40 Mr. Thompson on Gob. minutus and Cycl. minutus 



placed higher up is a third prominence. With the following 

 exceptions they have all the characters of any value in com- 

 mon. The tubercles which appear on the side of the others 

 are wanting in Gob. minutus, but a series of specimens of C 

 lumpus I have examined sufficiently prove that these are only 

 acquired by individuals of a larger size ; and their absence is 

 consequently attributed in the present instance to the extreme 

 youth of the individuals. The reddish spots of Gob, minutus 

 would seem merely to indicate a variety ; an opinion which is 

 strengthened by the difference the two individuals present in 

 this respect, one displaying very few and the other numerous 

 spots, and further by these markings so conspicuous in the re- 

 cent state (having been quite as much so in one of my speci- 

 mens as represented in ^ Zool. Dan.') becoming very obscure 

 after the fish has been a short time preserved in spirits. Be- 

 tween these and equally small ordinary specimens of C. lum- 

 pus I perceive no difference but in the spotting. The Gob. mi- 

 nutus, which is not described as possessing spines or tubercles, 

 is stated to attain 2 inches in length *, a size much larger than 

 any specimens I have seen without tubercles ; but as the C. 

 lumpus differs much with respect to the time these originate, 

 this circumstance does not, I conceive, affect the question of 

 their identity. 



Secondly. — With reference to specimens intermediate in 

 size between the Gob. minutus and C. lumpus being the Cycl. 

 minutus, it may be remarked, that the only character of this 

 species given in Turton's edition of the ^ Systema Naturae,' 

 that seems specifically different, is, " in the place of the first 

 dorsal fin is a tapering reclined long spinets" (vol. i. p. 905) : 

 in my specimens, the fleshy appendage which takes the place of 

 the first dorsal fin has to the eye a rigid appearance, but is in 

 reality soft, and may from that circumstance have led to what 

 has just been quoted being adopted as a character. With 

 Pallas's description of Cycl. minutus my specimens generally 

 accord : this author does not, like Turton, speak of a dorsal 



* The figures given as of adult specimens in * Zool. Dan.' very little ex- 

 ceed one inch. 



f This may be adopted from Gmelin, whom I see quoted for the species, 

 which was not described by Linnaeus himself. Turton *s description seems 

 to refer to Pallas's fish. 



