62 



favoured by that gentleman. On a recent examinatIou it proved ' 

 identical with the G. niger of Cuvier and Valenciennes, Avhilst the 

 latter corresponded vith the G. niger of Montagu (YarreU's Brit. 

 Fish., vol. i. p. 252.) and Jenyns. This species is considered by Cuv. 

 and Vai., but without reccurse being had to a comparison of speci- 

 mens, to be the šame as theiis ; but the two individuals under con- 

 sideration, unquestionably distinct, agree so well with the detailed 

 descriptions of those just quoted under the šame name, as to leave 

 not a doubt upon my mind as to the propriety of separating them. 

 Amongst other differential characters, they present the follQwing : 



G. niger, Mont. G. niger, Cuv. and Vai. 



(from Youghal.) (from Gahvay.) 



Javos, the lower one the longer. Jaws equal. 

 Teeth, several irregular rows in Teeth, outer row very much the 



both ja\vs, those of the outer largest, and curving inwards. 



row not very much larger than 



the others, and, likę them, 



straight and truncated at the 



summit. 

 Šulcus, extending from the head Šulcus, wanting. 



to D. fin. 

 Papilla* so numerous on the Papilta less nuracrous by half. 



head as to give it the appear- 



ance of being delicately carved 



all over. 

 D. 6—14. P. 18. V. i each. A. D. 6— IC. P. 20—21. V. 5. A. 



12. C. 15, and some short. 13. C. 14. 



Though of British authors, the G. niger of Montagu and Jenyns 

 only is ąuoted with certainty ; the species described as such by 

 Pennant and Yarrell appears to be the šame, the exceptions being 

 that two rows only of teeth are attributed to it by the former, and 

 17 rays are described by the latter as contained in its 2nd D. fin. 

 The G. niger of Donovan and Fleming is the G. Ruthensparii {G. bi- 

 punctatus, Yarr.) of Euphrasen. 



Bloch's G. niger does not agree with either species here treated of ; 

 as likę Pennant's, it is stated to have but two rows of teeth . It difFers, 

 more especially from that of British authors as now restricted, in the 

 jaws being of ėqual length, the teeth pointed, and ha%'ing 16 rays in 

 the 2nd D. fin ; and from that of Cuv. and Vai. in the shortness of 

 the P. fin, a character rejMesented both in his figure and description. 

 The G. niger of Risso having the jaws equal, and the teeth curved, 

 approximates it to that of Cuv. and Vai., but the number of fin-rays 

 differs considerably. 



The species taken at Galway, which is new to the British cata- 

 logue, occurs also in the Mediterranean, the collection of fishes from 

 Corfu, alluded to in the note to Trigla pceciloptera, as being in the 



• With respect to tliese resembling the G. geniporus, as described by Cuv. 

 and Vai., t. xii. p. 32, but very different in other characters. 



