214 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



B. vi, D. 07-74, P. 12-15, V, 1/5, A. 60-70, C. 12, Coec. pyl. 8, Vert. 15/54. 



Length of head 10^ to 15 : of caudal fin 10^, height of body 15 to 19 in the 

 total length. Eye large, diameter 1/3 of the length of the head, 1/2 a diameter 

 from the end of the snont, and 2/3 of a diameter apart. Snont short : cleft of 

 month very oblique : lower jaw the longer : the maxilla reaches to beneath the 

 middle of the eye. No spines on the preopercle. Teeth in jaws largest 

 anteriorly, they are pointed and cnrved inwards at their onter extremities, 

 the number and even position of the teeth in the jaws varies in different 

 specimens, from 24 to 41 having been recorded as existing in the upper, and 

 from 10 to 25 in the lower jaw, behind which row are generally two more teeth : 

 none on the vomer, palatine bones, or tongue. Fins dorsal spineless, it 

 commences above the last third of the opercle, it and the anal confluent with 

 caudal, which latter is somewhat pointed. The anal commences beneath the 

 tenth or eleventh dorsal ray. All the rays of the vertical fins articulated and 

 branched. Scales minute, thin, oval, but increasing in size towards the 

 tail. Vent beneath a vertical line from about the ninth or tenth dorsal ray. 

 Air-bladder large, pointed in front, rounded behind. Colours reddish, or 

 even carmine, dashed with yellow, more especially on the fins. A black 

 spot between the maxilla and premaxillary bones. Dorsal of a yellowish tinge 

 edged with rose-colour. Pectorals deep rose colour, ventrals white. 



Varieties. C. rubescens is said to possess one, C. taenia two rows of teeth 

 in the lower jaw. Couch alludes to a small example being almost round, 

 but such is not their normal form, being comparatively as compressed as 

 adults. 



Names. Red band-fish or red snake-fish, owing to its colour, appearance, and 

 movements. Le serpent de rner, French. 



Habits. Appears to prefer rocky situations at a moderate depth, and to be 

 most frequently observed, off the British coasts after gales in or between the 

 months of November and March. Dr. Farran observing that this fish is of 

 frequent occurrence on the Waterford coast, remarks that it lives lying in the 

 forests of sea-weeds which grow about the coast. It probably lives in deep water 

 on rocky ground. Risso observes that it feeds on Crustacea and zoophytes. 

 It moves in a serpentine manner and with considerable activity. 



Means of capture. Seldom taken in nets as it is believed to swim too low, 

 but is often washed ashore after a storm. In a few instances it has been secured 

 on a hook. 



Breeding. At the end of spring according to Risso. 



As food. Not held in any estimation except by fish. It has been several 

 times found inside cod and hake. 



Diseases. From the example figured I sent some intestinal parasitic worms 

 to Dr. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S., who kindly determined them as follows : immature 

 examples of Nematoidcum Cepolce rubescentis, " six different internal parasites 

 have been described from this fish. Those you send are probably the most 

 common." 



Habitat. From the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland to the Mediterranean, 

 where it is common. 



On March, 1837, one, 15| inches long, was taken on a whiting line baited 

 with mussel, seven miles south of Ayr (T. Harvey), and on November 29th, 

 1837, an example, 19^ inches long, was, after a storm, found on the beach at 

 Ballantrae, Ayrshire (Thompson) : Berwick (Johnston). Mr. Cordeaux observes 

 that it has been thrown ashore in Yorkshire after storms, but the most numerous 

 examples have been secured along the south coast. The first two British 

 specimens were obtained by Colonel Montagu at Salcombe Bay, in Devonshire, 

 February and March, 1803 : one, 22 inches long, was likewise captured on 

 March 0th, 1838, in the Exe, and many (at least thirty) were washed on shore 

 on the south coast of Devonshire during November the same year (Harvey), 

 and more again in February, 1839, it became abundant at Brixham (Holdsworth), 

 but has not been so common since. It has been taken a few times at Teignnioutk 



