120 THOMP^JOX S MIDGE. 



from Mr. Coucli, and from tlicsc the Strangford species differs 

 as follows: — ^Sly specimens, under eleven lines in length, do 

 not, like the Cornish fish, which is one inch five lines long, 

 exhibit cirri on either jaw. The ventral fins in mine are 

 equal to one fourth of the entire length, in the English specimens 

 to about one seventh; in the latter the longest rays have a 

 fibrous termination, whereas those fins are somewhat square 

 at the end in the Strangford specimens; besides, they are in 

 those of a pitchy blackness for the last third of their length, 

 although in the other of a uniform pale colour throughout. These 

 differences were likewise constant in Cornwall and Strangford 

 specimens of similar length." 



This minute description by INIr. Thompson will render 

 unnecessary any further remarks of the same sort derived from 

 specimens which I have obtained, and for which I return thanks 

 to Mr. Thomas Edwards, of Banff, in Xorth Britain; who in 

 the capture of a single specimen readily discovered that it 

 belonged to a species not generally recognised, and who, on 

 mv enquiring after further particulars, readily procured for 

 my use eleven other examples; some considerable advantage 

 to science arising from this sujiply being that it not only 

 satisfied me on a close scrutiny that there did not exist any 

 barbs where Thompson could not discern them, on the uiij^er 

 and under lij^s, but also that the ventral fins were not situated 

 near the throat as that gentleman supposed, but that they 

 ■were placed far back on the belly; and also not in near contact 

 with each other. On the i:)oint of situation repeated examination 

 has compelled me indeed to form a different conclusion fi'om 

 that arrived at by Mr. Thompson; but I feel persuaded that 

 this difference is to be regarded on his part only as a slip of 

 the pen, and the whole of the other particulars are too much 

 alike to admit of a doubt that the Scottish fish and that of 

 Ireland are exactly the same. Laid by the side of the true 

 ]Mackarel [Midge, the difference between them is consi^icuous; 

 and the greater length of the ventral fins, with their situation 

 and intensely black colour of the hindmost portion were obvious 

 in all the specimens. Xo ciliated membrane could be discovered. 



A later communication from INIr. Edwards confirms the 

 remark of ^Nlr. Thompson as regards the surprising agility of 

 these fishes; their nimbleness being such as to render it 



