ON ADDITIONS TO THE BRITISH FAUNA. 417 



Such an opportunity occurred to Mr. J. Gwyn Jeffreys, who, during his ex- 

 ploration of the marine invertebrate fauna of the Shetland Islands, preserved the 

 specimens of fishes which were brought up in the dredge from a depth of from 

 80 to 90 fathoms. Small as the number of specimens is, the result of their 

 examination proved to be most interesting and satisfactory, inasmueh as they 

 belong to four species new to the British fauna, two being new to science, 

 viz. Ammodytes simlus (Swains.), MoteUa macroplithahna (sp. n.), CalUony- 

 mus maculatus (Bonap.), and Gobius Jeff'rei/sii (sp. n.). On former occa- 

 sions I have pointed out that the geographical range of deep-sea fishes 

 appears to be extended in proportion to the vertical depth inliabited by them, 

 and that they are either distinguished by an increased size of the eye to col- 

 lect as many rays of light as possible, or by a rudimentary condition of that 

 organ, as is the case with fishes inhabiting caves. Q'his is in some measure 

 verified by the species collected by Mr. Jeffrej^s, which, however, it must be 

 remembered, inhabit a much less depth than Regalecus, PJagijodus, &c. Two 

 of them (CaUioni/mus maculatus and Ammodytes siiulus) were pre%'iously 

 known as occurring in the Mediterranean ; and the eyes of tliree of them 

 are conspicuously larger than in their congeners (^Ammodytes lancea, CaUio- 

 nymus hjra, and Motella tricirrata). 



1. Ammodytes siculus (Swains.). 

 (Smooth Sand-Launce.) 

 This species was hitherto ku'own from Sicily only. For description see 

 Gunth. Fish. iv. p. 386. 



2. MoteUa macroplitludma . 

 (Large-eyed Eockling.) 



Giinth. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1867, vol. xx. p. 290, pi. 5. fig. B. 



This species has three barbels, one at each of the anterior nostrils and one 

 at the chin. It is distinguished from specimens of the same size of the 

 other three-bearded species by its large eye, the diameter of which, in the 

 specimen obtained, is as long as the snout, one-fourth of the length of the 

 head, and much longer than the width of the interorbital space. The teeth 

 of the mandible are very unequal in size, some being canine-like. The ante- 

 rior ray of the rudimentary first dorsal fin is about as long as the eye. D. 55. 

 A. 55. Back with narrow brownish cross bars. 



Three inches long. 



The figure quoted represents the specimen of the natural size. For the sake 

 of comparison the figure of the head oi MoteUa tricirrata (B')has been added. 



3. C'aUionymus maculatus, Bonap. 

 (The< Southern Dragonet.) 

 Giinth. ?. c. p. 290, pi. 5. fig. A. 



This species is common in the Mediterranean ; but it has been also ob- 

 served on the coast of Norway. It is easily recognized by the shortness of 

 the snout relatively to the diameter of the eye. 



4. Gohius Jeffreysii. 

 D. 6 I 10. A. 9. L. lat. 30. 

 Gimth. 1. e. p. 290, pi. 5. fig. C. 



Body as deep as broad anteriorly, its greatest depth being one half of the 

 length of the head, which is two-sevenths of the total (without caudal). 

 Head depressed, broader than high, its greatest width being two-thirds of its 

 length. Snout of moderate extent, though shorter than the eye; lower jaw 



