THE FLYING-FISir. 143 



The Flying-Fish, Exoccetus (?), 



Is said to have been seen off the Southern coast. 



In the second vol. of the Annals Nat. Hist. I published the following 

 note : — 



" Exoccetus (?), Flying-fish. — I am informed by Dr. Ball, that, accord- 

 ing to the testimony of several intelligent fishermen at Youghal, flying-fishes 

 have in different years been seen by them in summer, near the southern coast 

 of Ireland — [oft' the coasts of Waterford and Cork] — the accurate manner in 

 which they describe the ' flight,' &c., leaves no doubt on my mind that the fishes 

 alluded to must have been some species of Exoccetus." 



Specimens have not been obtained to enable the sp. to be determined. 



The Sly Silurus, Silurus Glanis, Linn. (?) 



The following notice of a fish resembling this species contains all the 

 information which I have been able to procure on the subject. — It was 

 contributed by me to the Annals Nat. Hist. vol. vii. 



" Silurus Giants, Limi. (?), Sly Silurus. Tliat this species has in a single in- 

 stance been taken in Ireland I am disposed to believe, on the following testi- 

 mony : — On inquiry (October, 1840) of William Blair, who has for many years 

 been fisherman, &c., at Florence Court, whether he had ever met with any rare 

 fish, he described an extraordinary one, of which he could never learn the 

 name, that he took twelve or thirteen years ago in a tributary of the Shannon, 

 near its source, and about three miles above Lough Allen. His description was 

 so graphic and particular, that Lord Enniskillen, on hearing it, immediately 

 suggested its applicability to the Silurus ; and, on Yarrell's figure being shown to 

 the intelligent captor of the specimen, he at once identified it as in all respects 

 representing his fish, except in the head and mouth not being large enough. 

 Professor Agassiz, who was present, on bemg appealed to, stated that these 

 parts were certainly not represented of sufficient size m the figure. The fish 

 w^as seen struggling in a pool in the river after a flood, and " with the long worm- 

 like feelers from its mouth ;" and its general appearance was looked upon as so 

 hideous that the persons who first saw it were afraid to touch it. The specimen 

 was at least 2^ feet in length, and S or 9 lbs. in weight. Although unfortunately 

 ' lost to science,' it, for two or three years, or until the skeleton fell to pieces, 

 adorned a bush near the scene of its death. The species was not known as an 

 inhabitant of any of the neighbouring waters by the persons of the district. 



" The distribution of the Sihirus Glanis on the continent of Europe is somewhat 

 anomalous, as I learn from M. Agassiz.* In Central Europe it is found in the 

 lakes of Neuchatel, Bienne, and Morat only : — in no other lakes or rivers con- 

 nected with the Rhine does it occur. It inhabits the rivers flowing uito the Bal- 

 tic and Black Sea." 



Family Salmonid^e. 



The Salmon, (called Parr or Graveling when young,) Salmo SaJar, 

 Linn., Salmo salmulus, Turt. (Young Salmon), 



Is common : it is unnecessary to specify localities, as the chief Irish fish- 

 eries are well known. 



John Sinclairc, Esq., who has had much experience in salmon-fishing, 

 holds the opinion that salmon are in season all the year, and spawn during 

 every month. When the rivers are too low for them to ascend, he con- 

 siders that they spawn about their mouths in the sea. To illustrate his 

 veiws Mr. Sinclaire took me to Belfast market on 3rd April, 18 10, where 



* See also Cuv. and Val., vol. xiv. p. 337, on this subject. 



