122 DXTBLIN NATTJEAL HISTOET SOCIETY. 



well as the Sebastes or Norway haddock, already described as taken in Dingle 

 Bay. The Bergylt, or Norway haddock, is generally met with in deep water, 

 and taken on long lines on the cod banks. We have, on the other hand, rather 

 abundant in Valentia Harbour, a species, peculiar to the Mediterranean, the 

 beautiful three -spotted Wrasse (Labrus trimaculatus). 



JANUARY 13, 1854. 



REMARKS ON HARBOUR FISH AND FORMATION OF PISCINA. BY W. ANDREWS, 



M.R.I.A. 



In this statement I shall as briefly as possible remark on some of the peculi- 

 arities and habits of those fish that are easily obtainable in our harbours 

 throughout the seasons, for the object (not at the present treating on their 

 economical uses) of creating an interest in a physiological point of view, by ob- 

 serving in those large cisterns or tanks, which may be termed " piscina?," the 

 habits, the modes of progression, and the seeking of food which influence marine 

 animals. Most are aware of the great pleasure generally afforded to the visitors 

 during the last year, at the Zoological Gardens, London, in the examination of 

 the numerous marine and fresh-water fishes, and of the Chelonia, or Tortoises, 

 which were seen in the full beauty and spirit of life in the large crystal cisterns 

 and troughs. In the following I shall allude principally to the smaller kinds, 

 chiefly marine, that would form objects of interest in their investigation, and, in 

 many instances, may lead to views entirely new, as the absence hitherto of such 

 facilities has led to erroneous decisions, put forward in ichthyological works, 

 at variance too with physiological facts. Among the Percidfe, or family of 

 perches, the greater and lesser, weevers, Trachinus draco, and T. vipera, are 

 singular in their habits. The latter is most frequently met in sandy inlets ; and 

 I have in several cases witnessed the severe effects of its wound. It is well 

 known in Kerry as the sting-fish, and it is surprising that some works on ich- 

 thyology still represent the injury to be caused by the dorsal spine ; but my 

 friend Dr. Allman has clearly proved the action to be from the strong opercular 

 spine. It is a pretty fish, streaked with brown and yellow, with a silvery abdo- 

 men; having , its eyes fixed upwards ; like the gobies, it settles in the sand, 

 watching the approach of its prey. A few specimens of T. draco have been met 

 in Ventry Harbour. Of the same family, the striped red mullet (Mullus surmu- 

 letus) is of most remarkable beauty in its living state, its scales being of a bril- 

 liant red, passing into a silvery pink on the belly. In confinement it timidly 

 moves about, waving its barbules to and fro, as organs of touch. It is frequently 

 taken in the herring-nets, at the entrance of Ventry Harbour, and is probably 

 by no means uncommon there, and when taken from the nets exhibits great 

 brilliancy of colouring. Its scales are easily rubbed from the body, so that those 

 seen in the fish-shops in London are rarely good specimens, the scales being all 

 detached by the working of the trawl-net they are taken in. The Basse, or sea 

 perch (Labrax lupus), is plentiful at seasons in Brandon Creek, and, like several 

 of our marine fish, thrives well kept permanently in fresh water. Under the 

 head of the mailed cheeks, or gurnard family, are the several species of bull- 

 heads, such as Cottus scorpius, and C. bubalis, which are most amusing when 

 captured. Some give a slight hissing sound, and make their formidable spines 

 very prominent by the inflation of the head. Nothing can equal the extreme 

 beauty of the Cottus Grajnlandicus, or Greenland bull-head, fine specimens of 

 which were taken in Dingle Harbour — the richest tints of carmine, and deep 

 marone, with spots and barrings of most vivid brilliancy, characterize these 

 beautiful fish when living. The ova, or roe, is different from that of the other 

 species, being of a fine scarlet, which was remarkable in the species I dissected. 

 The natives of Greenland are fond of this fish, and even eat the roe in a raw 

 state. The Pogge, or armed bull-head, is very frequent in the harbours and 



