48 Mr. R. Parnell on the Motella cimbria. 



senting the form of the letter T. On dissecting the specimen 

 I examined, I found the stomach filled with shrimps and small 

 crabs : the caecal appendages were few in number ; the roe 

 was large, the ova small and numerous, and apparently in a 

 fit state to be deposited. It is probable that the habits of this 

 fish are similar to those of the other species, but from its ra- 

 rity it is difficult to determine. 



The Motella cimbria differs from Motella quinquecirrata in 

 the following respects : — in the snout having but three bar- 

 bules; the head one-sixth of the whole length; the teeth sharp 

 and slender, placed in two rows on the under jaw ; the eye 

 large, of an oval form ; the snout much produced ; the gape 

 wide ; from the point of the snout to the posterior extremity 

 of the maxillary, from thence to the origin of the pectoral, 

 equal ; the lateral line very distinct ; the tips of the upper half 

 of the caudal rays white ; the second ray of the ventral fin but 

 slightly produced ; the rays in the anterior half of the second 

 dorsal nearly double the lengths of those of the anal ; where- 

 as in M. quinquecirrata the snout is furnished with four bar- 

 bules ; the head one-sixth the length as far as the base of the 

 caudal fin ; the teeth, blunt and stout, placed in three rows 

 on the under jaw ; the eye small, nearly circular ; the snout 

 but slightly produced ; the gape rather small ; from the point 

 of the snout to the posterior extremity of the maxillary, from 

 thence to the origin of the ventral, equal ; the lateral fine very 

 indistinct ; the caudal fin of a'uniform brown ; the second ray 

 of the ventral fin much produced ; the rays in the anterior 

 half of the second dorsal about equal the lengths of those of 

 the anal. 



The Motella cimbria differs from Motella vulgaris in the 

 snout being produced, and furnished with three barbules ; the 

 teeth small, fine and slender, all nearly of equal length and 

 size ; the anal fin with forty-three rays ; the body without 

 spots ; whereas in M. vulgaris the snout projects but slightly, 

 and is furnished with only two barbules ; the teeth irregular, 

 long and stout, with small ones at the base, closely arranged 

 in many rows ; the anal fin with fifty rays ; the body with a 

 number of large dusky spots. The form and arrangement of 

 the teeth in this species are very striking. 



