Notes on the Red Band-Fish. 217 



ment of this fin in the present specimen, a somewhat oval 

 spot, of a deeper red than the surrounding parts, originates, 

 and extends for the space of half an inch. 



The term 'Riband Fish,' applies equally well to the colour 

 as to the form of this Cepola ; as the much darker hue im* 

 parted by the carmine-colouredrays of the dorsal and anal fins, 

 when lying close to the rose-coloured body, — throughout the 

 entire length of which they are continued, — gives it striking- 

 ly the appearance of a bordered riband; and may indeed, 

 when so viewed, have suggested the trivial name of margi- 

 nata, to what was considered a distinct species : vide Cuv. 

 and Val. t. x. p. 392. 



The C. taenia, as described by Bloch, chiefly differs from 

 the C. rubescens in the carination at the base of the dorsal and 

 anal fins; in having two rows of teeth in the lower jaw, in- 

 stead of one ; in having the tongue rough, rather than smooth ; 

 in wanting the silvery bands of C. rubescens ; and in having 

 many red spots on the sides. Of these characters, two are 

 present, and three wanting, in this specimen. It has the 

 double row of teeth, and a single inner tooth in addition, 

 suggesting the idea of a third row ; and likewise the carina- 

 tion on either side the base of the dorsal and anal fins. Not 

 only the transverse bands, but the spots also, are absent. — 

 The difference between the smoothness and roughness of the 

 tongue might, I conceive, arise from the mode of preservation, 

 for if originally smooth, the tongue would probably continue 

 so, were the specimen preserved in spirits, although were it 

 preserved dry, this organ might become rough. In the num- 

 ber of rays in the branchiostegous membrane and in the fins, 

 there is a general agreement between Bloch's C. taenia and 

 the specimen under consideration. The C. taenia is describ- 

 ed to have in Branc. memb. 6. P. 15. V. 6. A. 60. C. 10. D. 66. 



It seems unnecessary to extend the description any farther, 

 or to those characters on which authors are agreed. In the 

 10th volume of the 'Histoire Naturelle des Poissons,' of Cu- 

 vier and Valenciennes, which did not appear in time to be 

 quoted in the excellent volumes of Mr. Yarrell, (Brit. Fishes), 

 and Mr. Jenyns, (Man. Brit. Vert.), the C. rubescens is treated 

 of in the usual full and complete manner characteristic of that 

 great work. The subject occupies thirteen pages, in which 

 the C. rubescens is set forth as the only species of its genus 

 yet discovered in the European seas, the C. taenia, C. mar- 

 ginata, &c. being rejected as species. I have, nevertheless, 

 thought it might not be useless to describe the present indi- 

 vidual, so far as I have done, in consequence of its superior 



