THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 4! 



APHIA PELLUCIDA (Nard.) Transparent Goby. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 169, PI. LIII., Fig. 3.) 



(Fish. Mus. , Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This fish, also called the Nonnat, a French name, goes about in shoals, and occasionally 

 appears in some parts of our district in large numbers. We have obtained them from the 

 Menai Straits, and from Piel Island, in the Barrow Channel, where it has been taken along 

 with shoals of young herring. Professor White found it in great abundance in Menai Straits in 

 1897, but since then only stray individuals have been taken. 



The species ranges from Norway to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. 



Family CALLIONYMID^E. 

 CALLIONYMUS LYRA, Linn. DragTOnet. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 174, PI. LIV.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This beautiful little fish is variously known as the Gemmeous Dragonet, the Dusky 

 Skulpin, and by some fishermen, locally, the " Bishop." 



It extends from Norway to the coasts of France, and is common round our coasts. In 

 this district it is captured in the shrimp and fish trawls. The females seem to be commoner 

 on the shrimping grounds than the males. We find it frequently at the mouth of the Mersey, 

 and in our other estuaries, and have taken it also in the Barrow Channel, the Menai Straits, 

 and at the mouth of the Dee, in shrimp trawls. It is frequently taken in the dredge inside and 

 especially outside Port Erin Bay. 



Family DISCOBOLI. 



CYCLOPTERUS LUMPUS, Linn. Lumpsucker. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 179, PI. LV.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, "Hen-fish." 



The Lumpsucker, or Hen Fish, is on the whole a northern fish, ranging from Arctic 

 Seas (Iceland) to the northern parts of France. In our seas it is commonest off the Scottish 

 coasts, but has also been recorded at various places round the English and Welsh coasts. In 

 our district it is not uncommonly cast ashore. We have found it at Hoylake and Hilbre 

 Island, at the Isle of Man, hi Morecambe Bay, and in the Dee estuary. Mr. Walker tells us he 

 has found it at Colwyn Bay and at Rhos Weir. It is sometimes taken in the shrimp nets in our 

 estuaries. It has been found as far up the Mersey as Tranmere, above Birkenhead. It is also 

 found in the Barrow Channel, round Piel, in the Menai Straits, and is occasionally taken on 

 long lines around the Calf, Port Erin, in early spring. 



LIPARIS VULGARIS, Flem. Sea-snail. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. I., p. 184, PI. LVL, Fig. i.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. College, Liverpool). Local name, "Sucker." 



This common Sea-snail, or Sucker, ranges from Arctic Seas to the coast of France. 



It seems to be commoner in Scotland than with us, but is found in various parts of our district. 



It has been taken as far up the estuary of the Mersey as between the Dingle and Garston in a 



