NOTES AND QUERIES. 187 



which forms the subject of this note, it was precisely the 

 reverse, the belly and sides being of a bluish black, iridescent, 

 whilst the back, especially between the cephalic disc and the 

 dorsal fin, was silvery white. 



Moreover, on examining the fish, one was at first sight 

 tempted to assume just the contrary of what was the fact, 

 mistaking the upper for the under surface and vice versa. 



The illusion was all the greater when, on being placed in a 

 bowl of sea-water, it at once attached itself to the bottom, thus 

 presenting to the observer its dark ventral surface. Moreover 

 the eyes are directed towards the latter surface, being flanked by 

 the upper portion of the head ; and the mouth, the upper part of 

 which projects beyond the lower, reminds one that in a great many 

 fishes, on the contrary, the upper jaw is the shorter of the two. 



This disposition of colour, the reverse of which is usually the 

 case, evidently results from the fact that the Echeneis being 

 attached by its cephalic disc either to another fish or to some 

 submerged object, its dorsal surface is in contact with this 

 support, and consequently protected from the light which on the 

 other hand strikes the ventral and lateral surfaces. 



It is, in fact, comparable with the distribution of colour in the 

 PleuronectidcB which have the upper side variously coloured, 

 while the under side is pale. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



Proposed Supplement to Thompson's ' Natural History of Ireland.' 

 —A want has long been felt of some compendium of Irish Natural History 

 more recent than the well-known work of Thompson, now about thirty 

 years old. This want has been strongly expressed by many modern writers 

 on Irish Zoology, who complain that no work is now available which 

 contains the additions which have accumulated since the time of Thompson. 

 During late years the fauna of Great Britain has been laboriously in- 

 vestigated, while that of Ireland has been comparatively neglected. It is 

 now our object to collect and publish as much new information as can be 

 obtained, especially that relating to the Mammalia, Birds, and Fishes of 

 Ireland; and Mr. A. G. More, Curator of the Natural History Museum, 

 Kildare Street, Dubhn, has consented to act as Editor. The students of 

 Natural History throughout Ireland are invited to join in supplying to 



