514 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



several large fish in the bay, from seeing them shoot along the 

 surface in pursuit of the shoals of mackerel, glassan, and lythe, 

 and after the capture of this example others presumably of the 

 same species were observed, so that it is probable that a small shoal 

 of tunnies had visited us, attracted no doubt by the abundant 

 supplies of food obtainable, for which that year was especially 

 remarkable. The individual in question was, it is supposed, 

 frightened by an incoming steamer, and passing through the 

 harbour mouth, traversed its entire length, and stranded with such 

 impetus as to jamb itself between the dock-wall and a sunken 

 lighter, where it was easily despatched. It was carried about 

 from village to village as a show, until it became a nuisance, and 

 was finally buried. [One taken off Dingle in December, 1883, is 

 in the Dublin Museum of Science and Art. — A. Gr. M.] 



Thynniis pelamys. — Referring to the specimen preserved in the 

 Andersonian Institute, and obtained from the neighbourhood of 

 the estuary of the Clyde, Dr. Scouler is careful to state that it 

 " could not be mistaken for Pelamys sarda [vide Thompson, Nat. 

 Hist. Ireland, vol. iv. p. 95) ; and I cannot see any reason for 

 doubting his correctness. Yarrell's 38-inches example, of which 

 I see no notice in the 3rd edition, can hardly have been the Cork 

 (Bennett's Court) fish, which is distinctly stated to have been 

 29^ inches long, 21 inches in girth, and 19^ lbs. weight. The 

 specimen from Wexford has long ago perished, but Mr. More 

 informs me that one taken near Clifden, county Gralway, in the 

 autumn of 1883, is in the Science and Art Museum. 



Centrolophus jjompilus. — In Miss Cusack's Kerry, Andrews 

 records this fish as found in Brandon Bay, Dingle Harbour, and 

 off the Skelligs. The only example of which I have any know- 

 ledge was forwarded by the late Mr. W. Andrews to the Museum 

 of Science and Art, Dublin, where it is now preserved in spirit ; it 

 had previously been salted by a fisherman, and is referred by 

 Mr. More, the curator of that Museum, to the above species. 



Brama rail. — In the month of July, 1878, an example of this 

 rare fish was washed ashore dead, but in a perfectly fresh condition, 

 on the east strand, Portrush, after a severe north-westerly gale. 

 Though the person who picked it up would not part with it, he 

 kindly allowed me to make such an examination of it (comparing 

 it with Yarrell's and Griinther's descriptions) as sufficed to 



