ury 



PHYCIS. 



EoDY of moderate length; jaws and palate Avith toeth; a barb at 

 tlio lower jaw; two dorsal lins and one anal; but the distinguishing 

 mark is — that the ventral fins are each formed of a single long ray 

 which in the course of its length is divided into two. 



GREATER FORKBEARD. 



Hakes Bmne, FurJccd Halce, Goat fisJi., Jago; in Ray's Synopsis, p. 



16;j and f.' 7. 

 " " " Couch ; in Transactions of 



Linna3an Society, vol. xiv. 

 Fhyscis farcatas, Fleming; British Animals, p. 



193. 

 Fhycis farcatus, Jknyns ; Manual, p. 452. 



" " * Yaurell; British Fishes, vol. 



ii, p. 289. 

 Plujcis llennoides, Gunther; Catalogue Britisb 



Museum, vol. iv, p. 351 ? 



This species may be regarded as scarce rather than rarcj 

 so that examples show themselves smgly, for the most part in 

 the colder months, although I have obtained an example in 

 June; and there are not usually more than one or two caught 

 in a season. Tliey are taken with a hook, and in the stomach 

 I have found the bones of a small fish, a shrimp, and the 

 fragment of a large pccten-shell. From the feeble structvire 

 of its tail it docs not appear capable of active exertion, but 

 this apparent defect is probably compensated by the structure 

 of those long tendrils which stand in the place of the ventral 

 fins which belong to the others of this natural faniilv, and 

 which in tliis instance may be judged from their structiire 

 to be endued with powers of lively sensation. These tendrils 

 or fins have joints along their course, and are well supplied 



