201 



CONNKMAIIA SUCKKK. 



GOUAN S Sl'CKEK. 



LejKidigaster, Gouan; p. 177, pi. i, f. 0, 7. 



Lcpndogadi'ru Gouaa, Lacepedk. llisso. 



Lepadogaster cephaJas, Thompson; Nat. Hist, of Ireland, 



vol. iv, p. 214. 



The references here given are placed together from the 

 belief that they are applicable to the same species, and of 

 which the figures we supply may be said to be the first that 

 have been published. They are at least new in British natural 

 history; and avc add, that if the three contained in our plate 

 may be supposed, from their different appearance and colour, 

 to belong to two distinct fishes, it will then follow that there 

 are two species of this family which are noAV for the first 

 time arranged among British fishes. The figure given by 

 Gouan does indeed display some differences from those which 

 are here produced; but the engravings in that author's work 

 appear to have been intended for diagrams rather than individual 

 likenesses; and if there is found some difference of description 

 in the works of Lacepede aiid Risso, that difference especially 

 is at variance with the extended notice of the fish in the work 

 of Gouan, which still these writers refer to as their authority. 

 The last-named author describes the surface of his fish as 

 treslisse, and in Latin Isevissima, or very smooth, as we have 

 found it when fresh from its native element; but according to 

 Lacepede and his follower, Risso, the skin is marked with 

 slight tubercles or granulations. 



But justice will not be done to this portion of the subject 



unless Ave quote the remarks of Mr. Thompson; for although 



the opinion of that gentleman may in some degree appear to 



differ from that which we advance, there can be little doubt 



VOL. II. 2 D 



