38 Mr. Thompson on Gob. minutus and Cycl. minlitus 



he has named L. Gouani, gives 16 as the number of rays in 

 the dorsal fin*. 



Gobius minutus, Mull., Cyclopterus minutus, Pall.?t and 

 Cycl. lumpus, Linn. 



When dredging in Strangford Lough, county of Down, on 

 the 2nd of July last, and whilst engaged in capturing specimens 

 of Couchia minor (see Annals for February) on the surface of 

 the sea, the dredge { brought to light two individuals of the 

 Gobius minutus of the ' Zoologia Danica.' In classification 

 these belong to the genus Cyclopterus as now restricted, and 

 in the ^ Prodromus Ichthyologiae Scandinavicae^ of Nilsson 

 (p. 61.) are brought under this genus, the specific name of 

 minutus being retained. 



Desc. These specimens are each half an inch long — the 

 greatest length attributed to the species in Zool. Dan. is 

 2 inches — and when viewed fi-om above, like the young of 

 C lumpus, are much of a tadpole form, or about one half of the 

 entire length somewhat globose, thence to the caudal fin much 

 compressed: first dorsal fin lobiform as in that species, second 

 dorsal originating just behind it, and extending to near the 

 caudal fin : anal commencing at some little distance from the 

 vent, and ending on the same plane with the second dorsal — 

 the number of rays in the above fins could not be accurately 

 estimated : pectorals about 16 rays, large, ^^ uniting under the 

 throat and inclosing the disk of the ventrals^^ as in C lumpus; 

 disk likewise similar (as it also is to that of Liparis Montagui) 

 with . five lines diverging from the central one ; caudal fin 

 square at the end, rays from 8 to 10 : vent at about the mid- 

 dle of the entire length: no spines anywhere visible. 



Colour (when recent) — one individual has the body of a very 



♦ Hist. Nat. I'Eur. Merid. t. 3. p. 271. There is a typographical error 

 here; Gouan, i. 67. being quoted instead of [t.] i. [fig.] 6 and 7. 



f These have not been recorded with certainty as British, either as va- 

 rieties or genuine species. I have not hud authentic specimens of either fish 

 to examine, but judge from descriptions and figures. 



X They were taken in a sheltered bay in which tlie water was about 25 

 fathoms in depth ; but although brought up in the dredge, they might have 

 been captured anywhere between the bottom and the surface of the water — 

 the warmth and calmness of the day was such that it might have attracted 

 them hither. 



