Mr. W. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. 271 



Fish. vol. ii. p. 206.) is so complete, that any except the few 

 following notes on the individual seem to be unnecessary. 

 Its length is 10^ inches ; in number the fin rays are 



D. 3—63 ; A. (somewhat injured) 57 ? P. 23 ; V. 6 ; C. 36. 



Second ray of the first dorsal fin thrice the length of the 

 other rays ; second ray of the ventral fins considerably the 

 longest ; no tubercles on sides sensible either to sight or touch; 

 no lateral line apparent ; body all over " smooth and even ;" 

 cirrus 4^ lines long. 



In colour it is entirely of a lilac brown except the belly, 

 which is dirty white very faintly tinged with lilac ; folding of 

 the lips china- white ; fins all of an uniform lilac black, except 

 the ventrals, of which a portion is paler than the rest ; inside 

 of mouth pure white ; irides of a yellowish-brown colour. 



Pleuronectes punctatus, Bloch. Bloch^s Top-knot. 

 — One of these very rare fishes, of which tw o British speci- 

 mens only are on record (the first obtained at Zetland and the 

 other at Weymouth), was taken on the 16th of June last, by 

 Dr. J. L. Drummond, when dredging within the entrance of 

 Belfast bay. Together with the other fishes at the same time 

 captured, comprising specimens of Solea Lingula and aS'. va- 

 riegata, it was with kind consideration promptly sent to me. 



The following notes were made from the recent specimen : 

 length 4f inches ; number of fin-rays 



D. 72 and 3 ; A. 56 and 5 ; P. 10 * ; V. 6 ; C. 16 in all. 



Compared with a specimen of P. hirtus, Mull. (6^^ inches 

 in length, and likewise taken on the coast of Downf), the 

 ridge between the eyes is much more elevated, the difference 

 being strikingly conspicuous when the two species are placed 



* The dorsal fin, strictly considered, has but seventy-two rays, and the 

 finlet connected with it extending under the tail three rays; of these the two 

 first divide near the base, and each division becomes forked ; the third ray 

 divides into three near the base, each division likewise becoming forked. 

 The anal fin has, independently of a similar finlet, fifty-six rays ; finlet with 

 five rays, the three last dividing each into two near the base, which divisions 

 again, as in the opposite one, become forked. This explanation will perhaps 

 account for the less number of D. and A. fin-rays set down to the present 

 specimen than is generally attributed to the species. The divisions here 

 mentioned have probably been reckoned as distinct rays. Pectoral fin larger 

 on the upper than on the under side ; ten rays in each. 



t See Proceedings Zool. Soc, 1837, p. 60. 



