174 Guide to Belfast. 



Schedophilus medusophagus. — The first specimen 

 recorded from the British seas was taken by Ogilby at 

 Portrush in August 1878. It measured 9^ inches, and was 

 taken in a sahnon net. 



Lampris luna. — The Opah, or King-fish, is very rare. 

 Thompson records one which was captured in Belfast 

 Lough, off Whitehouse, 2 July, 1850. It is still preserved 

 in the Belfast Museum. 



Caranx trachurus. — The Scad is very uncertain in its 

 visits, but in some years (e.g., 1878 and 1881) vast shoals 

 appear. The numbers which came ashore near The Gobbins 

 in 1 88 1 were so enormous that the farmers on Island Magee 

 manured their fields with them. (R. Lloyd Patterson.) 



Zeus faber. John Dory. — Not at all common about 

 Portrush, and very rare in Belfast Lough. 



Gobius Ruthensparri. — The Double-spotted Goby 

 is fairly common. Thompson found it especially numerous 

 along the shores of Down. 



G. niger. — The Black Goby has been obtained in a 

 few instances. 



G. minutus. Freckled Goby. — Common in sandy bays. 



Callionymus lyra. Dragonet. — Not uncommon; 

 females are more frequently taken than males. 



Cyclopterus lumpus. — The Lump-sucker is occasion- 

 ally taken round the coast, but is never common. Thompson 

 records one 23^ inches long from Portaferry, Co. Down. 



Liparis Montagui. — The Diminutive Sucker has been 

 taken off both counties in small numbers. 



Lepadogaster Gouanii. — Thompson records the 

 Cornish Sucker from Portrush. 



L. bimaculatus. — The Bimaculated Sucker is not un- 

 common in Belfast and Strangford Loughs; has also been 

 taken at Lame and off St. John's Point. 



Anarrhichas lupus. — Templeton records a Wolf-fish 

 taken in Belfast Lough in 1807 ; but Thompson never knew 

 of one in his time, and there are no more recent records. 



Blennius gattorugine. Gattoruginous Blenny. — 

 Ogilby states that it is not rare at Portrush, but it is un- 

 common elsewhere. Has been taken at Carrickfergus and 

 Carnlough. 



