132 



RAY S BREAM. 



the arrangement of the scales which cover the dorsal fin. The 

 vertical number of the rows of scales in the first-named fish 

 was eighteen, and in the latter thirty-four. The dorsal and 

 anal fins were without scales, and set in a deep furrow that 

 was bordered on the sides with a row of large scales. The 

 fin rays are said to be of the dorsal forty-six, anal forty, 

 pectoral twenty, ventral six, and the tail twenty. 



How much of the discrepancy between this description and 

 that which I shall proceed to give of an example taken in 

 Cornwall, (figured beloAv,) can be ascribed to the confessedly 

 mutilated condition of the northern fish, will only be a matter 

 of opinion; but if finally it should be decided that they are 

 only variations of one species, they form a new and remarkable 

 portion of the history of this curious fish. 



The specimen which came under my own inspection measured 

 about seventeen inches in length, and, exclusive of the fins, was 

 five inches and a half in depth; the snout blunt, sloping 

 suddenly above the eyes; angle of the mouth depressed; teeth 

 numerous, sharp, incurved, the four in front of the under jaw 

 very long. Body thin, deep. Dorsal fins appearing as two, 

 the first having flexible rays, the second long and narrow, and 

 there was no reason to suppose that the appearance of two 

 dorsal fins was owing to a rent or injury. Tail deeply divided; 

 pectorals long; ventral fin with a wing, by which means each 

 fin seemed double; anal fin fleshy and somewhat expanded at 

 its origin, obscure in its progress. No visible lateral line. A 

 broad band from eye to eye. Colour blue, deeper on the 

 back. Covered with large scales, as well on the body as the 

 fins, so that the dorsal and anal appeared like an extension of 

 the body, and I found it impossible to count the rays. 



