113 



COUCHIA. 



"Whkn a notice of the most common species of the fishes comprised 

 in this genus was published in the fifth volume of Loudon's "Magazine 

 of Natural History," the name assigned to it was Ciliata, as being 

 expressive of the membranous organ bordered with slender threads in 

 front of the dorsal fin, which is common to this new genus, with that 

 of Motella; but as this name is found to have been already appropriated 

 to a different object, it pleased Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, to substitute 

 for it the term Concilia, which has received an establishment by being 

 adopted by Dr. Gunther in his "Catalogue of the Fishes of the British 

 Museum. 



The definition of this genus is, — The body compressed, moderately 

 elongated, covered with minute scales, and with a silvery pigment 

 interiorly. Head compressed, with the upp^r jaw longest. A separate 

 caudal, anterior and dorsal membrane, which is composed of a band 

 of numerous short fringes, concealed in a longitudinal groove, the first 

 fringe prolonged. One anal fiji; ventrals composed of about four rays. 

 Minute teeth in the jaws and on the vomer. Snout with barbies. Air 

 bladder none. Pyloric appendages in small number. It will be 

 observed that in his definition Dr. Gunther regards the fringed membrane 

 on the back as a fin, which appears to be more than doubtful; but 

 the distinction of the genus is well made out, so as not to be 

 confounded with any other. 



MACKAREL MIDGE. 



Ciliata glauca, Couch; in Loudon's Magazine Nat. Hist., 



vol. v. 

 Motella glauca, Jenyns; Manual, p. 451. 



" " Y.\RiiELL; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 281. 



Couchia minor, Thompson ; Nat. Hist. Ireland, vol. iv, p. 190. 



" glauca, Gunther; Catalogue Br. Museum, vol. iv., 



p. 363. 



This is one of the smallest fishes of which I have any 

 knowledge, so that even compared with the usual magnitude 

 of the Gobies, it hides its diminished bulk; but on the other 

 hand, when brought into comparison with the mighty whale — that 



sea beast 



**which God of all his works 



Created hugest — that swim the ocean stream," 



VOL. m. Q 



