FILEFISH. 371 



becoming gradually shorter; all broad at tlie root, flattened, 

 with a separate point or projection on their hindmost edge. 

 Besides the pairs in front I could only count three others on 

 each side. 



Opening of the gills formed of a linear slit immediately 

 above the root of the pectoral fin; and close behind it, above 

 the root of the pectoral, a stout flat bone with a wing on its 

 lower portion. The first dorsal fin slightly in front of the line 

 of the base of the pectoral, situated in a channel, with three 

 stout rays; the first two inches and a fourth in height, slightly 

 curved, along its front studded with rough points; the next 

 ray much shorter, its root close to the first ray; the third ray 

 short and far behind. The second dorsal three fourths of an 

 inch behind the end of the first; broad at first, third and fourth 

 ray the longest; then narrower, but not reaching the tail; 

 twenty-eight rays; anal fin shaped like the second dorsal, and 

 beginning at about opposite the sixth ray of that fin, ending 

 opposite each other. In front of the anal fin is the vent; and 

 close before it obscure marks of rays as of a fin sunk in the 

 border of the surface; forward from which is a firm structure, 

 as of a sunken shield; but there was no appearance of a 

 projecting spine and raised fin, as represented by Willoughby, 

 nor of a prominence as shewn by Mr. Yarrell. Eat when 

 an attempt was made to set up this example these projections 

 appeared, and not until then. Willoughby also shews the 

 membrane of the first dorsal as joined to the second, which is 

 not .the case in the present instance; nor is the chink continued 

 backward beyond the fin itself. A curious flat and narrow 

 border passes along the root of the anal and second dorsal 

 fins. The body becomes wider (or deeper) at the root of the 

 tail, and ends heart-shaped. The tail wide at its upper and 

 lower border, where it is carried out to about twice the 

 length of the middle rays; but those immediately in the middle 

 are more extended than such as are on each side of them; 

 caudal rays thirteen in number, stout; one on each border 

 simple and stoutest of all. 



The colour of this example is for the most part a dull pale 

 yellow, dark on the back and top of the head, more dusky 

 towards the tail; pectoral fins with a tinge of yellow; the other 

 fins dark. In its more native element in the Mediterranean 



