80 ACANTHOPTEUYGII. 



The River Bull-head, or Miller's Thumb, CoUhs Gohio, Linn., 

 Is not, so far as I am aware, found in Ireland. 



The species has, however, been recorded here, as appears by the follow- 

 ing extracts : — 



" Gohius Scorpiiis, Father-laslier, not common." 



" Gobius Gobio, Miller's Thumb, rather more abundant." — Sampson's Derry, 

 p. 337. 



" Cottus Gobio, Miller's Thumb, Bull-head, caught on the shore about the rocks 

 at low water ; it frequents the mouths of fresh waters, and varies in length from 

 4 to 10 inches — not eaten." 



" Cottus Scorpius, Father-lasher. — This fish resembles the last and is often con- 

 foimded with it : both are said to be poisonous. Their disagreeable tijiures per- 

 haps gave rise to the report of their bad qualities." — M' Skimmin' s Carrickfergus, 

 p. 359 (3rd Ed.). 



There is nothing poisonous in these fishes, as there really is in the 

 Weever ; but they are both willing and able to wound with their spines. 



" Cottus Gohio, Bull-head," is included in ])r. P. Browne's list. 



Yarrell, perhaps fi'oni tlie information supplied to him from these works, 

 sets down the Kiver Bull-head, Cottus Gobio, as found at Belfast and Lon- 

 donderry (Brit. Fishes, p. 71). 



The Sea Scorpion,* Cottus Scorpius, Bloch, 



Is found from North to South, and apparently around the coast, during 

 the year. 



Contents of stomachs examined : — Several crustacea ( Gammnridce) ; a 

 full-grown shrimp, and other Crustacea ; Crustacea, among which were a 

 shrimp and many Idotea ; the remains of a small flat-fish — a sole, appar- 

 ently — and a crab so large that it must have filled a fish's gajie ; the 

 remains of fish. 



Specimens which I have seen (di'edged from deep and pure sea-water, in 

 Strangford Lough, and on Antrim coasts) were much larger than Yarrell 

 mentions in reference to the British Islands. He speaks of them " from 

 4 or 5 to 8 inches." On referring to notes made on a few specimens taken 

 in Belfast Bay, far up the estuary, three of them were from 10 to 11 inches 

 in length : two of these are preserved in the Belfast Museum. 



]^r. J. L. Drummond called my attention to the liver of this species be- 

 ing bright orange, and stated that that of the C. Bubalis is of the same 

 bright colour. 



On 29th March, 1838, I received a female C. Scorpius (taken in Bel- 

 fast Bay) which had four spines on one pre-opercle : on the other it had 

 three, the usual number. An extremely beautiful specimen, 4^^ inches 

 long, taken in the same locality, was brought to me on 20th February, 

 1845 ; for one-half of its length, anteriorly, the under parts were of a rich 

 rosy red colour, with numerous snowy white spots, all perfectly circular. 

 I sent it to the Belfast Museum, to be preserved in spirits. 



Cottus Scorpius received and examined, December, 1835, had the fin-rays 

 as follow : — I). 11 — 15 ; P. 15 on one side, 16 on other — both perfect; V. 

 1 I 3 ; A. 12 ; C. 1 1 ; with more short ones than C. Bubalis examined same 

 day pre-opercle ; 3 spines. 



Templeton remarks: — " They are very wary, permitting the hand to ap- 



* This species, as well as the next, is called " Miller's Thumb " in the North of 

 Ireland. 



