438 MTTGILID^. 



and a third in the total length, the length of the head five times 

 and a fifth. The head is moderately high and broad, and has 

 the snout somewhat produced, as in M. auratus. The interorbital 

 space is convex, its width being contained 

 twice and a third in the length of the head. 

 The upper lip is membranaceous, not thick, 

 visible from above. The angle made by 

 the anterior margins of the mandibles is 

 somewhat more than a right one, and the 

 cleft of the mouth is nearly half as deep as it 

 is broad. The outermost extremity of the 

 maxillary is visible between the angle of the 

 mouth and the anterior angle of the prae- 

 orbital; the latter is obliquely truncated, 

 so that its front angle is very obtuse, whilst 

 the posterior one is acute ; its lower margin ^ octo-radiatus. 



is denticulated. The free space at the chin, 



between the mandibles, is narrow, elongate, extending on to between 

 the interopercles. The nostrils are close together, situated midway 

 between the end of the snout and the orbit. Adipose eyelid none* 

 There are twenty- five scales between the snout and the spinous 

 dorsal fin ; the latter commences a little nearer to the snout than 

 to the base of the caudal, vertically above the fourteenth scale of 

 the lateral line ; its two anterior dorsal spines are of nearly equal 

 length, and one-half of that of the head ; pointed scales extend along 

 the whole length of its base. The soft dorsal fin is nearly as high 

 as the former, and commences above the twenty-eighth scale of the 

 lateral line, or above the second soft ray of the anal. The caudal is 

 deeply forked, the length of a lobe being equal to that of the head. 

 Anal fin as high as the spinous dorsal. The pectoral is inserted 

 somewhat above the middle of the depth of the body, and extends to 

 the twelfth scale of the lateral line, its length being equal to the 

 distance of the posterior nostiil from the end of the operculum ; there 

 is no pointed scale in its axil. The ventral is inserted midway 

 between pectoral and dorsal fin. 



Back greenish ; sides and belly silsery, with darker stripes along 

 the series of scales. 



This species cannot be the M. curtus of Yarrell, which is said 

 to be distinguished by its very short body, and which, perhaps, has 

 nine anal rays. It is most closely allied to 31. auratus, which, how- 

 ever, always has nine anal rays, and differs in several other points, 

 chiefly in the configuration of the lower jaw- The anal fin of our 

 specimen is quite perfect, showing the last ray divided nearly to its 

 base, both portions being joined to the same interhsemal spine. There 

 can bo no doubt that this is a very distinct species, from the British 

 coast, although apparently scarce. 



Since the first description of this species (in Ann. & Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. 1861, May), I have found a second specimen, which agrees 

 with the first in every point. It is from Yarrell's collection, who 

 took it for Mugil capito. 



