157 



to cocoa-nut oil, and the various other oils prevalently used for 

 burning, or as oleaginous condiments, in Asiatic countries. 



2. Observations on a New Species of British Gurnard, and 

 on a Sp>ecies of Sole new to Science. By Richard Par- 

 nell, M.D. Communicated by Mr Stark. 



The author obtained, in the early part of last September, at 

 Brixharo, in Devonshire, seven specimens of a species of Gurnard, 

 which has been known for thirty years past to the fishermen there 

 under the name of Finned Captains. This he ascertained to be the 

 Trigla lucema of Brunner. The species is known as an inhabitants 

 of the Mediterranean, where it was first noticed by Rondeletius, 

 but mistaken by him for the T. cuculus of Linnaeus. Since then, 

 Brunner noticed it at Marseilles, Risso at Nice, Leach at Malta, 

 and Cuvier at Naples ; but it had not been previously observed by 

 any naturalist on the British coasts. The largest specimen ob- 

 tained by the author is 10^ inches long. The back is light red, 

 the pectoral fins dark blue, the sides marked by a silvery band from 

 the gill-cover to the tail ; the lateral line smooth, and formed by 

 numerous semicircular plates, beautifully radiated at their free mar- 

 gin; the scales thin, large, and entire; the second ray of the first 

 dorsal fin very long, so as to reach, when folded down, beyond the 

 sixth ray of the second dorsal fin. (See Plate.) 



From the same source, the author obtained at the same time a 

 small species of sole, which he believes to be entirely new to na- 

 turalists, and which he proposes to designate Monochirus minutus. 

 It is five inches long, shaped like a sole, but narrower towards the 

 tail. The back is reddish-brown ; the pectoral fin on the eye-side 

 is tipped with black, but the opposite one is white and rudimentary. 

 The dorsal fin commences over the upper lip, and extends down the 

 back to the caudal rays ; and every sixth or seventh ray of the 

 dorsal and anal fins is black. The number of fin rays is 73 dorsal, 

 54 anal, 4 ventral, 4 pectoral, and 14 caudal. The scales are small, 

 with from 12 to 15 denticles at their free margin. — The Monochirus 

 lingula, or red-backed sole, is the only species with which this fish 

 might be apt to be confounded. But they differ in the red-backed 

 sole presenting a distinct interval between the dorsal and caudal 

 fins, a white fringing of the tail, and upon the anal and dorsal fins 

 six or seven blackish spots, that extend beyond the base of the rays 

 towards the body of the fish. This little sole is not unfrequently 

 taken io the trawl-nets by the fishermen of Brixhani, but on account 

 of their diminutive size they are seldom brought on shore. 



