NURSE HOUND. 



13 



an infliction, by wliicli their surface is torn with lacerated 

 wounds. 



This species becomes more scarce as we proceed northward 

 in the British Islands. 



This fish grows to the length of four or five feet. An ex- 

 ample, three feet nine inches long, measured thirteen inches 

 in girth behind the pectoral fins. The head depressed, blunt, 

 rounded in front; eyes two inches from the front, three 

 inches asunder, their figure a narrow oval, with a longi- 

 tudinal fold below each of them ; temporal orifice round, 

 below the line of the j)osterior angle of the eye. The body 

 lengthened posteriorly, with the tail extended in a direct line 

 with its length. Pectoral fins low on the body, and wide. 

 From the snout to the anterior dorsal fin twenty-two inches, 

 to the second dorsal two feet five inches and a half; neither 

 of them large. Anal fin opposite to the space between the 

 dorsals; the abdominal fins anterior to the first dorsal. Caudal 

 fin ending square. Nostrils an inch and a half from the snout, 

 near the margin, the lobe irregularly folded; the mouth cir- 

 cular, an inch and a half from the snout; teeth sharp, and 

 in several rows. Colour dusky red, with numerous large dark 

 spots; below white. The skin very rough from spiculae, the 

 points of which are directed backward. 



OVUM OF NURSE HOUND, 



