194 
MALACOPTERYGII. 
are exhibited in the adult variety. The other was filled exclusively with 
the Amphitrita auricoma. 
June 10 th, 1843. Stomach and intestines of very large plaice contained 
ten full-grown Aphrodita aculeata and remains of several Buccinum un- 
datum, of which two shells of mid growth or size were perfect ; also remains 
of two species of Decapod Crustacea. 
April 9th, 1848. Stomachs and intestines of two large plaice examined 
at Belfast wholly filled with Lucina radula. 
Amphidesma prismatica, Amphi. Boysii, Tellina tenuis, Trochus cine- 
rius, Echinocyamus pusillus, sent me by Dr. Farran in 1843, as from 
stomachs of plaice bought in Dublin market. 
April 21 st, 1848. Stomach and intestines of one caught in Belfast Bay 
(a large fish) almost wholly filled with Solen pellucidus, in fragments ; in 
addition were fragments of young Mytilus edulis, a Corbula striata, a 
valve of Venus laminosa, Amphidesma Boysii, and Amphidesma inter- 
media. 
July 1st, 1848. Stomachs of three taken at Groomsport were filled 
with remains of Solenes (razor fish), almost wholly of S. pellucidus, but 
these mixed with the young of the larger species. 
Mr. Hyndman informs me that he has at various times looked to the 
contents of the stomachs of plaice bought in Belfast market (in all up- 
wards of a dozen), and that in every instance he found only fragments of 
Tellina tenuis. 
The tenacity of life exhibited by this species is very great. An individual 
about 10 inches in length, taken by Mr. G. C. Hyndman and myself on third 
Jan., 1835, lived 30 hours after being removed from the water : it was kept 
for ten hours in a very warm room and lay on a dry plate all the time. 
May ls£, 1846. I bought a full-grown plaice in Belfast, the upper side 
of which was marked as usual with orange spots, and the anterior half of 
the lower side was of the same hue as the upper side.* 
The Flounder or Fluke,! Platessa Flesus, Cuv., 
Is common around the coast. 
This species is not confined to the sea, but is also taken in brackish 
water and in rivers where the water is perfectly fresh. It is the only 
one of our flat-fishes known to me as inhabiting water of this nature. * 
Although brought to Belfast market in considerable numbers, the 
flounder is not much esteemed here : the plaice is in greater estimation, 
and one hundred of it are sold for one of the former. 
April 10 th, 1851. The contents of the stomachs of three flounders which 
I examined consisted of Bissoa ulvce much broken up.— (See foot-note to 
last species). 
Reversed varieties of the flounder are of occasional occurrence on the 
Irish coast : Dr. Ball says they are not uncommon at Youghal, and they 
also occur in the North. 
The colours of the flounder are vrey various ; I saw two examples in 
Belfast market on 9th March, 1836, that exhibited the orange spots of 
the plaice ; one was full grown, the other about 9 inches long. I never 
* A specimen of 12 lbs. weight obtained for the Dublin University Mu- 
seum. — R. B. 
f Generally called Fluke in Ireland. In Belfast Bay it is sometimes called 
Black-back, to distinguish it from the other species of flat-fish. — Mr. Yarrell men- 
tions flounders of a dark colour being called Black Butts at Yarmouth. 
