OF THE FISHES OF MADEIRA, 199 
the side also of the Mediterranean and Great Britain, there still remains an essential 
difference characteristic of the former ; a difference, however, conformable to what there 
Seems some reason to suppose may prove a general law, namely, a variation in the ratio 
between the marine Acanthopterygians and the Malacopterygians inversely proportion- 
able to the latitude. In Britain the marine Acanthopterygians are to the marine Mala- 
copterygians as low as one and a quarter to one, i. e. nearly in a ratio of equality ; in 
the Mediterranean they are as two and three-fifths to one ; and in Madera the ratio has 
increased to three and a half to one. 
Another curious general feature deducible from the foregoing Table, is that Madera 
has nearly as many species in common with Great Britain as it has in common with 
the Mediterranean. For striking off one third part of the whole number of Maderan 
fishes, which is the proportion peculiar to the island, it appears that one-half of the re- 
maining two-thirds belongs to the Mediterranean, while the other half is formed of 
species also found in Britain. Indeed, in several respects, instead of occupying a place, 
considered ichthyologically, corresponding with its latitude, Madera seems rather to be 
intermediate between Great Britain and the Mediterranean. It presents us with a very 
small sprinkling of species (Priacanthus; Pristipoma, Glyphisodon, Heliastes, Diodon, 
Tetrodon, Balistes) belonging to the tropical forms ; while the numbers of the species, 
in most of the families, either about equal those of the same families in Britain, or are 
intermediate between them and the numbers for the Mediterranean. The families of 
Triglide, Gobide, Clupeide, Cyclopteride, and Syngnathide are, it must be confessed, 
at present seemingly exceptions to this rule, but exceptions which, I think, will pro- 
bably not prove to be such ultimately. Gaduside, Pleuronectide, and Raiide are such 
exceptions, which should rather go to prove the rule. In respect to these peculiarly 
northern tribes of fishes, Madera takes the place, accordant with its latitude, as lowest 
in the scale. 
In one particular the foregoing Table fails to convey a faithful picture of the general 
character and aspect of Maderan Ichthyology. It does not sufficiently express the de- 
cided predominance of the Sparidal, Scombridal and Percidal forms above all others. 
This arises from the profusion in which the individuals of certain species in these fa- 
milies occur; while the species which compose the other families are in general poorer 
considerably in this respect. The commonest edible fishes of the island are found in 
the three families just named, as well as the more gregarious and prolific species. 
Thus the European visitor on entering the markets, or examining the boats, is struck 
at once with the almost total absence of the Flat-fishes, Salmonide, and Cod-fish tribe, 
which more especially characterize our stalls in England, and with the unwonted forms 
of the Sargus, Pagrus, Pagellus, Box, Oblada, Smaris, Thynnus, Prometheus, Lichia, &c. ; 
or with the brilliant hues of the Serranus, Beryx, Scarus, &c., or the grotesque deformed 
Scorpena and Sebastes. 
This impression will be somewhat different at different seasons. The spring is cha- 
2n2 : 
