126 



GREATER FORKBEARD. 



with nerves from what may be termed an axillary plexus, 

 situated in the axilla of the fin, one branch of which passes 

 along the course of the firm rays and sends off a branch to 

 penetrate through it; while the other, which anastomoses 

 with the first branch in the axilla, is carried along the posterioi 

 margin. These nerves are the largest I have found in the 

 body of this fish, and their special function is shown by their 

 proceeding from the spinal cord to their termination without 

 communicating with any other nerve. 



Considerable confusion and doubt have existed with regard 

 to two or three species of this genus which bear a resemblance 

 to each other; nor has the difficulty of distinguishing them 

 been as yet cleared up. Rondeletius had long since given a 

 figure of a fish of this genus, but as he was not acquainted 

 with more than one species, and his plate is far from a good 

 representation, there is little dependence to be placed on it 

 as an authority on the question. But he gives a reason for 

 the Latin and Greek name it bears, and which has now 

 become the generic designation; and if we may depend upon 

 the accuracy of the interpretation, which refers to the weeds 

 of the sea, it will give us some information regarding its 

 habits, of which otherwise little is known. He informs us 

 that it was well known to fishermen that this Forkbeard was 

 in the habit of forming a nest for the hatching of its young, 

 among or of sea-weeds, and himself affirms that he was a 

 witness of the truth of the fact. It is perhaps to this that 

 the translator of Oppian refers when he speaks of fishes, that 



"They too, who like the mournful halcyons breed, 

 And form a floating nest of slimy weed." 



B. 1. 



But there is not a word of this in the original, where the 

 L'hycis is mentioned without any additional remark. The 

 halcyons are excluded, and the sea- weed does not float, but 

 lies at the bottom. And it is not improbable also that the 

 observations of E-ondeletius may be intended for another fish 

 of the same genus; for it was Mr. Swainson's opinion that in 

 the Mediterranean there were perhaps several which closely 

 resembled each other t and Dr. Gunther mentions one of them 



