118 
THOMPSON’S MIDGE. 
Coryplmna. 
It must have been this fish which Mr. Thompson has 
described in the fourth volume of his “Natural History of 
Ireland,” and which he supposed to be our well-known 
Mackarcl Midge, but on comparison with which, when authentic 
specimens of the last-named species were supplied to him, he 
felt himself in a state of uncertainty. We copy his lengthened 
account, as it supplies us with information regarding some of 
its habits and motions, which differ decidedly from tliose which 
have been noticed in the true Mackarel Midge, as they frisk 
on the surface of the ocean. 
“Descriptions of a minute fish allied to the Ciliata glauca, 
Couch, and Gadus argenteohis, Montagu. Plate 16, £12 3 
of Annals of Nat. History, vol. ii. 
“When dredging in Strangford Lough, County Down, on 
the 2nd. of July last, at from one to three quarters of a 
mile off the shore, and the water from ten to twenty fathoms 
in depth, I for upwards ol an hour remarked some very 
minute fishes coming singly to the surface. They ascended in 
a somewhat vertical direction, remained but momentarily there, 
and again, generally in a similar manner, descended until lost 
to view. Their back appeared to be of a dark colour, but 
their sides presented the brilliancy of the brightest silver. 
Their size was rather under an inch; their motion, thou<rh 
somewhat wriggling, surprisingly rapid, so much so, that although 
the boat was scarcely moving, and the sea quite calm, their 
continuance at the surface was so short, that the oreatest 
activity had to be exerted to secure them. For this purpose 
a small canvas net, otherwise used in the capture of minute 
medusa;, was available. When brought into the boat, they at 
