THE LUMP SUCKER. 217 



on age only. Those looked upon as Cycl. minutus, again compared with un- 

 doubted specimens of Cycl. lumpvs a very little larger, Avere evidently this spe- 

 cies in a younger state. To understand this some detail is requisite. 



" First. — With reference to the identity of Gob. minutus and Cycl. minutus, 

 Pallas,* it may be observed that the two specimens of the former have what may 

 be termed three tubercles on the snout (a character attributed to Cycl. minutus. 

 Pall., and apparent on the specimens believed to be of this species now before 

 me), t from the bone (?) advancing forward so as to form two points above the 

 upper lip, and central between them, but placed higher up is a third prominence. 

 With the following exceptions they have all the characters of any value in com- 

 mon. The tubercles which appear on the side of the others are wanting in Gob. 

 minutus, but a series of specimens of C. lumpus I have examined sufficiently 

 prove that these are only acquir ed by individuals of a larger size ; and their ab- 

 sence is consequently attributed in the present instance to the extreme youth of 

 the individuals. The reddish spots of Gob. minutus would seem merely to in- 

 dicate a variety ; an opinion which is strengthened by the difference the two 

 individuals present in this respect, one displaying very few and the other nu- 

 merous spots, and further, by these markings, so conspicuous in the recent state 

 (having been quite as much so in one of my specimens as represented in Zool. 

 Dan.), becoming very obscure after the fish has been a short time preserved in 

 spirits. Between these and equally small ordinary specimens of C. lumpus I 

 perceive no difference but in the spotting. The Gob. minutus, which is not de- 

 scribed as possessing spines or tubercles, is stated to attain 2 inches in length, J 

 a size much larger than any specimens I have seen without tubercles ; but as 

 the C. lumpus differs much with respect to the time these originate, this circum- 

 stance does not, 1 conceive, aflect the question of their identity. 



" Secondly. — With reference to specimens intermediate in size between the 

 Gob. minutus and C. lumpus being the Cycl. minutus, it may be remarked, that 

 the only character of this species given in Turton's edition of the Systema Na- 

 turae, that seems specifically different, is, 'in the place of the first dorsal fin is a 

 tapering reclined long spine '§ (vol. i. p. 905) : in my specimens, the fleshy ap- 

 pendage which takes the place of the first dorsal fin has to the eye a rigid ap- 

 pearance, but is in reality soft, and may from that circumstance have led to 

 what has just been quoted being adopted as a character. With Pallas's de- 

 scription of Cycl. 7nim(tiis my specimens generally accord : this author does not, 

 like Turton, speak of a dorsal spine, but of a spurious dorsal fin, — an expression 

 most applicable to those before me ; this spurious fin is comparatively longer in 

 small than in large individuals. One of my specimens, 10 lines in length, con- 

 spicuously presents three tubercles on the centre of the body, where Cycl. mim<r- 

 tus is stated to have two (' in mediis lateribus, supra pinnas pectorales proximo 

 ad sinum branchialem tubercula duo ossea,' &c., Pallas), but at the same time 



* 1 have not had the Spicilegia Zoologica to consult, but judge from the de- 

 scription and sketches of the figures most kindly copied from the work for me 

 by Mr. Yarrell. Cuvier, in the Regne Animal, tom. ii. p. 346 (note), considers 

 the Gob. minutus, Zool. Dan., and Cycl. minutus. Pall., as distinct. It is the 

 latter, without any allusion to the Gob. minutus, that is enumerated among the 

 fishes given in the Appendix to Ross's second Voyage. Since this note was so 

 far written, 1 have had the opportunity of meeting Sir James G. Ross, the author 

 of that portion of the work, who informed me that he was of opinion that the 

 Gob. minutus, Z. D., and Cycl. minutus, Pall., constituted two species — of the 

 former he judged from the description, accordant with which specimens had not 

 been obtained during his northern voyages. 



f Some individuals are so plump as not to exhibit these points. 



X The figures given as of adult specimens in Zool. Dan. very little exceed 

 one inch. 



§ This may be adopted from Gmelin, whom I see quoted for the species, 

 which was not described by Linnrcus himself. Turton's description seems to re- 

 fer to Pallas's fish. 



