Zoo log}'. 177 



1836, 1839, and 1840, and at Portaferry in 1849 (Thompson), 

 while one taken off the Co. Down coast in 1886 was sent to 

 R. Lloyd Patterson. 



Molva vulgaris. — The Ling is fairly common; but 

 while there is a regular fishery for them at Portrush, in 

 Belfast Lough Ling are only occasionally got. Thompson 

 records one of 59 lbs. 



Motella mustela. — The Five-bearded Rockling is 

 found around the coast, but is nowhere very numerous. 



M. tricirrata. — The Three-bearded Rockling is com- 

 paratively uncommon in Belfast Lough, but Ogilby states 

 it is plentiful about Portrush ; much more so than M. 

 mustela. 



Raniceps raninus The Lesser Fork-beard, orTadpole- 



Hake, is very rare. Thompson records one from Donaghadee, 



1837, and Ogilby met with three at Portrush; viz., 1875, 

 1876, and 1878. All four exam{)les were washed ashore 

 dead. 



Fierasfer dentatus. — -The first British example of this 

 exceedingly rare fish was picked up by Dr. J. L. Drummond 

 at Carnlough, Co. Antrim, in June 1836, and was fully 

 described by Thompson, Trans. Zool. Soc, ii, p. 207, under 

 the name of Drummond's Echiodon. 



Ammodytes lanceolatus. — The Greater Sand-eel is 

 common in sandy bays, especially on the coast of Down. 

 " About two days after a severe north-westerly gale which 

 occurred in January 1876, large numbers of this species 

 were found on the east strand, Portrush, about 50 yards 

 above high-water mark, buried in the sand, from which their 

 heads protruded about an inch, being driven in by the 

 violence of the waves." — Ogilby, in Scl. Five. J^.D.S., vol. iv, 

 18S5, p. 522. 



A. tobianus. — The Small Sand-eel is more numerous 

 than the preceding species ; large quantities are taken on 

 the sandy shores of Down. Enormous numbers must be 

 destroyed by sea-birds. 



Hippoglossus vulgaris. — The Halibut is only occa- 

 sionally taken in Belfast Lough, and a few are caught yearly 

 at Portrush on the cod-lines. Thompson mentions one of 

 over 300 lbs. taken at Ballywalter, Co. Down. 



L 



