Species of LeTpQ-dognster. 37 



crimson when recent^) pectoral fins and under surface of a 

 paler hue ; dorsal^ anal^ and caudal fins pale carmine at the 

 base, changing gradually to deep carmine at the extremi- 

 ties. 



Spec. Char. A single very minute cirrus before each eye; 

 dorsal and anal fins unconnected with the caudal ; ventral 

 disk small. 



When noticing the Lepadogaster Cornubiensis as an Irish 

 species before the Zoological Society of London in June 1835, 

 (Proceedings Z. S., p. 81.) I called attention to the very great 

 discrepancy in the number of fin-rays in the specimen then 

 exhibited, compared with that attributed to the species by the 

 British authors who had to that period described it ; stating 

 at the same time that I could not but consider the Irish spe- 

 cimen the L, Cornubiensis. The individuals who furnished 

 the descriptions to the works of Mr. Jenyns and Mr. Yarrell 

 since pubUshed have accorded with mine, and the view taken 

 by these authors respecting the synonyma is similar. 



Dr. Fleming in describing the L, Cornubiensis (Brit. Anim. 

 p. 189.) remarks, that it '' differs from the L, Gouani and L. 

 Balbis of Risso ;^^ and adds, " the former of these, figured by 

 Gouan, Ich. p. 177» gen. xxxiv. 1. 1. f. 6, 7? differs in the spots 

 behind the eyes being crescent-shaped, and the dorsal fin 

 having a greater number of rays.^^ Here there is some con- 

 fusion — what is stated in reference to the spots in Gouan^s 

 figure is correct, but not so the number of fin^rays, as in the 

 figure of the upper side of the fish 1 1 rays — the number Dr. 

 Fleming attributes to the L, Cornubiensis — are represented in 

 the dorsal fin ; in the engraving of the under side 10 rays 

 only appear in this same fin ; in the anal fin likewise one ray 

 less is given in the view of the under side than in that of 

 the upper (9) : it thus seems as if the precise number of rays 

 was not intended to be represented. Besides the form of the 

 markings behind the eyes being different in Gouan^s figure 

 from those of the L. Cornubiensis as mentioned in the extract 

 above quoted, the separation of the dorsal and anal from the 

 caudal fin (supposing the engraving to be correct) at once 

 shows his to be distinct from this species. Risso, referring 

 to Gouan's figure as an illustration of the Lepadogaster that 



