THE MINNOW. 
139 
“ Minnow , Cyprinus Phoxmus. — In Ireland I have not heard of their 
being found in any river but a small stream near Swords in the County of 
Dublin, where, as I have been informed by Mr. Martin Kelly of Dublin, 
they may be found in considerable numbers.” 
James Callwell, Esq., of Dublin, told me in 1835, that about 10 years 
previously, Lieut, Stone introduced the minnow to Drumcondra river 
near Dublin, and that the species had become abundant there. 
At a meeting of the Dublin Natural History Society held in June, 1844, 
— Dr. Scouler in the chair — specimens of the minnow, taken at Balgriffin, 
about 6 miles from Dublin, were exhibited. 
“ The chairman observed that this was a very local fish in Ireland, and in 
many districts rare, while in Scotland it occurred in vast abundance in every 
subalpine stream. He stated it was worthy of inquiry what influence the geolo- 
gical structure of a country could have in the distribution of fresh-water fishes. 
In the present instance the minnow was scarce in Ireland, where calcareous 
rocks predominated, while it was frequent in Scotland, where the waters were 
often remarkably free from calcareous matter.” — Saunders’ News-letter , June 
22, 1844. 
John E. Herrick, Esq. wrote to me as follows, in March, 1849 : — 
“ There are no minnows in our southern rivers. I took some to Cork and 
placed them in two streams, with what effect I cannot as yet say. I have 
heard that they were introduced from England into the Tolka. They are 
however in the Dodder and in some ditches near Harold’s Cross.” 
Dr. Ball favoured me with the following note dated July, 1846 : — 
“ When in Wicklow I saw numbers of minnows in Lough Dan. The 
fisherman said he had been there 25 years, and that they were as plenti- 
ful when he came as they are now.” 
When visiting Dovedale (Derbyshire) on 29th June, 1835, T procured 
a few minnows out of a large shoal in the river Dove, — the first of the 
species which I had seen alive. Each of them had a broad black line 
on its sides, which led me at first to believe that they were of some other 
species. 
Yarr. and Jenyns do not describe this black lateral marking, nor is 
there any indication of it in the figure given by the former author or by 
Donovan. 
The largest minnow of which I have a note was taken by Dr. Ball in a 
pond at Glasnevin Garden (Dublin) ; it was 6 inches in length. 
There is an interesting account of the minnow in the Gardener’s Chro- 
nicle of 19th July, 1845, p. 489. 
The Loach, or Bearded Loach,* Colitis barbatula , Linn., 
Is pretty generally diffused over the island and localities noted : — County 
Londonderry (Ordnance Collection) ; Counties of Monaghan and Cavan 
(J. T. Tennent, Esq.) ; streams about Florence Court (Lord Enniskillen) ; 
County of Dublin and river at Ballitore, County Kildare (Dr. Ball) ; 
streams near Barrow (Rev. B. J. Clarke) ; Killaloe (Rev. C. Mayne) ; 
Portumna (Mr. J. J. Marshall) ; small rapid streams in South-West of 
Cork (Professor J. Allman). [We recently procured specimens from 
County Wicklow. — E d.] 
Rutty says in reference to the Loach, “ It delights in clear rivers, and is fre- 
* Also called “ Redbeard,” “ Beard-dod,” “ Killoch,” “ Culloch-rue,” and 
“ Coleen-ruadh ” (Red-girl). 
