THE RED BAND-FISH. 
97 
Its length is 16 inches ; breadth exclusive of fins 9 inches ; fins, upper, 
about 8 inches ; under, about 7.” * 
This specimen was exhibited by Dr. Harvey at the Cork Meeting of 
the British Association, in 1843, (see Cork Fauna, p. 19, note,) and is 
now in the Dublin University Museum. 
In June, 1849, the following paragraph appeared in The Derry Stand- 
ard : — 
“ A Rare Fish. — The Opah Dorey. — A fish, which is rarely met with in the 
Irish Channel, or adjoining the Irish coast, was caught at Innistrahull, not far 
from the light-house, and brought to the fish-market here, on Wednesday last, 
which excited a good deal of curiosity. In shape it bears a strong resemblance 
to the turbot, but still more solid, weighing, although not apparently large in size, 
upwards of 55 lbs. The fins, which are placed near the shoulder, are of a 
blood-red colour, and the entire skin is beautifully variegated with spots of black, 
yellow, red, and gold-coloured .hues. On examination, by persons versed in 
natural history, it was found to belong to the celebrated * John Dorey’ tribe; 
being, in fact, one of the Opah Dorey variety. In the year 1835, a fish of the 
same rare description is stated, in the Ordnance Survey, to have been caught 
in the Foyle.” 
A beautiful specimen of this fish was taken at Wexford, in August, 
1849 — weight 59 lbs. — Dr. Ball. 
On 2nd July, 1850, an Opah was seen struggling at low water in one of 
the gullets of Belfast Bay, off Whitehouse, at 2\ miles from town. A 
little boy, who observed it, succeeded in effecting its capture by putting 
his handkerchief round its gills. This specimen is now in the Belfast 
Museum. 
“ A very fine specimen was captured near Skerries, in 1851, and is now in the 
University Museum.” — R. Ball. 
Family T^NIOIDEI. 
The Red Band-fish or Red Snake-fish, Cepola rubescens, Linn., 
Has been obtained on the Southern and Western coasts. 
The following is an extract from a letter received from Dr. Farran, 
dated 31st August, 1850 : — “ I mentioned the occurrence of Cepola rubes- 
cens to you in this locality. The specimen I procured was thrown ashore 
at Stradbally, in this County, after a heavy gale, in Dec., 1848. The 
fishermen state that it is of frequent occurrence, its habitat lying in the 
forests of sea-weeds which grow about the coast.” 
[We have been informed by Dr. Ball that several specimens of this fish, 
which have since been captured by Professor Melville on the Western 
coast, are now in the Dublin University Museum. — Ed.] 
The annexed notes on the Red Band-fish were contributed by me to 
the Magazine of Nat. Hist., new series, 1838, p. 214 : — 
“ A remarkably fine specimen of this fish, which, as British, was, until last 
year,f known only to the southern shores of England, was found on the beach 
* The length of the dorsal and ventral fins in this specimen is much greater 
proportionately than in any figure or specimen seen by Dr. Ball. 
f When the above was written, I had overlooked the following note, which 
appeared in the Magazine of Zoology and Botany, for June, 1837, (vol. ii. p. 
93). — “ Cepola rubescens, Linn. — Dr. P. W. Maclagan informs us, that he has 
lately procured a specimen of this fish, which was caught off Dunure, seven 
miles south of Ayr, on a whiting- line, baited with a mussel. Its length is 15f 
inches. The fisherman who brought it had seen another about six weeks ago. 
—March 20th, 1837.” 
H 
