THE ZooLocist—JANuARY, 1876. 4755 
Plaice. Pleuronectes platessa, Linneus.—Along with the next 
species, the most abundant of our flat-fishes. Examples of large 
size are often obtained, and I saw several this summer that turned 
the scale on ten pounds. 
Common Dab. Pleuronectes limanda, Linneus.— Thompson 
states that this species is “not commonly known,” but the remark 
does not apply to this part of the coast, where the “ gray back,” as 
it is locally called, is the most numerous kind brought up in the 
trawl, rarely, however, exceeding twelve inches. 
Lemon Dab. Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan.—Cannot 
be considered uncommon, as several specimens may almost always 
be picked out of a night’s trawling. The largest example which 
I saw measured seventeen inches. It isa very light fish, a plaice 
of the same size weighing double. It is known on this coast as 
“bastard sole.” 
Flounder. Pleuronectes flesus, Linneus.—Common ; called here 
“fresh-water fluke.” Although no rivers run into the sea within five 
miles of Portrush, this fish is almost invariably caught close in 
shore, inside and beneath the breakers. The largest example 
weighed two pounds and three-quarters. 
Sole. Solea vulgaris, Quensel—Common. Very large specimens 
are occasionally taken, two which I saw this year being over four 
pounds and a half each. 
In addition to the above-mentioned, I have reason to believe, 
from the description given to me by an intelligent fisherman, and 
from his picking out the figure of Rhombus punctatus (Bloch) in 
Yarrell (vol. i., p. 646), that this fish has occurred in the harbour 
of Portrush: the same man has told me of a mackerel (!) which 
was caught here several years ago, and weighed eight pounds: no 
doubt some species of bonito. 
A few words, in conclusion, about the names under which the 
coal-fish (Gadus virens, Linn.) is known on this coast: it is called 
by different names, according to its age; the fry, which, as is well 
known, are spawned early in spring, rove in vast shoals along the 
shore during the autumn, by which time they measure from four to 
seven inches, and are known as “ cadan” (pronounced cudden) 
next spring they are called “ceithnach” (pronounced catenach), 
which is perhaps a mere expansion of the former name, since 
the termination “ach” signifies like; in the following autumn, 
when weighing about two pounds, they are known as “ glasan” 
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