126 DTTBLtW NATXTBAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



▼iew or the harbour fish of the south-west coast, among which he had mentioned 

 several species that were considered extremely rare, and of local occurrence on 

 the coasts of Great Britain. He now exhibited species that frequented the 

 Harbours of Dingle and Ventry, and among them were fine specimens of the red 

 mullet (MuUus surmuletus). No branch required more practical investigation 

 than that of our maHne ichthyology ; and the numerous opportunities that Mr. 

 Andrews had of forming accurate notes, proved to him that much additional in- 

 formation had been obtained of the marine fish of this country, beyond what had 

 been noticed in Mr. Yarrell's work on British Fishes. He had every respect for 

 Mr. Yarrell, and considered his book a valuable reference ; still, however, species 

 had been described upon too slight grounds — Mr. Yarrell, probably, not having 

 had the opportunity of examining recent specimens, or of being supplied with 

 information of sufficient accuracy. The Labridje, or Wrasses, present very va- 

 ried features of markings and form, which have led to the describing of one 

 species under those of Crenilabrus Tinea, C. Cornubicus, and C. Gibbus. Mr. 

 Andrews had obtained numerous specimens in Dingle Harbour, at different sea- 

 sons, in all stages of growth, and he was perfectly satisfied that those several 

 species could not be separated from that of C. Tinea. Mr. Andrews exhibited 

 a fine specimen of C. Tinea, with the black spot at the termination of the lateral 

 line, at the base of the caudal fin, and which Mr. Yarrell considered to be the 

 constant and distinguishable characteristic of C. Cornubicus. A small specimen 

 of C. Tinea had also the same mark; and specimens possessing all the charac- 

 teristics ofC. Cornubicus were destitute of that mark. Mr. Andrews considered 

 that the black mark was not strictly peculiar to either C. Tinea or C. Cornubi- 

 cus, but was occasionally present or absent in both. This species is very plenti- 

 ful in Dingle and Ventry Harbours. It was named Cornubicus, as local on the 

 coast of Cornwall. The habits of these several named species are the same. 

 Mr. Andrews also exhibited specimens of Crenilabrus Microstoma, taken in 

 Dingle Harbour. 



FEBRUARY 9, 1845. 



REMARKS ON THE SERRANIAND PEKCIDJE, AND ON THE ADDITION OF POLTPRION 

 CERNIDM (cUV.) TO THE IRISH LISTS. BY WILLIAM ANDREWS, M.R.I.A., 

 HONORARY SECRETARY. 



Before submitting to your notice the subject of the present paper, I shall 

 briefly make some remarks upon the Percoides, or Perch tribe, to a division of 

 which family it belongs. These fish, the Perches, are extremely numerous both 

 in genera and species, in the lakes and rivers of Europe, and in the seas of warm 

 climates, and afford excellent and wholesome food. The far greater number of 

 Percoides have the ventral fins inserted under the pectorals, and form the first 

 division, or thoracic perches. These are further characterized by seven rays to 

 the gills, two fins to the back, and all the teeth dense and even. To this divi- 

 sion belongs the common perch of our fresh-waters, the Perca fluviatilis. Dis- 

 tinctions of the opercula and tongue characterize others, as the sea perch, or 

 Bass, Labrax lupus, which is found of much finer quality on the English coasts 

 than the coasts of Ireland, although I have seen them of good flavour taken in 

 Wexford Harbour. Very large species of the bass are on the coasts of the 

 United States. An extensive series of the division might be enumerated, re- 

 markable for their beauty and for their usefulness as food, especially the Aspro 

 vulgaris, the zingel of the Rhone and the Danube, and the common pike-perch, 

 the Lucioperca Sandra of the Danube, the Elbe, and the Oder. These, as I have 

 before remarked, might be transported, with useful results, to the barren wa- 

 ters of our inland lakes. The second division of the Percoides is distinguished 

 by the single dorsal fin, has seven rays in the gills, and the genera are placed 

 according to the characters of the teeth. To these belong the Serrani, a very 

 numerous marine genus, frequent in the Mediterranean, but chiefly abounding in 



