77 



June 9, 1835. 



Williain Yarrell, Esq., in the Chair. 



At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Thompson of Belfast exhi- 

 bited numerous specimens of Birds and Fishes, some of which were 

 new to the Britisli, and many to the Irish, Fauna. With reference 

 to these specimens, and to others not in his ovvn possession, he read 

 the following notes. 



" Of the following species of Birds, Fishes, &c., the first four are 

 additions to the British Fauna : the remainder are species hitherto 

 unpubh'shed in the Fauna of Ireland. 



Canada Orvl, Surnia funerea, Dum. An Orvl of this species, pre- 

 served in the collection of Dr. Burkitt of Waterford, was taken on 

 board a coUier, a fevv miles ofFthe coast of Cornvvall, in March, 1830, 

 being at the time in so exhausted a statė as to allow itself to be 

 captured by the hand. On the arrival of the vessel at Waterford, 

 whither she was bound, the bird was given to a friend of Dr. Burkitt, 

 with whom it lived for a fevv weeks, and then came into his posses- 

 sion. The very circumstantial account of the capture of this bird 

 given by Captain Stacey of the collier, leaves no doubt of its aecu- 

 racy. 



Lough Neagh Coregonus. In September lašt a comparison of the 

 Lough Neagh Coregonus with the Vendace of Loch Meben (vvhence 

 I procured specimens, through the kindness of Sir WilHam Jardine, 

 Bart.,) pro ved to me that these species are distinct. The disagree- 

 ment of the former with the Giviniad, or Coregonus of Wales, as de- 

 scribed by Pennant, was at the šame time very obvious ; and from 

 the examination of an individual of the latter species (lately favoured 

 me by Mr. Yarrell) and specimens of the Lough Neagh Fish, I am 

 fully satisfied that they are specifically different. 



From the Grviniad, the Pollan or Lough Neagh Coregonus differs 

 in the snout not being produced ; in the scales of the lateral line ; 

 in having fewer rays in the anai fin, and in its position being rather 

 more distant from the tail ; in the dorsal, anai, and caudal fins being 

 of less dimensions ; and in the third ray of the pectoral fin being 

 longest, the first being of the greatest length in the Grviniad. 



From the Pollan, the Vendace or Loch Meben Coregonus differs so 

 essentially in its lower jaw being the longer, as well as in its being 

 turned upwards, as to rencler it unnccessary to draw further com- 

 parison. 



The Pollan is very uniform in size, its ordinary length being 

 about 10 inches : none that I ha ve ever seen exceeded 12. The 

 relative length of the head to that of the body is as 1 to about 3-f : the 



No. XXX. Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



