GREENLAND BULL-HEAD. 
81 
proach them within a couple of inches, before they quit their station on 
the rock, hut then darting away with inconceivable velocity.” 
The Father-Lasher, or Long-Spined Cottus,* Cottus buhalis, Euph., 
Is found around the coast throughout the year. 
In a brief notice of this species which I contributed to the Zool. Proc., 
1835, p. 80, it w^as mentioned that of 11 specimens of C. buhalis and C. 
Scorpius examined by me, which were obtained in the North-East, the 
West, and the South of Ireland, and preserved without any regard to 
species, eight were of the former and three of the latter. My subsequent 
observations tend to confirm the opinion that C. buhalis is more common 
than C. Scorpius on the coast of Ireland. 
Mr. Yarrell attributes to this sp. — C. buhalis — on the English shores, a 
greater length (“6 to 10 inches”) than C. Scorpius; but the great num- 
bers of Irish specimens which have come under my examination, indicate 
that here it is a very decidedly smaller sp. 
None of the numerous specimens which I have obtained along the 
coasts of Antrim and Down exceeded 7 inches in length. 
This sp. seems to be rather more of a marine fish than C. Scorp.; the 
largest specimens of the latter which I have seen were from brackish water, 
though I have taken it in the purest sea-water also. 
C. buhalis was generally procured in rock-pools (in bays, and on the open 
coast), accessible at low water. One specimen was captured with atherines. 
This sp. was probably one of the two alluded to in the Histories of 
Derry and Carrickfergus, noticed under C. gobio. 
Donovan’s fig. of C. Scorpius represents C. buhalis: — Yarrell quotes it 
as such ; but Jenyns gives it as C. Scorp. 
Fin-rays of Cottus buhalis received and examined, Dec. 1835 : D. 9 — 12 ; 
P. 15 ; V. 1(3 ; A. 10 ; C. 11 ; well developed, and some short ; pre-opercle 
4 spines. 
It may here be mentioned that, in August, 1841, I procured a C. buhalis 
in Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight. 
The Greenland Bull-head, Cottus Grcenlandicus, Cuv. and Yal. 
A specimen of this fish which was captured in Dingle Harbour, in 
February, 1850, came into the possession of Mr. Wm. Andrews, of Dublin, 
who observed its specific characters, and apprized me of the circumstance, 
by letter dated 22nd February, 1850. He exhibited the specimen at the 
meeting of the Dublin Nat. Hist. Society, held on the 1st of the following 
month ; and a description of it will be found in that Society’s proceed- 
ings. Dr. Ball informs me that he had some years previously procured at 
Dublin an example of the same species, which is now in the University 
Museum, but that he had not ascertained the specific distinctions until 
Mr. Andrews announced his specimen. 
The Cottus Grcenlandicus had been previously recorded as an Irish 
species ; but I have little doubt that C. buhalis was the fish referred to.f 
* This species, as well as the last, is called “ Miller’s Thumb ” in the North of 
Ireland. 
f Cottus Grcenlandicus is not rare in Dublin Bay. A Cottus captured by 
Dr. Corrigan had four strong tubercles on the head— Cottus quadricornis ? — 
R. Ball . 
G 
