486 Survey of Fishing- Grounds^ West Coast of Ireland^ 1890—1891. 



closely, in all other respects, with the specimen -under consideration, that we have 

 not thought it necessary to produce another illustration. 



Locality and Distribution. — Our single examjile was trawled on rough 

 ground in Donegal Bay, 25 fathoms. The species was not previously known to 

 Irish zoology, but several specimens had been recorded by Giinther from the 

 north of the British Islands, viz. from Shetland ; Lamlash Bay, off Cloch Light- 

 house, and Kilbrennan Sound, Firth of Clyde. 



Couch also recorded a specimen from the Bristol Channel, and a number of 

 examjiles were subsequently taken by Mr. Cunningham at Plymouth. The species 

 may therefore be considered as fairly distributed on the British coasts. 



The species is otherwise known from the coast of Norway, while recently 

 Petersen* has recorded two specimens taken near Laeso, in 27 and 38 fathoms, on 

 the Danish side of the Cattegat. 



Rhombus Boscii, Risso. (Deep-sea.) 



Rhomhiis Boscii, Gunthek, "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.," iv., 1889, 



p. 418. 



„ „ Bourne, " Journ. M. B. Assoc," N.S., i., 1890, 



p. 306. 



In view of the close resemblance which this si^ecies has been supposed to bear 

 to the preceding, especial care was taken during the survey that the two should 

 not be confused. Nearly all the sail-flukes taken came under the observation of 

 one of us during the progress of the Survey in the fresh condition, and certainly 

 all that occm-red in deep water have been examined in either the fresh or 

 preserved condition. The results of our examination has convinced us that 

 Rhombus Boscii was never taken. 



This is somewhat remarkable, since several were caught by the " Flying Fox " 

 at 150 and 315 fathoms (Giinther), while many were met with by the " Research" 

 at 200, 217, and 70 fathoms (Sts. 1, 4, and 7, Bourne). 



It appears, therefore, that the species is by no means rare in deep and 

 moderately deep water off the S.W. coast ; and its entire absence from the Survey 

 collections would seem to indicate that it does not range further to the north than 

 the gi'ounds worked by the "Flying Fox" and "Research." The operations of 

 these vessels, as appears from the accounts given by Messrs. Green and Bourne, 

 took place well to the southward of the Irish coast, whereas the most southerly 



* Petersen, "On the Biology of our Flat Fishes." — Report of the Danish Biological Station, 189-1, 

 p. 44. 



