MK. T. EDWARD ON COUOIllA EDAVAllDII. 6 



whilst the back, especially along the dorsal ridge aud crowu of 

 the head, was of a beautiful green. This last, however, soon 

 changes after death to a dull or gamboge-yellow. To see the 

 colour of the back to advantage, or as it should be, the fish must 

 be looked down on from above. 



The food of this species, aud perhaps of the genus, would seem 

 to consist, at least in part, of some of the more minute crustaceans. 

 I am led to believe this from the circumstance that, having dis- 

 sected a few, I found what appeared to be the remnants of Ano- 

 malocera Pattersonii aud Cetochilus septentrionalis, with fragments 

 of shells of either Entomostraca or Cirripeds, or perhaps both, in 

 tlie stomachs of three. Anotber contained several atoms of a 

 glutinous character ; but tuJiat, could not be satisfactorily deter- 

 mined. Some contained nothing. I cou.ld detect no roe ; two, I 

 think, exhibited the miU m course of formation, but not so far 

 developed as to warrant my saying so witli certainty. 



They M'^ould appear to be, in some measure, migratory — that is, 

 approaching the shore, and again retiring at certain seasons ; at 

 least, I have never noticed them, so far as I remember, except 

 during the months of September and October. But this must not, 

 on any account, be taken or accepted as their general or fixed 

 habit, as my means of observation are A^ery limited. In October 

 of the present year I took a number, varying from three to six- 

 eighths of an inch in length. These, I need scarcely say, were 

 looked upon as theyoung in different stages of growth. They had all 

 the characteristics of the larger ones, except being more tender^ 

 and their upper tints less bright. 



I have already expressed myself wit]\ regard to their size (tliat is, 

 tliat when they had reached an inch and five-eighths they were then 

 at their full or mature growth), and given my reasons for coming 

 to this conclusion. I would here add anotber fact, aud one which 

 tends greatly to strengthen the opinion thus formed, viz. the seem- 

 ingly firm and compact texture of their flesh, and durability of 

 their colours, as compared witli the ]?nown young of nearly 

 allied genera and others, and which was tested in tlie following 

 manner. Having procured a few immature specimens of several 

 of our smaller fishes, such as Rockliugs, Blennies, Gobies, &c., 

 ranging from nearly one to over two inches in length, according 

 to the species, I soaked them in spirit, along witli a full-growu 

 specimen of 0. JSdwardii, for a short time. They were tlien laid 

 out on a piece of glass, and exposed to the air, but not to the 



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