nLF.NNOin FORKBEARD. 



129 



rot in either instance counted, as Dr. Gunther lays much stress 

 on their number in determining the species, and of which he 

 observes that five or six series of scales are between the firs', 

 dorsal fin and the lateral line. The ventral fins did not reach 

 quite to the vent, and it may have been the mark of age that 

 the barb at the point of the jaw was reduced to a stump; 

 and while the tail was nearly even, a few of its upper rays 

 were extended into a point. Visible scales covered the cheeks 

 as well as the body, and the second dorsal and anal fins did 

 not approach close to the tail. Colour generally light grey. 



The young specimen, with the length of four inches, was not 



an inch in depth; snout much in front of the mouth, gape 



wide, opening back behind the front of the iris of the eye. 



Eye large, the two closer together than the breadth of either; 



scales rather large, vent a little neaicr the head than to the 



root of the tail. Pectoral fin long and narrow, reaching to 



the origin of the second dorsal. First dorsal fin high, trianguhir, 



pointed, having ten rays, of which the first was single for a 



third of its length beyond the membrane. Second dorsal long, 



slender, pointed behind, the end of its rays reaching to the 



root of the tail; anal fin beginning close to the vent, and 



ending at some nearer distance from the tail than the dorsah 



Caudal fin narrow and lancet-shaped. Ventrals a slender thread, 



reaching beyond the vent, and divided into two branches behind 



the half of its length. Colour of the fish light grey; anterior 



portion and end of the first dorsal black, its hindward border 



bright white, border of the second dorsal and tail black. 



It has been already hinted that the Rocklings may have 



been ihe Asellus of ancient writers; but we shall only be doing 

 VOL. in. s 



