NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 627 



mouth and general colour it agrees best with this species. The posterior 

 nostrils, which are placed slightly nearer to the anterior ones than to 

 the front edge of the eye, have not however the semicircular flap which 

 protects them in that species, but have an evenly raised margin, as in 

 M. ti'icirrata. 



The width of the vomers also, as compared with the longitudinal 

 diameter of the eye, agrees with the description of M. tricirrata, and 

 differs from that of M. mustcla (Smitt, Scandinavian Fishes, pt. i. pp. 

 552, 555). Also bearing in mind the number of barbels present, we 

 may perhaps dismiss 31. musfela from our speculations. 



Our specimen differs from M. tricirrata, then, in its fin -ray formula, 

 and it also differs in the length of the base of the first dorsal fin as 

 compared with the length of the postorbital space and in the relative 

 length of the mouth to the head. It differs also from 31. maculata in its 

 fin-ray formula and in its uniform colour, and also in the entire absence 

 of the black-spotting characteristic of that species, and it agrees very 

 closely with the description of 31. fusca given by Moreau (Foissons de la 

 France, iii. p. 272). 



He states that this species is smaller than the others. Our specimen 

 is mature at 19 cms. In 31. fusca the proportion of length of head to 

 body length, the backward extension of the mouth as compared with 

 the length of the head, the length of the base of the first dorsal fin as 

 compared with the postorbital space, the fin-ray formula and also the 

 colour of the female, correspond exactly with our specimen, which we 

 therefore record as an example of this species. 



A description of the ripe unfertilised ova will be found on another 



P^Se- W. Garstang and F. Balfour Browne. 



Monstrilla Helgolandica, Glaus, at Plymouth. — Two specimens of 

 the species occurred during last year (1902) in the tow-nets at Plymouth. 

 The first was taken in July and the second on September 15th. both 

 being females, the second specimen bearing a number of green eggs 

 nearly ready to hatch. The species has not hitherto been recorded from 

 British seas, the specimens referred to it by Bourne {Q. J. 31. S., 1890) 

 being identical with 31. longiremis, Giesb. The original, very in- 

 adequate, description given by Glaus (Freilebenden Cope2ooden, 1863) 

 has since been amplified by Timm {Zool. Anz., 1893, and Wiss. Mecve- 

 suntersuchungen, i. p. 376) from specimens taken near Heligoland. 

 The Plymouth specimens agree in all respects with his description, 

 though it is as well to add that both were abundantly provided with 

 a rich chocolate -coloured pigment. Timm, having only preserved 

 material, speaks doubtfully of the colour. — II. Gurney. 



NEW SERIES. — VOL. VI. NO. 4. 2 T 



