BURBOT. 167 



could hear of, within memory, and these all single and without any company, no, not so much 

 as of their own kind." Plot's figure is as quaint as his language, but no doubt it is intended 

 for the Burbot. He says, "However we may allow it to be a Mustela flicviatilis, though in 

 Staffordshire, by some it is call'd a Burbot, or Bird-bolt, perhaps from that sort of Arrow, 

 rounded at head, somewhat like these fishes ; by others, from the oddness of the shape, and 

 rarity of meeting them, the N'on-stich ; there having never but four (that I could hear of) 

 been found within memory." — [Natural History of Staffordshire, by Robert Plot, ed. Oxford, 

 1686.) 



This fish is very deserving of cultivation, and I hope that pisciculturists will soon turn 

 their attention to the Burbot. 



I have no specimens before me as I write, — my own I presented to the Liverpool Museum, 

 — I therefore take Yarrell's description, which I remember to be accurate. "The head 

 depressed, smooth ; jaws equal ; chin with one barbule ; the gape large, with small teeth 

 above and below ; eyes of moderate size ; gill-opening large ; the length of the head compared 

 to that of the body as one to four ; the form of the body cylindrical, compressed posteriorly. 

 The first dorsal fin is small and rounded ; the second elongated, reaching nearly to the tail ; 

 both dorsal fins nearly uniform in height ; ventral fins placed very forward, narrow and pointed ; 

 the pectoral fins large and rounded : the anal fin begins on a line behind the commencement 

 of the second dorsal fin, but ends very nearly on the same plane; the tail oval and slightly 

 pointed. 



The fin rays in number are 



Dorsals 14.68. 

 Pectoral 20. 

 Ventral 6. 

 Anal 67. 



The colour of the body is yellowish brown, clouded and spotted with darker brown, and 

 covered with a mucous secretion ; the under parts lighter ; scales small ; the fins partaking of 

 the part of the body from which they emanate, those of the lower surface being much the 

 lightest." 



The word Burbot, probably, is to be referred to barba and barbatns, "beard," "bearded," 

 in allusion to the barbule with which the under jaw is furnished. Continental names of this 

 fish are Die Quappe, Aalraupc, Treische, La Lottc, etc. 



The specimen which supplied the illustration was caught in the neighbourhood of 

 Driffield. 



