216 MALACOPTERYGII, 



are taken (seldom on the N. E. coast more than one or two at a time) 

 in the nets set for various fish. 



It is not eaten here : the female greatly exceeds the male in size. 



In the Annals Nat. Hist. vol. iii. (p. 43), I published the following notes 

 on this species, 



" Cyclopterus coronatus, Couch. Coronated Lump-fish. Cornish Fauna, 

 p. 47; Annals Nat. Hist. vol. ii. p. 382. — -Of this fish, considered by Mr. 

 Couch distinct from the C. lumpus, I procured two specimens, rather exceeding 

 10 lines in length, by dredging in Strangford Lough on the 1st of Oct. ; the 

 particular date is mentioned in reference to the question whether the C. corona- 

 tus may not be the young of C. hmijms. Without offering any opinion on this 

 point, it seems to me proper to notice the capture of this minute fish elsewhere 

 than on the coast of Cornwall, where one individual only has been observed." 

 Ann. Nat. History, vol. v. 



"When dredging in Strangford Lough, County Do^vn, on the 2nd of July 

 last, and whilst engaged in capturing specimens of Couchia minor (see Annals 

 for February) on the surface of the sea, the dredge * brought to light two in- 

 dividuals of the Gobius minutus of the Zoologia Danica. In classification these 

 belong to the genus Cydopterus as now restricted, and in the Prodromus Ich- 

 thyologia; Scandmavicse of Nilsson (p. 61) are brought under this genus, the 

 specific name of minutus being retained. 



"Desc. These specimens are each half an inch long, — the greatest length at- 

 tributed to the species in Zool. Dan. is 2 inches, — and when viewed from above, 

 like the young of C. lumpus, are much of a tadpole form, or about one half of 

 the entire length somewhat globose, thence to the caudal fin much compressed : 

 first dorsal fin lobiform as in that species, second dorsal originating just behind 

 it, and extending to near the caudal fin : anal commencing at some little dis- 

 tance from the vent, and ending on the same plane with the second dorsal — the 

 number of rays in the above fins could not be accurately estimated ; pectorals 

 about 16 rays, large, 'uniting under the throat and enclosing the disk of the 

 ventrals,' as in C. lumpus; disk likewise similar (as it also is to that of Lipa- 

 7'is Montac/ui), with five lines diverging from the central one ; caudal fin square 

 at the end, rays from 8 to 10 ; vent at about the middle of the entire length; 

 no spines anywhere visible. 



" Colour (when recent). — One individual has the body of a very pale dull 

 yellow, and under the lens appears closely studded with extremely minute black 

 points ; besides these it exhibits at intervals all over the body conspicuous round 

 spots of a reddish rust-colour ; a blue line extends from each eye to the ex- 

 tremity of the mouth just beneath ; first dorsal fin dusky or blackish, other fins 

 pale-coloured ; a blackish band across the tail, at the base of the caudal fin. 



"Of the second specimen the general hue is slightly reddish, and conse- 

 quently the rust-coloured spots are less conspicuous ; they are likewise fewer 

 in number ; tail dusky and not exhibiting the band like the first described ; in 

 other respects similar ; no dull ferruginous stria3 apparent on dorsal or caudal 

 fins of either specimen are described in the Zool. Dan.f 



" Having since the autumn of 1836 possessed very small specimens of a Cy- 

 clopterus a few lines longer than those just described, and which 1 was disposed 

 to consider the Cycl. mimittis of authors, I compared them with those of the 

 Gob. minutus, when the diiference seemed consequent on variety of colour and 



* They were taken in a sheltered bay in which the water was about 25 

 fathoms in depth ; but although brought up in the dredge, they might have 

 been captured anywhere between the bottom and the surface of the water,— the 

 warmth and calmness of the day was such that it might have attracted them 

 thither. 



t The specific characters here given are ' Gobius albicans, ferrugineo-macu- 

 latus, radiis doi-salibus, et caudalibus ferrugineo obsolete striatis." 



