2o6 August, 



THE PILOT FISH IN IRISH WATERS. 



BY R. F. SCHARFF, PH.D., F.I,.S. 



On the gtli July last, Miss M. J. Delap, of Valentia Island, Co. 

 Kerry, sent me a fish which had been caught in the mackerel 

 nets the night before. Miss Delap not only noticed that it 

 was a rare fish, but actually recognised that it was a Pilot Fish, 

 {Nazicrates dtictor) and determined to forward it to the National 

 Museum at once. 



Although the colours were somewhat faded when it reached 

 Dublin, the broad, vertical, purplish bands with which the fish 

 is ornamented were still well visible. These, and the dark 

 caudal fin, with its white-tipped lobes, alone serve to distin- 

 guish the Pilot Fish from its congeners of the Horse-mackerel 

 family to which it belongs. The specimen was 13 inches long 

 and in an excellent state of preservation. 



The Pilot Fish is a pelagic species, with a wide distribution 

 in temperate and tropical seas. It often accompanies vessels 

 during long voyages, and the Romans believed that it was 

 kindly disposed towards sailors, helping to guide their ships 

 to the harbour. The fish has occasionally been taken on the 

 south-west coast of England, having followed ships from the 

 Mediterranean, but we only possess a single record of the 

 Pilot Fish having been taken in Irish waters. Dr. Harvey tells 

 us in his '* Fauna of the Co. Cork" that a specimen, captured 

 in 1842 at Crookhaven, Co. Cork, was still, in 1844, in the 

 possession of Mr. W. T. Jones, of Cork. As an Irish species, the 

 Pilot Fish is, therefore, to be looked upon as an extreme rarity. 



National Museum, DubHu, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Barn-owl from Dr. M'Keuna, a Curlew from 

 Sergt. W. Shea, a Badger and a Hooded Crow from Mr. W. W. Despard, 

 a Corn-crake from Mr. Little, two Kestrels from Mr. D. M'Cullagb, a 

 Black Cuckoo from Mr. H. B. Ratliborne, and a Grey Parrot from Mr. 

 B. Dunnill. Six Racoons have been acquired. The two Giraffes from 

 the Soudan are now on their way to this country, and a special enclosure 

 for their reception is being made. 



