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



together ; lateral line on both sides much arched within the 

 range of the pectoral fins, thence straight to the tail. 



The upper side presents as a ground colour a mixture of 

 various shades of light brown, with a round dark spot, 3 lines 

 in diameter, commencing an inch from the tail ; it is likewise 

 marked with a very few smaller inconspicuous round dark-co- 

 loured spots, and blotched irregularly with veiy dark rich 

 brown. The fins do not exhibit any round spots as shown 

 in Dr. Fleming's figure (Phil, of ZooL, vol. i. pi. 3), but are all 

 irregularly marked on the upper side with many different 

 shades of brown ; irides reddish-golden ; under side of body 

 white, with a very pale reddish tinge. In all characters not 

 mentioned here this specimen accords with Mr. Jenyns's de- 

 scription (p. 462). 



With Mr. Yarrell I agree in considering the Rhombus uni- 

 maculatus of Risso (Hist. Nat. I'Eur. Mer. t. iii. p. 252, f. 35) 

 identical with this species. In the number of rays in the fins, 

 individuals appear to differ considerably, but perhaps not more 

 so than might be expected when so great is their number. 



Mustelus l(svis and Hinnulus. — I embrace this opportunity 

 of offering a few remarks on the identity of the Squalus Mus- 

 telus, Linn. {Mustelus Icevis, Will.), and Sq. Hinnulus, Blain.* 

 {Must, stellatus, Risso). As some authors are agreed on this 

 subject, it may perhaps be considered unnecessary to treat 

 further of it, but I do so in reference to the place S. Hinnulus 

 occupies in Mr. Jenyns's excellent ^ Manual', p. 503. Here 

 a short description is given of a fish taken at Weymouth, of 

 which it is said that it " appears to be identical with the S. 

 i/m?^MZMSof Blainville;" afterwards the remark is made, "that 

 it is a great question whether this last be anything more than 

 a variety of S. Mustelus" 



The following observations are on a specimen taken in Bel- 

 fast bay on the 16th of July last, and received by me before 

 life was extinct. This individual combined in colour Mr. Je- 

 nyns's descriptions of S. Icevis and S. Hinnulus, having, as the 

 former is described, the " upper parts of a uniform pearl gray," 

 and being " paler or almost white beneath ;" at the same time 

 * Faune Francaise, p. 83, pi. 20, f. 2. 



