SHORT GREY MULLET. 211 



The number of its fin-rays are — 



D. 4. 1 + 8 : P. 11 : V. 1 + 5 : A. 3 + 8 : C. 14. 



Tlie length of the head as compared Avith that of the 

 body and tail is as one to three, the proportion in the com- 

 mon Grey Mullet being as one to four ; the body is also 

 deeper in proportion than in M. capita^ being equal to the 

 length of the head ; the head is wider, the form of it more 

 triangular, and also more pointed anteriorly ; the eye larger 

 in proportion ; the fin-rays longer, particularly those of the 

 tail ; the ventral fins placed nearer the pectorals, and a 

 difference exists in the number of some of the fin-rays : 

 the colours of the two species are nearly alike ; and in other 

 respects, except those named, they do not differ materially. 



The proportions of the figure of the Grey Mullet in Mr. 

 Donovan's History of British Fishes, plate 15, approach 

 more closely to those of M. curtus, than to those of the 

 common Grey Mullet of this country. 



Of this Grey Mullet I have only obtained the single 

 specimen that served for the representation given, which is 

 exactly the natural size of the fish. I caught this with the 

 young of the common Grey Mullet, and various other fry, 

 when fishing with a small but very useful net between 

 Brownsey Island and South Haven, at the mouth of Poole 

 Harbour. 



The net used is called a keerdrag, and as it is an effective 

 machine, where the ground is smooth, for the collectors of 

 small fishes and various other marine animals, I have made 

 a representation of it the subject of the vignette annexed, 

 and will shortly describe the apparatus and the manner 

 of working it. 



The bottom and sides of the oblong mouth of the net are 

 formed of an iron rod about seven feet long, of which about 



p 2 



