THE SMALL-SPOTTED DOG-FTSH. 
247 
ORDER VIII.— PLAOIOSTOMI. 
The Small-spotted Dog-fish,* Scyttium Canicula , Cuv., 
Seems to be common around the coast, and is as abundant in the North as 
in the South of Ireland, which does not appear to be the case in Great 
Britain. (See Dr. Parnell’s remarks on this subject.) 
This is by far the most common species of the S 'qualidce on the N.E. coast, 
where it proves a serious nuisance to the fisherman. 
May 2, 1838. — Of this fish 17 were taken to-day, by Richard Langtry, 
Esq., when mullet-fishing off the White House, Belfast Bay. On measur- 
ing, I found the few largest about 2\ feet long. There was no difference 
in colouring according to sex, though a considerable difference in that of 
the specimens : not one had any tinge of yellow as a ground colour, such 
as represented by Donovan (pi. 55), but had the ground colour of the back 
and sides varying from grey to blackish, f and studded over with round 
spots of a darker hue. In some of both sexes these spots were very 
numerous and small; one large male exhibited only 2 or 3 large ones. 
Others had, in addition to the ordinary-sized spots, a few large black 
markings, about § an inch in diameter. Pennant’s Spotted and Lesser 
Spotted Shark (pi. 19, ed. 1812) are certainly but one species, as remarked 
by Jenyns. 
Jan . 3, 1839. — A female, which I obtained from Carrickfergus, was of 
a handsome sfome-coloured ground, like that represented by Donovan 
(pi. 55), and covered over beautifully with small round spots, more than 
twice as numerous as those on Donovan’s figure. It contained a number 
of eggs the size of marbles, and from these a series down to mere points : 
they were all round. This specimen was taken on a sandy bottom, and I 
should, a priori, have anticipated the difference in colour between it and 
those above noticed, the haunts being different. 
Squalus Canicula. — Mr. Bernard Meenan says, too common everywhere : 
has seen this winter three creels-full, a cwt. in each creel, taken by one 
boat at Island Magee, on long-lines. The fishermen use them for putting in 
“buckie” creels to capture these shell-fish ( Buccinum undatum). 
Dog-fishes are said to be eaten at Roundstone,! as well as at the Isle of 
Man ; and Dr. J. D. Marshall informs us that they are valued at Rathlin 
for the oil which they afford. 
The stomach of one which I examined contained a Gunnellus vulgaris, 
and many opercula of the Buccinum undatum. Dr. Drummond states 
that in several others he found many of these opercula. 
In reference to the season at which the young are produced, I may men- 
tion that on one occasion, in the month of May, I found a fresh specimen 
lying on the shore at Rockport, Belfast Bay, from which some of the 
tendrils that envelope the case containing the young protruded. 
The Large-spotted Dog-fish, or Rock Dog-fish, 
Scyttium Stettaris, Cuv., 
— Catulus (sp.), Linn., 
Frequents the North-East coast, and not improbably the coast generally. 
* Also called “ Dog-fish,” “ Blind Dog-fish,” and “ Rough Dog.” 
f It is worthy of note that they were taken on a soft, oozy bottom. 
t Mr. Nimmo. 
