112 ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



2f to 3 in that of the entire length of the fish, the first few rays are nnbranched 

 and weak, the highest portion of the fin is in its first third. Pectoral two-thirds 

 as long as the head : ventral slightly shorter. Anal commences beneath the 

 middle, and the length of its base is about equal in extent to half that of the 

 dorsal fin. Caudal deeply forked. Scales small, they form a sheath to the 

 basal half or third of the vertical fins. Lateral-line forms a gradual carve to 

 opposite the end of the pectoral fin, when it proceeds direct to the base of the 

 caudal. The length of the caudal peduncle equals about two-thirds of that of 

 the head, while the height of its base is from If to 2 in that of its length. 

 Colours these vary, generally being of an uniform brown, lightest beneath : 

 some irregular cloudy longitudinal and sinuous markings on the body, and some 

 oblong light spots along the sides, and dark ones on the fins : these markings in 

 some are yellow, while others have none. Risso says that the young (which are 

 taken during the spring) have dark transverse bands. 



The history of this marine species is interesting, as showing how known forms 

 have become overlooked and new names substituted for old ones. No reasonable 

 doubt can exist against its being the Pompilus of the Mediterranean, described by 

 Rondelet, who in 1554 published a recognizable figure. It was subsequently 

 adverted to by Gesner 1558, Aldrovandus 1638, Jonston 1649, Willughby 1686, 

 Pay 1713, and others : several of these authors likewise giving representations. 

 The first British examples recorded are by Borlase, in his "Natural History of 

 Cornwall," in which (copying from the MSS. of the deceased Mr. Jago) he 

 observes, " two were taken at Loo, May 26th, 1721, in the Sean, near the shore 

 on sandy ground, with small ore-weed in the pot." The examples reached 

 16 inches in length, and Borlase by an error gives its width at " 3/4 of an inch," 

 instead of from " 3 4 inches," whether the mistake was his or the printers is not 

 very material as the figure is distinctly that of the Pompilus, and the proportions 

 good. Pennant, in 1776, not recognizing Jago's description and figure, introduced 

 the species into his " British Zoology " under the name of the "Black Ruffe" 

 or " Black-fish of Mr. Jago," subsequently in his second edition, published in 

 1812, he termed it the " Black Perch," evidently in deference to Shaw, who in his 

 turn had followed Lacepede. This last author in his " Histoire naturelle des 

 Poissons" (1798-1803) had identified the "Black-fish," written " Blaufish," in 

 the British Zoology, with Perca nigra of Linnaeus, as had been previously pointed 

 out by Gmelin in his edition of that author, dated 1788 (although he added 

 his doubt whether it were not a variety of the fresh- water Ruffe). Risso in 

 1810 describes it in his " Ichthyology of Nice:" while Fleming in his "History 

 of British Animals," published in 1828, and, following Gmelin's doubts, places 

 Jago's sea-fish as an appendix to the fresh-water Ruffe, Perca cernua, designating 

 the representation given by Borlase as a " manufactured figure." In 1830 and 

 1831 Couch re-discovered the species on the Cornish coast. In 1833 Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes, in their magnificent work on fish, describe the "Black-fish" in 

 detail, adding an excellent figure, as well as criticising the synonymy ; since that 

 time but little further information has been acquired respecting the species. 



Habits. Obscure, but it is said to attend vessels like the " Pilot fish," hence 

 Rondelet named it after the term employed by the ancients, Pompilus, a fish 

 held sacred on account of its friendship to man. Mr. Dunn, of Mevagissey, 

 observed respecting an example captured in 1872 that it was the fourth of its 

 kind known to have been taken at that place, and all in mackerel nets. In each 

 instance they seemed to be acting the part of " pilot fishes " to some varieties of 

 shark which had been entangled in the nets close by. 



Baits. But little is known respecting their food, the first two specimens 

 taken in Cornwall were captured in pots baited with ore- weed, but they will eat 

 flesh, as Couch remarks upon one being taken with a slice of mackerel used for a 

 bait, while in its stomach were found " a mussel without a shell and a piece of 

 flesh of a sea-bream, both these substances probably having been snatched from 

 the hooks of fishermen. 



Breeding. Risso says that the eggs are deposited in the autumn : and the 

 young (which have dark transverse bands) are captured in the spring. 



