2 MR. T. EDWARD ON COTTOnTA EDWARDII. 



is about equal to its length. Body, at termination of dorsal fin, 

 one-eighth. Erom the head to the vent the aspect is much 

 more broad than round, and thence to the tail rather riband- 

 like. Eyes placed much nearer the front than the back of the 

 head. Teeth in pairs, in both jaws, small, conical, very sharp, 

 and incurved. The ciliated or nervous membrane, erroneously 

 called a fin, and situated in a groove betwixt the head and the 

 dorsal, consists of about thirty very fine and soft-looking filaments, 

 the first long, whilst the others are rather short, the second and 

 last being the shortest, a slight and gradual increase from these 

 extremes being observable to the middle. Dorsal rays 52 ; pec- 

 torals 17, roundish ; ventrala 5, the first short, tlie second and 

 third longer, tlio fourth longest, the fit'Lli being the same as the 

 third ; anal 41 ; caudal 33. The rays of the ventrala are quite des- 

 titute of any membrane for a portion of tlieir length. The anal 

 commences about opposite to the twelfth ray of the dorsal, and 

 ends with it, almost close to the caudal. Lateral line, after passing 

 the pectoral, straight, dividing, as it were, the fish, into two equal 

 X^ortions. Pectorals placed high, and having their origin slightly 

 behind the ventrala. Back, when alive, slightly arched. 



Having taken all the members wbicb constitute this interesting 

 group, I am enabled to say that, in general aspect, the present 

 resembles Thompson's Midge more than any of the others — also 

 that in length the pectorals and ventrala approximate much nearer 

 to that species than to any of the rest. 



In attempting, however, as I have done, to give the formula of 

 the fin-rays, &c., I would crave a little indulgence ; for, although 

 several specimens were examined, both dead and alive, the task, 

 from various circumstances, proved a rather difficult one. Still 

 I think that most of the numbers stated will be found, if not 

 altogether correct, at least pretty close to the mark ; and, although 

 of no other value, they may serve as a guide to others, until some 

 one else, gifted with more patience, possessed of better discerning 

 powers and a clearer vision, attempts the task, and gives them 

 more correctly, shoiild I be in error. 



The colours have already been stated, by Mr. Couch, to be white, 

 blue, and yellow. The white of the belly, sides, and operculum, 

 which has a most remarkable brilliancy, like polished silver, I find 

 to be constant in all, even in the smallest that I have seen ; but 

 the other tints do vary a little. In the majority of those I have 

 met with, the upper part of the sides was of a very deep blue ; 



