TRUMPET-FISH, 23 



teeth of a saw; there are three or four projections, very small, 

 under the belly, which are hard, round, and transparent; the 

 fins are whitish; the tail divided." 



This description, imperfect as it is, might serve as sufficient 

 to distinsriiish this fish from others, if it were not that we 

 perceive from published figures that it is subject to some 

 variety, and that a species much resembling it, but supposed 

 to be distinct, has been discovered in the Mediterranean. The 

 denticulations which we represent on the abdominal ridge — ■ 

 perhaps a little too strongly, if we may judge from the des- 

 cription given above — and of which Donovan and Mr. Yarrell 

 take no notice, are a remarkable instance of this variation, as 

 is also the form of the tail, which these two last-named 

 observers represent as round, but which in our figure and the 

 original description is described as divided. The other species 

 that we have referred to, (C. gracilis of Lowe and Gunther,) 

 and which has not only been found in the Mediterranean and 

 Madeira, but even in Japan, is only different from C. scolopax 

 in being somewhat longer in proportion to its depth, in having 

 a much shorter dorsal spine, and conspicuously smaller scales. 



For a fuller description of our own Trumpet-fish than is 

 given above, we select the following notes from Willoughby, 

 p. 160: — The body is covered with rough scales; snout very 

 long, straight, narrow, growing wider towards the head; the 

 mouth narrow and covered, in fact, by the small under jaw, 

 the angle of which is depressed. Eyes large; belly with a 

 sharp ridge; without ventral fins, which however are marked 

 by two bones resembling teeth. A little behind this, on the 

 middle of the belly, is a ridge having some small elevated 

 teeth. Anal fin with eighteen rays. Dorsal fins two, placed 

 far behind, the first being formed principally of one long and 

 stout spine, which is capable of some motion upward and 

 downward, but cannot be raised upright. On its under side 

 is a channel, on each side of which is a row of teeth. In 

 front of this larger spine is a very small one, and behind it 

 three others. The second dorsal has twelve rays; the tail 

 forked. 



