124 DXTBLIW NATURAX HISTORY SOClETr. 



is only obtainable in the trawl, in deep water, for I have only met in the Har- 

 bour the Sordid dragonet (C. dracunculus), which possesses no beauty. The 

 family of Wrasses, or Labridre, vie with all others in the brilliancy and gaudi- 

 ness of their colours. Of these I have obtained Labrus maculata, L. lineatus, 

 and L. variegatus, and beautiful specimens of the three-spotted wrasse (L. tri- 

 maculatus), in Valentia Harbour, its colours most brilliant rose and reddish 

 orange. In the seine, in Dingle Harbour, 1 have taken the Comber wrasse (L. 

 comber), and a beautiful little wrasse, marked with a lateral band, similar to 

 the Rainbow wrasse, but having the abdomen reddish, and the head marked 

 with wavy orange lines. The Goldsinny, or Goldfinny (Crenilabrus Cornubi- 

 ensis), I have taken in numbers ; it is an extremely beautiful fish. I am certain 

 that others of the Crenilabri will be met with on the coast of Kerry, and even 

 some that are peculiar to the Mediterranean. There is no class of fishes that 

 would be more beautiful in a vivarium, nor none that could be more easily fed, 

 living as they do upon Crustacea and the harder mollusca, which their jaws, 

 armed with strong conical teeth, enable them to crush. Thus, imagine such a 

 species as the Labrus lupina, silvery, with three broad longitudinal bands 

 formed of vermillion dots, with yellow pectorals and blue ventrals. The Eso- 

 cidse include the garfish (Esox vulgare), which, in the young state, has afforded 

 to me some degree of interest in the examination, particularly with reference to 

 the supposed existence in our seas of a species of Hemiramphus. However, the 

 numerous opportunities I had of examining the different stages of growth con- 

 firmed me in the opinion that the Hemiramphus Europseus was no other than the 

 young of the garfish, and that the young state of Esox belone presented an un- 

 developed form of the upper jaw, which gradually extended in growth until 

 maturity perfected its equal development with the lower jaw. In July immense 

 numbers enter the Harbours of Dingle and Ventry, seeking the fry of other fish, 

 and to spawn, and they are taken in numbers in the seine, little cared for as 

 food, but are eagerly bought up by the fishermen for bait. In October and No- 

 vember the young appear. A specimen of the Saury pike (Scomberesox saurus) 

 is in the collection of the Society, which was taken at Ballina, on the coast of 

 Sligo. There are multitudes of others I shall pass over, and some, although 

 taken in the harbours, much longer continue in fresh- water, as the Salmonidae, 

 and which merely frequent, at periods, the salt-water estuaries. The several 

 species of Motella, the three, four, and five-bearded recklings, are frequent in 

 Dingle and Ventry Harbours ; and I have taken in a boat-trawl in Ventry the 

 mackerel midge, the beautiful little Motella glauca. Of the Pleuronectida) many 

 in the young state are to be met with in the harbours. In the summer 

 months the French, or lemon sole (Solea pegusa), and the variegated sole (Mo- 

 nochirus variegatus), are not uncommon in Ventry Harbour. The Cyclopte- 

 ridae, or suckers, are, many of them, very frequent ; the Cyclopterus lumpus 

 has been taken, of very large size, in Castlemaine Harbour, sometimes frequent- 

 ing the salmon Weirs. In some specimens the belly is of a rich azure. The 

 Cornish sucker (Lepidogaster Cornubiensis) has been taken at low water, at- 

 tached to the stones in Smerwick Harbour, its light tinge of carmine hue at- 

 tracting attention. All the known British species of the pipe-fishes (Syngna- 

 thidjc), I have obtained on the south-west coast; some are beautifully and 

 vividly marked in the living state, and their singular marsupial habits would 

 render observance of their movements and peculiarities interesting. The deep- 

 nosed pipe-fish (Syngnathus typhle) I met rather abundantly in the spring months 

 in Dingle Harbour, and the^Equoreal pipe-fish (Acestra aequorea) more frequent 

 during summer. The former may be seen of an emerald green, beautifully 

 barred, and the latter with rich tints of yellowish orange, barred with white 

 lines. The Hippocampus brevirostris, short-nosed sea-horse, has been taken at 

 low water in Smerwick, adhering, in its peculiar manner, to the rigid stems of 

 Cytoseira. Fish, like the gay plumage of our birds, assume their gaudiest 

 tints in the bridal season ; and this is remarkably seen in the Syngnathidae, in 

 the Cottidffi, and in the Gobies. Skates and rays, and the singular horny 



