Zoology. 183 



Plectognathi. 



Orthagoriscus mola. — The Short Sun-fish is rare 

 usually, but in 187 1 and 1876 it appeared in some numbers. 

 Specimens have been taken at Bushfoot, The Ciobbins, 

 Groomsport, Ardglass, Portrush, and Belfast Lough, usually 

 in autumn. 



CHONDROPTER YGII. 

 Ganoidei. 



Acipenser sturio. — The Sturgeon — our single living 

 representative of the old Ganoid fishes — is occasionally 

 taken round the coast. While rare in Belfast Lough, about 

 a dozen are annually got in more northern salmon-nets 

 (Ogilby). In December 1849 one of 4^ ft. was taken close 

 to the County Down railway station in Belfast (Thompson). 



Elasmobranchii. 



Carcharias glaucus. — The only local note of the 

 Blue Shark is one caught by R. Lloyd Patterson (Birds, 

 Fishes, etc., of Belfast Lough, p. 227). It was between five 

 and six feet long. 



Galeus vulgaris. — The Tope is not uncommon at 

 Portrush (Ogilby), but elsewhere it is only occasionally 

 obtained ; and the same may be said of the Smooth-hound 

 (Mustelus vulgaris). 



Lamna cornubica. — Only one occurrence of the 

 Porbeagle here is on record (viz., 7 July, 181 5), taken in a 

 herring-net at Carrickfergus; length, 5 ft. 1 1 ins. (Thompson). 



Alopias vulpes. — The Fox-Shark, or Thresher, has 

 been reported as "seen" on different occasions (McSkimmin, 

 Templeton, Patterson), but the first one actually captured 

 was taken in a salmon-net at Portrush, 16 June, 1876. 

 It was 4 ft. 9 ins. long. (Ogilby in Zool, 1876, p. 3049.) 



Scyllium canicula. — The Small-spotted Dog-fish is 

 abundant, and comes next to the "Picked Dogs" in numbers. 

 It is commonly eaten by the poorer classes about Portrush. 

 (Ogilby.) 



S. catulus. — The Large-spotted Dog-fish frequents the 

 north-east coast, but is comparatively rare. Ogilby only 

 obtained two at Portrush. 



