SAIL FLUKE. 1G5 



probable that ■\rbere 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 "VVhifi^s 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 fi.ns, the body j^lump 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 again to the back. Lateral line arched, rising at first 

 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 beliind 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 ravs of the anal fin, in front of which was the vent. 



