464 Survey of Fishing- Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, 1890-1891. 



outer series visibly stronger than the remainder. Barbel slender, not so long 

 as the eye. The dorsal profile rises rather suddenly towards the anterior dorsal 

 spine, especially in large specimens. The inter-orbital space is flat, or very 

 slightly convex ; its width considerably less than the diameter of the eye, which 

 cons^iicuously exceeds the length of the snout, and is from two-fifths in young 

 examples to one-third of the length of the head in large examples. In small 

 examples the exjiosed surface of the scales are beset by three principal rows of 

 rather long, slender spinelets, those of the central row the largest, subsidiary rows 

 of smaller spinelets being also present. The number of rows increases with age, 

 and the spinelets become relatively shorter and stouter, until in large specimens 

 the whole of the exposed surface is closely packed by short, conical spinelets, 

 sub-equal in length, and not arranged in definite rows. There are eight scales in 

 a transverse series between the first dorsal and the lateral line. Second dorsal 

 spine nearly as long as the head, armed along its anterior edge with barbs 

 pointing upwards and rather closely set. The second dorsal fin commences at 

 a distance from the first, which is less than the length of the head. The outer 

 pelvic ray usually produced into a short filament reaching beyond the commence- 

 ment of the anal fin. 



Colours. — Anterior and lateral part of head and caudal region dull silvery 

 grey. Trunk deep indigo-blue, darkening ventrally into blue-black, which 

 extends on to the under-surface of the head. Young examples the darkest. 

 Antero-superior part of first dorsal black. The blue colouration gradually 

 disappears in specimens preserved in alcohol. 



The above diagnosis being founded upon s^^ecimens between 13"5 and 34"5 

 cm. in length, the terms "large" and "small" must be interpreted accordingly. 



Description of Specimens. — Of the seven examples taken during the Survey 

 we select four for description, as illustrative of different stages of development. 

 We are able to add another siDCcimen, also from the West of Ireland, though 

 not taken during the Survey. It is rather larger than any of om- own examples, 

 and therefore makes our series the more representative. It will be designated as 

 X, the Survey specimens being termed respectively A, B, C, and D. 



