40 ME, J. COUCH ON A NEWLY DISCOTEEED BEITISH EISH. 



when it readied me, preserved in spirit, it was blue, with a tinge 

 of the same along the lateral line. In some examples in Mr. 

 Edward's possession the colour on the back was a faint yellow, 

 with a narrow stripe of bluish purple on the side, and in all of 

 them the silvery hue of the lower portions of the body is found to 

 rise nearer the back than in the other species of this genus. 

 The back also and head were thickly covered with very small, 

 dark, star-like spots, which, together with two narrow yellow 

 streaks extending from the top of the head, above the mouth, and 

 diverging to the eyes, had disappeared when subjected to my 

 examination. Iris of the eye silvery, the pupil bluish green ; the 

 fins dull grey, as also the pair of barbs ; but the single one on the 

 lip at its root is almost of as deep a colour as the top of the head 

 and back. 



Eive examples of these little fishes were kept alive by Mr. 

 Edward for a week; and during that time he describes their 

 action as being lively and singular, although perhaps not generally 

 so active as the Mackerel Midge (C glaucd}, and in general they 

 appeared to prefer to remain near the bottom rather than to 

 swim aloft. "When at liberty their habit is to keep in small com- 

 panies ; but they seem to treat other fishes as enemies, and even 

 their own companions are occasionally subject to their hostilityj, 

 as is shown in the following instances related by Mr. Edward. 

 He placed a Groby, he does not say of what species, in the same 

 vessel with these fishes ; but in the space of twenty minutes his; 

 attention was drawn to a commotion among them, which arose 

 from the persecution inflicted on the unfortunate stranger, vphich 

 they were violently assailing with their heads, while it endeavoured 

 to escape from their fury. After a considerable time, however, 

 this eager violence proved a misfortune to one of the Midges ; for, 

 missing its mark as it rushed forward, its head was dashed against 

 the side of its glass prison with such force as to cause it to sink 

 motionless to the bottom, and, although at times it appeared to 

 struggle against its fate, in about an hour it was dead ; as was the 

 Goby in a few minutes after. Nor did this pugnacious disposition 

 cease when the apparent cause of it had ceased to live ; for, 

 although they seemed peaceably disposed when first placed in the 

 vessel, they now began to attack each other vigorously, as also 



