THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



SCYLLIUM CATULUS, Gunil. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 312, PI. CLIX., Fig. 2.) 



This larger spotted dogfish is found round the coasts of Europe generally, bvit is not so 

 common in our seas as the last species. It is occasionally taken off Port Erin and round the 

 Isle of Man ; and Prof. White tells us he has taken one, 3! feet long, this year in Carnarvon 

 Bay. 



PRISTIURUS MELANOSTOMUS (Rafin.) Black-mouthed Dogfish. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 314, PI. CLX., Fig. i.) 

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



This dogfish occurs throughout N.W. Europe and the Mediterranean, and is sometimes 

 found in our district. We have a local specimen in the College Museum. 



Family SPINACID^:. 



ACANTHI AS VULGARIS, Risso. Picked Dog-fish. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 315, PI. CLX., Fig. 2.) 



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



This common Dog-fish has a wide range in temperate seas. It occurs in great 

 abundance all around our coasts. It is commonly taken on cod lines and in trawl nets in our 

 district ; frequently on long lines around the Calf, Port Efin. 



ECHINORHINUS spiNosus (Cuv.) Spinous Shark. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 323, PI. CLXIL, Fig. 2.) 



This Shark has a wide distribution, from the north of Europe to the Cape of Good Hope. 

 It has been recorded from many points round the British coast, including one in our district. 

 " Mr Moore has recorded one from Ireland, captured September 25th, 1882, near Skerries, 

 about 15 miles to the north of Dublin " (Day). 



Sub-order II. TECTOSPONDYLI. 



(Skates and Rays). 



If the centra of the vertebra are calcified, it is in the form of concentric rings. Spiracles 

 are always present. Large pectoral fins, fused with and surrounding the sides of the head ; 

 body usually flattened dorso-ventrally. The tail fin is feeble, and there is no anal fin ; gill-slits 

 on the ventral surface, and spiracle on the dorsal. 



Family RHINID^E. 



RHINA SQUATINA (Linn.) Monk-fish. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 326, PI. CLXIH.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, "Abbot." 



The "Monk," or "Angel-fish," has almost a world-wide distribution, and is common 

 off our coasts in spring and summer. It occurs not unfrequently in the trawl net in the 

 Lancashire district. We have taken it as near Liverpool as the Rock and Horse Channels, 



