110 ACANTirOPTKRYGII. 



The Smooth Blexny, Shanny, or Shaav,* Bknnius Pholis, Linn., 



Is common on the shore around the coast. 



As stated by me in the Zool. Proc. 1835, p. 80, — 



" This is more commonly to be met with than any other species offish in the 

 rocky pools [accessible at low water] on the North-East coast of Ireland." 

 Templeton also noted it as "common in the little pools in the rocks along the 



shores." 



I have examined specimens from all parts of the coast of Down, notes 

 on fourteen of which are before me : the largest of these is 6 inches in 

 length, one is 5^ inches, and two others 5 inches each. The sp., as has 

 been remarked (Yarr. 262), rarely exceeds 5 inches. 



Sept. 16, 18oo. — I saw many about an inch in length in very small 

 pools of water near Donaghadee. 



This fish is remarkably strong for its size, and when a person pursues 

 one of them in a little gravelly pool, a large blenny will, with its strong 

 head, sometimes come against the hand like the blow of a stone. Its 

 energy in endeavouring to escape over moist gravel is surprising. Do- 

 novan notices this as " a very local fish," and states that where Pennant 

 found it common about Anglesea, not one was to be seen 80 years after- 

 wards. He attributed this to the Fuci having been cut away from that 

 part of the coast, for economical purposes. 



The fin rays in twelve smooth blennies from the Down coast examined 

 by me were as follow : — 



D. 30 in four, and 31 in all the other specimens. 



P. 13 in all. 



A. 18 in three, and 19 in all the others. 



V. 3 in one specimen, and 2 in all the others. 



C. 11 do., 13 in another, and 12 in all the others. 



The Spotted Gunnel or Butter-Fish,! Murocnoides guttata, 

 Lacep., Blenniiis Gunnellas, Linn., 



Is very common around the coast at all seasons. 



This fish is chiefly found between tide-marks sheltering under the sea- 

 weeds (Fuci), hanging over and spreading around from large stones upon 

 the beach, more especially if gravelly, over which the tide flows, but which 

 at low water have but little moisture about them. Everywhere on the 

 East, North, and West coasts that I have been, on a gravelly or shingly 

 beach this sp. has been common. It wriggles its way with amazing speed 

 among gravel, nearly moist, and even when captured can with difficulty 

 be retained in the hand : the slime with which it is covered enables it to 

 escape between the fingers. 



At the end of March, I once saw a specimen which Avas dredged with 

 oysters (from what depth I do not know) on the Derry coast and brought 

 to Belfast ; the fish was alive, though perhaps 24 hours out of the 

 water. 



The spotted gunnel is used as bait for pollack, cod, mackerel, gur- 

 nards, <Sjc. ; sometimes it is put whole and whilst alive upon the hook ; but 



* Called " Parrot-fish " in the South (Dr. R. Ball). 



t Called Clavin in the North \n\so Flutterick, Ed.]. M'Skimmin applies the 

 name Codlick to it; and the late Mr. Nimmo informed me that it is called 

 Lamprey at Roundstone, County Galway. 



