^OLT— Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 463 



seem to live almost exclusively on Echinoderms, Sand Stars being found in above 80 

 per cent. . . . Crmgon ... in from 7 to 1 5 per cent. ; annelids and fish were rarely- 

 found, molluscs not at all." 



Such being the case, this fish, when abundant (as it is far from being on the "West 

 Coast), must be a serious competitor of the Haddock, Plaice, Pole Dab, and Sole, as 

 ■well as of the equally worthless Common Dab, since all these forms seem to derive a 

 large proportion of their food, on our coast, from the same Sand Stars. 



TTJRBOT — Rhombus maxinms. 



During the Survey, 53 stomachs were examined. 18 were empty. Of the remaining 

 35, Annelids were present in 1 ; Lamellibranclis in 1 ; Cephalopods, Squid {Loligo) 

 in 1 ; Fish in 31, 88 per cent., viz. : Sand-eels in 19 (one stomach contained over 60) ; 

 Sprats in 4 ; Norway Pout in 2 ; Dragonet in 2 ; Herring in 1 ; Eed Eiband fish 

 [Cepola) in 1 ; Dab in 1, and Solanette in 1 ; unidentified fish in 3. Tapeworms were 

 of frequent occurrence. It is evident that fish, and especially Sandeels, form the prin- 

 cipal food of the Turbot on this coast. Cephalopods, Lamellibranchs, and Annelids 

 form unimportant contributions. 



Smith records Annelids from 1, and fish, including Sandeels, Dabs, and unidentified 

 kinds, from 3 stomachs. 



BRILL — Rhombus Iwvis. 



During the Survey, 78 stomachs were examined. 25 were empty. Of the remain- 

 ing 53, Crustaceans, Common Shrimps, M^ere present in 3 ; Cephalopods, Squid, in 4. 

 Fish in 52, 98 per cent., viz.: unidentified in 3; Sandeels in 44; Sprats in 13; 

 Solanette in 2 ; Herrings in 1 , and "Whitebait, very young herrings or sprats, in 1 . 

 Tapeworms were often present. 



Like the Turbot, the BriU appears to feed almost entirely on fish, and chiefly on 

 Sandeels. Clupeoids, especially Sprats, form the next important item. Shrimps and 

 Squids are occasionally eaten. 



"WITCH — Arnoglossus megastoma. 



In May and June, 1890, the exact number of stomachs examined is not certain. 

 Crustaceans occurred in 3 ; Cephalopods, Squid, in several; Fish in 8. 



During the remainder of the Survey, 112 stomachs were examined. 53 were empty. 

 Of the remaining 59, Annelids occurred in 1 ; Crustaceans in 14, 23 per cent. : 

 Shrimps (Crangon) in 8; Munida in 1; unidentified Crustaceans in 5 ; Cephalopods, 

 Sepiola, in 1 ; Fish in 53, 86 per cent. : "Whiting in 10 ; Sprats in 6 ; Sand-eels in 3 ; 

 Gobies in 2 ; Norway Pout in 1 ; Silvery Pout {Gadus argenteus) in 3 ; Young Fork- 

 beard in 1 ; Unidentified fish in 9. 



It thus appears that the "Witch feeds mainly on fish ; the kind of fish depending on 

 the depth of water. Thus in comparatively shallow water it subsists, like the Turbot 

 and Brill, largely on Sandeels and Sprats ; in deeper water, where such prey is not 

 available, Norway Pout, Silvery Pout, and Young Forkbeards contribute to its diet. 



Crustaceans (especially Shrimps) are sometimes eaten, and Annelids and Cephalopods 

 occasionally. 



