botrylloides  albicans  . 

rotifera  . . 363, 

rubrum  . . 363, 

Botryllus  Leachii 

Schlosseri 
polycyclus  . 
gemmeus 
bivittatus 
violaceus 
smaragdus  . 

Bowerbankia  densa 

imbricata 

Brachiella  salmonea 
Brachyura 

Brama  Raii  .... 
Branchiopoda  .... 
Branchipus  stagnalis  . 

Bream,  Sea,  Spanish  . 

black 
Ray’s 

Pomeranian 
Brill,  the,  or  Britt 
Brissus  lyrifer  .... 
Brochus  stria tus  .... 

laevis  .... 
Brosmus  vulgaris 

Buccinidse 

Buccinum  undatum 

H umphrey  sianum 
fusiforme  . 
ovum  ... 
Zetlandicum 
2 k 2 


PAGE 


Bufo  vulgaris 

. 66 

Calamita 

. 66 

Rubetra 

. 66 

Bulimus  obscurus 

. 297 

acutus  . 

. 298 

lubricus 

. 298 

articulatus  . 

. 298 

Bull-head,  river  . 

. 80 

Greenland  . 

. 81 

armed . 

. 82 

Bulla  Lignaria  . 

. 280 

Akera  . 

. 280 

hydatis 

. 280 

Cranchii 

. 280 

umbilicata  . 

. 280 

diaphana 

. 280 

cylindracea 

. 280 

truncata 

. 280 

obtusa 

. 280 

mammillata 

. 280 

hyalina 

. 280 

pectinata 

. 280 

Bullaea  aperta 

. 280 

pruinosa  . 

. 280 

punctata  . 

. 281 

catena 

. 281 

Butter -fish  . 

. 110 

C. 

Cachalot,  highfinned  . 

. 55 

Caligus 

. 409,  424 

Miilleri  . 

. 409 

salaris 

. 409 

scombri  . 

. 409 

productus 

. 409 

minutus  . 

. 409 

hippoglossi 

. 409 

diaphanus 

. 409 

Stromii  . 

. 409 

vespa 

. 410 

curtus 

. 410 

rapax 

. 410 

sturionis  . 

. 410 

Nordmanni 

. 410 

pectoralis 

. 410 

Callianassa  subterranea 

. 386 

Callionymus  Lyra 

. 117 

Dracunculus 

. 73,  118 

Calliopaea  bifida  . 

. 277 

Callirhoe  dubia  . 

. 450 

Calocaris  Macandrese  . 

. 386,  387 

Calyptrsea  sinensis 

. 329 

Camacadae  . 

. 341 

Campanularia  volubilis 

. 458 

syringa  . 

. 458 

(?)  dumosa 

. 459 

verticillata 

. 459 

integra  . 

. 459 

PAGE 

188 

141 

82 

447 

447 

3 

181 

109 

110 

108 

no 

109 

no 

108 

111 

64 

36 

94 

405 

405 

405 

419 

419 

420 

419 

35 

363 

364 

364 

362 

362 

362 

362 

362 

363 

363 

465 

466 

411 

368 

92 

405 

405 

90 

91 

92 

137 

201 

442 

311 

312 

186 

324 

325 

325 

325 

325 

325 


500 


INDEX. 


Campanularia  parvula 

. 490 

Cervus  Dam  a 

. 32 

caliculata 

. 490 

Capreolus 

. 33 

Cancer  Pagurus  . 

372, 

373,  374 

Alces 

. 35 

astacus  multipes 

. 393 

Hibernicus 

. 36 

flexuosus 

. 393 

Megaceros 

. 36 

Canthocarpus  minuticornis  . 

. 407 

Cetacea  . . . 

. 40 

Caprella  Phasma . 

. 400 

Cetochilus  septentrionalis 

. 407 

linearis 

. 400 

Char,  the 

. 106 

lobata  . 

. 400 

Cheiroptera 

. 1 

tuberculata  . 

. 400 

Chelonia  Caouana 

. 61 

acuminifera  . 

. 400 

Chelura  terebrans 

398,  399 

spinosa 

. 400 

Chemnitzia  Jeffreysii  . 

. 310 

Canis  lupus 

. 33 

fulvocincta 

. 310 

Cantharus  lineatus 

. 91 

indistincta 

. 310 

griseus 

. 91 

elegantissima 

. 311 

Capulus  Ungaricus 

. 329 

decussata 

. 311 

Caranx  trachurus 

94,  95 

unica 

. 311 

Carcharias  glaucus 

222,  250 

nitidissima 

. 311 

Vulpes 

. 250 

ascaris 

. 311 

Carcinus  Maenas 

373—375 

glabra 

. 311 

Cardium  echinatum 

. 342 

rufescens  . 

. 490 

ciliare  . 

. 342 

Chirodota  digitata 

. 444 

aculeatum  . 

. 342 

Chiton  fascicularis 

. 330 

el  on  ga  turn  . 

. 342 

marginatus 

. 331 

exiguum 

342,  377 

ruber 

. 331 

nodosum 

342,  343 

albus 

. 331 

edule  . 

342*, 

343,  377 

fuscatus  . 

. 331 

fasciatum 

. 342 

cinereus  . 

. 331 

Loveni 

. 343 

laevis 

. 331 

scabrum 

. 343 

laevigatus 

. 331 

laevigatum  . 

. 343 

Hanley i . 

. 331 

Carp,  common 

. 135 

Chondracanthus  cornutus 

. 411 

golden 

. 135 

Lophii 

. 411 

CaRTILAGINEI 

. 245 

gibbosus 

. 411 

Carychium  minimum  . 

. 302 

Chrysaeora  tuberculata 

. 449 

Caryophyllia  Smythii  . 

. 461 

ClLIOGRADA 

. 447 

Cat , wild 

Cecrops  Latreilleii 

. 11 

Cineras  vittata 

. 415 

. 410 

Cirolana  hirtipes  . 

. 404 

Cellepora  pumicosa 

. 470 

Cranchii 

. 404 

ramulosa 

. 470 

Cirratulus  medusa 

. 428 

Skenei 

. 470 

tentaculatus 

. 428 

cervicornis  . 

. 470 

ClRRHIGRADA  . 

. 438 

Cellularia  ciliata  . 

. 474 

CiRRHI-SPINIGRADA 

. 441 

scruposa 

. 474 

ClRRHI-VERMIGRADA  . 

. 442 

reptans 

. 474 

ClRRIPEDA 

. 414 

avicularia 

. 474 

Cladocera 

. 406 

Cephaloptera  Giorna  . 

263,  264 

Clausilia  bidens  . 

. 302 

Cepola  rubescens  97,  232,  233,  234,  235 

nigricans 

. 302 

taenia 

. 98 

Clava  multicornis 

. 451 

marginata 

. 100 

capitata 

. 451 

Cerapus  falcatus  . 

. 397 

minuticornis 

. 451 

Cerithiad^e 

. 323 

Clavellina  Lepadiformis 

. 361 

Cerithium  Pennantii  . 

. 323 

Cliona  celata 

. 483 

fuscatum 

. 323 

Clupea  Sprattus  . 

79,  176 

tuberculare  . 

. 323 

Harengus 

. 175 

reticulatum  . 

323,  324 

Pilchardus 

. 177 

costatum 

. 324 

Coal-fish,  the 

. 183 

Cervus  Elaphus  . 

. 30 

Cobitis  barbatula 

. 139 

INDEX. 


501 


Cobitis  Taenia 

140 

Cucumaria  inhaerens 

. 443 

Cod , poor,  or  power 

181 

niger  . 

. 443 

green  . 

184 

Cuma  trispinosa  . 

. 392 

Cod-fish , common 

178 

Cyanaea  Lamarckii 

. 450 

COLEOPTERA 

365 

capillata  . 

. 450 

Comatula  rosacea 

436 

Cyclas  cornea 

. 349 

Conchaceee  . 

342 

lacustris  . 

. 349 

Conger  vulgaris  . 

227 

Cyclops  quadricornis  . 

. 407 

Copepoda  . 

407 

longicornis 

. 407 

Corbula  striata  . 

353 

Cyclopsina  staphylinus 

. 407 

rosea 

490 

Cyclopterus  bimaculatus 

. 212,  213 

Cordylophora  lacustris 

451 

Montagui  . 

. 212,  221 

Coregonus  Pollan 

168* 

225 

lumpus  . 

. 215—220 

Clupeoides  . 

170 

coronatus 

. 216 

Cork-wing , the 

* 126* 

130 

minutus  . 

. 216—220 

Coronula  diadema 

418 

gibbosus  . 

. 220 

Corophium  Longicorne 

397 

pyramidatus 

. 220 

Corynactis  viridis 

461 

Cyclostoma  elegans 

. 309 

Allmani 

462 

productum 

. 309 

Coryne  pusilla 

451 

Cyclostomi 

. 264 

Listen 

451 

Cyclostomidae 

. 309 

Corystes  Cassivelaunus 

380 

Cycloum  hispidum 

. 476 

Cottus  Gobio 

. 80,  81 

Cydippe  pileus  . 

. 447 

Scorpius  . 

. 80 

, 81 

lagena  . 

. 447 

Bubalis 

. 80 

i?  81 

pomiformis  . 

. 447 

Groenlandicus  . 

81 

Cylichna  strigella 

. 280,  490 

quadricornis 

. 81  note 

nitidula 

. 490 

Cottus,  longspined 

81 

Cymodocea  truncata  . 

. 404 

Crangon  vulgaris 

*.  389* 

390 

Cynthia  mierocosmus  . 

. 361 

fasciatus 

390 

claudicans 

. 361 

sculptus 

390 

Flemingii 

. 394 

bispinosus 

390 

Cyprsea  Europaea 

. 327 

Crania  personata 

332 

Cyprina  Islandica 

. 347 

Crenella  decussata 

338 

minima  . 

. 347 

Crenilabrus  Tinea 

126* 

127 

Cyprinim;  . 

. 135 

Cornubicus 

. 126, 

127 

Cyprinus  Carpio  . 

. 135 

gibbus 

126 

auratus 

. 135 

rupestris  . 

129 

Buggenhagii  . 

. 137 

pusillus 

130 

Cypris  conchacea 

. 406 

multidentatus 

130 

Candida 

. 406 

microstoma 

132 

reptans 

. 406 

exoletus  . 

132 

Cytherea  ovata 

. 351 

Creusia  verruca  . 

418 

viridis  . 

. 406 

Cribella  oculata  . 

439 

lutea 

. 406 

' rosea 

439 

chione  . 

. 490 

Crinoideae  . 
Crisia  cornuta 
eburnea 
luxata 

436 

466 

466 

466 

D. 

Dab,  the 

. 195 

aculeata  . 

466 

Lemon,  or  smooth  . 

. 196 

Cristatella  mucedo 

476 

Long  rough  . 

. 197 

Crustacea  . 

368 

Daphnia  pulex 

. 406 

Cuckoo  Gurnard  . 

. 

71 

longispina 

. 406 

Cucumaria  pentactes 

442 

Decapoda  . 

. 368 

communis  . 

442 

Decapoda  Anomoura  . 

. 381 

fusiformis  . 

442 

Deer,  red 

fallow  . 

. 30 

Drummondii 

443 

. 32 

Hyndmani  . 

443 

roe  . 

. 33 

502 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

PAGE 

Deer,  the  gigantic  Irish 

. 36 

Echinus  lividus  . 

. 441 

Delphinus  Delphis 

. 40 

Echiodon,  Drummond's 

230,  231,  235 

Tursio 

. 41 

Edriophthalmata  . 

. 395 

Phocaena 

. 42 

Eel,  sharp-nosed  . 

. 222 

Orca  . 

. 43 

Strangford 

. 225 

melas  . 

. 45 

broad-nosed  . 

. 225 

Dentalium  dentalis 

. 330 

Snig 

. 227 

entalis 

. 330 

Weed  . 

. 227 

Dexamine  spinosa 

. 395 

Skull 

. 227 

Dichelestion  sturionis  . 

. 410 

Bann 

. 227 

Didemnum  gelatinosum] 

. 364 

Gorb 

225,  226,  227 

Dimyaria  . 

. 335 

Hunter  . 

225,  227 

Diphya  elongata  . 

. 446 

Conger  . 

. 227 

Diptera 

. 366 

Glut 

225,  226 

Distoma  rubrum  . 

. 361 

Wide-mouthed  sand 

. 235 

variolosum 

. 361 

Common  sand 

. 237 

Ditrupa  subulata  . 

. 431 

Eledone  octopodia 

. 270 

Dog-fish , small  spotted  . 

. 247 

Eleutheropomi  . 

. 245 

large  spotted  . 

. 247 

Elk,  the 

. 35 

black-mouthed 

. 250 

fossil  . 

. 36 

picked  . 

. 255 

Emarginula  fissura 

. 329 

Dolphin , common 

. 40 

crassa 

. 329 

bottle-nosed  . 

. 41 

Entomoda  canicula 

. 411 

Donax  trunculus  . 

. 343 

puella 

. 411 

denticulatus 

. 344 

Entomostraca.  . 

. 406 

complanatus 

. 344 

Entozoa 

. 435 

Doris  tuberculata 

. 271,  272 

Eolis  papillosa 

. 277 

repanda 

. 272 

Zetlandica  . 

. 277 

bilamellata . 

. 272 

Cuvierii 

. 277 

verrucosa  . 

. 272 

coronata 

. 277 

affinis 

. 272 

pallida 

. 277 

Ulidiana 

. 272,  273 

alba  . 

. 277 

muricata  . 

. 273 

Farrani 

. 277 

asp era 

. 273,  274 

violacea 

. 277 

obvelata  . . 

. 273 

Drummondi 

. 278 

pilosa 

. 274 

Ephysa  simplex  . 

. 448 

sublaevis 

. 274 

hsemispherica 

. 448 

Barvicensis 

. 274 

Erato  laevis  . 

. 328 

pedata 

. 278 

Erinaceus  Europaeus 

. 3 

Dormouse , common 
Dorse,  or  variable  Cod  . 

. 14 

Erpobdella  tessulata 

. 424 

. 179 

vulgaris 

. 425 

Dory,  Doree , or  John  Dory,  the  . 96 

Ervilia  castanea  . 

. 344 

Dragonet,  gemmeous  . 

. 117 

Eschara  foliacea  . 

. 475 

sordid 

. 118 

Esocim® 

. 140 

Dynamena  rubra 

. 404 

Esox  Lucius 

. 140 

Dysidea  fragilis  . 

. 484 

Eucratea  chelata  . 

. 468 

E. 

Eudendrium  rameum 

. 452 

ramosum . 

. 452 

Ebalia  Bryerii 

. 379 

Eulima  polita 

. 310 

Cranchii  . 

. 379 

nitida 

. 310 

Pennantii  . 

. 379 

subulata  . 

. 310 

Echeneis  Remora 

. 222 

distorta  . 

. 310 

Echinid.®  . 

. 441 

Euphrosyna  foliosa 

. 434 

Echinocyamus  pusillus 

. 441 

Euplocamus  claviger 

. 275 

Echinodermata  . 

. 436 

Eurydice  pulchra 

. 405 

Echinus  sphaera  . 

. 441 

Eurynome  aspera 

371,  372 

miliaris  . 

. 441 

scutellata 

. 372 

Flemingii 

. 441 

Exoccetus  ( ?) 

. 143 

INDEX. 


503 


F. 

PAGE 

Gammarus  punctatus  . 

P4QE 

. 396 

. 475 

Garfish  . . 

. 141 

Farcimia  salicornia 

Gar  Pike 

. 141 

sinuosa 

. 475 

Gasterosteus  aculeatus 

82,  88—90 

Father-lasher 

. 81 

semiloricatus 

83,  84 

Felidae 

. 6 

tracliurus  83 — 85,  87,  83 

Felis  catus  . 

. 11 

brachycentrus 

82  note, 

Fer^e 

. 5 

85—88 

Fierasfers  . 

230,  231 

semiarmatus  83,  85, 87, 88 

Filograna  implexa 

. 431 

leiurus 

83,  85—88 

Fishes  of  Ireland 

. 69 

Noveboracensis 

. 84 

Fissurella  graeca  . 

. 329 

Pungitius 

84,  88—90 

Flounder , or  Fluke 

. 194 

obolarius 

. 84 

Fluke,  Craig 

. 197 

argyropomus 

. 88 

Flustra  foliacea  . 

. 474 

tetracanthus 

. 88 

chartacea 

. 474 

spinacliia 

89,  90 

truncata  . 

. 474 

Gastrobranchus  csecus 

. 267 

carbasea  . 

. 474 

Gastrochmna  pholadia 

. 357 

avicularis 

. 474 

Gebia  deltura 

. 386 

lineata 

. 474 

stellata 

. 386 

Murrayana 

. 474 

Geomalacus  maculosus 

. 283 

membranacea 

. 474 

Gilthead 

. 126 

Flying  fish  . 

. 143 

Glires 

. 13 

Foraminifera  . 

. 477 

Globe-fish , Pennant’s  . 

. 243 

Fox,  the 
Fox-shark  . 

. 12 

Globulina  gibba  . 

. 479 

. 250 

Glossiphonia  Eachana  . 

. 425 

Fredericella  Sultana 

. 476 

marginata 

. 425 

dilatata 

. 476 

heteroclita 

. 426 

Frog,  common 

. 64 

Glossipora  tuberculata 

. 425 

fishing 

. 119 

hyalina 

. 425 

Fucus  serratus  . 

. 221 

bioculata  . 

. 424 

nodosus  . 

. 418 

Gobiadse 

. 108 

Fusus  antiquus  . 

. 325 

Gobio  fluviatilis  . 

. 135 

corneus 

. 325 

Gobius  gracilis  . 

. 116 

muricatus  . 

. 325 

bipunctatus 

. 115 

Barvicensis 

. 325 

minutus  . 96,  116, 

216-219 

Bamffius  . 

. 325 

niger 

. Ill 

propinquus 

. 325 

Britannicus 

. Ill 

G. 

fuliginosus 

111,  note 

Ruthensparii  . 

112,  115 

Gadus  Morrhua  . 

. 178 

geniporus 

112  note 

Callarias 

179,  411 

unipunctatus  . 

. 117 

iEglefinus . 

. 179 

Goby,  black 

. Ill 

luscus 

181,  69 

British  black 

. Ill 

minutus  . 

181,  69 

doubly -spotted 

. 115 

Galathea  strigosa 

. 384 

freckled 

. 116 

rugosa  . 

. 385 

slender 

. 116 

amplectens 

. 385 

one-spotted 

. 117 

squamifera 

. 385 

Gold-fish  . 

. 135 

nexa 

. 385 

Goldsinny,  Jago’s 

. 129 

Galeomma  Turtoni 

. 348 

Goniaster  Templetoni  . 

. 440 

Galeus  vulgaris  . 

. 252 

pulvillus 

. 440 

Gammarus 

239, 

388,  395 

Goniodoris  elongata 

. 274 

locusta 

. 395 

nodosa 

\ 274 

fluviatilis 

. 395 

Gonoplax  angulatus 

. 378 

marinus 

. 395 

rhomboides  . 

. 378 

campylops 

. 395 

Goodalia  triangularis  . 

. 348 

longimanus 

. 396 

minutissima  . 

. 348 

504  INDEX. 


Gordius  aquaticus 

PAGE 

. 419 

Helix  virgata  . . 286, 

PAGE 

, 292—294 

Gorgonia  anceps  . 

. 460 

ericetorum  286,  287, 

, 292—294 

verrucosa 

. 460 

Pomatia  . 

. 286  note 

Graining 

. 140 

hortensis  . 

. 287 

Grampus 

. 43 

nemoralis 

. 287,  288 

Grantia  compressa 

. 484 

hybrida  , / ; . 

. 287 

lacunosa 

. 484 

arbustorum 

. 288 

ciliata 

. 484 

pulchella  . 

. 288 

botryoides 

. 484 

crenella  . 

* 288 

fistulosa  . 

. 484 

fusca 

. 288,  289 

nivea 

. 484 

fulva 

. 289 

coriacea  . 

. 484 

Mortoni  . 

. 289 

Grayling 

. 167 

aculeata  . 

. 289 

Gudgeon 

. 135 

lamellata  . 

. 290 

Gunnel , spotted  . 

. 110 

granulata  . 

. 290,  291 

Gurnard , red 

. 71 

hispida 

290—292 

streaked  or  lineated 

. 72 

concinna  . 

. 291 

grey  . 

73,  74 

rufescens  . 

. 291,  292 

sapphirine  . 

. 73 

sericea 

. 291 

little 

. 79 

circinata  . 

. 292 

Gymnodontes 

. 243 

Pisana 

. 292,  293 

H. 

Haddock , the 

. 179 

caperata  . 
cespitum  . 
revelata 

. 293 
. 293 
. 294 

Norway 

. 82 

elegans 

. 293,  294 

Haemopsis  vorax  . 

. 427 

rotundata  . 

. 294 

Hake,  the 

. 184 

umbilicata 

. 294 

Halichcerus  Gryphus  . 

. 38 

pygmaea  . 

. 294,  295 

Halichondria  celata 

. 416 

alliaria 

. 295 

oculata  . 

. 480 

cellaria 

. 295 

cervicornis 

. 480 

pura  . 

. 295 

hispida  . 

. 480 

nitidula 

. 295,  296 

ventilabra 

. 481 

radiatula  . 

. 295 

simulans 

. 481 

vitrina 

. 296 

cinerea  . 

. 481 

lucida 

. 296 

fucorum . 

. 481 

excavata  . 

. 296 

panicea  . 

. 481 

crystallina 

. 296,  302 

eegagropila 

. 481 

Hemiptera  . 

. 367 

incrustans 

. 481 

Hippocampus  brevirostris 

. 242 

sabburrata 

. 482 

short -nosed 

. 242,  243 

areolata  . 

. 482 

Hippocrene  Britannica 

. 447 

seriata 

. 482 

Hippoglossus  vulgaris  . 

. 199 

sanguinea 

. 482 

Hippolyte  varians 

. 391 

macularis 

. 482 

Cranchii 

. 391 

hirsuta  . 

. 482 

Thompsoni  . 

. 391 

suberia  . 

. 482 

Hippothoa  catenularia . 

. 469 

mammillaris 

. 482 

divaricata  . 

. 469 

camosa  . 

. 482 

sica  . 

. 469 

Haliotis  tuber culata  . 

. 329 

Hirudina 

. 424 

Hare , common 

. 19 

Hirudo  medicinalis 

. 427 

Irish 

. 19 

Holibut,  the 

. 199 

Alpine 

, 19 

Holothuriadse 

. 442 

Scotch 

* 21 

Homarus  vulgaris 

. 389 

■ white 

. 29 

Hound,  Smooth  . 

. 252 

Hedgehog,  the 

. 3 

Hyalaea  trispinosa 

. 271 

Herring,  the 

. 175 

Hyas  araneus 

. 370,  371 

Helicidse  . 

. 285 

coarctatus  . 

, . 371 

Helix  aspersa 

286,  287 

j Hydra  viridis 

. 459 

INDEX. 


505 


Hydra  vulgaris  . 

PAGE 

. 459 

Lacuna  vincta 

. 313 

fusca 

. 460 

canal  is  . 

. 313 

verrucosa  . 

. 460 

L^modipoda 

. 400 

Hymenoptera  . 

. 366 

Lagenella  repens 

. 466 

Hyperia  galba 

. 397 

Lagenula  striata  . 

. 478 

Latreillii 

. 397 

globosa 

. 478 

Hyperoodon  Butzkopf 

. 46 

laevis  . 

. 478 

I. 

Lamna  Cornubica 

.'251 

Monensis 

. 251 

Ianthina  communis 

. 321 

Lamprey 

. 264,  265 

exigua  . 

. 322 

river 

. 265 

nitens  . 

. 322 

Planer's  . 

. 266 

fragilis  . 

. 322 

Mud,  or  Pride  sand  . 266 

pallida 

. 322,  490 

Lampris  Luna 

. 96 

prolongata  . 

. 322 

guttatus 

. 96 

Idalia  aspersa 

. 278 

Lancelet 

. 268 

I do  tea  pelagica  . 

. 401 

Laomedea  dichotoma  . 

. 458 

tricusp  idata 

. 401 

geniculata  . 

. 458 

emarginata 

. 401 

gelatinosa  . 

. 458 

linearis 

. 401 

Lenticulina  calcar 

. 477 

acuminata 

. 401 

laevigatula . 

. 477 

entomon  . 

. 401 

depressula 

. 477 

eestrum 

. 401 

Lepadogaster  Cornubiensis 

212,  214, 

Iluanthus  Scoticus 

. 465 

215 

Inachus  Dorsettensis  . 

. 370 

bimaculatus 

212—215, 

leptochirus 

. 370 

21*8 

Dorynchus 

. 370 

cephalus 

. 214 

Insecta 

. 365 

biciliatus 

. 214 

Involutae 

. 327 

Candollii 

. 214 

Isocardia  cor 

. 341 

Gouani  . 

. 215 

Isopoda 

. 400 

Balbis  . 

. 215 

Lepidoptera 

. 366 

J. 

Lepidopus  argyreus 

. 490 

Jaera  albifrons  . 

. 402 

Leporine  . 

. 20 

K. 

Lepralia  hyalina  . 

. 470 

tenuis  . 

. 470 

Kellia  suborbicularis  . 

. 348 

assimilis 

. 471 

rubra 

. 349 

Hassallii 

. 471 

King-fish , the 

. 96 

coccinea 

. 471 

Knoud,  the 

. 73 

simplex 

. 471 

L. 

ventricosa 

. 471 

Hyndmanni  . 

. 471 

Labrax  Lupus 

. 69 

ovalis  . 

. 471 

Labridse 

. 120 

linearis  . 

. 471 

Labrus  trimaculatus  . 

. 126 

auriculata 

. 471 

Vetula 

. 125 

punctata 

. 471 

variabilis . 

. 120 

biforis  . 

. 471 

maculatus 

. 120 

Peachii 

. 472 

lineatus  . 

. 120 

pediostoma  . 

. 472 

Tinea 

. 121 

verrucosa 

. 472 

variegatus 

. 124 

granifera 

. 472 

Cornubicus 

. 126 

variolosa 

. 472 

Lacerta  agilis 

. 61 

immersa 

. 472 

Lacertus  aquaticus  niger 

. 67 

nitida  . 

. 472 

Lacuna  puteola  . 

. 313 

ciliata  . 

. 472 

pallidula 

. 313 

innominata 

. 472 

crassior  . 

. 313 

semilunaris  . 

. 472 

quadrifasciata  . 

. 313 

unicornis 

. 472 

506 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

PAGE 

Lepralia  Ballii  . 

. 472 

Lissotriton  palmipes 

. 68 

trispinosa 

. 472 

Lithodes  Maia 

. 381 

appensa 

. 472 

Littorina  communis 

. 312 

spinifera 

. .473 

rudis 

. 312 

violacea 

. 473 

jugosa  . 

. 312 

concinna 

. 473 

petraea  . 

. 312 

labrosa 

. 473 

tenebrosa 

. 312 

Leptocephalus  Morrisii 

. 229 

saxatilis 

. 313 

Leptoclinum  gelatin osum 

..  362 

Neritoides 

. 313 

maculosum 

. 362 

Lizard,  common , or  viviparous  lizard  61 

asperum  . 

. 362 

Loach,  the  . 

. 139 

aureum  . 

. 362 

bearded 

. 139 

Lepton  squamosum 

. 348 

Lobatula  vulgaris 

. 478 

Lepus  timidus 

. 19 

Loligo  vulgaris 

. 269 

Hibernicus 

. 19 

sagittata 

. 269 

variabilis  . 

. 19 

subulata  . 

. 270 

cuniculus 

. 30 

media 

. 270 

Lernea  uncinata  . 

. 411 

marmorea  . 

. 270 

branchialis 

. 412 

Eblanae 

. 270 

Lerneada  . 

. 411 

Lophiidae 

. 119 

Lerneonema  monillaris 

. 412 

Lophius  piscatorius 

. 119 

Lerneopoda  galei 

. 411 

Lophobranchii  . 

. 239 

Lestrigonus 

. 397 

Loricati 

. 71 

Leuciscus  erythropthalmus 

. 138 

Lota  Molva8. 

. 185 

Phoxinus 

. 138 

Lottia  virginea 

. 330 

Lancastriensis 

. 140 

testudinalis 

. 330 

Lima  Loscombii  . 

. 335 

fulva  . 

. 330 

tenera 

. 335 

Lucernaria  fascicu  laris . 

. 465 

fragilis 

. 335 

auricula 

. 465 

subauriculata 

. 335 

campanulcitci 

. 465 

Limacidse  . 

. 282 

Lucina  radula 

. 345 

Limax  maximus  . 

. 283 

rotundata 

. 345 

arboreus  . 

. 283 

lactea 

. 345 

flavus 

. 283 

spinifera  . 

345,  346 

agrestis  . 

. 284 

flexuosa  . 

. 346 

filans 

. 284,  285 

Luidia  fragillissima 

. 441 

Sowerbii  . 

. 284 

Lumbricina  . 

. 428 

Parma 

. 284 

Lumbricus  marinus 

. 69 

carinatus  . 

. 284 

lineatus 

. 428 

gagates  . 

. 284,  285 

pellucidus 

. 428 

Limneadee 

. 303 

omilurus 

. 428 

Limneus  auricularius  . 

. 303 

lividus 

. 428 

pereger  . 

. 303,  304 

gordianus 

. 428 

ovatus  . 

. 303 

xanthurus 

. 428 

glutinosus 

. 304 

annularis 

. 428 

involutus 

. 304 

terrestris 

. 428 

stagnalis 

. 304 

Lump -fish  . 

. 215 

palustris 

. 304,  305 

coronated 

. 216 

truncatulus  . 

. 305 

Lutjanus  rupestris 

. 129 

glaber  . 

. 305 

Lutra  vulgaris 

. 5 

Limnoria  . . . 398,  399,  402 

Lutraria  vulgaris  . 

. 355 

terebrans 

. 402 

hyans 

. 355 

Lineus  longissimus 

. 420 

compressa 

. 355 

Ling , the 

. 185 

Lygia  oceanica  . 

. 402 

Liparis  Montagui  . 216,  218,  221 

Lynceus  lamellatus 

. 406 

vulgaris  . 

. 221 

Lyonsia  Norvegica 

. 355 

Lissotriton  punctatus  . 

. 67 

Lythe 

. 183 

INDEX. 


507 


PAGE 


M. 


Mackerel 

92 

Spanish  . 

93 

Mackerel  Guide  . 

141 

Mackerel-horse 

95 

Mackerel-midge.  . 

188 

Macroura  . 

384 

Mactra  solida  . 

347 

elliptica  . 

347 

truncata  . 

347 

subtruncata 

348 

stultorum 

348 

cinerea 

348 

Maia  Squinado  . 

371 

Maigre  .... 

90 

Malacopterygii  . 

135 

Apodes 

222 

Malacorhynchus  membranace 

us  . 

490 

Mammalia  Terrestria  . 

1 

Aquatica  . 

36 

Margarita  communis  . 

321 

Marten , common  or  beech 

9 

Pine 

9 

Martes  foina 

9 

abietum  . 

9 

Meckelia  trilineata 

420 

Medusa  scintillans 

450 

Megrim 

205 

Meles  taxus 

5 

Melibcea  fragilis  . 

276 

coronata 

276 

Melicertum  campanulatum  . 

447 

Membranipora  pilosa  . 

473 

membranacea 

473 

Mergulus  alle 

490 

Merlangus  vulgaris 

182,' 

411 

Pollachius  . 

183 

Carbonarius 

183 

virens 

184 

Merlucius  vulgaris 

184 

Miliola  ovata 

479 

Miller's  Thumb  . 

80 

Minnow  . 

138 

Modiola  vulgaris  . 338, 

403,’ 

416 

tulipa 

338 

Gibbsii  . 

338 

discrepans 

338 

marmorata 

338 

vestita  . 

339 

Ballii  . 

339 

Mole  .... 

4 

Mollusca  Cephalopoda 

269 

Pteropoda  . 

271 

Gasteropoda 

271, 

279 

Nucleobranchiata 

271 

Inferobranchiata  . 

279 

Tectibranchiata  . 

279 

PAGE 


Mollusca  Pulmonifera  inoper- 


culata 

. 281 

Operculata  . 

. 309 

Pectinibranchiata 

. 310 

Scutibranchiata  . 

. 329 

Cirrhobranchiata . 

. 330 

Cyclobranchiata  . 

. 330 

Brachiopoda 

. 331 

Lamellibrauchiata 

. 332 

Nudibranchiata  . 

. 271 

Monk-Jish  , 

. 255 

Monoceros  hepaticus  . 

. 325 

Monochirus  linguatulus  206, 

209—211 

variegatus 

209—211 

lingula 

209,  211 

Pegusa 

. 209 

minutus  . 

209,  211 

Monodon  monoceros  . 

. 95 

Monodonta  crassa 

. 321 

Monomyaria 

. 332 

Montacuta  substriata  . 

. 349 

bidentata  . 

. 349 

ferruginosa 

. 349 

ovata 

. 349 

purpurea  . 

. 349 

Morrhua  vulgaris 

. 178 

Callarias 

. 179 

^Eglefinus 

. 179 

lusca  . 

. 181 

minuta 

. 181 

Morris,  Anglesea . 

. 229 

Motella  tricirrata 

. 186 

vulgaris  . 

. 186 

Mustela  . 

. 186 

quinquecirrata 

. 186 

glauca  . 

. 188 

Mouse,  harvest 

long-tailed  field 

. 14 

. 14 

common  . 

. 14 

Mugil  Chelo 

100,  219 

capito 

. 106 

Mugilidae  .... 

. 100 

Mullet,  red  striped 

. 70 

grey  . . 

. 106 

thick-lipped 

. 100 

Mullus  surmuletus 

. 70 

Munna  Kroyeri  . 

. 413 

Muridae  .... 

. 14 

Murcenoides  guttata  . 

. 110 

Mus  minutus 

. 14 

messorius  . 

. 14 

sylvaticus  . 

. 15 

musculus 

. 15 

rattus  .... 

. 16 

Hibernicus  . 

. 16 

decumanus  . 

. 18 

Mustela  vulgaris  . 

. 6 

Erminea  . 

. 7 

508 


INDEX. 


PAQE  PAGE 


Mustela  putorius 

. 8 

Nucula  nitida 

. 337 

Mustelus  lsevis  . 

. 252 

minuta  . 

. 337 

stellatus 

. 253 

Polii 

. 337 

My  a truncata 

. 354 

radiata 

. 490 

arenaria 

. 355 

Nymphon  gracile . 

. 412 

Myliobatis  Aquila 

. 263 

grossipes 

. 412 

Myoxus  avellanarius  . 

. 14 

Johnstoni 

. 412 

Mysis  spinulosus 

. 393 

spinosum 

. 412 

Chameleon 

. 393,  394 

femoratum 

. 412 

vulgaris 

. 393,  394 

0. 

Leachii 

. 393 

Obelia  vitrea 

. 449 

flexuosus^  . 

. 393 

Oceania  papillata 

. 448 

Mytilidae 

. 337 

Ocnus  latens 

. 443 

Mytilus  edulis 

. 337 

Octopus  vulgaris  . 

. 270 

pellucidus 

. 337 

Ocyroe  cruciata  . 

. 449 

Myxine  glutinosa 

. 267 

Odostomia  pallida 

. 317 

Myxine , or  Glutinous  Hag 

. 267 

unidentata 

. 317 

N. 

plicata 

. 318 

Nais  vermicularis 

. 428 

spiralis 

. 318 

serpentina  . 

. 428 

interstincta 

. 318 

Nassa  reticulata  . 

. 324 

cylindrica 

. 318 

macula 

. 324 

obliqua  t 

. 318 

varicosa 

. 325 

crassa 

318 

Natica  monilifera 

. 328 

Oniscus  asellus  . 

. 402 

nitida 

. 328 

Opah  . 

96 

sordida  . 

. 329 

Ophidia 

. 63 

Montagui 

. 329 

Ophidium  . 

. 230 

Alderi 

. 329 

fierasfer 

231 

Naticidse 

. 328 

dentatum 

. 231 

Natrix  torquata  . 

. 64 

Ophidium , beardless 

. 230 

Naucrates  ductor 

. 95 

Ophidium  imberbe 

. 230,  231 

Nautilus  carinatula 

. 477 

Yassalii 

. 230 

pulchella 

. 479 

fierasfer 

. 230 

dentatus 

. 479 

Ophiocoma  neglecta 

. 437 

Nesera  cuspidata 

. 354 

Ballii 

. 437 

Nebalia  bipes 

. 405 

albida 

. 437 

Nemertina  . 

. 419 

rosula 

. 437,  438 

Nephrops  Norvegicus  . 

. 389 

filiformis 

. 437,  438 

Nephtys  margaritacea  . 

. 433,  434 

brachiata 

. 438 

Nereidina  . 

. 432 

bellis . 

. 438 

Nereis  vir  id  is 

. 432 

granulata 

. 438 

pelagica  . 

. 432 

minuta 

. 438 

Dumerilii 

. 432 

Ophiura  texturata 

. 436 

fucata 

. 432 

albida  . 

. 436 

renalis 

. 432 

rosula  . 

. 436 

longissima 

. 432 

Ophiuridae  . 

. 436 

noctiluca  . 

. 432 

Opis  typica  . 

. 396 

tubicola 

. 491 

Orchestia  littorea 

. 395 

Neritina  fluviatilis 

. 319 

Orthagoriscus  Mola 

. 243,  410 

Nessea  bidentata 

. 404 

oblongus 

. 244 

Neuroptera 

. 366 

Orythia  coccinea . 

. 412 

Nodosaria  legumen 

. 478 

Osmerus  Eperlanus 

. 167 

recta  . 

. 478 

Ostrapoda 

. 406 

Noionina  umbilicatula 

. 477 

Ostrea  edulis 

. 333 

Notamia  loriculata 

. 468 

Ostreadse  . 

. 332 

Notodelphys  ascidicola 

. 407 

Otion  Cuvieri 

. 415 

Nucula  margaritacea  . 

. 336 

Otter 

. 5 

tenuis 

. 337 

Ovula  patula 

. 328 

INDEX. 


509 


O vula  acuminata 

Ox 

P. 

Pagellus  erythrinus 

centrodontus  . 

Pagurus  Bernhardus  . . 381, 

Prideauxii  . .381, 

erinaceus  . .382, 

Cuanensis 
ulidianus 
Hyndmanni  . 
lsevis  . 

Forbesii 
Thompsoni  . 

Paleemon  serratus 

Squilla  . . 391, 

varians 
Leachii 
Palinurus  vulgaris 
Palmipes  membranaceus 
Paludicella  articulata  . 

Paludina  vivipara 
achatina 
tentaculata  . 

Pandalus  annulicornis  . 

Pandora  obtusa  .... 
Pasiphaea  Sivado 
Pasithoe  vesiculosa 
Patella  vulgata  .... 
pellucida  .... 
ancyloides 

Pecten  maximus  333,  334,  416, 
opercularis 

sinuosus  .... 
glaber  .... 
lsevis  .... 
similis  . , . . 

obsoletus .... 
varius  .... 
striatus  . . . . 

Pectinaria  belgica 

Pectinidse 

Pectunculus  pilosus  . . 213, 

Pedicellina  echinata 
Pedunculata  . 

Pelamys  sarda  .... 
Pelius  Berus  . . . . 

Peracle  Flemingii 
Perea  fluviatilis  .... 

Perch 

Percidae  . 

Petricola  ochroleuca  ... 
Petromyzon  marinus  . . 264, 

fluviatilis  . . 265, 

Planeri  . 

CEBCUS 

Phallusia  intestinalis  . 


Phasianella  pulla 

. 319 

Philoscia  muscorum 

. 402 

Phoca  vitulina 

. 36 

Phocsena  communis 

. 42 

Orca  . 

. 43 

melas  . 

. 45 

Phocid^e 

. 36 

Pholas  crispata  . 

. 357,  358 

papyracea 

. 357,  358 

striata 

. 358 

dactylus  . 

. 358 

parva 

. 358 

candidus  . 

. .358 

Phoxichilidium  globosum 

. 412 

Phycis  furcatus  . 

. 187 

Phylline  hippoglossi 

. 424 

Phyllodoce  lamelliger 

a 

. 433 

Paretti 

. 433 

laminosa 

. 433 

viridis 

. 433 

Phyllopoda 

. 405 

Physa  fontinalis  . 

. 306 

hypnorum 

. 306 

Physalia  pelagica 

. 446 

Physeter  macrocephalus 

. 54 

Tursio  . 

. 55 

Picus  viridis 

. 490 

Pike  . 

. 140 

Pilchard 

. 177 

Pilot-fish 

. 95 

Pilumnus  hirtellus 

. 373 

Pinna  ingens 

. 339,  340 

fragilis 

. 339,  340 

papyracea  . 

. 339 

pectinata  . 

. 339 

muricata  . 

. 339 

PlNNIGRADA 

. 436 

Pinnotheres  Pisum 

. 377,  378 

Pinnae 

. 378 

Modioli 

. 378 

Pipe-fish , great  . 

. 239 

Deep-nosed 

. 240 

JEquoreal 

. 240 

Snake  . 

. 241 

Straight -nosed 

. 241 

Worm  . 

. 241 

Piper  . 

. 74 

Pirimela  denticulata 

. 373 

Pisa  tetraodon 

. 370 

Piscicola  geometra 

. 426 

Percae  . 

. 426 

marina  . 

. 426 

Pisidium  obtusale 

. 350 

nitidum 

. 350 

pusillum 

. 350 

pulchellum 

. 350 

Henslowianum 

. 350 

amnicum 

. 350,  351 

PAGE 

328 

35 

90 

90 

382 

382 

383 

383 

383 

383 

383 

383 

383 

391 

392 

392 

392 

385 

440 

476 

312 

312 

312 

391 

354 

392 

413 

330 

330 

330 

417 

333 

333 

334 

334 

334 

334 

334 

334 

429 

333 

336 

466 

414 

95 

64 

271 

69 

69 

69 

353 

265 

266 

266 

266 

361 


510 


INDEX. 


PAOE  PAGE 


Pisidium  cinereum 

351 

Pleurotoma  gracilis 

. 326 

Plagiostomi 

247 

sinuosa 

. 326 

Plaice  . 

421* 

192 

Trevellyana 

. 327 

Planaria  cornuta  . 

422 

F arrani  . 

. 237 

vittata  . 

421 

Ulideana  . 

. 327 

tremellaris 

422 

laevigata  . 

. 327 

rosea 

422 

teres 

. 327 

flexilis 

422,’ 

423 

Plumatella  repens 

. 476 

subauriculata 

422, 

423 

emarginata 

. 476 

stagnalis 

423 

fruticosa  . 

. 476 

lactea  . 

423 

Plumiilaria  falcata 

. 456 

nigra 

423 

cristata 

. 457 

torva 

424 

pennatula  . 

. 457 

fusca 

424 

pinnata 

. 457 

Arethusa 

424 

setacea 

. 457 

Planorbis  corneus 

306 

myriophyllum  . 

. 458 

albus  . 

307 

frutescens  . 

. 458 

lsevis  . 

307 

Pogge  .... 

. 82 

glaber 

307 

Pole 

. 197 

imbricatus  . 

307 

Polecat  .... 

. 8 

carinatus  . 

307* 

308 

Pollack,  or  whiting  Pollack  . 
Pollan  .... 

. 183 

planatus 

307, 

308 

. 168 

disciformis  . 

308 

Pollicipes  cornucopise  . 

; 415 

umbilicatus 

308 

Pollicita  peripatus 

. 434 

rhomb  seus  . 

308 

Polybius  Henslowii 

. 377 

marginatus  . 

308 

Polycera  quadrilineata 

274,  275 

vortex 

308,* 

309 

typica  . 

. 275 

spirorbis 

308, 

309 

ocellata 

. 275 

compressus'. 

308 

citrina  . 

. 275 

leucostoma . 

308* 

309 

cristata 

. 275 

nitidus 

309 

Polynoe  squamata 

. 434 

contortus  . 

309 

cirrata  . 

. 434 

lacustris 

309 

Scolopendrina 

. 434 

Platessa  Pola 

197* 

386 

Polyphemus  oculus 

. 406 

vulgaris 

192, 

389 

Polypoda  .... 

. 429 

Flesus  . 

194, 

389 

Polyprion  cernium 

. 489 

Limanda 

195 

Pontobdella  muricata  . 

426,  427 

microcephala 

196 

spinulosa  . 

. 427 

Limandoides 

197 

lsevis 

. 427 

Plecotus  auritus  . 

2 

verrucata  . 

. 427 

Plectognathi  . 

243 

Pontophilus  spinosus  . 

. 390 

Pleurobranchus  membranaceus  . 

279 

Porcellana  platycheles 

383,  384 

Pleuronectes  Arnoglossus 

205 

longicornis 

. 384 

maximus 

200 

Porcellio  scaber  . 

. 403 

Rhombus 

201 

lsevis 

. 403 

punctatus 

201 

Porpoise , the 

. 42 

hirtus 

203 

Portumnus  variegatus  . 

. 375 

Megastoma 

203 

Portunus  puber  . 

. 375 

Pleurotoma  Boothii 

326 

Depurator  . 

375,  376 

turricula  . 

326 

lividus  . 

. 376 

costata 

326 

corrugatus  . 

. 376 

septangularis 

326 

pusillus  71,  72,  74,  376 

attenuata  . 

326 

marmoreus  . 

. 376 

nebula 

326 

arcuatus 

376,  377 

rufa  . 

326 

emarginatus 

. 377 

brachystoma 

326^ 

327 

Pout,  or  Whiting  Pout 

. 181 

linearis 

326 

Praniza  cserulata 

. 403 

purpurea  * 

326 

Priapulus  caudatus 

. 445 

INDEX. 


511 


Procellaria  Anglorum  . 

. 490 

Ray,  sharp-nosed  , 

PAGE 

. . 259 

Processa  canaliculata  . 

. 390 

shagreen 

. 260 

Proctonotus  mucronifenis 

. 278 

spotted  or  homelyn 

. 260,  261 

Prostoma  gracilis 

. 420 

thornback 

. 262 

lactiflorea  . 

. 420 

sandy  . 

. 262 

melanocephala 

. 421 

sting  . 

. 263 

armata 

. 421 

eagle 

- 263 

Proto  pedatum  . 

. 400 

horned  . 

. 263 

Psammobia  Tellinella  . 

. 355 

Red-eye 

. 138 

florida 

. 355 

Remora,  common 

. 222 

Ferroensis 

: 355 

Renoidea  oblonga 

. 477 

vespertina 

. 356 

Reptilia 

. 61 

costulata  . 

. 490 

Retepora  Beaniana 

. 475 

Psolus  phantapus 

. 442 

Rhizostoma  Cuvieri 

. 397,  449 

Puffinus  obscurus 

. 489 

Rhombus  maximus 

. 200 

Pullastra  aurea  . 

. 352 

vulgaris 

. 201 

perforans 

. 353 

punctatus 

. 201 

dactylus 

. 353 

hirtus  . 

. 203 

vulgaris 

. 353 

Megastoma  . 

. 203 

decussata 

. 353 

Arnoglossus  . 

. 205 

virginea 

. 353 

Rissoa  cimex 

. 313 

PuLMOGRADA 

447,  449 

striatula  . 

. 313 

Puncturella  noachina  . 

. 329 

costata 

. 313 

Pupa  umbilicata 

298,  299 

Harveyi  . 

. 314 

anglica 

. 299 

sculpta 

. 314 

marginata  . 

. 299 

abyssicola 

. 314 

tridentalis  . 

. 299 

parva 

. 314—316 

cylindrica  . 

. 300 

costulata  . 

. 314 

inornata 

. 300 

rufilabrum 

. 314 

muscorum  . 

. 300 

reticulata  . 

. 314 

Purpura  lapillus  . 

. 325 

soluta 

. 490 

Pychnogonida  . 

. 412 

punctura  . 

. 314,  315 

Pychnogonum  baleenarum 

. 413 

Beanii 

. 314 

Pyloridae 

. 353 

calathisca  . 

. 314 

inconspicua 

. 315 

semicostata 

. 315 

Quinqueloculina  semilunaris 

. 479 

Bryerea 

. 315 

cora  . 

. 479 

striata 

. 315 

labiosa 

. 315 

R. 

ulvse  . 

. 315 

Radiata 

. 436 

ventricosa  . 

. 315 

Raia  Batis  . . 259,  260, 

404,  410 

fulgida 

• 315,  489 

oxyrhynchus 

259,  260 

rubra 

. 316 

chagrinea 

. 260 

interrupta  . 

. 316,  317 

maculata 

260,  261 

proxima 

. 316 

clavata 

260,  262 

vitrea 

. 316 

miraletus 

. 260 

nivosa 

. 316 

rubus  . 

. 260 

unifasciata 

. 316 

laevis  vulgata 

. 260 

cingilla 

. 316 

marginata  . 

. 260 

alba  . 

. 316 

radula  . 

. 262 

Ballbe 

. 316 

radiata 

. 264 

rupestris  . 

. 316 

intermedia , . 

. 264 

semistriata 

. 316,  317 

radula 

. 262 

tristiata 

. , . 316 

Rana  temporaria  . 

. 64 

dispar 

. 317 

Raniceps  trifurcatus 

. 188 

Warrenii  . 

. 317 

Rat,  black  . 

. 16 

albella 

. 317 

brorvn  or  common 

. 18 

decussata  . 

317 

512 


INDEX. 


Rissoa  Zetlandica 

PAGE 

. 490 

Scombridae  . 

PAGE 

. 92 

Rock-fish 

. Ill 

Scopelus  borealis 

. 175 

Rockling , tliree-bearded 

. 186 

Scorpion , sea  . - 

. 80 

five-bearded  . 

. 186 

ScorpionUra  vulgaris  . 

. 394 

Rorqual 

. 58 

longicornis 

. 394 

Rossia  Owenii 

. 271 

maxima  . 

. 394 

Jacobii 

. 271 

Scyllium  canicula  . 24/ 

r— 249,  253 

Rotalia  beccarii  . 

. 478 

stellaris 

. 247—250 

beccarii-perversus 

. 478 

catulus 

. 247—250 

inflata 

. 478 

melanostomum 

. 250 

crassula  . 

. 478 

Artedi  . 

. 250 

Rotalina  communis 

. 479 

Scymnus  borealis 

. 255 

Round-tail 

. 148 

Sea-devil 

. 119 

Rudd  .... 

. 138 

Sea-snail 

. 221 

Q 

Seal,  common 

. 36 

o. 

grey  . 

. 38 

Sabella  reniformis 

. 430 

Sebastes  Norvegicus  . 

. 82 

penicillus  . . 

. 430 

Selachus  maximus 

. 253 

carnea  . . 

. 430 

Sepia  officinalis  . 

. 269 

tribularia  . . 

429,  430 

rupellaria  . 

. 269 

granulata  . . 

. 430 

Sepiola  Rondeletii 

. 270 

Sabellaria  alveolata 

. 429 

Atlantica . 

. 270 

crassissima  . 

. 429 

Serialaria  lendigera 

. 465 

Sagitta  Britannica 

. 271 

Serpents 

. 63 

Salamandra  aquatica  . 

. 67 

Serpula  vermicularis  . 

. 430,  431 

Salmo  Umbla 

. 160 

intricata  . 

. 431 

ferox 

. 156 

serrulata 

. 431 

Salar 

. 143 

vitrea 

. 431 

salmulus  . 

. 143 

triquetra . 

. 431 

Eriox 

. 148 

Serpulina  . 

. 429 

Trutta 

. 151 

Sertularia  polyzonias  . 

. 453 

alb  us 

. 151 

rugosa 

. 453 

Fario 

. 152 

rosacea 

. 453 

Salvelinus 

. 160 

pumila 

. 454 

Salmon 

143,  145 

pinaster 

. 454 

Salmonidae  . 

. 143 

tamarisca 

. 455 

Sandnecker  . 

. 197 

abietina 

. 455 

Sand-smelt . 

. 106 

filicula 

. 455 

Sarcochitum  polyoum  . 

. 476 

operculata  . 

. 455 

Sarcodictyon  catenata  . 

. 461 

argentea 

. 455 

Sarsia  tubulosa  . 

. 448 

cupressina  . 

. 456 

Saury  . . . 

. 142 

Sessilia 

. 416 

Saury-pike  . 

. 142 

Shad,  Twaite 

. 177 

Saxicava  rugosa  . 

. 357 

Allice 

. 177 

Scad  .... 

. 95 

Shark,  blue 

. 250 

Scalaria  elathrus  . 

. 322 

Beaumaris 

. 251 

clathratula 

. 323 

basking , or  Sun-fish 

. 253 

Turtoni  . 

. 323 

Greenland 

. 255 

T revel  y ana 

. 323 

Shrew,  or  Shrew-Mouse 

. 4 

Scald-fish 

. 205 

Common  . 

. 4 

Scalpellum  vulgare 

. 415 

Sida  crystallina  . 

. 406 

Scisena  Aquila 

. 90 

Sidnyum  turbinatum  . 

. 361 

Scissurella  crispata 

. 321 

Sigalion  boa 

. 434 

Sciurus  vulgaris  . 

. 14 

Sigaretidae  . 

. 328 

SCLERODERMI 

. 244 

Sigaretus  perspicuus  . 

. 328 

Scomber  scomber 

. 92 

tentaculatus . 

. 328 

maculatus 

. 93 

Silurus  Glanis 

. 143 

Scomberesox  Saurus  . 

. 142 

Silurus,  sly  . 

. 143 

INDEX. 

513 

Silver-fish  . 

PAGE 

135 

Spirorbis  conicus 

430 

Siphonophora  . 

446 

lucidus 

430 

SlPHONOSTOMATA 

408 

Spirula  Australis . 

271 

Sipunculidae 

444 

Spirulina  carinatula 

477 

Sipunculus  Bernhardus 

445 

subarcuatula 

477 

Pallasii 

445 

Spongia  palmata 

481 

Skate  .... 

259 

pulchella 

484 

Skenea  depressa  . 

318 

limbata 

484 

Serpuloides 

319 

Spongilla  fluviatilis 

483 

Skipper 

142 

lacustris 

483 

Slow -worm  . 

64 

Sprat  .... 

176 

Smelt .... 

167 

Squalus  Canicula 

247 

Smooth-Newt,  common 

67 

annulatus 

248 

palmated 

68 

vulpes  . 

250 

Snake,  ringed  . . 

64 

hinnulus 

252 

Snake-fish,  red 

97 

laevis 

252 

Solaster  endeca  . 

439 

mustelus 

253 

papposa  . 

440 

galeus 

410 

Sole  .... 

205 

Squamipinnati 

92 

Lemon . 

206 

Squatina  Angelus 

255 

little 

206 

Squirrel 

14 

variegated 

211 

Stenorynchus  phalangium 

368’ 

369 

Solea  vulgaris  . . 205,  210, 

211 

tenuirostris 

369 

Pegusa 

206 

Egyptius 

369 

Lingula  . . 206,  209, 

211 

longirostris 

369 

variegata  . 

. 209, 

211 

Stickle-back,  S-spined  . 

82 

parva  sive  Lingula 

210 

4 -spined  . 

88 

Solen  vagina 

356 

10  -spined . 

89 

siliqua 

356 

lh-spined . 

89 

ensis  . 

356 

Sting-fish  . 

70 

pellucidus  . 

356 

Stoat  ... 

7 

legumen  . 

356 

Stomapoda  . 

393 

antiquatus  . 

356 

Sturgeon 

245 

strigilatus  . 

356 

isinglass . 

246 

Solenette 

206 

Stylaria  lacustris  . 

428 

Sorex  rusticus 

4 

Sty  lifer  Turtoni  . 

310 

tetragonurus 

4 

Succinea  putris  . 

297 

Soricidge 

4 

Pfeifferi 

297 

Sparidae 

90 

oblonga 

297j 

490 

Sparus  auratus  . 

91 

amphibia 

297 

Spatangus  purpureus  . 

441 

Sucker,  Cornish  or  Ocellated 

212 

Sphaenia  Binghami 

354 

Bimaculated 

212 

Sphaeroma  serratum  . 

403 

Connemara 

214 

Hookeri 

403 

Lump 

215 

rugicauda  . 

403 

Unctuous  . 

221 

Prideauxiana 

404 

Diminutive 

221 

curtum 

404 

Sucking-Fish,  Montagu’s 

221 

Griffithsii  . 

404 

Sun-fish,  short 

243 

Spinax  Acanthias 

.*  254,’ 

255 

oblong 

244 

Spinigrada 

436 

Surmullet,  striped 

70 

Spinther  oniscoides 

434 

Sus  scrofa  . 

36 

Spio  calcarea 

434 

Sword-fish  . 

95 

Spirting,  or  Sparling  . 

167 

Syllis  armillaris  . 

432 

Spirorbis  communis 

430 

Syngnathus  Acus 

239^ 

242 

spirillum 

430 

Typhle 

240 

granulatus 

430 

iEquoreus  . 

240 

minutus 

2 L 

430 

anguineus 

241,’ 

242 

514 


INDEX. 


Syngnathus  Ophidion  . 

PAGE 

. 241,  242 

Thoa  halecina 

452 

lumbriciformis 

. 241,  242 

Beanii 

453 

barbarus  . 

. 242 

muricata 

453 

Syrinx  papillosus 

. 444 

Thracia  convexa  . 

354 

Harveii  . 

. 444,  445 

pubescens 

354 

granulosus 

. 445 

declivis  . 

354 

Forbesii  . 

. 445 

distorta  . 

354 

tenuicinctus 

. .445 

villosiuscula 

490 

T. 

Thuiaria  thuia 

456 

articulata 

456 

Tadpole-fish 

. .188 

Thymallus  vulgaris 
Thynnus  vulgaris  . 

167 

Taenioidei  . 

. 97 

94 

Taenioides  Lepidopus  . 

. 234 

Pelamys  . 

94,  95 

Trichiurus  . 

. 234 

Thyone  papillosa 

444 

Gymnetrus  . 

. 234 

Portlockii 

444 

Stylephorus 

. 234 

raphanus  . 

444 

Cepola 

. 234 

Tinea  vulgaris 

136 

Lophotes 

. 234 

7 'oad,  common 

66 

Trachypterus 

. 234 

Natter-jack 

66 

Alepisaurus  . 

. 234 

Top-Knot,  Bloch’s 

201 

Talitrus  locusta  . 

. 395 

Muller’s 

203 

Talpa  Europaea  . 

. 4 

Tope,  common 

252 

Tanais  Dulongii  . 

.402 

Tornatella  fasciata 

328 

Tellina  fabula 

. 344 

Torpedo  nobiliana 

256 j 

258 

tenuis 

. 344 

maculosa 

256 

squalida  . 

. 344 

unimaculata 

257 

Donacina 

. . 344 

marmorata 

257 

crassa 

. 345 

Galvani  . 

257 

balaustina 

. 345 

emarginata 

258 

bimaculata 

. 345 

Walshii  . 

258 

solidula  . 

. 345 

Torsk,  or  Tusk 

186 

pygmaea  . 

. 345 

Trachinus  vipera  . 

70 

Tench  .... 

. 136 

Draco  . 

70 

Terebella  conchilega  . 

. 429 

Trebius  caudatus 

410 

cirrhata 

. 430 

Trichotropis  borealis 

327 

cristata 

. 430 

Trigla  Pini  71, 

74,  79’ 

409’, 

410 

Terebratula  aurita 

. 331 

paeciloptera 

71,  79 

psittacea  . 

. 331 

Lyra  . 

71,  74 

, 79 

Teredo  bipinnata 

. 358 

Cu  cuius 

71,  74- 

-79, 

218 

Norvegica 

. 358,  399 

Gurnardus  71,  74,  76- 

-79,  218, 

bipalmulata 

. 359,  399 

424 

navalis 

. 359,  399 

Hirundo  . 71, 

73,  74, 

79, 

409, 

malleolus 

. 359,  490 

410 

megotara  . 

. 490 

lineata  . 

• 71,  72 

, 79 

Testacellus  haliotideus . 

. 285 

aspera 

79 

Testudinata 

. 61 

Blochii 

75,  76 

Testudo  Caretta  . 

. 61 

Triloculina  Glabra 

477 

Tethea  lyncurium 

. 480 

rotundata 

477 

Tetrodon  stellatus 

. 243 

minuta 

477 

Pennantii 

. 243 

Triphoris  adversus 

324 

Thaumantias  haemisphaerica  . 448 

Tritoma  Coccineum 

244 

pileata 

. 448 

Triton  cristatus  . 

67 

Thompsoni 

. 448 

erinaceus  . 

327 

Thalassema  Neptuni  . 

. 445 

elegans 

327 

Thalassidroma  Leachii 

. 490 

Tritonia  Hombergi 

276 

Themisto  brevispinosa  . 

. 395 

plebeia  . 

276 

Thia  polita  . 

. 380 

lactea 

276 

INDEX. 


515 


Tritonia  arborescens 
Trochidse  . 

Trochus  Magus  . 

umbilicatus 

cinerarius 

littoralis 

tumidus . 

papillosus 

ziziphinus 

discrepans 

millegranus 

Martini 

conuloides 

Clealandi 

Montagui 

striatus  . 

exiguus .. 

Trophonia  Goodsiri 
Trout , Lough  Neagh 
qrey 
Bull 
Salmon 
common 
Gittaroo  . 
great  lake  . 
Truncatella  Montagui 
Trygon  pastinaca 
Tubicolse 

Tubifex  rivulorum 
Tubularia  indivisa 
l-arynx 
Tubulipora  patina 
hispida 
serpens 
obelia 
flabellaris 
Tunicata  . 

Tunny,  stripe-bellied 
Turbinidse  . 
Turbinolia  milletiana 
Turbot 

Turritella  terebra 
Turtle,  logger -head 

U. 

Udonella  caligorum 
Unionidae 
Uraster  glacialis  . 
violacea  . 
rubens  . 
hispida  . 
Ursus  Arctos 

V. 

Valkeria  cuscuta  . 

Uva 

pustulosa 


PAGE 

Valvata  piscinalis  . . . 319 

depressa  . . .319 

cristata  . . . . 319 

Pianorbis  . . . 319 

Velella  mutica  . ...  . 446 

limbosa  . . . 446 

subemarginata  . . . 446 

Yelutina  ltevigata  . . . 328 

otis  ....  328 
Venerupis  irus  ....  353 
Venus  verrucosa  ....  352 
casina  ....  352 
fasciata  ....  352 
Pennantii ....  352 
gallina  ! 352 

sinuosa  . . . . 352 

cancellata ....  352 
virginea  . . . .213 

Vermiculum  intortum  . . .478 

oblongum  . .478 

subrotundum  . .478 

Vermigrada  ....  444 
Vertigo  edentula  . . . 300,  301 

pygmsea  ....  300 
substriata  . . . 300 

palustris  ....  301 
pusilla  ....  301 
angustior  . . .301 

heterostropha  . . .301 

Vesicularia  spinosa  . . . 465 

Vespertilio  Pipistrellus  . . 1 

Nattereri  . . . 2 

Daubentonii  . . 2 

mystacinus  . . 489 

Vespertilionidfe  ....  1 

Viper,  common,  or  adder  . . 64 

Virgularia  mirabilis  . . . 460 

Vitrina  pellucida  . . . 285 

diaphana  . . . 285 

Vole,  water  . . . . .13 

field  . . . . .13 

Bank  . ...  . .13 

Vulpes  vulgaris  . . . .12 

W. 

Warty-rNewt,  common  . .67 

Water -ask,  or  Arglogher  . .67 

Weasel  .....  6 

Weever,  the  lesser  . . .70 

the  greater  . . .70 

Whale,  casing  . . . .45 

bottle-nosed  „ . .46 

Spermaceti  . . .54 

common  . . . .56 

Whiff 203 

Whiting  , . .182 

Wolf 33 


PAGE 

. 276 

. 319 

. 319 

. 319 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 320 

. 321 

. 321 

. 321 

. 429 

. 159 

. 148 

. 148 

. 151 

. 152 

. 154 

. 156 

. 312 

. 263 

. 357 

. 428 

. 452 

. 452 

. 466 

. 467 

. 467 

. 467 

. 467 

. 359 

. 94 

. 310 

. 461 

. 200 

311,  383 

. 61 

. 424 

. 340 

438,  439 

. 439 

. 439 

. 439 

. 33 

. 465 

. 465 

. 465 


516 


INDEX. 


Wrasse,  Ballan  . 

green-streaked 

blue-striped 

Cook 

three-spotted 
gibbous  . 
small-mouthed 

X. 

Xantho  florida 

rivulosa  . 
Xiphias  gladius  . 


PAGE 


Xylophaga  dorsalis 

. 359 

Z. 

Zeus  faber  . . . 

. 96 

Zoanthus  Couchii 

. 462 

Zoarces  viviparus 

. Ill 

Zoophytes  Hydroida  . 

. 451 

Asteroida  . 

. 460 

Helianthoida 

. 461 

Ascidioida 

. 465 

Zootoca  vivipara  . 

. 61 

END. 


PAGE 

. 120 

. 120 

. 124 

. 124 

. 126 

. 126 

. 132 

. 372 

. 372 

. 95 

THE 


JOHN  CHILDS  AND  SON,  PRINTERS.