GREENLAND BULL-HEAD. 81 



proach them within a couple of inches, before they quit their station on 

 the rock, but then darting away with inconceivable velocity." 



The Father-Lasher, or Long-Spined Cottus,* Cottus bubalis, Euph., 



Is found around the coast throughout the year. 



In a brief notice of this species which I contributed to the Zool. Proc, 

 1835, p. 80, it Avas mentioned that of 11 specimens of C. buhalis and C. 

 Scorpius examined by me, which v^ere obtained in the North-East, the 

 West, and the South of Ireland, and preserved without any regard to 

 species, eight were of the former and three of the latter. My subsequent 

 observations tend to confirm the opinion that C. bubalis is more common 

 than C. Scorpius on the coast of Ireland. 



Mr. Yarrell attributes to this sp. — C. bubalis — on the English shores, a 

 greater length (''6 to 10 inches") than C. Scorpitts ; but the great num- 

 bers of Irish specimens which have come under my examination, indicate 

 that here it is a very decidedly smaller s]). 



None of the numerous specimens which I have obtained along the 

 coasts of Antrim and Down exceeded 7 inches in length. 



This sp. seems to be rather more of a marine fish than C. Scorp.; the 

 largest specimens of the latter which I have seen were from brackish water, 

 though I have taken it in the purest sea-water also. 



C. bubalis was generally procured in rock-pools (in bays, and on the open 

 coast), accessible at low water. One specimen was captured with atherines. 



This sp. was probably one of the two alluded to in the Histories of 

 Derry and Carrickfergus, noticed under C. gobio. 



Donovan's fig. of C. Scorpius represents C. bubalis : — Yarrell quotes it 

 as such ; but Jenyns gives it as C. Scorp. 



Fin-rays of Cottus bubalis received and examined, Dec. 1835 : D. 9 — 12 ; 

 P. 15 ; V. 1]3 ; A. 10 ; C. 11 ; well developed, and some short ; pre-operclc 

 4 spines. 



It may here be mentioned that, in August, 1841, I procured a C. bubalis 

 in Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight. 



The Greenland Bull-head, Cottus Grmnlandicus, Cuv. and Val. 



A specimen of this fish which was captured in Dingle Harbour, in 

 February, 1850, came into the possession of Mr. AYm. AndreAvs, of Dublin, 

 who observed its specific characters, and apprized me of the circumstance, 

 by letter dated 22nd February, 1850. He exhibited the specimen at the 

 meeting of the Dublin Nat. Hist. Society, held on the 1st of the following 

 month ; and a description of it will be found in that Society's proceed- 

 ings. Dr. Ball informs me that he had some years previously procured at 

 Dublin an example of the same species, which is now in the University 

 Museum, but that he had not ascertained the specific distinctions until 

 Mr. Andrews announced his specimen. 



The Cottus Grcenlandicus had been previously "recorded as an Irish 

 species ; but I have little doubt that C. bubalis was the fish referred tcf ■ 



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

 Ireland. 



t Cottus Grcenlandicus is not rare in Dublin Bay. A Cottus captured by 

 Dr. Corrigan had four strong tubercles on the head— Co<^!« quadricornis? — 

 n. Ball. 



