10 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



species, or visitants of strange occurrence, without viewing, or perhaps 

 having the opportunities of investigating, more of the causes that might 

 have led to the existence of such forms, or of the occurrences that pro- 

 duce those new additions to observation. 



Having for some years past paid much attention to the ichthyology 

 of this country, both with reference to the inland and to the sea fisheries, 

 I have always noted, and endeavoured by close investigation to learn, 

 the varied forms that our fresh water and marine species present, and 

 the peculiar habits of those that have hitherto been recorded or made 

 known to us. Hence, when any new characteristics are presented, they 

 at once become striking objects of attraction, and consequently create 

 interest to further inquiry. We are aware that, owing to the position 

 of our western and south-western shores, they present in botanical dis- 

 tribution and in marine zoology many of the forms that characterize the 

 western parts of Spain and Portugal, and also the Mediterranean and the 

 south-west coast of England ; therefore we are not unprepared when any 

 new form should be detected of a species peculiar to those countries, or 

 to the shores of the Mediterranean. 



During a day of the last month, favoured by the rapid communica- 

 tion of the Great Midland Kailway, I was enabled to pass a few hours 

 at Galway, and make a ramble through the Claddagh. A severe frost 

 had set in, with smooth water in the bay, consequently the market was 

 more than usually well supplied by the Claddagh boats. Cod-fish (but 

 of inferior quality to those fish that frequent deeper water), hake, dory, 

 and red gurnard were in tolerable abundance, and selling at reasonable 

 rates. Some few ling and herrings were exposed for sale, the latter by 

 no means good, being the shotten or spent fish of the autumn fishing. 

 The prime fish of the market were the uncommonly fine whiting, ave- 

 raging from three to four pounds each, and which seemed to have been 

 taken in considerable quantity; they were certainly the finest fish of the 

 kind that I have seen in any locality. Haddock were extremely scarce, 

 and very inferior. The trawl fish had already been sent to Dublin. 



Among the whiting, my attention was struck by the remarkable 

 appearance of one that was altogether new to me, and I at once noted 

 its peculiarities. Its length was about 18 to 20 inches, scarcely 3 inches 

 in. depth, weight about 4 lbs. I had not the opportunity of measuring 

 the positions of the fins, or of the rays ; but the form of the head, elon- 

 gation of the under jaw, the dark colour of the back, sides brown, belly 

 white, the lateral lines, and especially the dark spot at the upper 

 margin of the pectoral fin, indicated its true alliance to the whitings, 

 but at the same time to be decidedly distinct from the common whiting 

 (Merlangus vulgaris). A friend, practically acquainted with the fisheries 

 of Galway Bay, who was with me at the time, and to whom I pointed 

 out the differences, observed that he had occasionally noticed that kind 

 of fish brought to market. A Claddagh woman termed it a "rock had- 

 dock." 



On reference to books on ichthyology, on my return home, I found 

 the stranger to be identical in every respect with Couch's whiting (Mer- 



