17 



SHOET GREY MULLET. 



Mugil curtus, Yaurell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. '244. 



This supposed species is named and described by Mr. 

 Yarrell from a single example obtained by himself while fishing 

 at Poole, in Dorsetshire. The specimen scarcely exceeded two 

 inches in length, and its principal distinction consisted in the 

 extreme shortness of the body, which led to the adoption of 

 the specific name. 



The number of the fin rays was of the first dorsal four, 

 of the second one firm ray and eight others, pectoral eleven, 

 ventral one firm and five others, of the anal three firm and 

 eight others, of the tail fourteen rays. "The length of the 

 head as compared with that of the body and tail, is as one to 

 three, the proportion in the Common Grey Mullet being as 

 one to four; the body is also deeper in proportion than in 

 M. capito, being equal to the length of the head; the head is 

 wider, the form of it more triangular, and also more pointed 

 anteriorly; the eye larger in proportion; the fin rays longer, 

 particularly those of the tail ; the ventral fins placed nearer 

 the pectorals, and a dififercnce exists in the number of some 

 of the fin rays. The colour of the two species are nearly 

 alike; and in other respects, except those named, they do not 

 differ materially." 



Since the publication of the first notice of this species, the 

 eleventh volume of the 'Histoire Naturelle des Poissons' con- 

 tains a reference to this fish, of which an example was sent 

 to Paris, and which M. Valenciennes considered to be identical 

 with Mr. Yarrell's fish. It is to be regretted, however, that 

 the specimen thus referred to by Mr. Yarrell is not to be 

 VOL. III. D 



