SCARBAKD-FISH. 1.99 



from its sword-like form and four elongated teeth in front, 

 believing it to be then entirely unknown to naturalists ; but 

 this fish appears to be an inhabitant of the Mediterranean 

 as well as the European seas, and has been taken occa- 

 sionally in several different parts of southern and western 

 Europe. 



One specimen taken at the Cape of Good Hope is de- 

 scribed and figured by Euphrascn, in the new Memoirs of 

 Stockholm for 1788, t. ix. p. 48, pi. 9, fig. 2; and other de- 

 scriptions and figures are equally known. 



Four examples of this fish have occurred on the southern 

 shores of England : two fortunately came into the possession 

 of Colonel Montagu, and are still preserved in the British 

 Museum. In the summer of 1787, a specimen came ashore 

 near Dawlish ; and notes with a drawing of this fish were sent 

 by Mr. Matthew Martin to his friend and correspondent 

 John Wallcott, Esq. for his then projected work on British 

 Fishes. A fourth example was received a few years back by 

 the Linnean Society. 



Since that time, Mr. Couch has mentioned one caught off 

 the Cornish coast by the fishermen of a boat from Mount's 

 Bay : notice of two others taken off the Devonshire coast 

 have been sent to me ; and F. C. Lukis, Esq. of Guernsey, 

 forwarded to me in February 1.838 the particulars of one that 

 had been obtained there at that time. 



Colonel Montagu's first and largest specimen measured five 

 feet six inches in length ; the depth at the gills four and a 

 half inches ; the weight, without the intestines, six pounds 

 one ounce. This fish was taken in Salcombe Harbour, on 

 the coast of South Devon, in June 1808. It was swimming 

 with astonishing velocity, with its head above water, to use 

 the fisherman's expression, " going as swift as a bird," and 

 was killed by a blow of an oar. 



" The specimen was considered so rare, that a public 



