17 
SHOKT GREY MULLET. 
Mugil curing, Yaerell; Br. Pishes, vol. i, p. 244, 
This supposed species is named and described by Mr. 
Yarrell from a single example obtained by himself while fishim^ 
at Poole, in Dorsetshire. The specimen scarcely exceeded two 
inches in length, and its principal distinction consisted in the 
extreme shortness of the body, which led to the adoption of 
the specific name. 
The number of the fin rays was— of the first dorsal four, 
of the second one firm ray and eight others, pectoral eleven, 
ventral one firm and five others, of the anal three firm and 
eight others, of the tail fourteen rays. “The length of the 
head as compared with that of the body and tail, is as one to 
three, the proportion in the Common Grey Mullet beino- as 
one to four; the body is also deeper in proportion than in 
M. capita, being equal to the length of the head; the head is 
wider, the form of it more triangular, and also more pointed 
anteriorly; the eye larger in proportion; the fin rays longer, 
particularly those of the tail; the ventral fins placed nearer 
the pectorals, and a difference exists in the number of some 
of the fin rays. The colour of the two species are nearly 
alike; and in other respects, except those named, they do not 
differ materially.” 
Since the publication of the first notice of this species, the 
eleventh volume of the ‘Histoire Naturelle des Poissons’ con- 
tains a reference to this fish, of which an example was sent 
to Paris, and which M. Valenciennes considered to be identical 
with Mr. Yarrell’s fish. It is to be regretted, however, that 
the specimen thus referred to by Mr. Yarrell is not to be 
VOL HI. D 
