250 DEALFISH. 



last eighth shield the spines are longer, pointed, and of the 

 same shape and size as the saw-teeth. Again, the three or four 

 hindmost sheaths or plates are smaller and oval; and below the 

 last of them, or a little further back, on the lower side of the 

 tail are two pair of spines, which point downward; the first pair, 

 which are the largest, having a direction forward, and the others 

 backward. At the end of the lateral line are three double spines, 

 beyond which it does not extend, as it appears to do in the 

 figure of the Vaagmar by Reinhardt. The dorsal fin begins at 

 about three inches from the neck, and becomes broader until 

 it reaches its greatest breadth at its hindward third part, where 

 it is five inches and a half in height; from which portion it 

 becomes narrower as it proceeds to the tail; the rays number 

 one hundred and sixty. In front of this fin were spines or 

 broken rays, which perhaps were the remains of a fin. The 

 pectoral fin is low, and measured in length two inches and a 

 half, with ten simple rays; a spine in front of it. 



In the true Vaagmar, or Dealfish, there are ventral fins under 

 the pectorals, but in the fish here described there was no mark 

 of such; and although the part where they might be expected 

 to be found was dissected, no signs of even the rudiments of 

 such fins were discovered; (in which it agrees with the fish 

 described by Dr. Fleming, as before referred to.) The caudal 

 fin six inches and a half long, the rays, eight in number, 

 directed obliquely upward. The eye of the left side less than 

 that of the right. The colour of the head blackish on the top, 

 of the right side of the head and body a glossy silver, which 

 is removed when the skin is handled; of the left side pale grey, 

 with dashes of glossy silver. Dorsal and caudal fins red. The 

 two oblique oblong black spots which are on the sides of the 

 Dealfish near the] back are not seen in the fish here described; 

 but in place of them is a black dash parallel with the upper 

 border of the body. According to the reports of fishermen this 

 fish is sometimes found ten feet in length. As in the figure by 

 Dr. Fleming, the vent is represented as near the head, and the 

 representation we derive from Professor Reinhardt displays that 

 outlet as about the middle of the body, there seems no doubt 

 that, taken in connection with other particulars, they apply to 

 two different fishes; of which there is reason to conclude that 

 both of them have been taken in the British Islands. 



