204 DENTEX, 



destructive enemy. It has been classed amongst Britisli fishes 

 from the circumstance that Donovan, when engaged in publishing 

 his "Natural History of British Fishes," had the good fortune 

 to obtain a sjaecimen which had been caught near Hastings, 

 and of which he has given a characteristic figure. To the 

 present time this has been the only record of its having 

 wandered so far to the north as our coasts; and therefore it 

 is with pleasure I am able to report the occurrence of two 

 other examples, for the knowledge of which we are indebted 

 to the vigilance of W. P. Cocks, Esq., of Falmouth. 



Risso appears to convey the impression that in its native 

 climes it is common only for two or three months in summer; 

 and the rarity of its occurrence with us shews how little it is 

 accustomed to wander, at least northward, from its usual 

 haunts. Willoughby found it in the market both at Rome 

 and Venice. 



We obtain our figure of the conspicuous front teeth of this 

 fish from a preserved skin in the British Museum; but never 

 having had a recent example to refer to, I prefer to copy the 

 description from the "Icthyologie" of Risso, coupled with the 

 "History of Fishes" by Willoughby, both of these having 

 been derived from examination of recent specimens; but I am 

 assisted further by notes from observations made on the last- 

 named British examples by William P. Cocks, Esq. 



The Cornish specimen, first referred to, was two feet eight 

 inches and a half in length, five inches in breadth, and between 

 seven and eight inches in de^^th, and was purchased in the 

 .market at Falmouth by J. Vigors, Esq., in November, 1846. 

 The second, which came to the same market in August, 1851, 

 was still larger, and measured four feet eight inches in length, 

 and therefore probably was an old fish of the full size it evar 

 reaches, the four long, conical^ and projecting front teeth 

 being much worn and discoloured. Du Hamel is quoted as 

 having known it to weigh thirty-eight pounds, and Risso gives 

 about forty inches as the usual length. In its general aspect 

 it bears a resemblance to the Becker or Common Sea Bream, 

 but the proportions are described as rather longer and more 

 solid. The back is also elevated and thinner, and the lower 

 jaw rather longer The teeth are in a single row, and the 

 front teeth so prominent as to afford a distinctive character 



