218 
MALACOPTERY GII . 
on close inspection has a few spines beginning to appear on the ridge of the 
back and on each side of the belly, as in C. lumpus ; but these are not more than 
j the size of those on the middle of the body — the spines on this row (the cen- 
tral one) are much larger than those forming the other rows in a fully armed 
specimen of C. lumpus (as to the rows of tubercles) an inch in length. The fact 
of these tubercles first making their appearance on this line and beginning to 
do so near the head, may explain why these only should be described in ex- 
amples of a certain size. 
“ Mr. Couch mentions, with some doubt as to its species, a small Cyclopterus 
taken on the coast of Cornwall. He states that ‘ it is rarely found longer than 
an inch, and differs from the C. lumpus in the skin between the [rows of] tuber- 
cles being quite smooth.’ Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 87. Sir James C. Ross is 
disposed to consider it the Cycl. minutus, Pall. (App. Ross, 2nd Voy. p. xlvi.), 
which I am inclined to do in so far as an incidental description will warrant such 
a conclusion ; and at the same time, with the single difference pointed out be- 
tween it and C. lumpus, I should consider it this species, as in the very young 
state tubercles such as cover over the skin of the adult fish are not apparent. 
“ The specimens otherwise agreeing with the description of Cycl. minutus, after 
having been preserved in spirits for two years, are of an uniform pale dusky tinge ; 
the ground or general colour is light, but, being densely dotted over with ex- 
tremely minute black points (visible under a lens), these give the appearance 
described. As before stated, both specimens of Gob. minutus, Mull., have like- 
wise these very minute dots, though much more sparingly ; but in addition to 
them exhibit the larger reddish spots ; another individual similar to these in size 
is of a light colour, blotched with dusky markings. Instead of the spotting on 
the body, which forms the most prominent character of the Gob. minutus, the 
Cycl. minutus is described by Pallas and Turton to be whitish. 
“ The specimens of Gob. minutus, Cycl. minutus, and the smallest C. lumpus of 
adult form, and possessing all the rows of tubercles, have a straight dark line 
(which in the recent examples of Gob. minutus was of a blue colour) extending 
from each eye to the corner of the mouth just beneath ; this does not, however, 
bespeak identity of species, as in the Liparis Montagui I have observed the same 
marking. All of these specimens but the last are comparatively more elongate 
in form than the mature C. lumpus. A similar remark has been made by Mon- 
tagu respecting the Lepadogaster bimaculatus, the fry of which he states are pro- 
portionably longer in the body than the adults. — Wern. Mem. i. 92. 
“ Thirdly. — As favouring the opinion of the identity of Cycl. minutus , Pall., and 
C. lumpus, it may be remarked with respect to the three tubercles on the snout, 
attributed to the former species, that they are likewise possessed by specimens 
of the C. lumpus of the extremes of size examined, one an inch long (as to the 
rows of tubercles a well-marked C. lumpus), and another 18 inches in length, 
equally displaying them. 
“ In the form of the spines or tubercles, a very interesting change takes place, 
analogous to that in the Trigla Cuculus and T. Gurnardus (see Annals for Feb- 
ruary), but to a much less extent, and requiring a much shorter time to be per- 
fected. The armature first appears in a spinous form, thus — i* 1 th es P e_ 
cimen an inch long, thus Z ? or like a shark’s tooth ; and in the individual 
18 inches long, thus 
— in the adult fish only one slightly projecting 
central point is generally present ; of all the large tubercles on the body of the 
last-mentioned specimen two only exhibit more than one point : the ‘ spurious 
dorsal fin ’ in this fish is a series of compressed tubercles. 
“ The C. Lumpus occurs in all the localities in which the Gob. minutus and 
Cycl. minutus are stated to have been found. The first of the two latter is men- 
tioned by Muller and Nilsson merely as taken on the shores of Norway ; the 
