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. lumpus. 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 Down, 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 Cyclopterus as now restricted, and in the Prodromus Ich- 
thyologise Scandinavicse 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- 
ris Montagui ), 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 striae 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 Oy- 
clopterus a few lines longer than those just described, and which I was disposed 
to consider the Cycl. minutus of authors, I compared them with those of the 
Gob. minutus , when the difference 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. 
f The specific characters here given are ‘ Gobius albicans, ferrugineo-macu- 
latus, radiis dorsalibus, et caudalibus ferrugineo obsolete striatis.” 
