Zoology. 173 



Cottus scorpius. Large Bull-head. — Common. 



C. bubalis. Long-spined Bull-head. — Common. 



Trigia lineata. Streaked Gurnard. — The first Irish 

 record was from Strangford Lough ; it is taken annually in 

 small numbers. 



T. cuculus. Red Gurnard. — Conniion round the coast. 



T. hirundo In the north of Ireland called "Grey 



Gurnard." Common. 



T. gurnardus. — Locally called " Knowd," and the 

 commonest of the gurnards here, especially in autumn ; R. 

 Lloyd Patterson having caught 161 in a day's fishing, on 

 hand lines, in Belfast Lough. 



Agonus cataphractus. "Armed Bull-head." — Occa- 

 sionally taken in trawls ; often found in stomachs of Cod. 



Lophius piscatorius. — The Angler Fish is not un- 

 common here. Ogilby records one from Portrush 5 ft. 7 in. 

 long, which contained a fresh Ling of 8 lbs. weight ; while 

 Thompson mentions that a fresh Wigeon was taken from 

 one in Lame Lough. 



Trachinus vipera. — The Lesser Weever is sometimes 

 quite abundant. Ogilby records one of the unusual length 

 of Q)\ inches, taken at Portrush. 



Scomber scomber. — The Mackerel is usually common 

 from July to September, but at intervals it appears to almost 

 forego its annual visits. It is capricious in its movements, 

 being sometimes abundant at one place and scarce a few 

 miles off. R. Lloyd Patterson has caught 354 in a day 

 by "streaming." 



Orcynus thynnus. — The Tunny is rare. In the autumn 

 of 1 84 1 a large specimen came ashore in Ballyholme Bay, 

 Bangor, Co. Down ; it measured 8 ft. 3 ins. in length, 5 ft. 

 4 ins. in girth, and weighed fully 300 lbs. (Thompson). Ogilby 

 records another which stranded itself at Portrush, i Septem- 

 ber, 1878; its length was 8 ft., girth 5 ft. i in., weight 

 estimated at from 3 to 4 cwts. It was probably one of a shoaL 



Brama Raii. Ray's Bream. — Although Thompson very 

 properly threw doubts on the correctness of McSkimmin's 

 statement regarding this fish, it can now be included in the 

 list, as Ogilby obtained one at Portrush in July 1878. It 

 was washed ashore dead, and was 15 inches long. 



