Dr. A. Giiiither on the British Species of Mugil. 347 



extremity of the maxillary bone is visible behind the angle of 



the mouth ; the cleft of the mouth is 



more than twice as broad as it is deep. .^^'"71'^ 



There is a short lanceolate portion at 



the chin not covered by the mandibu- 



laries. The pectoral fin extends to 



the thirteenth scale of the lateral line, 



that is, nearly to the origin of the 



spinous dorsal, which is vertically 



above the fourteenth scale. No pointed 



scale in the axil of the pectoral, and 



no black spot at its root. ^^^^.^ ^^^^^^^^ 



This species is new to the British fauna ; it had been previously 

 known from the Mediterranean and from the Canary Islands. 

 Considering its great similarity to M. capita in general ap- 

 pearance, it is not improbable that former ichthyologists have 

 confounded it with that species. 



I have not been able to find more than tv^o specimens among 

 numerous examples of the Thick-lipped Grey Mullet brought 

 to the London market during the first half of the month of 

 March. It could not be determined on which particular spot of 

 the coast they had been caught ; but it was ascertained, from the 

 inquiries made, that all the Grey Mullets which were in the 

 market at that time came either from the south or west coast. 

 No Dutch vessel with fish had entered the Thames, All the 

 specimens, besides, were remarkably fresh, and could not have 

 been brought from any great distance ; so that there is no doubt 

 that those two specimens, as well as others purchased at the same 

 time for the British Museum, were truly British specimens. 



3. Mvgil octo-radiatus, n. sp. (The Eight-rayed Grey Mullet.) 



Eight soft rays in the anal fin ; no adipose eyelid ; upper lip 

 thin. The depth of the body is less than 



one-fifth of the total length (5^). The 

 outermost extremity of the maxillary is 

 visible behind the angle of the mouth ; 

 the cleft of the mouth is nearly half as 

 deep as it is broad. There is a narrow 

 elongate space at the chin which is not 

 covered by the maudibularies and extends 

 between the interopercles. The pectoral 

 fin extends to the twelfth scale of the la- 

 teral line; that is, it terminates at some 

 distance from the origin of the spinous Miujil S-radMfus. 

 dorsal, which is vertically above the fouitccuth scale. No 



23* 



