173 
CALLTONYMUS. 
The head oblong, depressed; eyes on the top of the head, and near 
each other: the intermaxillary portion of the jaw capable of protrusion. 
Gill openings very small, high on the body; hinder gill-covers armed 
with a spine. Ventral fins larger than the pectorals, and placed under 
the throat, which places them in the order of jugular fishes as 
arranged by Linnaeus. Dorsal tins two. j, iv* 
It has long been believed that there wore two fishes of this genus 
which were natives of the coasts of the British Islands; and the 
general proportions of their shape, the very different dimensions and 
form of their organs of swimming, with great diversity of colour, 
appear sufficient grounds for this supposition; but it is an extraordinary 
circumstance in connection with the history of these fishes, that in 
recent times a doubt has been thrown on the feict of their being of 
distinct species; and it has become the belief of some naturalists that 
the two supposed British kinds of CulhoTiyMus^ are,^ in reality, only 
separate sexes of the same fish. In proof of this opinion it is argued 
that no decided instance has been met with in which roe has been 
detected in the species known as the Yellow or Golden Skulpin, 
(Ca/liomnms lyra;) whereas in all cases the less developed, and more 
soberly-ornamented Plain Skulpin, or, as it has been called, the Sordid 
Dra^onet, is found to he a female, or, if a male, the latter is in its 
earnest and less-developed stage of existence. Where this diversity of 
opinion exists, it remains for further observation to decide the question; 
but in the meanwhile, as their appearance is very different, and some 
difference also is believed to exist in their habits, we deem it proper 
to jiroceed on the old opinion, and describe them as if they were truly 
separate species. . , , , , 
These fishes are without an air-bladder. 
YELLOW SKULPIN. 
GOLDEN SKULPIN. YELLOW GUENAKD. GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. 
GOWDIE. 
CalUonymus lyra, 
Callionyme lyre, 
CalUonymus lyra, 
II “ 
ir « 
t> « 
Linn.*;us. Cuvier. 
L.4CEPEDE. ElSSO. 
Donovax ; pi. 9. Fleming. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 388. 
Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 297. 
Gunther; Cat. Br. M., vol. iii, p. 139. 
