17. coucHiA. 363 



A detailed description has been given in the volume quot>ed ; and 

 it need only be remarked, that the small specimens there mentioned, 

 vrith " the spines in greater number, short, and filament-hke," do 

 not belong to this genus, but probably to Couchia argentata. 



Lota argentea, figured by Bonaparte in the * Fauna ItaHca,' ought 

 perhaps to be referred to this genus, as the fin appears to be formed 

 of true rays connected by a membrane, and as the body is evidently 

 compressed. There is, however, no barbel at the chin, and a small 

 one at each nostril. No description has been given of this fish. 



17. COUCHIA. 



Ciliata, Couch in Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. v. p. 15. 

 Motella, sp., Nilss., Reinh. et al. auct. 

 Couchia, TJwmps. Nat. Hist. Lrel. p. 190. 



Body compressed, moderately elongate, covered with minute scales, 

 and with a silvery pigment inferiorly. Head compressed, with the 

 upper jaw longest. A separate caudal ; two dorsal fins, the anterior 

 of which is composed of a band of numerous short fringes, concealed 

 in a longitudinal groove, the first fringe prolonged. Ofte anal fin. 

 Ventrals composed of about four rays. Minute teeth in the jaws and 

 on the vomer. Snout with barbels. Air-bladder none. Pyloric 

 appendages in small number. 



Very small fishes inhabiting the open sea in the North Atlantic, 

 only occasionally visiting the coasts. 



1. Couchia glauca. 



The Mackerel Midge. 



Ciliata glauca, Couch in Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. v. p. 15. fig. 2, & p. 741, 



and in Zool. Journ. i. p. 132. 

 Motella glauca, Jen. Man. p. 451; Yarr. Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 281, 



and 3rd edit. i. p. 686. 

 argenteola, D'uben, Vet. Akacl Handl. 1844, pp. 92, 97 ; NUss. 



Skand. Faun. Fisk. p. 590. 

 Couchia minor, Thomps. Nat. Hist, lrel. iv. p. 188. 



D. 44. A. 38. V. 3. 



Barbels five, four on the upper and one on the lower jaw. The 

 length of the head is more than the depth of the body, and two- 

 ninths of the total length (without caudal). The length of the ven- 

 tral is two-thirds of that of the head. The width of the interorbital 

 space equals the diameter of the eye. Sides and belly silvery. 



British and Scandinavian Seas. 



a-c. From 1 to 1^ inch long. Polperro. Presented by J. Couch, Esq. 

 d, e-l. Same size. Falmouth. Purchased. 



2. Couchia argentata. 



PGadus argenteolus, Mont. Wern. Mem. ii. p. 449; Fle?n. Brit. Anim. 



p. 193 ; Jen. Man. p. 451 

 ? Motella avgenteo\A,Yorr.£r{t.I"ish. ed.2. ii. p.281,auded. 3. i.p.589. 



