32 The Irish Natutalisl. January, 



Lamprls Iuna (Opah or King-fish), almost insisted on being re-' 

 corded in this list of fishes. According to the account furnished 

 by Mr. Baring of its capture last June, it seemed to struggle violently 

 in shallow water, apparently determined to reach dry land. About 

 2 p.m. on the 25th June, 1906, one of Mr Baring's men working in 

 the lower garden called out that he saw something strange on the 

 strand south of the harbour. There was bright sunshine at the time 

 and the red colour gave the impression, to those who were'runningto 

 the spot, of some creature covered with blood. It turned out to be a 

 great red fish of strange shape, stranded by the outgoing tide among 

 the rocks and sand, and lying there gasping and glittering in the 

 sun. Realising that it must be something out of the common and 

 that the fish was already too far gone to be restored to the sea, it 

 was brought carefull}* ashore in a barrow, and sent to Dublin in a 

 boat which, as it happened, was about to sail for Howth. The 

 specimen is now preserved in the Dublin Museum. It measures 3 

 feet 7 inches in length and 2 feet in height. The gorgeous colours 

 which characterise this large pelagic fish were still plainly visible 

 when it reached me. It is one of the most beautiful species of 

 the Atlantic Ocean, and it is said to be excellent eating. If reports 

 can be trusted the anterior half tastes like beef and the other half 

 like salmon. A vivid reddish violet tint is the prevailing colour, 

 but it gradually merges into a silvery hue below, while specks of 

 silver appear on its body like bright six-penny pieces. The fins are 

 brilliantly scarlet. With us this fish is exceedingly rare. There 

 have only been seven previous records, three of which were from 

 the north. Once before, namely in 185 1, was an Opah taken on the 

 Dublin shore, but since that time, for 55 years, no specimen seems to 

 have visited our coast. An illustration of the Lambay specimen 

 is given in this report (Plate 13). 



Cobius minutus (Freckled Goby), was taken in Talbot's Bay 

 (A. R. N.). 



Blennius pholis (Shanny), common in rock-pools (B.-W.). 



Centronotus gunnelius (BuTTERFiSH), common in rock-pools 

 (B.-W.). 



Cottus (311 balls (Father Lasher), was taken in bay on south-west of 

 Lambay and at Carrickdorrish. 



Casterosteus spinach ia (Sea Stickleback), was caught in a hand 

 net in the harbour by W. Rankir (R. LI- P.). 



On os mu stela (Five- bearded Rockung), was observed in rock- 

 pools near Carrickdorrish (B.-W.) and in Talbot's Bay (A. R. N ). 



PIcuroncctes I i man da (Common Dab), a young specimen dredged 

 up in 5 fathoms on gravelly bottom off north shore (B.-W.). 



Nerophis Iumbriciformis (Worm Pipe-fish), a small specimen in 

 a rock-pool on south-west shore (B.-W.). 



a n^uiiia angullla (Common Eee;, inhabits the small pond above 

 the lower garden at the castle. A specimen has attained the length 

 of 13 inches. 



