304 ARGENTINE. 



and anal closer together. He counts the fin rays — of the dorsal 

 nine, pectoral seventeen, ventral eight, anal twenty, where Mr. 

 Yarrell makes them fifteen; the tail eighteen. Of the number 

 of characteristic dots, between the hyoid bone and pectoral fin 

 five; the upper row on the belly from the pectoral fin to the 

 spot over the ventrals nine; on the lower line of the belly, 

 from a spot perpendicularly beneath the hindmost border of 

 the eye to the base of the ventrals twelve; and from thence to 

 the anal six, of which the two first are directed downward 

 and backward; the four hindmost forming an arch from a little 

 above the second to the commencement of the anal fin. One 

 large one, in a line with the upper row of the belly, is placed 

 slightly before, but above the commencement of the anal fin. 

 Between the beginning of the anal and base of the tail twenty- 

 four; but between the eighth and ninth from the tail one spot 

 appears to have been lost. 



Mr. Edward's description of an example found by him in 

 February, at Banff, and of three others since found near the 

 same spot, is thus given in the "Zoologist:" — The length nearly 

 two inches, the greatest depth almost half an inch. Colour of 

 the back dark glossy brown, marked along its whole length 

 with zigzag lines of a lighter shade, one being on each side of 

 the dorsal ridge; sides like brightest polished silver with metallic 

 lustre; belly slate blue; tail deeply forked, greyish white, with 

 a dark streak across near the base. On the upper lip two 

 kidney-shaped streaks, one on each side, bluish green; similar 

 marks but round on the lower lip, giving the mouth when 

 closed a dark appearance. From the under side of the mouth 

 three rows on each side of little roundish dots of beautiful light 

 green; the first passing along the side of the head ends beneath, 

 but on a line with a back part of the eye; the second lower 

 down, ends a little beyond the pectoral fin; the other, one on 

 each side, stretches along the belly, with a slight interruption 

 at the vent, to the tail, being smaller and closer as they proceed 

 backwards. The second dorsal fin quite visible and rounded. 



There appears to be a near similarity between the fish thus 

 described by Mr. Edward and our own; but that of Dr. Clark 

 seems different; and the differences between them are the rather 

 to be noticed, since, according to Dr. Gunther, the specific 

 characters of several are not readily noticed. It is thus that 



