on the British Shores. 25 



arched appearance, from this tinge not being continued round 

 the inferior margin of the guttce. The back of the specimen 

 under description, which has been in spirits ever since its 

 capture, is of a dense blue-black, presenting, in certain lights, 

 a brownish tinge. 



From specimens of this fish having been found in the above 

 localities, viz. — in the sea near Flintshire, on the shore in 

 Orkney, in Devonshire, and, lastly, in Edinburghshire, we 

 may infer that it is generally, although sparingly, diffused 

 through the British seas. Probably, ere long, we may hear 

 of other examples of its occurrence upon our snores, or in our 

 seas ; for I am convinced, that from the admirable character 

 of Mr. Yarrell's work, it will have the effect of exciting such 

 an interest in the inhabitants of the boundless deep, that ma- 

 ny interesting facts respecting the Ichthyology of our seas 

 will soon be brought to light, which, but for such a publica- 

 tion, would have remained unrecorded, perhaps unnoticed. 



Ipswich, Nov. 2nd, 1837. 



[Upon the receipt of the ahove interesting notice from Dr. Clarke, we for- 

 warded the MS. to Mr. Yarrell, who obligingly returned it with the follow- 

 ing Letter. Ed.] 



Dear Sir, 



The various communications recently re- 

 ceived by you and others, as well as by myself, on the subject 

 of British Fishes, are to me so many gratifying testimonials 

 of the increasing number of observers, whose attention is be- 

 ing directed to the Fauna of our seas ; and I feel a sincere 

 pleasure in the prospect of the many additions, and more cor- 

 rect illustrations, which our Ichthyology is likely to derive 

 from the great interest now taken in this branch of Natural 

 History. 



The minute size of the fish renders it, I think, extremely 

 probable, that the example obtained by Dr. Clarke at Porto- 

 bello, the one noticed by the Rev. Mr. Low, as found in Ork- 

 ney, and a third specimen taken still farther north, now pre- 

 served in the museum at Bergen, and described by Professor 

 Nilsson, in his Prodromus, will eventually prove to be distinct 

 as a species, from the examples found by Dr. Walcott, and 

 Pennant, on our south coast, and in the west ; the more so, 

 because I learn from the Prince of Musignano, who is now in 

 London, that the species of the genus Scopelus, or of genera 

 very closely allied, are much more numerous than have hither- 

 to been supposed. In a new History of the Fishes of the 

 Mediterranean, written by the Prince of Musignano, which it 

 is hoped will soon be put to press, no less than thirteen spe- 

 cies are described, as inhabiting that sea. The extensive re- 



