THOMPSON S MIDGE. 119 



first sight called to mind the Ciliata ylauca and Gadtis ar- 

 gcntcolus; but the great size of the ventral fins, which were 

 likewise of a j^itchy blackness for nearly the last third of their 

 length, seemed opposed to their identity with these sj^ecies. 

 The boatmen who accompanied me had not observed this fish 

 before, nor had they heard anything of it. 



"The general form elongate; belly protuberant. On a close 

 examination of all the specimens, nine in number, no cirri can, 

 with a high power of lens or on the field of the microscojje, 

 be detected on either jaw. The largest individual, ten and a 

 half lines in length, may be characterized as having the ujiper 

 jaw the longer; strong and pointed teeth in both jaws; head 

 occupying rather more than one fourth of the entire length; 

 eye equal in diameter to one third the length of the head; 

 opercle rounded at the base, altogether forming a portion of 

 a circle; first dorsal fin originating just over the oj^ercle, so 

 sunken, and its rays (which are thick and blunt) so short, as 

 to be hardly distinguishable in the j^i'ofilc of the fish, not less 

 than twentv-five rays; second dorsal commencina: close to the 

 first, and before the end of the pectorals, of unequal height, 

 extending to the base of the caudal, not less than fifty rays; 

 pectoral fins rather less than one fifth of the entire length, of 

 moderate size and rounded; placed very high, somewhat above 

 the opercle, about twenty rays; ventrals 2)laced high, commencing 

 rather in advance of the j^ectorals, somewhat square at the end, 

 occupying one fourth of the entire length, reaching to the vent 

 and consisting of about six rays; anal fin commencino- at the 

 vent and extending to the base of the caudal, unequal in 

 height, having at least forty rays; caudal fin elongate, occupying 

 one fifth of the entire length — measured from the last vertebra 

 of the body, somewhat rounded at the end, containing about 

 thirty rays; branchial rays about seven; vent midway between 

 snout and base of the caudal fin. Colour, (when recent) back 

 rich green, varied with dots of gold and black; operculum, 

 entire sides, and under surface bright silver; j^f'ctoral, dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal fins uniformly of a i:>ale colour; ventrals 

 likewise so for two thirds from the base, remainder j)itch black; 

 irides silvery. 



"Since the above was written I have been fiivourcd bv ^Nlr. 

 Yarrell with original specimens of Ciliata glauca, obtained 



