110 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. 
The Smooth Blenny, Shanny, or Shaw,* Blennius Pholis, Linn., 
Is common on the shore around the coast. 
As stated by me in the Zool. Proc. 1835, p. 80, — 
“ This is more commonly to be met with than any other species of fish in the 
rocky pools [accessible at low water] on the North-East coast of Ireland.” 
Templeton also noted it as “common in the little pools in the rocks along the 
shores.” 
I have examined' specimens from all parts of the coast of Down, notes 
on fourteen of which are before me : the largest of these is 6 inches in 
length, one is 5i inches, and two others 5 inches each. The sp., as has 
been remarked (Yarr. 262), rarely exceeds 5 inches. 
Sept. 16, 1835. — I saw many about an inch in length in very small 
pools of water near Donaghadee. 
This fish is remarkably strong for its size, and when a person pursues 
one of them in a little gravelly pool, a large blenny will, with its strong 
head, sometimes come against the hand like the blow of a stone. Its 
energy in endeavouring to escape over moist gravel is surprising. Do- 
novan notices this as “ a very local fish,” and states that where Pennant 
found it common about Anglesea, not one was to be seen 30 years after- 
wards. He attributed this to the Fuci having been cut away from that 
part of the coast, for economical purposes. 
The fin rays in twelve smooth blennies from the Down coast examined 
by me were as follow: — 
D. 30 in four, and 31 in all the other specimens. 
P. 13 in all. 
A. 18 in three, and 19 in all the others. 
Y. 3 in one specimen, and 2 in all the others. 
C. 11 do., 13 in another, and 12 in all the others. 
The Spotted Gunnel or Butter-Fish,! Muroenoides guttata, 
Lacep., Blennius Gunnellus, Linn., 
Is very common around the coast at all seasons. 
This fish is chiefly found between tide-marks sheltering under the sea- 
weeds (Fuci), hanging over and spreading around from large stones upon 
the beach, more especially if gravelly, over which the tide flows, but which 
at low water have but little moisture about them. Everywhere on the 
East, North, and West coasts that I have been, on a gravelly or shingly 
beach this sp. has been common. It wriggles its way with amazing speed 
among gravel, nearly moist, and even when captured can with difficulty 
be retained in the hand : the slime with which it is covered enables it to 
escape between the fingers. 
At the end of March, I once saw a specimen which was "dredged with 
oysters (from what depth I do not know) on the Derry coast and brought 
to Belfast; the fish was alive, though perhaps 24 hours out of the 
water. 
The spotted gunnel is used as bait for pollack, cod, mackerel, gur- 
nards, &c. ; sometimes it is put whole and whilst alive upon the hook ; but 
* Called “ Parrot-fish ” in the South (Dr. R. Ball). 
f Called Clavin in the North [also Flutterick, Ed.]. M‘Skimmin applies the 
name Codlick to it; and the late Mr. Nimmo informed me that it is called 
Lamprey at Roundstone, County Galway. 
