118 AC.\NTIIOPTERYGII. 



April 22, 1837. — Captain FajTer, R. N.,sent me a specimen of this fish 

 which was taken at Donaghadee. Its length is 8 inches. D. 4 — 10 ; A. 

 10; C. 12 in all; P. 20 ; V. 1 + 5. Donovan's figure gives a very faint 

 idea of the splendid colouring of this specimen. Below the eyes, on each 

 side the head, the ground colour is orange, on which roundish and vari- 

 ously formed markings of " ultramarine " and " verditer blue," and similar 

 beauteous shades of blue, prevail under the surface of head to opening 

 of gill cover, the ground colour changes to gamboge yellow, and the blue 

 becomes likewise paler, the ground colour of the anterior half of the back, 

 i. e. to lateral line, is pale "arterial blood-red" (colours marked by in- 

 verted commas are from Syme), with pale fawn-coloured brown round 

 spots and markings. Posterior half of back in ground colour, pale arte- 

 rial blood-red, and brownish orange irregularly disposed with roundish 

 spots, frequently confluent, of a pale fawnish brown, rather beneath the 

 middle of the side (and below the lateral for ^ of its length from its ori- 

 gin) extends from operculum to tail a straight line of ultramarine blue, 

 varying in breadth from l-8th of an inch (at its origin) to I -12th (at its ter- 

 mination) ; below this is a brownish orange stripe of twice the breadth of 

 the blue, and beneath it is a line of " verditer " blue I-12th of an inch in 

 breadth, extending from the P. fin to the tail ; when the fish is laid flat, 

 or in the ordinary way, this line running straight along the base of its 

 sides forms a beautiful terminal margin, toviching the object on which 

 the fish is placed. Pupil purple, irides silvery, but in certain iridescent 

 2}ositions, reflecting gold and brilliant flame colour. 



1st D. fin, lemon colour, with irregular markings of pale blue, lined 

 with a dark shade of blue. 



2nd D., lemon colour, with 4 lines of pale blue, extending longitudi- 

 nally throughout this colour, lined with darker blue. 



C. fin marked with dull lemon colour and blue in about equal portions, 

 the blue in longitudinal markings. 



P. fin, first 10 rays barred with reddish brown and very pale olive, re- 

 mainder dusky. 



V. black, with a few blue markings towards base. 



A. all dark smoke grey. 



Base of Body — Throat black, thence to vent white with iridescent 

 colours, when viewed in certain positions, thence to tail dull opaque 

 greyish white. 



" It was taken on the bank which extends from 'the Copeland Isles, 

 southwards (called the Rig) : it had just got the point of a large hook in 

 its lip, on a long line." 



Februai'y, 1849. — A beautiful specimen, presented to Belfast Museum 

 by Patrick Doran, was taken off Mourne (C'ounty of Down), on the hook 

 of a fisherman. It is 9 inches long. The 1st ray of 1st D. fin reaches, 

 when lying on body, to base of caudal fin. It is considerably larger than 

 2nd ray of 1st D. fin. 



The Sordid Dragonet, Calliomjmus Dracunculus, Linn., 



Is found from North to South, and probably around the island. 



Its distribution and haunts are the same as those of the C. Lyra, both 

 being inhabitants of deep water ; it is, however, more common, although 

 not of frequent occurrence. 



This species was first noticed by me as Irish in Zool. Proc. for 1835, p. 81, 

 in reference to a specimen forwarded to me by Dr. Ball, which had been 

 obtained by him at Youghal, in August, 1834, being the first native ex- 



