Observations. this well known fish is common in all our rivers. For particulars, see the article on Fisheries. the fishermen think, that the young eels, of the above species, change at last into this; which is a mistake. in the sands between the Bann and Down-hill, within tide-mark. of these there is a plentiful supply, both from the coast of Derry, and Innishowen; the price varies from 6d. to 1s. 7d. extremely common; salted by the gentry and country people about Christmas, as part of their winter store, at 6s. to 8s. per dozen: the poor, who want butter, prefer herrings, as more abundant in palatable oil. not so plentiful, nor much valued. rather more abundant. opah, king-fish; not common. the only fish of this species, which has been known to be taken on the Irish coasts, was found on the flat shore of Magilligan alive, and brought to me. This fish weighed about 14lbs.; one of this species is said to have weighed 140lbs. Only Observations. rivers, to direct the fry to the sea.-See particulars under the article Fisheries. in Lough Neagh plentiful; the flesh very red; the weight sometimes 50lbs. called so, not from the colour of the flesh, which is red, but from the silvery hue of its scales; taken in the Bann and in small rivers in nets; a fine fish; but seldom weighs more than 3lbs. taken in salmon nets, in great plenty; a good fish for the table; sometimes 12lbs. weight. in rivulets; spotted with red; this and the following are the chief sport of anglers in our streams. the least of this genus; well known. I am not certain whether this is the lacustris of Gesner. It is not so white as the former trouts in the scales; its flesh is red; its appearance is, I believe, about August; it weighs from 3lbs. to 5lbs.; it will live in wells or ponds for several years, encreasing, in favourable places, to a much larger size. Whether we have the Alpinus, red char-trout, or buddagh, is, to me, not quite certain. not unfrequent in some rivers. I have seen it on muddy flats. it resembles an eel, with an horned nose; it sometimes shoals itself on muddy shores. taken chiefly at Culmore bay; and in the Roe; much valued by the ancient Romans. well known; seldom in great shoals close to our coast; often observed to pass westward, by the pursuit of the porpoise: it is taken sometimes at Port-rush; formerly abundant in Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, but of late has deserted this coast. called rock-herring by the fishermen; it is taken singly, not in shoals, on the coast and in the Bann. Among the mammalia, we have the phoca vitulina, or seal. Several of the cete, or whales, have been thrown on our coast. The delphinus phocæna, or porpoise, is often seen wallowing after the herring shoals. The orca, or grampus, has been a visitor, and is sometimes entangled, by venturing too near. As to testaceous fish, it may be sufficient to mention, that our coast furnishes a good supply of lobsters, crabs, &c. Oysters abound on the coast of Myroe; these are accounted inferior to those from the shores near the island of Inch, the bottom being less clear. Respecting the Lepus antafera, commonly called barnacle's egg, which is a bivalve adhering to sea-wrack, there is a curious opinion, that the barnacle is the product of this shell-fish; in fact, there is a very odd resemblance to the feathers and feet of an embryo bird, in those parts of the fish, which appear without the shells. We have also a species of pearl muscle, found in the river Claudy, (mya margaritifera.) The common rock shell-fish are also to be found on this coast. FOUR-FOOTED BEASTS, HORSES, CATTLE, &c. Horses. The strains of horses distinguishable in this county are, 1st. the native garron, of the mountainous country; these are thinly made up, in general have crooked hams, seldom exceed 14 hands, are often much lower; the prevalent colours are bay or sorrel. These are almost indefatigable. This breed have, for the most part, a gentle head and aspect, with nice shanks. They are begotten promiscuously, and generally by some year-old, or two year-old sire, called clib, or, using the diminutive, clibock. The Scottish highlander is in great request; some are stout, and, after continuing one or two winters, in possession of a good keeper, swell to a considerable breadth. The same strain, crossed with the sinewy draft, is still more valuable. Both these breeds are in general use, in light and mountainous grounds. We have another race, more recently formed by cross with the blood-horse. In districts where the farmers have mares of large bone, this might be useful to confer metal and speed, but where the bone is scanty, this mixture ought to be deprecated. Myroe is famous for good horses. There is a sort of horse, purchased chiefly at Moneymore, but bred in Tirone, Cavan, &c. &c.; these are broad behind, low before, generally black, with some white in the face and legs, very hairy on the fetlock; they are slow, but easily kept, and not bad drudges. In other respects, they are, to my taste, a dull and worthless race. It may be truly said, that hitherto this county is far from any high repute for horse breeding; yet many of our gentlemen, and some better farmers, are beginning to take pains to introduce a valuable strain of this most generous animal. Next to the horse in utility, and nearest in alliance, we have to notice the humble fellow-drudge and patient fellow-sufferer of laborious poverty-the ass. Few indeed of these belong to the cultivators, but many are found in the occupation of vagrants, or toiling with ill-requited struggles, for the lowest of our carriers, especially in the city. Cattle. I observe two varieties of the native cows: the one is light in the bone, small in size, extremely active, bent in the ham, with a good eye and sharp nose, a nice thin neck, a crooked horn, frequently turned upward. This strain is generally black, reddish, or brindled, with some white. There is a coarse-boned, ill-shaped breed also; these have swollen bellies, heavy head, a dew-lap very pendant, a bull-like aspect "Cui turpu caput, cui plurima cervix "Et crurum tenus e mento palearia pendent, |