considered as the young of Cycl. lumpus. 39 



pale dull yellow, and under the lens appears closely studded 

 with extremely minute black points ; besides these it exhibits 

 at intervals all over the body conspicuous round spots of a 

 reddish rust-colour ; a blue line extends from each eye to the 

 extremity of the mouth just beneath ; first dorsal fin dusky 

 or blackish, other fins pale-coloured ; a blackish band across 

 the tail, at the base of the caudal fin. 



Of the second specimen the general hue is slightly reddish, 

 and consequently the rust-coloured spots are less conspicuous; 

 they are likewise fewer in number ; tail dusky and not exhi- 

 biting the band like the first described ; in other respects si- 

 milar — no dull ferruginous striae apparent on dorsal or caudal 

 fins of either specimen are described in the ^ Zool. Dan/* 



Having since the autumn of 1836 possessed very small spe- 

 cimens of a Cyclopterus a few lines longer than those just de- 

 scribed, and which I was disposed to consider the Cycl. mi- 

 nutus of authors, I compared them with those of the Gob. mi- 

 nutus, when the difference seemed consequent on variety of 

 colour and on age only. Those looked upon as Cycl. minutus 

 again compared with undoubted specimens of Cycl. lumpus a 

 very little larger, were evidently this species in a younger 

 state. To understand this some detail is requisite. 



First, — with reference to the identity of Gob. minutus and 

 Cycl. minutus, Pallas f^ it may be observed that the two spe- 

 cimens of the former have what may be termed three tubercles 

 on the snout (a character attributed to Cycl. minutus, Pall., and 

 apparent on the specimens believed to be of this species now 

 before me J) from the bone (?) advancing forward so as to form 

 two points above the upper lip, and central between them but 



* The specific characters here given are " Gobius albicans, ferruofineo- 

 macnlatus, radiis dorsahbus, et caudalibus ferrugineo obsolete striatis." 



f 1 have not had the * Spicilegia Zoologica' to consult, but judge from 

 the description and sketches of the figures most kindly copied from the work 

 for me by Mr. Yarrell. Cuvier, in the ' Regne Animal', t. 2. p. 346 (note), 

 considers the Gob. minutus, Zool. Dan. and Cycl. minutus, Pall., as distinct. 

 It is the latter, without any allusion to the Gob. minutus, that is enumerated 

 among the fishes given in the Appendix to Ross's second Voyage, Since this 

 note was so far written I have had the opportunity of meeting Capt. J. C. 

 Ross, the author of that portion of the work, who informed me that he was 

 of opinion that the Gob. minutus, Z. D., and Cycl. minutus, Pall., con.stiJuted 

 two species — of the former he judged from the description, accordant with 

 which specimens had not been obtained during his northern voyages. 



X Some individuals are so plump as not to exhibit these points. 



