68 FISHES AND FISHERIES OF THE IRISH SEA. 



RAIA OXYRHVNCHUS, Linn. Long-nosed Skate. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 341, PI. CLXIX.) 



This species has been recorded from the Irish Sea, but it is a little doubtful whether the 

 record is correct. 



Family TRYGONID/E. 



TRYGOX PASTINACA, Cuv. Sting 1 Ray. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 350, PI. CLXXV.) 



The sting" ray ranges throughout the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, and has also 

 been found in the North Pacific. It is not uncommon on the south and east coasts of England. 

 It has been recorded from several points on the east coast of Ireland, and Byerley states, 

 " Taken a few times [near Liverpool], but rare one caught near Hilbre Island, 1851." Mr. 

 Clubb informs us that the stock-books of the Liverpool Free Public Museum record specimens 

 as having- been taken in the Rock Channel in 1868 and 1869, and near the Bell Buoy in 1877. 



Class CYCLOSTOMATA. 



Without true jaws, and without paired limbs, mouth suctorial and provided with horny 

 teeth, with sac-like gill pouches or gill slits. Nasal cavity unpaired, median. Alimentary 

 canal straight. No scales ; skin glandular. Vertebral column with persistent notochord. 

 Optic nerves form no chiasma. 



Order i. HYPEROARTIA. 



Roof of mouth imperforate. 



Family PETROMYZONTID^:. 



This includes the Lampreys. The ear has two semicircular canals. The gill pouches 

 open separately to the exterior. The nasal sac does not communicate with the mouth cavity. 

 There is a well developed dorsal fin. 



PETROMYZON MARINUS, Linn. Sea-Lamprey. 

 (Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 356, PI. CLXXVIH.) 



This species has a wide distribution through the seas of Europe, and extends down the 

 West African Coast. 



Lampreys have been recorded from Dublin Bay, but are apparently rare in the Irish Sea. 

 They have been obtained off the Ribble on the Lancashire Coast, in the streams between 

 Warrington and the Mersey, at the mouth of the Mersey and in the Dee. 



PETROMYZON FLUVIATILIS, Linn. Lampern. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 359, PI. CLXXIX., Fig. i.) 

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



This lamprey has an extensive range in both salt and fresh water along the coasts of 

 Europe, North America and -Japan. In our district we have found it at Piel, in the Ulverston 



