38 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
singular circumstances. One of the fishing boats off Ventry, in the Bay of Dingle, 
picked up what appeared to be an American meal barrel, that had been for some 
time floating. It was partly filled with water, and when taken into the boat 
the fish was floundering in the barrel, and supposed to have been washed in by the 
sea, as it is likely at the time that numbers of the fish were swimming around the 
barrel. It is a deep-water fish, frequenting and feeding on rocky and corally 
ground. Mr. Moriarty forwarded the fish to me, and I at once saw that it was the 
Polyprion cernium of Cuv. and Yalenc. Its history and description is so well 
given in Yarrell’s supplement to British fishes, and in Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss., 
that I shall only here add an outline of the specimen before you. Its weight, 
when taken, 10^ lbs. ; length from tip of lower jaw to the base of the caudal fin, 
22 inches; entire length to termination of tail, 2 feet 1| inches; caudal and ventral 
rays fasciated ; nostrils double; irides dull, silvery white, upper part of circle tinged 
with a dusky shade ; fin rays— 
D. spinous 10. 11, soft 14, P. 16, V. 6, A. 10, C. 21; 
.back, dark ash colour, shaded with umber; belly, dirty white; lower jaw pro¬ 
jected beyond the upper; teeth, numerous and blunt, and Avith numerous teeth 
covering the palate; a prominent ridge on the operculum, terminating in a short 
spine ; preoperculum, toothed ; upper part of orbits ridged, and with pectinated or 
denticulated elevations from each orbit, directed toward a short, prominent ridge on 
the nape; head covered with rough, strong scales; the spines of the first dorsal fin 
very strong. In the Mediterranean this fish attains a large size, and its flesh is es¬ 
teemed, being white and tender and of excellent flavour. I trust that I have thus 
drawn attention to the interest that the Ichthyology of our coasts may present, for I 
am satisfied, that upon more careful investigation, other species that have been re¬ 
corded, as occurring upon the coast of Cornwall, and also Mediterranean species, will 
yet be traced on the southern and western coasts of this country. In continuation 
of the arrangement in the British fishes of the Percidse, are the great and the lesser 
Weevers, or sting-fish (Trachinus draco, and T. vipera), both of which I have before 
noticed, as frequenting Dingle and Ventry harbours ; and I feel assured that that 
beautiful Mediterranean species, the radiated Weever (Trachinus radiata), and found 
on the southern shores of France, will on our south-west coast be recorded in the 
fauna. 
A discussion arose with regard to some instances that had been noticed of vessels 
at sea having met these fish in numbers, following wreck timber, and of their having 
been taken by jigging, with a hook attached to a pole. They were found excellent 
food for the crew. 
Mr. Sanders said that he had often considered that a knowledge of natural history 
was but little attended to by officers of the navy, as well as our mercantile navy, 
where they had such opportunities of forming valuable records, and of extending so 
much the sphere of scientific information. 
The Chairman thought that the thanks of the Society were due to Mr. Andrews 
for his paper, and for the interesting addition he had described and recorded to the 
Ichthyology of the country. It must be gratifying to the Society to find, that at 
each meeting some new record to the fauna had been brought forward. 
The ballot having taken place, Joseph Farran Darley, Esq., of Upper Leeson- 
street, was elected a member, and Thomas Chandlee, Esq., of Waterford, a corres¬ 
ponding member. 
The meeting was then adjourned to the month of March. 
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. 
JANUARY 6, 1855. 
R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the Chair. 
A. H. Haliday, Esq., A.M., J.P., &c., was elected an honorary member. 
The President gave a demonstration of the family Alcedinidm, being in continu¬ 
ation of the series illustrative of the collection in the University Museum. 
