THE BRILL. 
201 
on the spear to the surface. Fish, greatly finer than I have seen taken 
during the season on lines, have been captured in this manner for the last 
few days. Turbot between 20 and 30 lbs. are sometimes so taken. Even 
Gurnard are captured with the spear. There is no rope fastened to it, 
that the fisher might retain in his hand. 
The above is one fisherman’s (Sterling’s) account. Another (Mason) 
tells me that he always holds his spear by the top when striking at a fish.* 
The Brill, or Britt, f Pleuronectes Rhombus, Linn., 
Rhombus vulgaris, Cuv., 
Is common around the coast and taken with the turbot, but is in much 
greater abundance than that fish, on the North-east coast at least 4 to 1. 
It brings a good price in Belfast market, but not more than half that of 
turbot. It is considered best in spring. The largest I have seen here 
was 2 feet in length. 
A fine large fish of this species once attracted my attention here in 
autumn by the beauty of its colour. It was covered over with large 
stellate white markings on a very rich-coloured dark “ ground,” looking 
precisely as if a shower of snow had fallen on it. 
March 12, 1835. — I purchased a specimen in Belfast market, which was 
as follows : — 
Length 15 inches. 
D. 76; P. 11 ; V. 6; A. 60; C.15; B. 6. 
This fish agrees tolerably well with Donovan’s figure ; the lateral line, 
however, turns abruptly upwards over the pectoral fin, and is not gradually 
sloped as in Donovan’s figure ; white spots not so numerous as in the 
latter. 
Irides golden for about a hairbreadth round the dark blue pupil, a sub- 
crescent-formed silvery mark occupying the upper portion of upper eye, 
and the lower portion of lower eye. 
Lower jaw longest when the mouth is closed. 
Bloch’s Top-knot, Pleuronectes punctatus, Bloch, 
Rhombus — Yarrell, 
Has been obtained on the North-east coast. 
The following communication was made by me to the Annals Nat. Hist, 
vol. ii. p. 271. 
“ Pleuronectes punctatus , Bloch. Bloch’s Top-knot. — One of these very rare 
fishes, of which two British specimens only are on record (the first obtained at 
Zetland and the other at Weymouth), was taken on the 16th of June last [1838], 
by Dr. J. L. Drummond, when dredging within the entrance of Belfast Bay. 
Together with the other fishes at the same time captured, comprising specimens 
of Solea Lingula and 8. variegata, it was with kind consideration promptly sent 
to me. 
“ The following notes were made from the recent specimen : length 4f inches ; 
number of fin-rays, 
D. 72 and 3 ; A. 56 and 5 ; P. 10 ;+ Y. 6 ; C. 16 in all. 
* Turbots with head reversed occasionally occur in the Dublin market. 
Those sent from Derry that I have seen are marbled with white on the back. — 
B. Ball. 
f Universally called “ Britt ” in Belfast market. 
X The dorsal fin, strictly considered, has but seventy-two rays, and the finlet 
connected with it extending under the tail three rays ; of these the two first 
divide near the base, and each division becomes forked ; the third ray divides 
into three near the base, each division likewise becoming forked. The anal fin 
has, independently of a similar finlet, fifty-six rays ; finlet with five rays, the 
