126 POMPILUS. 



a little beyond three inches, and a little less than four inches 

 at the beginning of the dorsal fin. This fin is situated on an 

 elevated ridge, and begins at four inches and a half from the 

 snout, ending opposite the termination of the anal fin, twelve 

 inches from the forehead, Avhich is blunt and rounded, flatter 

 on the crown; mouth moderate, teeth in the jaws fine, tongue 

 rather large; nostrils double, that one nearest the eye large and 

 open. Eye prominent and bright. Membrane of the first gill- 

 cover soft, but with a free edge that is a little cut in or 

 serrated. Body compressed, with very small scales, which, 

 when dry, appear curiously striated. Lateral line bent at its 

 commencement. Vent six inches and a half from the point of 

 the lower jaw. Rays of the dorsal fin fleshy at the base. 

 Pectoral fins pointed; ventrals bound down by a membrane. 

 Tail moderately forked. Colour all over black, the fins intensely 

 so, scarcely lighter on the belly; a little bronzed at the origin 

 of the lateral line. While employed in taking a figure, the 

 side on which it lay changed to a fine blue. The larger specimen 

 "weighed nearly fourteen pounds; and the skin was found to be 

 so tough as to be stripped from the body like that of an eel. 

 No air-bladder was found. The taste was delicious. 



The colours (as described by Risso) of a fish of the Medi- 

 terranean are, numerous dashes of blue, varied with slender 

 bands of yellow; anal fin deep blue; pectorals yellow; dorsal 

 fin with thirty-eight rays, pectoral fins with eighteen, ventrals 

 six, anal twenty-four, caudal eighteen. It is said to come near 

 Nice in spring and autumn. 



