434 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



examples of both forms were taken occasionally, always on weedy ground near rocks, 

 and never, as I have said, at more than 17 fathoms. Probably they are frequent on 

 the same ground as the younger, but too agile to be captured in our little shrimp-trawl. 

 It is always noticeable that the colouration of these Wrasses, however striking it may 

 be, is beautifully adapted to that of the particular kind of weeds amongst which they 

 happen to be. 



The Goldsinny appears to be less common than the Ballan "Wrasse and Corkwing ; 

 I do not know at what size it becomes mature ; our only large example, one of 8 inches, 

 was trawled in Costello Bay. Young examples were taken on various occasions ; 

 though occurring on similar grounds they do not appear, as a rule, to consort with the 

 young of the other "Wrasses mentioned. Day remarks of this species that it " does not 

 frequent tidal harbours, but appears to keep to deep water." 



Another Wrasse, Centrolahrus exoletiis (Linn.) has been recorded from the "West 

 Coast, but we failed to meet with it. It appears to be very rare in British waters. 



6 fish are recorded as from 9 to 21 inches. I have divided these as equally 

 as possible, between the two extremes, in the absence of more definite informa- 

 tion. As I have reasons (see p. 152) for doubting the value of Fulton's limit of 20 

 inches, and have no certain knowledge of any mature female cod of less than 30 

 inches, I have given the distribution in detail up to that size. The first dotted line 

 shows Fulton's limit, and the second shows about the size at which I think it possible 

 that the female first comes to maturity. 



Of 163 measured, 62 are more than 20 inches, 54 more than 26 inches, and 51 more 

 than 29 inches. The Table shows a marked difference in habitat between those 

 greater and less than 25 inches in length, but the numbers of moderate-sized cod 

 observed are small. However, we may say that our evidence, such as it is, goes to 

 show that cod of less than 25 inches do not extend into greater depths than 30 or 40 

 fathoms on this coast, at least during the period of observation, which does not include 

 the winter months. 



Again, cod of less than 20 inches appear to be confined to shallow water {with, the 

 same reservation). Fulton, however, records immature cod in all depths up to 55 

 fathoms, but the greatest number between 10 and 20 fathoms. As to the very small 

 cod, below 5 inches, our evidence is comparatively satisfactory. The large number 



