SAIL FLUKE. 165 



probable that where the same method of fishing is employed, 



it is not rare along the south and eastward coasts of England 



and Ireland. Mr. Thompson found small fishes in the stomach 



of Whiffs caught on the east coast of the last named country. 



The Sail Fluke grows to the length of about twenty-three or 



four inches, but that one which we select for description 



measured only seventeen inches and a half. The other example 



sent with it exceeded this a little in length, but in form and 



proportions they were otherwise closely alike. The greatest 



breadth or depth of the body was seven inches, exclusive of 



the fins, the body plump and thick. The head from the snout 



to the border of the gill-covers a little more than a third of 



the length of the body to the insertion of the caudal rays; 



the breadth of the body is equal to the length from the snout 



to the angle of the curve of the lateral line. Gape of the 



mouth wide, opening obliquely downward; under jaw protruding 



beyond the upper, with something like a chin; teeth in both 



jaws; the front end of the vomer bent down into the form of 



a protuberance, which is armed with teeth of which the 



points are directed backward. The tongue free, narrow, firm, 



and pointed. Eyes large, oval, the lowest smaller than the 



other and more advanced, coming near to the mystache, which 



is long, reaching to the middle of the lower eye; a ridge 



between the eyes, curved upward posteriorly. Above the 



point or symphysis of the upper jaw is a prominence, close 



behind which there is a depression from which the outline 



rises asrain to the back. Lateral line arched, risiner at first 



o O 



and then sinking behind the border of the pectoral fin, from 

 whence it makes a sharp turn towards the tail. Scales on 

 the gill-covers, head, and body, more prominent on the lateral 

 line, their edges finely ciliated, the largest towards the tail. 

 The dorsal fin begins close behind the prominence on the 

 snout, and, as does the anal becomes widest near its termi- 

 nation near the tail the root of the tail spreading wider as 

 it proceeds from the ending of the dorsal and anal fins; first 

 rays of the dorsal slender, lengthened their extremities free, 

 the whole number ninety-two In one example the ventral fins 

 had five rays, in the other six, near the throat, rising on the 

 body posteriorly, and in the space left between them rose the 

 first rays of the anal fin in front of which was the vent, 



