59 



in the works of Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Jenyns ; by the latter author 

 it is marked with doubt. At the same time I could not consider 

 these specimens else than the young of L. m«,culatus, an opinion 

 which subsequent examination has tended to confirm, as in the 

 same individual I have seen the lineated marking of L. lineatus and 

 the spots of L. maculatus. The specimens alluded to as corresponding 

 with Donovan's L. lineatus are small, as he describes the species to 

 be ; those conspicuously spotted over were large, and the indivi- 

 duals presenting partially both appearances were of an intermediate 

 size ; hence it would appear that the L. lineatus generally* is the 

 young fish, and the L. maculatus the adult. It must be added that 

 specimens of equal size, taken at the same time and place, vary 

 much in colour and in the relative depth of the body. The head 

 too is more elongated in the young than in the mature fish. 



In concluding his description of the Labri, Pennant observes, 

 " Besides these species we recollect seeing taken at the Giant's 

 Causeway, in Ireland, a most beautiful kind, of a vivid green spotted 

 with scarlet ; and others at Bandooran, in the county of Sligo, of a 

 pale green." He adds, " We were at that time inattentive to this 

 branch of natural history, and can only say they were of a species 

 we have never since seen." I have no hesitation in saying that the 

 beautiful kind of a vivid green, spotted with scarlet, was the ordi- 

 nary L. maculatus, and as little in stating my belief that the pale 

 green kind was also the same species. On examining the produce 

 of one rod after a day's fishing, I have seen specimens varying from 

 the palest green to the very darkest tint of this colour. 



As the three names under which this fish appears, viz., L. linea- 

 tus, L. psittacus (when it is uniformly green), and L. maculatus, ap- 

 ply to the individual rather than to the species, and thus tend to 

 confusion, it seems to me desirable that there should be an appella- 

 tion under which all the varieties could be brought, and as such I 

 would suggest Labrus variabilis. 



"D' 



* Crenildbrus tinea, Risso. Cren. cornubicus, Risso. Cren. gib- 

 bus, Flem. In the autumn of 1835 an attentive examination of spe- 

 cimens of the C. tinea and C. cornubicus, of all sizes, and in a recent 

 state, satisfied me of their identity. The depth of C. tinea in pro- 

 portion to its length being found to vary considerably, though not 

 to the extent described in the Gibbus Wrasse of Pennant, together 

 with the general accordance of other characters, disposed me at the 

 same time to believe that the C. gibbus is but an accidental variety 

 of it. 



* Leuciscus Lancastriensis , Yarr. Graining. Several very small 

 individuals of this species occurred to me in the river Leam, near 

 Leamington, in July, 1836. 



* Cobitis tcenia, Linn. Spined Loche. In July, 1836, when 



* I have seen some specimens of the largest size entirely green, and display iiig 

 the lineation in a darker shade of this colour. 



