194 MALACOPTERYGII. 



are exhibited in the adult variety. The other Avas filled exclusively with 

 the Amphitvita auricoma. 



June lOth, 1843. Stomach and intestines of very large plaice contained 

 ten full-grown Aphrodita acuJeata and remains of several Biiccinum un- 

 datum, of which tAvo shells of mid growth or size yveve ^^erfect ; also remains 

 of two species of Decapod Crustacea. 



April 9th, 1S4S. Stomachs and intestines of two large plaice examined 

 at Belfast Avholly filled with Lueina radula. 



Ampliidesma jirismntica, Amphi. Boi/sii, Tclh'na tenuis, Trochus cine- 

 riiis, Eclmiocyamus jjusi/lus, sent me by Dr. Farran in 1843, as from 

 stomachs of plaice bought in Dublin market. 



April 2lst, 1848. Stomach and intestines of one caught in Belfast Bay 

 (a large fish) almost wholly filled with Solen pellucidus, in fragments ; in 

 addition Avere fragments of young Mytihis edulis, a Corhula striata, a 

 valve of Venus laminosa, AmjMdesma Boysii, and Ampliidesma inter- 

 media. 



Juhj \st, 1848. Stomachs of three taken at Groomsport were filled 

 Avith remains of Solenes (razor fish), almost AvhoUy of S. pellucidus, but 

 these mixed Avith the young of the larger species. 



Mr. Hyndman informs me that he has at various times looked to the 

 contents of the stomachs of plaice bought in Belfast market (in all up- 

 wards of a dozen), and that in every instance he found only fragments of 

 Tellina tenuis. 



The tenacity of life exhibited by this species is very great. An individual 

 about 10 inches in length, taken by Mr. G. C. Hyndman and myself on third 

 Jan., 183.5, lived 30 hours after being removed from the water : it was kept 

 for ten hours in a very Avarm room and lay on a di'y plate all the time. 



May \st, 1846. I bought a fuU-groAvn plaice in Belfast, the upper side 

 of Avhich Avas marked as usual Avith orange spots, and the anterior half of 

 the lower side Avas of the same hue as the upper side.* 



The Flounder or Fluke,! Plcdessa Flesus, Cuv., 



Is common around the coast. 



This species is not confined to the sea, but is also taken in brackish 

 Avater and in rivers Avhere the water is perfectly fresh. It is the only 

 one of our flat-fishes knoAA-n to me as inhabiting Avater of this nature. 



Although brought to Belfast market in considerable numbers, the 

 flounder is not much esteemed here : the plaice is in greater estimation, 

 and one hundred of it are sold for one of the former. 



April lOt/i, IS.jl. The contents of the stomachs cf three flounders Avhich 

 I examined consisted of Hissoa zilva much broken up. — (See foot-note to 

 last species). 



Beversed varieties of the flounder are of occasional occurrence on the 

 Irish coast : Dr. Ball says they are not uncommon at Youghal, and they 

 also occur in the North. 



The colours of the flounder are vrey various ; I saw two examples in 

 Belfast market on 9th March, 1836, that exhibited the orange spots of 

 the plaice ; one was full grown, the other about 9 inches long. I never 



* A specimen of 12 lbs. Aveight obtained for the Dublin University Mu- 

 seum. — ^. B. 



t Generally called Fluke in Ireland. In Belfast Bay it is sometimes called 

 Black-back^ io distinguish it from the other species of flat-fish. — Mr. Yarrell men- 

 lions flounders of a dark colour being called Black Butts at Yarmouth. 



