AIM' K.N 1)1 X. 



121 



i0*<i 



SILVERY GADE. 



At page 116 of the third volume of this work, a reference 

 is made to a small fish, termed by its discoverer, Montagu, 

 the Silvery Gade, but which I had not seen when that portion 

 of our work was published; nor had it come under the notice 

 of observers from the time of its first observer. Since then 

 however I have been supplied with examples from Banff, 

 through the industry and kindness of Mr. Thomas Edward, of 

 that place; and the tew remarks which he was able to make 

 on the circumstance attending their capture, will add something 

 to the little that is known of the habits of this fish. 



Our figure is from one of the examples thus taken on the 

 west coast of Scotland; about an inch and a half in length, 

 with the general proportions of Couchia glatica, but thicker 

 across the head and body; under jaw slightly shorter than the 

 upper, with a conspicuous barb. Eye large, and in front of it 

 two open nostrils, not close together; a short barb rising from 

 the hindmost border of each anterior nostril; this barb smaller 

 than in the Mackarel Midge. Body small at the root of the 

 tail, and ending almost in a point among the rays of the caudal 

 fin. Lateral line visible along the hindmost half of the body, 

 but scarcely so near the head. Tendrils in the chink in 

 front of the dorsal fin numerous, the first longest and most 

 distinct; the dorsal fin passes back close to the tail, as does 

 the anal, and both more expanded behind; tail slightly concave; 

 ventrals close under the throat, with the second ray reaching 

 to the vent. Mr. Edward says that when alive the hack was 



