FISHES NEW TO OR RARE IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH 23 



SOME FISHES NEW TO OR RARE IN THE 

 FIRTH OF FORTH 



By WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S. 



THE material for this contribution has been derived from two 

 sources; namely (i) from specimens and data most kindly 

 supplied by my friend Mr. Thomas Scott, Naturalist to the 

 Fishery Board for Scotland, and (2) from notes and captures 

 made by the writer at North Berwick during August 1894. 



TRIGLOPS MURRAYI, Gilnther. 



The addition of this rare and peculiarly distributed species 

 to the fauna of the Firth of Forth is an event of considerable 

 interest from an ichthyological standpoint. 



On the 28th of November 1890 Mr. Thomas Scott 

 secured a specimen within the Firth, to the west of May 

 Island. He carefully examined it at the time, with the aid 

 of Day's "British and Irish Fishes"; and finding no species in 

 that standard work corresponding with his capture, he 

 preserved it for future consideration. Investigations in 

 connection with those Orders upon which Mr. Scott is well 

 known as a leading authority deprived him, however, of 

 an opportunity for its determination ; and eventually, in 

 September last, he kindly handed it over to me for that 

 purpose. This specimen is nearly 5 inches I25'5 mm. 

 in length. It was taken in water varying from 25 to 28 

 fathoms in depth, on ground with a mud bottom, situated 

 about half way between the north and south shores of the 

 Firth and lying west of May Island. 



This species was described as new to science in 1885, 

 from several specimens captured in the Mull of Kintyre, at a 

 depth of 64 fathoms, in February and March ; and four miles 

 south-east of the island of Sanda, in 35 fathoms, in the 

 middle of March. These examples were from 2' 5 to 4 

 inches in length, and were obtained by Dr. John Murray 

 whilst dredging on board the " Medusa." They are described 

 by Dr. Giinther in the " Proceedings of the Royal Society of 

 Edinburgh " (vol. xv. p. 209, Plate IV. Fig. A). 



