9368 Fishes. 
and placed close to the gill-openings ; ventrals short and fleshy, and 
commencing nearly on a line with the pectorals; the anal, which 
commences close to the vent, has all the rays nearly of equal length ; 
caudal or tail somewhat pointed. The head is rather obtuse, with the 
lips somewhat fleshy, which, as is well known to the ichthyologist, is 
common to the tribe. 
Although we cannot say much of importance concerning the traits 
of our little friend, still there is one which we cannot pass over in 
silence. Itis this. On coming out of the water after we took our 
prize we had occasion to lay it down on the sand until a bottle was 
prepared for its reception and exclusive use, as we were very. anxious 
to get it home alive, so that we might see and learn as much of its 
habits as possible. Whilst thus employed we were rather surprised 
at seeing it leap frequently several inches at a time. Thinking 
that the damp sand might have in some way or other aided the opera- 
tion, we placed it on a dry board when we got home to see how it 
would or could perform there. It did just the same. Away it jumped, 
jump after jump, until we were fully satisfied that there was no differ- 
ence as to place, and put him again into his little aquarium. We now 
observed, however, that the tail, which is pretty large, was the chief 
and most important object used. The head and shoulders were first 
raised a little, and then, by a doubling of the tail, which acted asa 
kind of spring, the animal was, by a slight jerk, enabled to rise and 
propel itself forward, or to either side, and not unfrequently right 
over. In the water, too, when twitted with anything, instead of 
swimming away as fish generally do, it merely leaped or jerked to one 
side in order to avoid the annoyance. We are not exactly aware 
whether this gymnastic performance be a common propensity with 
this family of fishes or not, but so it was with this specimen. 
The other species alluded to, also a small one, belongs to quite a 
different order, that of Malacopterygii Subbrachiati ; and if not equally 
new the only other place where it has as yet been found is on the 
Trish coast, where something similar is said to have been obtained by 
a Mr. Thomson. But there is a difference of opinion, some con- 
sidering the Irish fish and the species found here to be quite distinct, 
and in this we ourselves are inclined to concur. We have never seen 
Mr. Thomson’s, vor yet had the good fortune to see a plate or to meet 
with any published notice of it; but the following extract from a letter 
we had from Mr. Couch, the well-known ichthyologist, to whom we 
sent one of ours for his opinion, will speak for itself:— 
