THE BKILL. 201 



Gil the spear to the surface. Fish, g-reatly finer than I have seen taken 

 during the season on lines, have been captured in this manner for the last 

 few days. Turbot betAveen 20 and 30 lbs. are sometimes so taken. P^ven 

 Gurnard are captured with the spear. There is no rope fastened to it, 

 that the fisher might retain in his hand. 



The above is one fisherman's (Sterling's) account. Another (Mason) 

 tells me that he always holds his spear by the top when striking at a fish.* 



The Brill, or Britt,! Pleurunectes Rhombus, Linn., 

 Rhombus vulgaris, Cuv., 

 Is common around the coast and taken Avith the turbot, but is in much 

 greater abundance than that fish, on the North-east coast at least 4 to 1. 



It brings a good price in Belfast market, but not more than half that of 

 turbot. It is considered best in spring. The largest I have seen here 

 was 2 feet in length. 



A fine large fish of this species once attracted my attention here in 

 autumn by the beauty of its colour. It was covered over Avith large 

 stellate Avhite markings on a very rich-coloured dark " ground," looking 

 precisely as if a shoAver of snow had fallen on it. 



3Iarch 12, 183o. — I purchased a specimen in Belfast market, which Avas 

 as follows : — 



Length 15 inches. 



D. 76; P. 11; V. 6; A. 60: C. la; B. 6. 



This fish agrees tolerably Avell with Donovan's figure ; the lateral line, 

 hoAvever, turns abruptly upAvards over the pectoral fin, and is not gradually 

 sloped as in Donovan's figure ; AA'hite spots not so numerous as in the 

 latter. 



Irides golden for about a hairbreadth round the dark blue pupil, a sub- 

 crescent-formed silvery mark occupying the upper portion of upper eye, 

 and the lower portion of loAver eye. 



Lower jaw longest Avhen the mouth is closed. 



Block's Top-knot, Pkuronectes puncfatus, Bloch, 

 Rhombus — Yarrell, 



Has been obtained on the North-east coast. 



The foUoAving communication Avas made by me to the Annals Nat. Hist, 

 vol. ii. p. 271. 



" Pleiironectes jnmctatus, Bloch. Blocli's Top-knot.— One of these very rare 

 fishes, of Avhich tAvo British specimens only are on record (the first obtained at 

 Zetland and the other at Weymouth), Avas taken on the 16th of June last [1838], 

 by Dr. J. L. Drunimond, Avhen dredging Avithin the entrance of Belfast Bay. 

 Together with tlie other fishes at the same time captured, comprising specimens 

 of Sole.a Lingula and N. varkgata, it Avas Avith kind consideration promptly sent 

 to me. 



" The following notes Avere made from the recent specimen : length 4f inches ; 

 number of tin -rays, 



D. 72 and 3 ; A. 5G and 5 ; P. 10 ;+ V.'GyC. 16 in all. 



* Turbots with head reversed occasionally occur in the Dublin market. 

 Those sent from Dcrry that I have seen arc marbled Avith Avhite on the back. — 

 R. Ball. 



t Universally called ^' Britt" in Belfast market. 



:J: The dorsal tin, strictly considered, has but seventy-tAvo rays, and the finlet 

 connected Avith it extending under the tail three rays ; of these the tAvo first 

 divide near the base, and each division becomes forked ; the third ray divides 

 into three near the base, each division likcAvise becoming forked. The anal fin 

 has, independently of a similar fliilel, fifty-six rays ; finlet Avith five rays, the 



