sci^na. 57 



one in. that neighbourhood in one of the years above referred 

 to; and Professor Nilsson records it as having been once 

 taken on the coast of Sweden, which was in December, 1852, 

 and so much later than it was seen in the British Channel, 

 although in the same season. Long before this also an example 

 is mentioned by Dr. Fleming, as having been taken so far 

 north as the islands of Zetland. Little is known of the dis- 

 tinctive history of the Scirena, beyond its fearless character 

 and occasional propensity to wander, with eagerness in swallowing 

 its food. For the table it is greatly valued, and in ancient 

 times was more so even than at present; so that in Rome, 

 even before the time of its highest luxury, the head and 

 neighbouring parts were reserved for people of the greatest 

 distinction. 



The example described was one of two caught by fishermen 

 of Polperro in the month of October; its length five feet, and 

 weight fifty-eight pounds. The form is not much unlike that 

 of the Bass, but rather more bulky; head rather short; the 

 body moderately compressed, becoming more slender towards 

 the tail. Head and body covered with scales, those of the 

 body large, one of the latter that was separated measuring an 

 inch and a quarter in breadth. The jaws equal; teeth fine, 

 those in front shorter, and with an interruption at the symphysis 

 of the jaw; eye moderately large; lateral line with a small 

 curve in its progress. Dorsal fins two, the first with spinous 

 rays, the second longer and lower; anal fin short; the tail 

 even. Colour behind the head a sparkling green; back a 

 bright copper; belly bright silvery; a fleshy gland-like substance 

 at the root of the pectoral fin a fine brown. According to 

 Risso the colours in the Mediterranean are even more brilliant 

 than I found them, the head being variegated with golden, 

 light blue, and pinkish purple, (amethystine.) Avith the fins 

 yellow, black, and silvery. The example described by Nilsson 

 was a silver grey, the back blackish, white below; fins reddish 

 brown; length five feet, and the weight seventy-two pounds. 



The number of rays in the fins has been counted with some 

 difference. In the first dorsal there are ten; in the second 

 twenty-four and twenty-nine; ventral six, of which the first is 

 spinous; anal one or two spinous, and the remainder eight; 

 pectoral from fifteen to seventeen; caudal eighteen or nineteen. 

 VOL. II. I 



