1823.] Linnean Transactions, Vol, XIV, Part t, 301 



and at last, when at the top, exert their utmost activity to stem 

 the rapid current and reach a place of safety. In getting up the 

 little cataract that pours over a sloping rock, they prefer those 



E laces which are only moistened by the droppings from above ; 

 ut those which quit the moisture altogether, as I have seen 

 some do, are obliged to alter their course, and proceed to places 

 more easy for them to travel in. The motive for this migration, 

 which is general among young eels, I have not been able to 

 discover. Some among them 1 have noticed to be so diapha- 

 nous that the vertebrae may be counted ; and taking advantage 

 of an opportunity of this kind, I ascertained that when in a state 

 of activity, and not alarmed, the pulsations of the heart were 40 

 in a minute." — Murana Cowger, conger ; Xiphias gladi us, sword- 

 fish. ; Ammodytes tohianus, launce. 



Jugular Fishes : Callionymus Lyra, Dragon fish ; C. Dra* 

 cunculm,, Skulpin ; Mr. Couch gives the common English name 

 of this fish, because he in general prefers it to that which 

 is arbitrarily bestowed by naturalists : — Trachinus Draco, 

 greater weever : "I have known such effects to arise from 

 the puncture of the spine on the gill-covers of this fish,'* Mr, 

 Couch remarks, " as can only be accounted for on the sup- 

 position of its conveying some venomous quality. In three 

 men who were wounded by one fish, the pain and tension pro- 

 ceeded from the hand to the shoulder in a few minutes.'* Gadus 

 JEgleJinus, haddock ; G.Morhua, cod; G .Luscus,hih ; G .minutus, 

 poor ; G,Molva, ling ; G. Mustela, rock-ling ; " The variety of this 

 fish which possesses five barbs, has been supposed to be a dis- 

 tinct species ; but from attentive consideration I am convinced 

 that this is a mistake : " G. Merlarigus, whiting ; G. Po/iachius, 

 whiting pollack ; G. Carhonarhs, rauning (ravening) pollack, or 

 coal-fish; G , Merlucius, lake, — Blenmus Pholis, shanny; B.gale- 

 rita, crested blenny ; B, Gunellus, butterfish ; B, Phycis, greater 

 forked beard ; " I would suggest that this fish might with pro- 

 priety be placed in a genus, which might be denominated 

 Phycis ; and be distinguished by the barb at the throat : " — 

 Lesser Forked Hake. — The insertion of this species is on the 

 authority of Mr. Jago in Ray's Synopsis; as I have never had 

 the good fortune to meet with a specimen.'^ 



Thoracic Fishes : Cepola rubescens, red snakefish. "Two 

 specimens of this fish have come into my possession ; one of 



* " Since this paper was read, I have met with the Lesser Forked Beard of Jago ; 

 length ten inches ; head wide and flat ; eyes forward and prominent ; under-jaw short- 

 est ; teeth in the jaws and palate, sharp and incurved, and some in the throat ; small 

 barb at the under jaw ; body compressed, smooth ; first dorsal fin triangular and 

 extremely small ; second dorsal fin and the anal fin long, ending in a point ; tail round ; 

 ventral fins have several rays, of which the two outmost are much elongated, the longest 

 measuring two inches ; the fins all covered with the common skin ; a furrow passes 

 above the eye to the back ; stomach firm, with longitudinal folds ; no appendix to the 

 intestines ; air-bladder large, and of unusual form. In the intestines were the remains 

 of an Echinus, This fish has all the marks of a Gadus, to which genus it appears to 

 me properly to belong.— J. C* 



