96 ACANTHOPTEKYGII. 



The stomach of a specimen, caught with mullet, in Belfast Bay, on 

 14th Aug., 1845, was filled with young chipece, of which there were 

 several 2\ inches in length. Neither milt nor roe was perceptible in^ 

 this fish. 



I extract the following from Dr. Ball's lecture abeady quoted : — 



" The scad or horse-mackerel is very abundant on the southern shores ; 

 it is much valued by the poor, and is caught in the same way as mackerel. 

 I have seen the scad run up on shore in considerable numbers ; whether 

 in pursuit of young sprat called Scad-bait, or to avoid porpoises [Delphi- 

 niis j)hoccci>a), which Avere conspicuous in the rear, I do not know." 



Aug. 11, ''SI. — A specimen of this fish, which I obtained in Belfast mar- 

 ket, was as follows:— Length, IT inches; 77 or 78 plates on lateral line, 

 the last 42 " with keels terminating backwards in sharp points." 



D. 8— li30; A. 2— 1]27 ; C. 18 ; P. 21 ; V. \\5. With Mr. Jenyns's 

 description of form and colour it agrees in all details but those above 

 noted, and the irides being silvery instead of " golden." The throat and 

 under-part of the jaw are black. I was uncertain as to its sex : a speci- 

 men obtained by Dr. Ball had more rays in D. and A. fins than mention- 

 ed by 3Ir. Jenyns. 



The Dory, Doree, or John Dory, Zeus Faher, Linn., 



Is found around the coast, but very sparingly in some localities. Their 

 numbers increase northwards, and I am credibly informed that about 

 twenty are taken in the vicinity of Portrush for one in Belfast Bay. 



From early Spring until late in Autumn I have occasionally seen speci- 

 mens in Belfast market, but none of large size like those brought to 

 London. A female, which I dissected on 13th May, contained pea of 

 very small size, but in such immense quantity as to show that this must 

 be a very prolific fish. 



The stomach of a dory about 12 inches in length, taken near Cultra 

 (Belfast Bay) on 1st July, 1848, was filled with the remains of a young 

 plaice ; another obtained in the month of October, at Can'ickfergus, con- 

 tained portions of a full-grown Gobius mimituft and of a fish apparently of 

 the same species ; in a third specimen, which I examined in the month of 

 May, I found a sand-eel. 



The Opah or King-Fish, Lamjms Luna, Flem., 



— Guttatus, Cuv. and Val., 



Has been obtained in a very few instances. 



The first of which I have any knowledge was noticed in Sampson's 

 Derry, and a figure of it published. It is said to have been 



" found on the flat shore of Mafjilligan, alive ; probably pursued till grounded. 

 Through the indulgence of the Dublin Society, the reader has an engi-aving of 

 this beautiful fish ; the original is deposited in the Society's rooms." P. 337. 



No date of capture is given, but the work appeared in 1802. The spe- 

 cimen is said to have been 



" 2 feet long, 10 inches broad ; fins scarlet ; upper part of body gi-een ; belly 

 silver ; spots bluish white ; weight about 14 lbs." 

 It is not now in the Society's collection. 



In a letter which I received from Dr. Burkitt, of Waterford, in April, 

 1843, that gentleman gave me the following information : — 



" Oct. 27, 1842. — I obtained a specimen of the Opah Doree or King- 

 fish, which was taken near Tramore. I have preserved the half of it. 



