118 
ACANTHOPTERYGII. 
April 22, 1837. — Captain Fayrer, R. N.,sent me a specimen of this fish 
which was taken at Donaghadee. Its length is 8 inches. D. 4 — 10; A. 
10 ; C. 12 in all ; P. 20 ; V. 1 5. Donovan’s figure gives a very faint 
idea of the splendid colouring of this specimen. Below the eyes, on each 
side the head, the ground colour is orange, on which roundish and vari- 
ously formed markings of “ultramarine” and “ verditer blue,” and similar 
beauteous shades of blue, prevail under the surface of head to opening 
of gill cover, the ground colour changes to gamboge yellow, and the blue 
becomes likewise paler, the ground colour of the anterior half of the back, 
i. e. to lateral line, is pale “arterial blood-red” (colours marked by in- 
verted commas are from Syme), with pale fawn-coloured brown round 
spots and markings. Posterior half of back in ground colour, pale arte- 
rial blood-red, and brownish orange irregularly disposed with roundish 
spots, frequently confluent, of a pale fawnish brown, rather beneath the 
middle of the side (and below the lateral for ^ of its length from its ori- 
gin) extends from operculum to tail a straight line of ultramarine blue, 
varying in breadth from l-8th of an inch (at its origin) to l-12th (at its ter- 
mination) ; below this is a brownish orange stripe of twice the breadth of 
the blue, and beneath it is a line of “ verditer ” blue 1-1 2th of an inch in 
breadth, extending from the P. fin to the tail ; when the fish is laid flat, 
or in the ordinary way, this line running straight along the base of its 
sides forms a beautiful terminal margin, touching the object on which 
the fish is placed. Pupil purple, irides silvery, but in certain iridescent 
positions , reflecting gold and brilliant flame colour. 
1st D. fin, lemon colour, with irregular markings of pale blue, lined 
with a dark shade of blue. 
2nd D., lemon colour, with 4 lines of pale blue, extending longitudi- 
nally throughout this colour, lined with darker blue. 
C. fin marked with dull lemon colour and blue in about equal portions, 
the blue in longitudinal markings. 
P. fin, first 10 rays barred with reddish brown and very pale olive, re- 
mainder dusky. 
V. black, with a few blue markings towards base. 
A. all dark smoke grey. 
Base of Body — Throat black, thence to vent white with iridescent 
colours, when viewed in certain positions, thence to tail dull opaque 
greyish white. 
“ It was taken on the bank which extends from The Copeland Isles, 
southwards (called the Rig) : it had just got the point of a large hook in 
its lip, on a long line.” 
February, 1849. — A beautiful specimen, presented to Belfast Museum 
by Patrick Doran, was taken off Mourne (County of Down), on the hook 
of a fisherman. It is 9 inches long. The 1st ray of 1st D. fin reaches, 
when lying on body, to base of caudal fin. It is considerably larger than 
2nd ray of 1st D. fin. 
The Sordid Dragonet, Callionymus Dracanculus, Linn., 
Is found from North to South, and probably around the island. 
Its distribution and haunts are the same as those of the C. Lyra , both 
being inhabitants of deep water ; it is, however, more common, although 
not of frequent occurrence. 
This species was first noticed by me as Irish in Zool. Proc. for 1835, p. 81, 
in reference to a specimen forwarded to me by Dr. Ball, which had been 
obtained by him at Youghal, in August, 1834, being the first native ex- 
